Quote:NEW DELHI, May 25 (UPI) -- For a nation that is increasingly outsourcing its defense needs to the United States, India is warning of the serious pitfalls in such a relations.



Local media report that Indian army chief Gen. V.K. Singh has written to Defense Minister A.K. Antony cautioning the government about foreign military sales purchases from the United States.



The Indian government has been sourcing all its defense deals with Washington through foreign military sales programs, carrying out major defense acquisitions.



According to these non-tender purchases, the U.S. government procures the equipment on behalf of the Indian government from its military companies, making a commission for liaising on behalf of the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency.



Such programs kicked off in 2002, when India took to its first major deal, placing orders for the AN/TPQ-37 firefinder weapon-locating radars for the army.



That deal, though, was a frustrating experience, leading to protracted problems with the U.S. firm Raytheon.



Reports, in fact, suggest that the Indian army has had repeated problems in the maintenance of the dozen plus radars it purchased in 2002. Up to two-thirds of the expensive equipment is said to be inoperable because of lack of maintenance.



"A good deal of song and dance was then created as to how the deal presaged greater defense cooperation between India and the U.S. as the sensitive piece of equipment was supplied only to close friends and allies," the Domain-b Indian business magazine quipped earlier this week.



The military official's warning comes at a crucial time. Both the Indian government and the U.S. Department of Defense are thrashing out the final details of two major defense deals.



These include designs to buy 145 ultralight howitzers, estimated at $647 million and intended for deployment along India's border with China. The second deal includes the purchase of 10 transport aircraft in a deal exceeding $2 billion.



"Singed by the troubles with past FMS contracts, the army top brass is now discussing the possibility of hiring corporate lawyers well versed in international negotiations and contracts to come on board for scrutinizing the upcoming contract for howitzers, " The India Times reported, citing unnamed sources.



It said the lawyers would "ensure that the past troubles are kept away."



Since the defense procurement cooperation kicked off, a rash of deals have spawn, including the $2.21 billion purchase of eight Boeing P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft; the $962 million deal for six C-130J Hercules transport aircraft for the Indian air force, and the $88 million contract for a U.S. Navy ship and its accompanying helicopters.

Quote:PTI

Printable version | May 26, 2010 9:13:53 PM | [url="http://beta.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/article438727.ece"]http://beta.thehindu...ticle438727.ece[/url]

India is likely to enter the elite club of nations with Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capability as the over 5,000 km range Agni-5 missile was expected to become a reality by next year.



“Work is progressing satisfactorily in the development of Agni-5, which is expected to become a reality next year. With this, DRDO would have given India a comprehensive indigenous strategic capability, available with only a few nations of the world,” DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat said at the National Technology Day awards function.



Agni-5 will be the first canistered ballistic missile with range of over 5,000 km into Indian inventory, bringing possible military targets in the whole of China and Pakistan within striking range. The missile is likely to be tested early next year.



Missiles which are capable of being launched from canisters can be fired from multiple platforms and are easily transportable.



Commenting on the Indian missile programme, Mr. Saraswat said, “the success of Agni-3 and other tests have confirmed India’s strategic deterrence capability, which could not have been possible without the preceding developmental efforts in these programmes.”

Quote:



[size="1"]Agni-3SL and Sagarika - Range v.s. warhead and its destructive power[/size]



[size="1"]Copyright: Arun Vishwakarma[/size]

Quote:This is, I think, good because the missiles are deadlier compared to the rest.

Quote:However, the timidness of GOI makes my blood to a boil. If indeed the tests were a failure, then they should go ahead and test another batch - it assumes all the more importance because of "no-first-use" doctrine.

Quote:: IDRW NEWS NETWORK Initial work on Akash MK-2 has begun ,and the new missiles system will be [url=""]fielded[/url] within next two years by DRDO , earlier plans was to have Akash mk-2 with range up to 50 to 60km but those plans have been curtailed to bring in only extended range Akash with marginal [url=""]increase[/url] in range of 10 to 15 km from its current range of 20 to25 km .



This probably has been done to avoid two different long range missiles in [url=""]Army[/url] and Air force arsenal , DRDO and IAI of Israel have already developed Barak-II (Barak with range of 70km for navy and work on land based version will also be developed soon ,so its logical to work on Barak-II which will be long range interceptor missile for all three forces while Akash MK-1 and MK-2 will be Medium range surface to air interceptor missile for both army and air force .



Barak-2 has been recently been tested in Tel Aviv successfully and further testing will be held in India later this year .



While DRDO will be working with French for the short range Low Level Quick Reaction Missile (LLQRM) know has MAITRI , which will have [url=""]technology[/url] developed for Trishul LLQRM TDP (technology Demonstrator Project) and will have range of 8 to 15km and will be used by all three defence forces of India.



DRDO will also be developing more advance version of the Rajendra BSR (Battery Surveillance Radar) which is PESA radar, while Akash Mk-2 will have a Rajendra derivative AESA radar to perform the same role, AESA radar will give it better tracking, and [url=""]engagement[/url] functions. Work on AESA variant has begun and almost nearing completion.



DRDO expects to increase the range of Akash by using using better composite booster with lengthened booster section to achieve the [url=""]desired[/url] range.



This will be the Roles of Surface to Air missile in Indian Armed Force



MAITRI (LLQRM) 8-15 km Quick reaction short range Air to Surface missile



Akash MK-1 /MK-2 (MR-SAM) 20-25 /35 km Medium range Air to Surface missile



Barak-2 ( LRSAM) 70km Long Range Air to Surface missile



While all three missile systems will have different roles in Indian Armed force and will be inducted by all three forces ,only Akash MK-1/2 will not see service in Indian Navy .