Indicia Knowledge Brief
A Daily Assessment on Indian Defence and Internal/Homeland Security
May 20, 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
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in its report for 2013-14, has
examined "Issues relating to Design, Development, Manufacture and
Induction of Light Combat Aircraft (Air Force)", the indigenous fighter
now called the Tejas Mark I.
The third crash involving a Sukhoi-30 in the last five years has
necessitated an inquiry. The previous crashes had occurred in 2011-12
and 2013-14. The strategically-located Tezpur IAF station got a Sukhoi-30
fleet in 2009. It was the third Air Force Station in the country and the first
in the NorthEast to host them.
Even as INS Kavaratti, fourth and last of the Kamorta-class of antisubmarine warfare (ASW) corvettes was launched at Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, the question doing the
rounds was whether it will be fully equipped when commissioned.
I. National Defence and Security:
CAG report overlooks Tejas's many triumphs:
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in its report for 2013-14, has
examined "Issues relating to Design, Development, Manufacture and Induction of
Light Combat Aircraft (Air Force)", the indigenous fighter now called the Tejas
Mark I. Media reports have dwelt mainly on CAG's criticism of the LCA, such as
the delays that led to the fighter - cleared in 1983 and intended to enter service
in 1994 - eventually taking 30 years to obtain the initial operational clearance in
December 2013. This is a landmark at which the fighter can be inducted into
service. The CAG report says the final operational clearance is likely only by
December 2015. CAG says the LCA that has got initial operational clearance fell
short of Air Staff Requirements - a key document that lays out the LCA's essential
capabilities. With many of these capabilities still lacking, IAF could grant initial
operational clearance only with 20 permanent waivers and 33 temporary
concessions. These 33 shortcomings - which include increased aircraft weight,
inadequate speed, reduced internal fuel capacity and the absence of an electronic
warfare suite -- are to be made good before the final operational clearance is
granted, or in the LCA Mark-II, expected by December 2018. The CAG report
nowhere recognises that, in fighter design anywhere, prototypes invariably go
overweight while accommodating all the capabilities and weaponry that the
users optimistically specify. Then, while paring down weight, some capabilities
are diluted, in consultation with the air force. In this, the LCA has trodden a wellworn path....
Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/cag-report-overlooks-tejas-s-manytriumphs-115051901495_1.html
*
Futuristic Unmanned Space Shuttle Getting Final Touches:
A scaled-down, unmanned version of India’s futuristic space shuttle is getting the
final touches at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thumba. With the
construction of the Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLVTD) nearing completion, A S Kiran Kumar, chairman, Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO), is scheduled to lead a review of the dream project on May
19.“The ‘space plane’ part of the RLV-TD is almost ready. We are now in the
process of affixing special tiles on its outer surface which is needed for
withstanding the intense heat during re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere,” SSC
director M Chandradathan said. “The entire construction of the RLV-TD is being
handled by VSSC,” he said. ISRO has tentatively slated the prototype’s test flight
from the first launchpad of Sriharikota spaceport for July this year, but the date
would be finalised depending on the completion of construction. The proposed
RLV is designed in two parts; a manned space plane rigged atop a single stage,
booster rocket using solid fuel. The rocket is expendable while the RLV would fly
back to earth and land like a normal aeroplane after the mission. The prototype‘the RLV-TD’ weighs just 1.5 tonnes and would fly up to a height of 70 kms. For
the test mission, the unmanned space plane part would glide into the Bay of
Bengal a la the recent crew module successfully tested aboard the
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk-III (GSLV Mk-III) experimental
flight last year.India’s answer to the space shuttle, the RLV is one of the big steps
forward in ISRO’s launch vehicle programme along with the GSLV Mk-III and the
Unified Launch Vehicle project....
Source:
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Futuristic-Unmanned-Space-Shuttle-GettingFinal-Touches/2015/05/20/article2823997.ece
*
After Twin Sukhoi-30 Crashes, Questions Raised Over Their
Airworthiness:
An IAF Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft crashed in Assam’s Nagaon district on May 19.
Even though both the pilots managed to eject safely, they were admitted to a
local hospital since they had sustained minor splinter injuries. The twin-seater
aircraft, which crashed about five minutes after take-off from the IAF base at
Shalnibari in Tezpur, was on a routine sortie.“The aircraft crashed (on a paddy
field) in Nagaon district at around 12:30 pm. Both the pilots ejected safely.
Further details are awaited,” defence spokesman Sambit Ghosh told Express.
Sources said the aircraft had developed a technical snag, forcing the pilots to
abandon it. A Court of Inquiry (CoI) has been ordered into the incident. A local
schoolteacher, who witnessed the crash, said, “I was at the school when I saw the
aircraft flying dangerously at low-altitude. Seconds later, it crashed. I rushed to
the spot and saw the aircraft lying half-buried in a pond-like crater with flames
leaping out of it. Parts of the plane were strewn there.” This is the third crash
involving a Sukhoi-30 in the last five years. The previous crashes had occurred in
2011-12 and 2013-14. The strategically-located Tezpur IAF station got a Sukhoi30 fleet in 2009. It was the third Air Force Station in the country and the first in
the NorthEast to host them.
Source:
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/After-Twin-Sukhoi-30-Crashes-Questions-RaisedOver-Their-Airworthiness/2015/05/20/article2823781.ece
*
Navy gets array sonars but ships yet to get fitted:
On May 19, after the INS Kavaratti, fourth and last of the Kamorta-class of antisubmarine warfare (ASW) corvettes was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders
and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata in the presence of minister of state for defence
Rao Inderjit Singh and chief of naval staff Admiral RK Dhowan, the question
doing the rounds was whether it will be fully equipped when commissioned. The
first ship of this class, INS Kamorta has already joined the eastern fleet of the
Navy but has not yet got sufficient teeth for its primary role. The Kamorta-class
of stealth corvettes are designed to track down and destroy enemy submarines.
However, one of its crucial components is missing. The capabilities of normal
sensors in ships are greatly reduced due to the noise their engines make. To
track enemy submarines, ASW corvettes need to have something known as
Active Towed Array Sonar or Actas. This is a system of hydrophones towed
behind a vessel on a cable that can be kilometers long. This keeps the array's
sensors away from the noise sources of the ship towing it, thereby improving its
signal-to-noise ratio. This increases the possibility of detecting and tracking faint
contacts such as the soft, muffled noise made by submarines. Actas offers
superior resolution and range compared to hull-mounted sonar. It also covers
the baffles, the blind spot of hull-mounted sonar. Unfortunately, the INS Kamorta
doesn't have Actas, reducing its capability to locate submarines. This also puts
the ship at risk from enemy submarines that can pass close without being
detected......
Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Navy-gets-array-sonars-but-ships-yet-to-getfitted/articleshow/47346203.cms
*
Chinks in new defence offset policy, feel industry experts:
The government has promised to rework the defence procurement norms and
the policies linked to manufacturing defence equipment in India. Just last week, a
draft policy for offsets was floated by the Ministry of defence which proposes
several changes to the current norms. Defence deals are closely linked to the
promise of an original equipment manufacturer committing to buy parts or
components from the country it is selling to. With the Make in India vision in
mind, the Ministry of Defence has put forward a Draft Offset Policy for industry
feedback. The new policy proposes an outcome based approach as against the
direct offsets approach earlier and also seeks offsets for specific technologies.
The reaction from industry is far from positive, Indian private manufacturers feel
the policy is restrictive and seeking specific technologies for offset may not
excite Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The new policy also fails to
clarify how the value of offset will be calculated. While the old policy allowed
offset banking, which means generation and accumulation of offset credits prior
to the award of the main contract, the new policy is silent on the issue. MoD says
nearly 24 offset contracts have been signed for nearly USD 4.8 billion and
another USD 8 billion worth offsets are under negotiation. Industry experts say
OEMs should be allowed to explore opportunities with domestic offset partners
while negotiations are underway which normally takes two-five years. The new
policy lays emphasis on setting up manufacturing capabilities, but industry
argues the policy is silent on augmenting research, design and development
capabilities within the country. The policy puts skill development as objective of
offset policy, but industry sources point out skills development should be the
outcome rather than objective.....
Source: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/cnbc-tv18-comments/chinksnew-defence-offset-policy-feelindustry-experts_1387928.html
*
Russian firm, HAL to join hands to make helicopters:
Russia’s Rosoboronexport is joining hands with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL) to manufacture Ka-226T ‘Kamov’ helicopters. The strategic move,
in line with the Make in India campaign, comes after defence minister Manohar
Parrikar-led Defence Acquisition Council last week approved the Russian
proposal to manufacture 200 Kamov helicopters in India. Sources told FE that
other than HAL, which would be the primary partner, a few small and mid-sized
Indian entities would also be a part of the helicopter manufacturing programme,
which would be based on 100% transfer of technology from Moscow. Under the
approved proposal, India would initially make around 200 Ka-226T helicopters,
but the cost of the transfer of technology to make the helicopters in India would
be made known later, said an MoD official after the DAC meet. The initial number
of 200 helicopters is expected to go up to 400 and would also be available for
exports after fulfilling the requirements of the Indian Army and the Air Force. In
August 2014, the ministry of defence had cancelled a $1-billion tender to buy
197 light utility helicopters in which Airbus Helicopters AS550 was competing
with Kamov’s Ka-226T. It was the second time the light helicopter tender was
cancelled by India. From the 197 helicopters — 131 were for the Army Aviation
and the rest 66 for the Air Force. Besides, another tender for Naval Utility
Helicopters, under which 56 were to be bought, too, got cancelled. When Russian
president Vladmir Putin visited India in December 2014, he made the offer to
make the Ka-226T helicopters entirely in India and Prime Minister Narendra
Modi had agreed to consider it. After several round of discussions spanning over
six months between the two sides, the final shape for the deal came through in
April 2015, according to MoD sources. These Ka-226T helicopters fitted with two
Arrius engines from Turbomeca Company will be used by the IAF and the Indian
Army for its high altitude operations, especially in Siachen Glacier, not only for
carrying supply, but also casualty evacuation. This machine will replace the
Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, used by the Indian Army at present....
Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/companies/russian-firm-hal-to-join-hands-tomake-helicopters/74163/
*
Anti-submarine warfare ship launched in Kolkata:
The fourth and last anti-submarine warfare ship being made for the Indian Navy
was launched on May 19, adding a feather to the cap of domestic manufacturing
for naval forces. Kavaratti, the corvette which is 90 per cent indigenous, was
launched at a glittering ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for
Defence Rao Inderjit Singh lauded the contributions made by Garden Reach
Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata in meeting the growing
requirements of the navy. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R.K. Dhowan
acknowledged the excellent work done by the yard for contributing towards
achieving the Indian Navy’s dream of transforming itself from a “Buyers Navy” to
“Builders Navy”. The four ships of Project-28 built by GRSE have been designed
indigenously by the Directorate of Naval Design, New Delhi, and bear testimony
to the acclaimed legacy of naval designers. Kavaratti is the last of four ASW class
stealth corvettes being built for the Indian Navy under Project 28. The other
three ships of the same class are INS Kamrota, Kadmatt and Kiltan. Of the three,
Kamrota was delivered to the navy in 2014, and has been commissioned.
Kadmatt and Kitan are expected to be delivered between 2015 and 2017. The
3,300-tonne Kavaratti can reach a speed of over 25 knots. An X-shaped hull, full
beam superstructure, inclined ship sides and an Infra Red Signature Suppression
(IRSS) system increase the stealth feature of the ship. Navy officials said the
weapons systems on the ship were largely indigenous. The Project-28 ships also
have Total Atmospheric Control System (TACS), capable of fighting in nuclear,
biological and chemical warfare conditions.
Source:
kolkata/
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/anti-submarine-warfare-ship-launched-in-
*
Indian Navy committed to 'Make in India': Navy chief:
The Indian Navy is firmly committed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make
in India" project, with 48 ships and submarines being built in the country's
shipyards, navy chief Admiral R.K. Dhowan said on May 19. Speaking at the
launch of the fourth and last anti-submarine warfare corvette named "Karavatti",
he said "self-reliance and indigenisation" were the blueprints the Indian Navy
was firmly anchored to. The navy was making efforts to raise the indigenous
content so as to make warships completely in India, said the navy chief.
"Karavatti", made at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), has
over 90 percent indigenous content. GRSE chairman and managing director Rear
Admiral A.K. Verma (retd.) said for the first time in the country, the
superstructure of the corvette has been built of carbon fibre composite material.
Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh was the chief guest on the
occasion, while the ship was launched by his wife Manita Singh. The minister
lauded the contributions made by GRSE, Kolkata in meeting the growing
requirements of the navy. Admiral Dhowan acknowledged the "excellent work"
done by the yard for contributing towards achieving the Indian Navy's dream of
transforming itself from a "Buyers Navy" to "Builders Navy". GRSE is building
four ASW Corvette class of ships under P-28 Project. The basic design for these
ships was developed by navy's directorate of naval design and the detailed
design was made by the in-house design department of GRSE. INS Kamorta, the
first ship of the series, was commissioned on August 23, 2014 at Visakhapatnam.
The ship is now an integral part of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy. The ASW
corvette - 109 metre long with a displacement of 3,200 tonnes- is a most modern
warship, with advanced stealth features having very low radar cross section and
very low radiated underwater noise. The ship has a maximum speed of 25 knots,
with an endurance of over 3400 NM at 18 knots speed, and is designed to
accommodate 17 officers and 106 sailors.
Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/indian-navy-committed-to-make-in-indianavy-chief-115051901494_1.html
*
DRDO hamstrung by delay in appointing new chief, say officials:
The delay of over three months in appointing a new director general of the
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is hampering its
functioning and its weapon programmes, official sources have said. The DRDO
has been without a head since 31 January after the government sacked Avinash
Chander, 64, 16 months before his term ended. At the time Defence Minister
Manohar Parrikar had declared that his government, which in November 2014
granted Chander an extension until May 2016, wanted a younger defence
scientist to head India's sole weapon design agency. Military officials said the
delay in appointing a replacement was holding back DRDO programmes such as
the long-delayed Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) project.
Source:
officials
II
http://www.janes.com/article/51526/drdo-hamstrung-by-delay-in-appointing-new-chief-say-
Homeland Security
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