Indicia Knowledge Brief A Daily Assessment on Indian Defence and Internal/Homeland Security March 18, 2015. Primary aims of Indicia Daily Brief are two-fold. First, it distills infinite information into a capsule form, thus saving precious time of its clients. Second, it tries to link micro-events to larger strategic canvas through its analyses, thus providing support knowledge for better understanding and decision-making. Indicia Analysis of the Day A fresh trial of beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAM) Astra was deferred, due to a technical snag. The missile could not be launched though an unmanned aerial vehicle which was to be used as a target for the missile was flown from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast. The ‘Project 75’ for the construction of six submarines for the Indian Navy has been in the pipeline for long time now. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) India, which is one of the companies in fray for the order, talks about what the company has to offer to India. The Union defence ministry has asked public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to examine whether it is feasible to set up a helicopter manufacturing unit in Goa. Speaking to mediapersons from Goa at south block in the defence ministry at Delhi, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said that he has asked HAL to put "a business plan" before the defence ministry for the purpose. I. National Defence and Security: Astra Missile doesn’t fire up due to snag in latest test: A fresh trial of beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAM) Astra was deferred, reportedly, due to a technical snag. The missile could not be launched though an unmanned aerial vehicle which was to be used as a target for the missile was flown from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast. Defence sources said the missile was initially planned to be tested on March 12 but was rescheduled. A defence official associated with the mission said though the pilotless target aircraft (PTA) was flown as per schedule, the missile could not be fired due to technical glitches in the system. ITR Director MVKV Prasad said there is a possibility of the trial either. As part of induction phase trials, the test was aimed at checking the control system and its stability which would have propelled its quick induction into the Armed forces. However, it is not for the first time that the missile has developed problem. In 2011, the missile had failed twice but in 2012 and 2014, a series of developmental tests, captive flights and trials from fighter aircraft was successful. On May 20, 2011 the missile had fallen down immediately after it took off from a ground launcher. Next day, though the scientists associated with the project had rectified the glitches, the missile did not perform as expected. The weapon system got disintegrated mid-air after attaining a certain height. On June 20 last year, Astra was test-fired successfully from fighter aircraft Su-30MKI by the Air Force from a Naval range off Goa coast. The indigenously developed Astra is designed for an 80-km range in head-on mode and 20 km-range in tail-chase mode. A complex missile can intercept fastmoving aerial targets at supersonic speed of 1.2 to 1.4 Mach. As an anti-aircraft missile, it can be fired after receiving a signal from a far away target through its onboard manoeuvres based on radio frequency. Source: http://idrw.org/archives/60124 * Sukhoi for Bengaluru? DRDO hunts for a supersonic Flying Test Bed: A Sukhoi for India's Aviation Capital -- Bengaluru? If the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has its way, an aircraft that can reach supersonic speeds would enter Bengaluru's celebrated list of fighters enjoying permanent residency. Sources confirm to OneIndia that the DRDO has already moved a paper to acquire a supersonic aircraft that will act as a FTB (Flying Test Bed). The FTB is an aircraft being used for testing the performance of systems and sub-systems in airborne conditions. The systems can range from engines, radars, data links, EW (electronic warfare) suites, radio altimeters among others. DRDO says the FTB reduces the cycle time for the development of airborne systems. Also, more FTBs under their command could reduce the dependency on foreign agencies. In May 2014, the DRDO had acquired a FTP Nabhrathna -- a modified and custom-made Dornier (DO-228) aircraft, built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Nabhrathna was rolled out from the hangars of HAL's Kanpur-based Transport Aircraft Division. Sukhoi is the best bet as FTB A committee has already been set up to look into the possibilities of acquiring the FTB. In addition to members from the DRDO, the committee has representatives from the Indian Air Force and HAL. While Sukhoi is leading the fray, the advantages of MiG 29 are also being considered by the committee. Source: http://www.oneindia.com/india/sukhoi-for-bengaluru-drdo-hunts-for-a-supersonic-flying-testbed-1685485.html * ThyssenKrupp ready to transfer knowhow to India for submarines: The ‘Project 75’ for the construction of six submarines for the Indian Navy has been in the pipeline for long time now. Dr Gurnad Sodhi, Managing Director, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) India, which is one of the companies in fray for the order, talks about what the company has to offer to India. Q. What has prompted TKMS to participate in one of the lndia’s largest Defence tender for the construction of six submarines under Project 75 India (P-75 (I) for the Indian Navy? A. The Ministry of Defence is expected to issue the P-75 (I) RFP for which we are planning to offer the Type 214 submarine, which combines best-in-class underwater endurance and diving depth. Besides its highly regarded anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, the HDW Class 214's proven fuel cell-based Air Independent Propulsion system is the best available in the market and offers exceptional operational advantages to the Indian Navy. Since the Indian Navy has been our customer for over 30 years, we have established a strong working relationship with them and are in a position to fully satisfy their requirements. Q. Has TKMS short-listed any Indian shipyard for collaboration or alliance? A. A high-level committee has been formed by the MoD and is currently evaluating the Indian shipyards. It is expected that this Committee will submit its report shortly. TKMS respects the decision by the MoD in short-listing the most capable shipyard(s) without any bias. Thereafter, we will commence our negotiations with the shortlisted shipyard(s). Q. Will TKMS adhere to India’s new policy of ‘Make in India’? A. We are committed to the ‘Make and Made in India’ policy. This would encompass inter alia robust Transfer of Technology (ToT), training, meeting the offset obligations etc. TKMS is willing to bring its expertise in cutting-edge areas to India and co-develop solutions with local partners to meet the country's needs. Besides the most capable submarine, best value for money and a strong industrial partnership, TKMS is offering extensive ToT to India. Q. Could TKMS throw some light on the present status of its four submarines which were commissioned in the late eighties and early nineties? A. TKMS has been a trusted partner of the Indian Navy for over 25 years. The Indian Navy has operated successfully the HDW Type 209 since their induction in 1986. The very fact that INS Shalki and Shankul were made in India by an Indian Shipyard under a technology-transfer agreement is proof that TKMS has been supporting India’s indigenous defence industry for over a quarter of a century. We can proudly claim that all our four submarines are performing well without any inherent problems.... Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/business/thyssenkrupp-ready-to-transfer-knowhow-to-indiafor-submarines/54542.html * HAL to study feasibility of setting up copter unit at Goa: Parrikar: The Union defence ministry has asked public sector undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to examine whether it is feasible to set up a helicopter manufacturing unit in Goa. Speaking to mediapersons from Goa at south block in the defence ministry at Delhi, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said that he has asked HAL to put "a business plan" before the defence ministry for the purpose. If set up, it could be the country's second helicopter manufacturing unit, he added. At the Goa investment summit 2015 held last month, Parrikar had expressed interest to set up a helicopter manufacturing unit in the state. Setting up defence-related projects in the state has been emphasized in the Goa investment policy which was finalized by Parrikar, when he was chief minister of the state. Parrikar had also said that according to a study carried out, Goa was found to be a suitable place for setting up of helicopter manufacturing unit. Recently, the defence minister had cleared the construction of eight minesweeper ships at the Goa shipyard limited (GSL) at an estimated cost of 32,000 crore. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/HAL-to-study-feasibility-of-setting-up-copter-unit-atGoa-Parrikar/articleshow/46589633.cms * ON A WING AND A SPARE: Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha burst a cluster bomb at the last combined commanders conference on October 17, which was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first. If the government wanted his force to guard the frontiers with Pakistan and China well, he would need at least 45 squadrons of fighter jets; he had hardly 34! Raha, soft-spoken and not known for theatrics, stunned the prime minister and the entire security establishment. This was probably the first time that an Air Force chief had told the government, after Shashindra Pal Tyagi wrote to the government eight years ago and leaked his letter, that his force was in such a bad state that he would not be able to do his duty. With the decision on the long-demanded 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft getting delayed, there is no hope of augmenting the fleet in the near future. Though there is an overall increase of about Rs25,000 crore in the defence budget, there is a drastic cut in the money allotted for aircraft purchase. The allocation to the IAF for buying aircraft and aero-engines has been slashed from Rs21,461.39 crore to Rs18,866.01 crore. Money can be allocated only after a purchase decision has been approved, and, as of now, there is none on the IAF's plate. “The explanation for the delays in procurement should not be asked of the man in uniform,” said retired air chief marshal P.V. Naik. “The bureaucracy is responsible for procuring equipment for the services.” With its squadron strength depleting fast, the IAF has no go but to progressively scale down the magnitude of its mandated tasks. There was a time in the early 2000s when the force, flush with the victory in the Kargil war and with the prospect of several squadrons of lethal Sukhoi-30MKIs flying in, talked of being equipped for a two-front war with China and Pakistan. A realistic assessment since then has made the marshals realise that such a doctrine would require at least 60 squadrons of ultra-modern war jets. That is about 1,200 fighter planes. Ambitions have since been scaled down, for several reasons. As the flush of the Kargil win receded, the defence ministry was back to the same old lethargy in procurement. Purchase decisions got entangled in bureaucratic red-tape and ministerial caution against allegations of corruption. “The IAF is still awaiting the induction of the medium multi-role aircraft,” said Naik. Then came the economic downturn, dashing any hope of a big jump in the budget for the services' capital purchases. Moreover, the Chinese began upping their air power and ground facilities in Tibet at such a fast pace that there was no way the IAF could match war jet for war jet. In just about a decade, China added more than 300 brand-new Russian Sukhoi-30MKKs and Sukhoi-27s, and homemade J-10 and J-17s. As the 'ground' reality struck the Indian air staff, their operational doctrines became less ambitious. “The current operational directive from the office of the defence minister, issued in 2009, asks the armed forces to be war-ready on the Pakistan border, and prepare for holding operations along the China border,” a ministry official told THE WEEK. Simply put, it means adopt an offensive posture on the Pakistan front, and a defensive one against the Chinese. But even such a modest war doctrine is now looking too ambitious. As Raha told the combined commanders' conference, he would need 45 squadrons to hold back the Chinese while waging a reasonably credible offensive against Pakistan; and he had just 34. “The situation is precarious,” pointed out retired air marshal A.K. Singh, former chief of the Delhi-based western air command that takes care of the entire theatre of operations against Pakistan. “If tomorrow we have to face the eventuality of both Pakistan and China putting pressure on us on the borders, we would be in a grave situation.”.... Source: http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgibin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?contentId=18553475&programId=1073755753&tabId= 13&categoryId=-225861 * Defence sector opening up to startup technology: Conservative and security sensitive outfits like the Indian Defence are opening up to explore startup technology. While startup Threye has partnered with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to build mobile games to make youth excited about the IAF, startup Inforich is helping the Indian Navy with technical documentation. Similarly, Mobiliya is collaborating with the Indian Army to provide them with tamper-proof secure mobile phones. "It was a bit of luck that we were able to get the tender with the Indian Air Force," says Sidhant Rahi, VP business development of Threye, who along with co-founders Anurag Rana and Sameer Joshi started the company two years ago. Threye has developed `Guardians of the Sky', an air combat mobile game for the IAF. Both Rana and Joshi are avid aviation enthusiasts."We were developing our own game called Morning Glory, which deals with military operations, around the same time that the Air Force released a tender seeking to build a mobile game to excite the youth about the field.Though it was a long shot, we won the tender," says Rahi. He adds that while the defence sector is opening up to startup technology, the slow moving pace in government bodies, and the revenue structure is a hindrance for startups. The game released in two phases is nearing two million downloads.... Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emerging-businesses/startups/defence-sectoropening-up-to-startup-technology/articleshow/46593842.cms * India hands over 3 HAL Built Chetak helicopters to Suriname: The air force has three helicopters at its disposal. The three HAL Chetak Helicopters were handed over by Indian ambassador to Suriname Mrs. M. Subashini, to Defense Minister Lamure Latour. “A memorable moment,” said Latour as he reflected that it took seven years of negotiations to get the helicopters to Suriname and operational. He said that the aircraft will prove valuable in executing control and civil aviation support tasks. The helicopters were ordered in 2009 with a US$13.5 million price tag; the Indian Government had provided a US$16 million line of credit, but delivery was held up by financial and administrative obstacles. The helicopters, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL India) were manufactured, inspected and tested in India, then taken apart and shipped to Suriname. Indian technicians came to Suriname and helped put them back together. They also provided training to the pilots of the Suriname air force. Current plans call for one Chetak to be based at Paramaribo’s Zorg en Hoop airport, Nickerie’s Majoor Henry Fernandes Airport and Albina Airstrip. Maintenance will be carried out by Indian ground support personnel, 8 of whom have been detached to Suriname. The HAL Chetak is a license-manufactured version of the 1960s-vintage Aérospatiale SA-316 Alouette III, a durable design especially suited for hot-and-high operations. Source: http://idrw.org/archives/60131 * Kutch: UAVs, ATVs soon to shore up BSF patrolling power in Rann of An array of modern Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), fast-attack craft and allterrain vehicles (ATVs) will soon bolster the dominion power of the BSF deployed to guard the marshy and arid Rann of Kutch region along the Indo-Pak border. The country's 'first line of defence' is also planning to station some allweather floating vessels near the disputed waters in the region including around Sir Creek and Harami Naala areas, a top BSF commander said. "The border guarding force is vigorously pursuing to get UAVs and we are very hopeful that very soon we will be able to get these," BSF Inspector General (Gujarat Frontier) Santosh Mehra said. Mehra said, as of now, routine sorties by UAVs are being carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the request made by BSF along the 850-km stretch on the Indo-Pak border. The patrolling in the marshy Kutch region, which is currently being done by foot soldiers and four all-terrain vehicles, will further be enhanced with the induction of more all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), the IG said. The demo of the ATVs have been taken and some customisations are being done by the supplier firm as per the suggestions made by the BSF, Mehra said, without disclosing the exact number of procurements to be made. "We have projected requirement for getting more ATVs. I would not like to mention the exact number, but a very large number of ATVs will be coming, not only in terms of numbers but varieties also," Mehra said. Also in the pipeline are fast-attack craft that the force has been seeking for sometime to facilitate quick action along the vast stretches of the Great Rann. "We are also getting fast-attack craft very shortly. A team has recently visited the United States of America. It had been in the pipeline for quite some time but maybe in the next three-four months we will be able to get fast-attack craft that will be able to move at very short notice," Mehra said.... Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/uavs-atvs-soon-to-shore-up-bsf-power-inrann-of-kutch-115031700202_1.html II Homeland Security Indicia solicits comments and advice from readers on any aspect of the report. It believes that cross-fertilisation of knowledge invariably leads to better knowledge Indicia Research & Advisory Fusion Knowledge in Indian Defence and Strategic Affairs C – 79, Basement, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi – 110 017 T&F: + 91 11 4579 2922, email: [email protected]