Quote:SSridhar

Quote: SaiK wrote:looking at the nozzle exhaust, what is the science behind :-



1. The flame is visible only from meters away from the nozzle?

2. The dia or size of flame is much narrower than the nozzle dia?

The plume signature is determined by a number of things such as propulsion systems, propellants, nozzle geometry etc. The plume exits the nozzle at supersonic velocity. There are two parts of the plume which are of interest, the periphery and the central part (aka inviscid inner core). They both hit a shock wave subsequently. The periphery hits an oblique shock wave and the flow direction is bent. The central core part passes through a shock wave that is perpendicular to the incoming supersonic flow that results in no change in direction. This boundary is known as Mach Disk. These cause the typical diamond shape.



The inviscid inner core which is also fuel rich had not yet mixed with the air unlike the peripheral flow which burns with the oxygen in the air. At Mach Disk, the inner core reduces in velocity but increases in temperature and pressure and burns with the oxygen in the air. Hence we see the flame a few feet/metres away from the nozzle. The flow beyond Mach Disk becomes subsonic and again increases to supersonic. This pattern is repeated.

Quote:You have also been quoted as saying that we don’t need to build and store missiles as we have the capability to convert two weapon systems at short notice. The question is, a certain number of missiles will always need to be made and stored as, after all, how short is the short notice. Would you agree with this?



This statement was made to the media in the context of the Agni missile. You will appreciate that the Agni class of system is not a tactical missile. When you talk of strategic missiles and you don’t have a threat today for these class of weapon system, and I was saying this in the context of an ICBM then there is no need to make and store these weapons.

Quote:Definitely told to hold off many details. His earlier statements - some of which I was privy to a public event, were much more forceful and categorical. The GOI apparently didnt like him being forthright.

Interesting that they plan for Tx/Rx modules from outside for the new LRTRs - possibly x band which given timelines, makes sense (we are following the same approach for the first batch of AESAs for the LCA Mk2).

Quote:Guys, got a chance to read this in detail.

The interview is pathbreaking - he clearly lays out the information albeit some aspects are still wink nod nudge nudge.



The solid fuelled advanced PDV (the IIR is where India has said we will cooperate with anyone necessary - Boeing, Raytheon et al work with IAI for the Arrow advanced IIR seeker for its HTK vehicle) will be logistically less cumbersome and far more mobile than the Prithvi based one. We already know how to make IIR seekers - Nag e.g. - we need capabilities viz manufacturing the detection sensor.



The PDV also elevates the local BMD program to state of the art across the board - our desi forces are not always impressed with performance alone, and often get sidetracked by discussions about BBC - best of brochure claims, which is then acrimoniously played out by a willing media, and ruins the deterrence effect of solid technology achievement and deployable capability.



The next series of advanced radars which follow on from the LRTR with the AAD-1 and AAD-2, when mass manufactured have the ability to take the game away from the PRC support of Pak. It is by no means certain that all the TRM modules will be imported or the computers. From what I know, this was what was expected of the LRTR/MFCR as well, instead we developed our own systems over time. His statements indicate that the LRDE has been given a very short timeline for quick induction & hence the need to crimp corners (eg balance indigenization versus having a ready system ASAP). There are two ways to get these systems - either commercially or via a strategic partner with relatively modern fabs. It will be interesting to see which approach is preferred.



Now, what he has not mentioned but which is equally critical, is the cruise missile syndrome. Pak f.e. is now counting on increased numbers of BMs and CMs for deterrence.



Saraswat clearly notes that the BMD system is being tied into the indigenous IACCS which is a big win. A total of x aerostats have been ordered so far, which basically act as cheap "eyes in the sky". The indigenous AEW&C should have a range of around 100+ km against a CM target which is adequate time for an interception, giving a time of around 12 minutes for interception if it is travelling at a high speed of 500 mph. As a case in point, the BMD system itself reacts w/in a window of a couple of minutes.



A total of ~20 AWACS are required for round the clock surveillance, and because of which indigenous development is now critical and supported by the IAF (cost).



The Akash, Barak-8/LRSAM and AAD, AAD-1 are capable of intercepting very low flying targets as well. The IACCS will be up and running by 2011. All in all, the basic building blocks of deterrence from nuke blackmail are being put in place, with the IAF estimating ~2022 for its SAGW assets to be totally replenished, and by which time the BMD should also be in production.



Hopefully all this will give the next GOI some guts versus the current WKK currently running the GOI and they will finally stand up to the terrorists and not kowtow to them. One hopes. :-(

Quote:Date:12/03/2010 URL:



Special Correspondent ‘It will provide the country with second strike capability' ‘DRDO capable of designing anti-satellite system'



‘All future wars may be low intensity conflicts'



MYSORE: Agni-V, India's version of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of more than 5,000 km, will be test-fired by early 2011, according to W. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller, R and D (Life Sciences), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).



He was interacting with presspersons here on Thursday on the sidelines of a seminar on Futuristic Food Requirement of the Armed Forces organised by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL).



Capacity



Dr. Selvamurthy said the DRDO scientists were working on Agni-V which was a three-stage solid fuelled missile and it would have a payload of one to 1.5 tonne and could carry conventional nuclear warhead. “It will address our immediate threat perception and since India has declared and adopted a no-first strike policy, Agni-V will empower the country with the second strike capability,” Dr. Selvamurthy said.



He described Agni as an important missile delivery system. Agni V was a surface-to-surface missile and came very close to qualify as an ICBM. Commenting on Agni-III which was test-fired successfully thrice, Dr. Selvamurthy said it had met all parameters and the armed forces would decide on the actual induction programme.



Major concern



On the development of anti-satellite system and space security imperatives, the DRDO scientist said space security was a major concern but there was no separate anti-satellite programme as such though the DRDO had the core capability of designing and developing such a system if the need arose.



He said the DRDO already had the capacity to deliver such a system based on its earlier missile delivery programmes and all that was required was to modify and transfer this to the requisite format, he added.



Dr. Selvamurthy said the DRDO had visualised future battle and conflict scenario and was gearing to meet the new changes.[color="#0000ff"] He said a brain storming session was held recently on Battle Scenario 2020 and it emerged that high intensity conflicts like the World War I and II were passé as also the Middle Intensity Conflict. He said the country's challenge would be Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) as being witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir, operations against naxalites and counter terrorism operations and hence the DRDO was launching a major initiative to support the LIC in due course through appropriate weapon delivery systems.[/color]



While the high-intensity conflicts ended with the two World Wars, the [color="#4169e1"]middle intensity conflicts too were an unlikely scenario or had a low probability in view of economic and trade issues and hence future war scenario would be low intensify conflicts,[/color] he added.



The other countries were envious of India's high GDP growth bordering on 7.5 per cent to 8 per cent and hence the country had to brace for low intensity conflicts, said Dr. Selvamurthy.



On the nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) war scenario, Dr. Selvamurthy said the country was prepared to handle it and the Cabinet Committee recently sanctioned an additional Rs. 300 crore for developing contingency measures. He pointed out that the standard operating procedure (SOP) of command and control were in place and the guidelines for implementing the SOP were in place in addition to a quick response system.



The DRDO had developed capabilities and contributed to early detection, personal protection, collective protection, de-contamination and rescue operations. He said for aerial monitoring for nuclear devices as also chemical warheads had been developed and for battle field operations, it had developed a portable gas chromatography devise that could detect chemical vapour in the event of a chemical warfare.



Diagnostic kits



It had produced biological field antigen-based diagnostic kits apart from unmanned recce vehicle which would map contaminated zone and a remotely operated vehicle Daksh that had the capacity to diffuse any explosives.



Dr. Selvamurthy said the DRDO had developed a stand alone-stand off detection system, unmanned aerial and ground vehicle mounted with sensors to detect explosives and chemicals among others and welcomed private sector participation in the defence sector.

Quote:Ministry of Defense made an official statement that the Army does not need half of its tanks (over 10,000). Half of the remaining tanks would be used as battle tanks, while the other half would be in reserve.

Quote:At present, cassette casting and pressure casting

technologies are being developed which are ideal

for large number motor processing. Technology is

also being developed to process dual-thrust grain

to meet the boost and sustain phase requirement

during flight. To process the complicated web

geometry grains, ribbon casting has been developed

and the propulsion system was used in pop-up trial

of a missile recently. [color="#0000ff"]In a space-constrained system,

high performance index (Isp X density) propellant is

being developed by increasing solid loading[/color].<img src='http://www.india-forum.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



[color="#0000ff"]Recently, a 26-petal geometry motor with 25 kp

viscosity was cast by bottom pressure casting at 10

atm pressure and cured at 20 atm pressure which

demonstrated 5 per cent gain in performance index.[/color]

For casting intricate geometry grain, collapsible

dissolving mandrel technology is being pursuaded.

Recently,

Quote:The strategic programme of DRDO

will require further heavy lift booster in

the coming years. In another 5 years,

there will be demands from many missile

systems for composite case (carbon/

epoxy) motors. There is a need to

develop infrastructure for the production

of composite case motors in large

numbers dia. In many strategic systems,

third stage will be added, preferably

with [color="#0000ff"]low-density[/color] energetic propellants in

composite case for the range gain

Quote:In many strategic systems,

third stage will be added, preferably

with low-density energetic propellants in

composite case for the range gain