Quote:03 December 2009

Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma

India's first indigenous nuclear submarine, INS Arihant (annihilator of enemies), will be inducted into the Indioan Navy fleet in two years or so, Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters in New Delhi ahead of the Navy Day on Friday.



Arihant, the first submarine to be built under the advanced technology vessel (ATV) programme, was launched for sea trials on 26 July this year at the naval yard in Visakhapatnam by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gurcharan Kaur in the presence of the prime minister. (See: India launches indigenous nuke sub INS Arihant)



"Arihant demonstrates a quantum leap in the shipbuilding capabilities of the country. It is a nuclear-powered submarine which is indigenously designed and constructed," Admiral Verma said.



As India pursues the capacity to fire nuclear missiles from land, sea or air, the Navy now wants a well-balanced underwater strategic arm. This will include three SSBNs (nuclear-powered submarines with long-range strategic missiles) and six SSNs (nuclear-powered attack submarines) in the long-term.



The over 6,000-tonne INS Arihant will be more of `a technology demonstrator', rather than a fully-operational SSBN, for the subsequent follow-on nuclear submarines to follow.



But a fact glossed over in many reports is that the over 6,000-tonne INS Arihant will not be a fully-operational SSBN – it will be more of `a technology demonstrator' for the nuclear submarines to follow.



From Russia with love

A Russian Project 885 Severodvinsk class submarine –likely design base for the Indian ATV project

The navy will go nuclear much before this, however. After several glitches, India will finally get the 12,000-tonne `K-152 Nerpa' Akula-II class submarine from Russia on a 10-year lease. It will be renamed 'INS Chakra' before being inducted into the Indian Navy.



Nerpa will not come armed with long-range missiles due to international treaties like the Missile Technology Control Regime. But apart from being a potent hunter of enemy submarines, Nerpa will also help train Indian sailors in the complex art of operating, maintaining and deploying nuclear submarines like INS Arihant and its already-approved two follow-on vessels.



Admiral Verma himself was tight-lipped about Russia leasing out the 'Nerpa'. "I have no response for that," he said to queries on when Nerpa would join the Indian Navy.



However, reports from Moscow last month said that in spite of the delay in acceptance trials due to stormy sea conditions, the Russian navy is going ahead to commission the Akula-II class nuclear submarine by the year end.



"The Nerpa, built by the Amur Shipyard, will be delivered on time in December this year," governor of Khabarovsk Territory Vyacheslav Shport announced in mid-November. The deal is worth $650 million (a little over Rs3,000 crore).



The submarine is due to be handed over to India by March next year on lease. After its commissioning, the Russian Navy will train Indian Navy personnel on making the submarine operational. It would join the Indian Navy fleet after undergoing user trials.



Originally Russia was to deliver the Nerpa, said to be similar to the Arihant, by 2008, but delivery was deferred due to financial woes of the shipyard.



The mishap in Sea of Japan on 8 November 2008 led to further delay, as its trials were aborted following the death of 20 technical staff and crew due to the release of toxic freon gas from the fire suppression system in the sleeping quarters. A crew-member was arrested for tampering with a temperature gauge, which lead to the release of the toxic inert gas.



Long way to go

Without elaborating, Admiral Verma said that the "tremendous amount of capability'' gained in the ATV (advanced technology vessel) project under which INS Arihant was built would not be allowed to wither away.



The government has sanctioned well over Rs30,000 crore for the ATV project to construct three submarines, with the third being of a much larger size.



The 26 July `launch' of the 111-metre INS Arihant by flooding the dry dock at Visakhapatnam in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh marked India's entry into the select group of five nations – the US, the UK, Russia, France and China - capable of building nuclear submarines.



But there is still a long way to go. It's only after its miniature 83 mw pressurised light-water reactor is `fired' sometime next year will INS Arihant begin its extensive sea-acceptance trials.



Only after that will the testing of 700-km range K-15 SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles) developed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) to arm the submarine come into play.



K-15 falls way short of the over 5,000-km range missiles of the US, Russia and China. The last, for instance, has a huge fleet of 62 submarines, with at least 10 of them nuclear-powered, and is also ready with its new JL-2 SLBM, which has a strike range of over 7,200 km.



The Navy has also started looking for a suitable place to start a second assembly line for constructing six additional submarines in addition to half-a-dozen Scorpene subs currently under construction in Mazgaon dock in Mumbai with French collaboration.



''A high-level team headed by a department of defence production official is in the process of identifying the shipyard where the second line will come up,'' the Navy chief said.



The Navy has issued a request for information to procure fighters for the proposed second indigenous aircraft carrier. The first IAC will have MiG-29 K and LCA naval version that can enter the compatibility trial phase in 2013. A request for proposal has been issued to procure six medium range maritime surveillance aircraft.



Admiral Verma denied that the Navy's blue water objectives had been diluted because of the additional brown water responsibilities closer to the shore in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last year.



After the terror strike, the Navy has been entrusted with the responsibility of overall maritime security through proper coordination involving many central and state agencies including Coast Guard, Customs, Marine Police, Central Industrial Security Force and fisherfolk.



A national maritime domain awareness document will be brought out in a few months to inform various government departments how to distinguish between the friend and foe on the high seas, Admiral Verma said.

Quote:Zopag News Network

Fri 31st Jul 2009 16:29:28

Washington, July 31 : American aviation giant Boeing today rolled out its first 'P-8A Poseidon', claiming it to be the world's most advanced multi-mission maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, with the Company saying that India would be its first buyer country.



India has ordered eight P-8Is, a derivative of the American version, the first of which Boeing will deliver within 48 months of the contract being signed. The rest seven aircraft would be delivered by 2015, filling a wide gap in India's maritime reconnaissance capability, hit by crashes of its Russian built aircraft.



The Indian RFP (request for proposal) which is awaiting a formal nod from the Cabinet Committee on Security calls for delivery of eight aircraft over a four-year period.



Though the Indian version is a variant of the just rolled out P-8A Poseidon, Boeing officials said the mission system of the Indian aircraft have been made to address the unique requirements tailored by the Indian Navy.

Quote:29 December 2009

The Indian Navy has issued a request for information (RFI) for state-of-the-art, multi-role, new generation carrier-based fighter aircraft to four global aerospace firms, including Swden's SAAB for their fighter the Sea Gripen, which is a navalised version of the Gripen JAS-39.



Other firms and their offerings are the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) for their Eurofighter Typhoon, the Boeing Integrated Defence System for their F/A-18 Super Hornet) and France's Dassault for its Rafale.



If selected, the new aircraft would likely be deployed aboard the Navy's second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), which is expected to be commissioned around 2018.



Of these four contenders, both the American Super Hornet and the French Rafale have been developed as carrier-based platforms from the conception stage itself. The Typhoon and the Gripen will require a certain amount of modification.



Reports suggest that the Navy may have received clearance from the government for the purchase. The RFI, apparently, does not specify either the number of aircraft that the Navy would wish to acquire, or other modalities such as offset requirements.



The new aircraft, which will be in addition to the 16 Russian-manufactured MiG-29Ks that India is acquiring, as well as the naval version of the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, which is currently under development.



As per conjecture, while the MiG-29Ks will operate from the 44,570-tonne Admiral Gorshkov (re-designated INS Vikramaditya), the naval Tejas will operate from the first of the 38,000 tonne IACs, currently under construction at the Kochi shipyard.



The Indian Navy's fighter jet complement consists only of the British-made Sea Harrier jump jets which operate from the aircraft carrier, INS Viraat. The Harriers will continue to operate as long as the Viraat retains operational life, which is till 2019.

Quote:Manu Pubby Posted online: Saturday , Jan 02, 2010 at 0153 hrs

Unlike the Army and Air Force, the Navy has its modernisation plans on track and the coming year will see a massive addition in capabilities of the country’s smallest armed force. On all fronts — underwater, on the surface, in the air and even outer space — the Navy is set to acquire and add new platforms and assets that will widen its edge over maritime forces of neighbouring countries.



While the Navy has reached blue water capabilities, the absence of a few vital assets has constrained it from showcasing its true potential. The biggest asset the Navy is set to get in 2010 is the Nerpa nuclear attack submarine on a 10-year lease from Russia.



After several delays and hiccups, the re-entry of a nuclear powered platform in the Navy (after the INS Chakra that was also leased from Russia in the 1980s) will be a massive force addition. Besides the obvious benefits of having a stealthy submarine that can stay underwater for several weeks and even give US warships a run for their money, the Nerpa will be a vital training platform.



The Nerpa will help train Indian Navy personnel on nuclear submarine operations, a skill that will be needed to be imparted to a large number of officers and men who will operate the indigenous Arihant class of nuclear submarines in coming years.



While Nerpa will shake things underwater, the Navy will also get longer legs in the coming year that will enable it to deploy ships for longer periods, in further waters than ever before. The induction of a modern tanker ship, which is currently being built by Italian firm Fincantieri, by the end of 2010 is being keenly watched by players in the region.



The tanker ship, which will refuel and replenish warships on the high seas, is a major force multiplier for any nation. Its induction in the Indian Navy will mark the entry of a modern tanker that will be used for overseas deployments and will be showcased at all forthcoming exercises.



Also on the surface, the coming year will mark the historic launch of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier. The first of the Vikrant class aircraft carriers, which is under construction in Kochi, will be launched towards the end of 2010. This will be followed by fitment of weapon systems, sensors and other equipment on the warship.



While the induction will not take place before 2014, the launching of the warship itself will be a major feat, considering that it will be India’s first aircraft carrier as well as the first warship built on a modular design.



Corresponding with the carrier, the Navy will finally see its new fighter aircraft, the MiG 29 K flying in Indian skies. While four of the fighters were delivered a few weeks ago, the first flight is expected in early January once the aircraft have been assembled by Russian technicians.



Integrating all these platforms, and bringing the Navy a step closer to network centric warfare, will be the Navy’s first dedicated satellite that is set to be launched by the middle of next year. While the Navy currently relies on other channels of communication, the first ever dedicated military satellite to be launched next year will give it a vital communication link to bring all platforms — fighters, warships, aircraft carriers, submarines and even UAVs — on a common ground. Besides a secure communication channel, the satellite will make it easier to deploy and manage assets as part of the Navy’s network centric strategy.



While delays, hiccups and cancellations are common to all acquisitions in the armed forces, the Navy is set for a complete makeover in the coming year and decade, taking it to its rightful position as the deciding platform for military diplomacy.

Quote:Saturday 16 Jan 2010 18:27 - by IANS





New Delhi, Jan 16 : Indian Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma Saturday said that the final price tag of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which will be commissioned in the force as INS Vikramaditya, is awaiting the government's approval.



"I cannot speak anything about the final pricing till the government's approval is announced," he told reporters here.



"But, yes, for any of these major induction programmes, we have a price negotiation committee, which has done its job and a mutually agreed price has been arrived at," Verma added.



Indian and Russian defence officials have been negotiating the price for the purchase of the refurbished aircraft carrier for over a decade.



Moscow is now asking for $2.9 billion for the aircraft carrier, nearly thrice the price that was originally agreed between the two sides in 2004. But New Delhi wanted the price to be scaled back to $2.1 billion.



Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during his visit to Moscow December last year, also pushed for the finalisation of the price.

Quote:Rajat Pandit, TNN, 18 January 2010,



NEW DELHI: Russia is all set to reassert its numero uno status in the Indian defence market with another mega arms deal. The two nations are now poised to ink the around $1.2 billion contract for 29 more MiG-29K fighter jets for Indian Navy.



A Russian team will arrive in New Delhi this week to finetune the contract after it got the approval of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, top defence sources said.



"The defence ministry is also now also seeking CCS approval for the fresh contract for aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov's refit, with the renegotiated price of slightly over $2.3 billion," said a source.



The two new contracts will further consolidate Russia's position as the largest defence supplier to India, having notched defence sales worth over $35 billion since the 1960s.



Though Israel is now nipping at the heels of Russia, and the US too has bagged some big defence deals in recent times, Moscow will continue to retain its lead for the foreseeable future.



India, after all, already has over $15 billion worth of ongoing arms contracts and projects in the pipeline with Russia. Bitter wrangling over the huge cost escalation in Gorshkov's refit had led to a distinct chill between India and Russia.



But with matters resolved now, India is also on course to formally join the $10 billion Russian project to build the Sukhoi T-50 PAK-FA fifth-generation stealth fighter.



The 29 new MiG-29Ks will be in addition to the 16 jets already contracted in the initial $1.5 billion Gorshkov package deal in January 2004. Incidentally, only $974 million had been earmarked for Gorshkov's refit at that time.



Rechristened INS Vikramaditya, Gorshkov will now be delivered to India by early-2013 or so. But three of the 16 original MiG-29Ks have already arrived at the Goa naval airbase to constitute the 303 `Black Panthers' squadron, with the next three slated to follow shortly.



MiG-29Ks will operate from the 44,570-tonne Gorshkov as well as the 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier being built at Cochin Shipyard, which should roll out by 2014-2015.



Armed with eight types of air-to-air missiles, including extended range BVR (beyond visual range) missiles, as well as 25 air-to-surface weapons for land-attack missions, MiG-29Ks will provide Navy with a lethal punch on the high seas.



While 12 of the first 16 fighters will be the single-seat 'K' variants, the other four will be twin-seater 'KUB' trainer versions. Similarly, four of the next 29 jets will be 'KUB' trainer versions.

]

Quote:15 Feb 2010

NEW DELHI: India is set to spend a whopping US$ 200 billion on defence acquisitions over the next 12 years to replace its outdated Soviet-vintage inventory.



According to a study by the India Strategic defence magazine, nearly half of this funding, or $100 billion, will go to the Indian Air Force (IAF) which would need to replace more than half of its combat jet fleet as well as the entire transport aircraft and helicopter fleet.



The army needs new guns, tanks, rocket launchers, multi-terrain vehicles while the navy needs ships, aircraft carriers, an entire new range of submarines including nuclear-propelled and nuclear-armed.



The army has the largest requirement of helicopters while the navy needs both combat jets, helicopters, and a fleet of nearly 100 carrier-borne combat jets.



The details of the study will be published in March but according to a brief report in India Strategic's DefExpo show daily being published Monday, it is not that India has military ambitions but just that more than 70 percent of the inventory of the Indian Armed Forces is 20-plus years old, and needs to be replaced as well as augmented with the sophistication of modern technology.



There have been few defence deals after the allegations over the acquisition of Bofors in the 1980s, and Russia, which inherited the Soviet military infrastructure, is unable to meet all the requirements.



According to official Russian reports, only 10 percent of the Russian weapons could be described as modern.



All the three services as well as the Coast Guard and paramilitary organisations also need satellites and net centricity.



Plans to acquire surveillance aircraft, lesser in capability though the IAF's Phalcon AWACs and the navy's P8-I Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) are also being worked out.



Pilotless intelligence aircraft (drones) generally called UAVs, including those armed, are also on the top of the list of the three arms of the forces.



The report says that the Pakistani 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, in which scores were brutally killed and wounded, has given a wake up call to India and that the authorities had realized that 24-hour, 360-degree eyes and ears and preparedness to meet any attack were a necessity.



That also meant increased diplomatic and security cooperation with other countries.



It may be noted that the only major aircraft to be acquired by the IAF is the Su-30 MKI, some 280 of which have already been ordered in successive follow-on deals that do not involve fresh tendering and are easy to go through procedurally.



IAF has a plan to build 45 combat squadrons (about 900 aircraft), up from its maximum effective strength of 39.5 squadrons a few years ago. Many of its aircraft have been phased out due to simple ageing.