<b>LCA Tejas's naval version scheduled to fly by middle of next year </b> <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Bangalore, Sept 01,2007
The naval version of the light combat aircraft is slated to fly by middle of next year, P S Subramanyam, Programme Director, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Bangalore, said.
Two prototypes have already been approved he said while speaking at the Aeronautical Society of India here today.
The naval version would have a bigger cockpit and windscreen besides being capable of operating from an aircraft carrier, he said.
Work was also on, on developing the concept of the Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA), a twin Engined aircraft, optimised for strike missions, he said.
The project is still awaiting approval. But teams were working on bits and pieces on the technology of the airfcraft, he said.
The design objective of the MCA, among others, would be stealth, thrust vectoring and supercruising. It would have some of the features of the LCA in addition to some critical advance technology.
It was also working on the concept of supersonic lead in fight trainer, (Slift),a new trainer that will help prepare combat pilots much more effectively and at an affordable cost.
Speaking on the occasion, T Mohan Rao, Director, Gas Turbine Research Establishment at Bangalore, outlined the ongoing work on the Kaveri engine that would power the LCA.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DRDOâs researched and developed Dhruv helicopter flies with advanced Shakti 1,000-horsepower engine
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->3 Sep 2007
BANGALORE: The indigenously developed Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH) achieved a major milestone when it was flown for the first time with a new and more powerful engine that has been jointly developed by Indian and French engineers.
The 1,000-horsepower Shakti engine has been co-developed by Dhruv manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Turbomeca of France and will enable the helicopter to operate at high altitudes and in adverse desert conditions. The engine has an indigenous content of 20 percent and this is likely to gradually rise to 80 percent.
"Shakti's higher power will enable a whopping 150 percent increase in payload capability at high altitudes (of 5.5-6.5 km) and operation in harsh terrain," HAL chairman Ashok Baweja pointed out.
Some 70 Dhruvs are currently flying and are powered by 800-horsepower Turbomeca engines.
Two helicopters, one a utility version with a glass cockpit and another armed with air-to-air missiles, rockets and turret guns were flown Thursday in the defence area of the HAL airport here.
Among the audience were officials from the certification authorities - India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation and France's Cemelac.
The 30-minute demonstration, on a bright sunny day and under windy conditions, included a number of mid-air manoeuvres like forward and reverse flight, banking 360 degrees and soft-landing vertically.
The armed variant in blue for the Indian Air Force (IAF) was piloted by Wing Commander C.D. Upadhyaya and the utility variant in olive green for the Indian Army by Wing Commander Unni Pillai, both HAL test pilots.
"As the flight was meant for demonstrating the operational capability of the Shakti engine, we flew at low speeds and limited our manoeuvres," Upadhyaya told IANS after landing.
"We will open the envelope as we undertake more such flights in the coming months and widen the helicopter's scope in battlefield conditions," he added.
Designed for multi-mission, multi-role operations, the armed version of Dhruv provides flexibility to meet the stringent requirements of the army and the air force.
The new glass cockpit will have the latest avionics and weapon systems. The four flat multi-functional colour displays on the dashboard will provide all the information the pilots will require during an operation.
Baweja said a modern electronic warfare suite comprising a radar warning receiver, a laser warning receiver and missile approach warning system would detect a missile even as it was launched towards the copter and trigger countermeasures to deceive and deflect it.
"The fast detection and assessment of the threat and quick response by the launch of decoys to deflect the missile will make the difference between survival and death," he added.
The IAF variant will be equipped with "fire and forget" air-to-air missiles that can be launched in both the visual range and beyond visual range modes. The helicopter's 20 mm turret gun can be linked either to an electro-optical system or the pilot's helmet pointing system, Upadhyaya explained.
The military variant will also be integrated with "fire and forget" anti-tank guided missiles.
For operating in all-weather conditions during day or night, the new generation Dhruvs will be equipped with an electro-optical day/night observation and targeting system consisting of an infra red camera, close-circuit colour television camera, a laser range finder and a laser designator.
"The state-of-the-art integrated system will provide high performance visual imagery of terrain and targets even in total darkness and allows day and night operation with sensors. The ability to detect, identify and range the target will optimise its weapons' utilisation," Upadhyaya noted.
As part of certification process, the Shakti powered Dhruv will be test flown here and at sea level. It will also be flown at high altitude in the Himalayas and in the hot deserts of Rajasthan.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Israel inducts Indian DRDOâs researched and developed Dhruv helicopter
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->3 Sep 2007, 1115 hrs IST,PTI
NEW DELHI: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) chairman Ashok Baweja said that India's security establishment will order at least 200 Dhruv advanced light helicopters. Baweja made the comments during a ceremony in Israel introducing the helicopter.
In a deal that may progress to joint production, the Israeli MOD has leased a single Dhruv helicopter through Israeli Aircraft Industry (IAI) to transport VIPs and security services personnel.
So far VIP transportation has been handled by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) which uses the Blackhawk helicopter for the purpose. The arrangement between the MOD and IAI to partly outsource VIP transportation to IAI is expected to boost the chances of IAI obtaining an export order for the helicopter. IA1 will market the Dhruv in South America, the Middle East, and eventually in Asia and Africa.
The Dhruv is a multi-role and multi-mission helicopter designed to be flown at altitudes over 20,000 but also down to hot deserts and on sea missions. It can carry up to 14 people or a 1.5-ton payload. It is equipped with an advance avionics suite made by the Lahav division of IAI.
The helicopter is powered by the Snecma TM 333. The engine was developed for 5-ton-class helicopters and started its career as powerplant of Eurocopter's twin-engine Dauphin and Panther. It develops some 801 kW (1,074 shaft horsepower) at takeoff, with growth potential to 900 kW (1,200 shp).
HAL plans to display the Dhruv along with the IJT at the Paris Air Show in June this year. The average price of the Dhruv is around $5.5 million
Dhruv helicopter continues to demonstrate why it is a front runner for any customer seeking a medium class state of art helicopter. First, it broke the world record for highest cruise by a medium class helicopter in November last year.
Recently, in April 2005, Dhruv again proved its unsurpassable capability, this time at sea level.
ONGC, which has a pressing need for medium class helicopter for its offshore operations, required a demonstration of landing at its production platforms, floating rings and unmanned rigs. ONGC required this to be done with maximum possible passengers, while maintaining within Performance Class I criteria.
This is a safety criteria which requires the helicopter performance and design to be such that the helicopter can fly away or land safely in case of one engine failure. DGCA has now made Class I performance mandatory for offshore operations.
The Indian Airforce had carried out extensive trials of Dhruv in offshore role successfully in 2003 itself. However, Dhruv demonstrated all this again at ONGCâs furthest field, Bombay High South, with ONGC observers onboard in April this year.
The demonstration showed beyond doubt that Dhruv could meet Performance Class I criteria with 12 to 14 passengers even while operating to ONGCâs furthest oil field ex Juhu, Mumbai.
This performance was remarkable, as no other medium class helicopter currently deployed in offshore operations ex Mumbai can match this performance of Dhruv.
HAL is confident that the Civil helicopter market would have taken note of the excellent performance of Dhruv both at sea level and extreme high altitudes. The demonstrated excellent performance, comparatively large cabin space and state of art technology are likely to give Dhruv an edge over its competitors in the fast growing civil helicopter market.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DRDOâs researched and developed Dhruv all set to be inducted in Siachen sector
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->3 Sep 2007
JAMMU: The indigenously developed Dhruv helicopter is set to be inducted by the army in the Siachen sector after successfully completing trials at the world's highest battlefield.
The test trials were conducted in February, defence sources said.
After its formal induction, the first advanced light helicopter would join the MI-17V, Chetak, Cheeta and Chetan helicopters, which flies daily in Siachen skies for over 35 hours in a month for logistic, communication, casualty evacuation and supply support.
Dhruv qualified for high-altitude glacier flying with flying colours on February 15, the sources said, adding the helicopter would prove as an air taxi with support system for all weathers to the Indian soldiers.
The helicopter has cleared its validation processes, including test for high altitude and low temperature flying, which makes it ready to hover above the Siachen, they said.
"Dhruv passed this test trials last month and it is now fit for flying in the Siachen sector in all conditions and conduct all types of operations," a defence source said.
Manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore and inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1998, Dhruv as "a multi-role chopper proved best on all the fronts in terms of operations relating to search and rescue, emergency airlift, air ambulance, evacuation, payload deliveries in high altitude posts and carriage of men and material", the source said.
The trials were carried by commanding officer of the Chandigarh-based Dhruv squad, Squadron Leader Sandesh Mitra for over a six-months period at different times and weather conditions.
Dhruv, indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation, performed beyond its limits of expectations in Siachen and surprised even its pilots as flying a helicopter of 5.6 tonnes at 23,000 feet above the sea level is virtually impossible, the sources said.
The helicopter has of late become a favourite of the navy -- operating to great effect in casualty evacuation in sea and coastlines alike.
While the Kochi-based Southern Naval Command has one unit of the helicopter specially designed for sea waters with rafts below them, Dhruv has two squadrons in Bangalore and Chandigarh.
While Bangalore has the world's best Sarang squadron of Dhruv advanced light helicopters, the Chandigarh-based 114 Helicopter unit is famous as the 'Himalayan dragons'.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
HAL delivers Dhruv to Jharkhand
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->September 03, 2007
Bangalore: The safe landing of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limitedâs (HALâs) Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv at Ranchi, the Jharkhand capital, on last Thursday marks the first delivery of the 5.5 tonne class helicopter to any State government.
Commenting on the delivery of the Dhruv to the Jharkhand government, HALâs Chief Test Pilot (Rotary Wing) Wg. Cdr. (Retd) C.D. Upadhyay told The Hindu that the Chief Minister of Jharkhand Madhu Koda âwas pleased and impressedâ with the helicopter after being taken for a sortie.
Though the ALHâs biggest customer was the Indian defence forces, the HAL is also keen to market the helicopter in the civil market.
âTwo Dhruvs are flying with the Government of Nepal, one has been leased to the Government of Karnataka and the Oil and Natural Gas Commission will be getting their third Dhruv later this week.â
The HAL was holding talks with a number of overseas countries including Turkey, Venezuela and Bolivia.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DRDO develops submarine version of Brahmos missile
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->September 05, 2007 15:05 IST
India has developed a submarine-launched supersonic missile, a capability hitherto the monopoly of advanced nations like the US, France, Russia and some others.
The submarine-launched version of Brahmos supersonic cruise missile is ready, Defence Minister A K Antony informed Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
He, however, said trials of the missile were awaiting the necessary platform, which will be identified by the Navy soon.
According to experts, the submarines in the armoury of the Navy namely the German HDW series and the Russian Kilo class do not have the capability to launch such missiles.
India has requested Russia for loan of submarines to carry out test trials of the underwater launched version of the Brahmos.
Alternatively, the trials could be carried out in Russian waters, naval sources said.
On the air launched version of the Brahmos, the minister said this was currently in progress and attempts were being made to integrate the missile to be launched from both Air Force's SU-30 MKI fighters and Navy's IL-38 maritime reconnaissance planes.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
23 Pilotless Target Aircraft Lakshya have been inducted into the Indian defence services
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Wednesday, September 05, 2007 18:46 IST
So far, 23 Pilotless Target Aircraft Lakshya have been inducted into the defence services.
Pilotless Target Aircraft Lakshya was researched and developed by the DRDO research laboratories.
The production cost of one aircraft is Rs. 293.75 lakh. Some countries, like Singapore, Malaysia and Israel have expressed interest for âpaid demonstrationâ of the Lakshya aircrafts as a target.
A similar âpaid demonstrationâ was conducted for Israelâs Air Force during the year 2002.
This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Ramdas Athawale in Lok Sabha today.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
61 Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters have been produced-Defence Minister A.K.Antony
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Wednesday, September 05, 2007 18:44 IST
The DRDO researched and developed Dhruv ALH(Advanced Light Helicopter) was the first Indian attempt at indigenous production.
The Serviceability of ALH has show improvement over a period of time with extensive product support provided by M/s. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in the areas of supply of spares, tools & other equipment and also technical & logistics support at operational bases.
In order to support the ALH in a full integrated manner, HAL has set up a new division for maintenance and overhaul of all critical systems including engines, avionics, transmission system etc. fitted on ALH.
The ALH was inducted in the Armed Forces in 2001-2002. A total of 61 ALHs have been produced so far.
Production programme is in accordance with the requirement of the Armed Forces.
This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Anandrao V. Adsul and Shri Adhalrao Patil in Lok Sabha today.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DRDOâs BrahMos Missile inducted into the Indian Army and Navy: Defence Minister A.K.Antony
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Wednesday, September 05, 2007
DRDOâs Brahmos supersonic cruise missile has gone through a series of successful flight trials launched from ship and from road mobile launchers for Navy and Indian Army.
The system has been inducted in the Indian Navy and Indian Army.
The missile, which can be launched from submarine, is also ready and awaiting the necessary platform for trials Indian Navy will soon identify the platform.
The development of Air version of the Brahmos missile is also in progress and will be integrated on IL-38 for the Navy and SU-30 MKI for the Air Force.
This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Hansraj G. Ahir in Lok Sabha today.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>DRDO developing special armour panels for Dhruv</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The Indian Armyâs indigenously developed Dhruv advanced light helicopter will now have locally developed special armour panels for protection against enemy fire.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has designed and developed lightweight ceramic-faced composite armour panels for the Dhruvâs army variant.
The armour panels, according to a recent in-house DRDO bulletin, will protect the aircrew and the flying machineâs critical parts against heavy calibre small arms fire.
The panels will be able to withstand hits from 12.7 mm armour piercing ammunition.
Composite laminates were made from modified epoxy resin and reinforced with Kevlar fabric. Kevlar-epoxy composite laminates of different thickness have been prepared, depending upon the criticality and vulnerability of the components they are meant to protect.
The composites were made in accordance with the requirements put forward by the Helicopter Division of Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which designed and developed the Dhruv.
Armour test panels, according to the DRDO, had been subjected to firing trials against 12.7 mm ammunition at Ordnance Factory, Varangaon, and these were able to provide successful ballistic protection.
Prototype armour panels have been manufactured in collaboration with a Bangalore-based private aviation firm in accordance with user requirements.
Carriage and flight trials of the panels have also been âsuccessfullyâ conducted.
The development of indigenous composite armour assumes significance in the light of the Army going in for armed versions of Dhruv for tactical battlefield support missions.
The Indian Army, which has two squadrons of the Dhruv, is reported to be raising a third squadron on this type, which would be the armed variant. HAL has integrated a range of weapon systems and mission control suites with the helicopter and the evaluation is under way.
Dhruv will have an anti-tank capability and also provide close air support to ground columns against enemy formations and defences.
Battlefield surveillance will be another role.
Data-link for command and control, air-to-ground missiles, rockets, machine guns along with electronic warfare suite and self defence measures which include missile warning receivers, flare and chaff dispensers and infra-red jammers are being retro-fitted on the Dhruv.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>DRDO developing technology for UCAV </b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Bangalore: India has joined a select group of countries that have launched programmes to develop the technology for an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).
The UCAVs or âcombat drones,â which are the latest class in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), differ from the latter in that they are specifically designed to deliver weapons and attack targets, possibly with an even higher degree of autonomy.
The Indian programme, which is an internal effort from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will involve developing the know-how for a swept wing, stealth design and composite construction technical demonstrator that will demonstrate âthe technical feasibility, military utility and operational value for a networked system of high performanceâ weaponised UCAVs.
Disclosing aspects of the programme the DRDOâs Chief Controller, Research and Development (Aeronautics and Material Sciences), D. Banerjee, said that with âstealth obviously be an important issueâ the fuselage would have to carry internally housed weapon bays.
Stealth would also require the power plant to be internally mounted and of a non-afterburning turbofan engine type.
Specifications for issues such as payload, endurance, retractable landing gear and hard points for auxiliary fuel tanks are yet to be finalised.
Dr. Banerjee added that the DRDO had already created facilities for radar cross simulation (identification of radar reflecting areas) and measurement of radar cross section (describes the extent to which an object reflects an incident electromagnetic wave).
He disclosed that the Bangalore-based DRDO laboratory, the Aeronautical Development Establishment, would be the nodal agency for the UCAV programme. Current UCAV concepts call for aircraft which can operate virtually autonomously.
The UCAV will be programmed with route and target details, and can conduct the mission without help from human controllers.
Current global programmes include the French nEWROn, Israelâs Eitan, British Taranis, Chinaâs Anjian and the USâs X-45.
These programmes which are basically meant to demonstrate that the technology are in various stages of development.
The UCAVs can be used for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences, electronic warfare, surveillance, precision strike and associated operations.
Dr. Banerjee also disclosed that the DRDO was looking for a partner from the private sector for its Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
While the Expression of Intent has already been put out, a formal Request for Proposal will be out in September, with a partner being chosen within four months.
The DRDOâs MALE surveillance UAV is expected to have an endurance of 24 hours, can operate at 35,000 ft., and will have autonomous take-off and landing, wheeled undercarriage and a single (Rotax) piston engine. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Electronic Warfare technology in lucid prose</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Source:The Hindu
Bangalore: Think of war and you feel indebted to the soldiers battling the enemy, often against heavy odds.
Yet, the work of Defence scientists, who quietly build up the vital capabilities go unsung.
Unmasking the men and technologies behind the war machines, a retired founder-director of the Hyderabad-based Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DERL) has ventured to tell a different story through his book: âReminiscences of a Defence Scientist: A quest for self-reliance.â
For the author, V. Narayana Rao, electronic warfare was a field that required immense focus. He was given that freedom and he dwelled deep in researching a technology that called for the âdeployment of highly sensitive receivers capable of operating over large bandwidths that could quickly detect any type of electro-magnetic radiation from radars, missiles and the enemyâs communication systemsâ.
It was also about nullifying the enemyâs operation through deliberate interference, such as jamming and deception, explained the author in an informal chat with The Hindu recently.
In his book, Mr. Narayana Rao has lucidly illustrated the electronic warfare technology, and how it changed the course of battles from the Second World War to the recent Kosovo conflict.
âDuring the Second World War, the British developed windows (aluminium foils) to mask its radar tracks and hoodwinked the enemy. Hamburg was destroyed in the bombing that ensued,â he recalled.
<b>Prohibitive costs </b>
India had to acquire the technology quickly. The prohibitive costs of acquiring electronic warfare equipment from the United States, and the supply constraints posed by governments abroad propelled the Defence Ministry to turn to DERL and Mr. Narayana Rao.
âIt called for a great deal of development of sophisticated equipment that used antennas, broadband microwave components, high sensitive fast-turning receivers, digital instantaneous frequency measuring devices and a variety of other microwave and radio frequency components and devices,â he said.
<b>Without help </b>
Without any foreign help, DERL embarked on the electronic warfare technology project. Mr. Narayana Rao first set up a large microwave division and antenna divisions for microwave.
As the work went on, new technologies such as hybrid microwave integrated circuit techniques and the use of Anechoic chamber facility enabled the laboratory to make further progress.
<b>Surveillance system </b>
In due course, DERL developed a surveillance system and a pod-mounted jammer for the Indian Air Force, communication system receivers and jammers for the Army and a complete electronic warfare system for the Navy.
The laboratory, along with Bharat Electronics, also developed the Samyukta system for the Army, complete with 26 vehicles which covered the radio and microwave bands.
Mr. Narayana Rao said that most of the electronic warfare systems for the Defence services were developed by DERL before production by Bharat Electronics and other Defence firms.
<b>Orders </b>
âThe extent of the production orders based on DERL technology is about Rs. 300 crore, and it is likely to go up as more systems get ready for production,â he said.
DERL, according to Mr. Narayana Rao, was also instrumental in developing an indigenous system of cryptography, a secondary surveillance radar to identify incoming aircraft as friend or foe and several types of high power travelling tubes. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Indian armed forces place Rs 2,000 crore orders for DRDO's specialised anti-nuke equipment and systems
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Trichy (TN), Sep 21,2007 (PTI)
India's armed forces have placed orders worth over Rs 2,000 crore for specialised equipment and systems to prepare the country against nuclear, biological and chemical weapon strikes.
The equipment and systems to be purchased on fast track, include gear to protect against nuclear and chemical radiation, systems to detect any early threat of nuclear and biological weapons and an advanced medical management system to deal with nuclear fall out, top defence scientist W Selvamurthy said.
"These products are being produced by 30 DRDO and ordnance factories and would be supplied within a period of one year," Selvamurthy, who is the Chief Controller, Research and Design in DRDO told reporters on the sidelines of the annual conference of the Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists here.
He said the products also include nuclear shelters, specialised protective clothing, ruggedised combat weapons, medicines and preventive drugs.
Over 300 top scientists from across the world are participating in the three-day conference that began yesterday.
Selvamurthy also said that DRDO had produced Di-Ethyl Phenyl Acetamide (DEPA) -- which can be used both as body or room spray -- to fight epidemics like chikungunya and dengue fever.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>India may overtake Japan in 2035: DRDO official</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Scientists should don advisory role in nation-building
TIRUCHI: Scientists in the country should assume an advisory role in nation-building aggressively, W. Selvamurthy, Distinguished Scientist and Chief Controller, Research and Development, Defence Research and Development Organisation, advocated on Thursday.
The Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists (IABMS), a heterogeneous and multi-disciplinary group, can set the model by telling the nation the direction it should tread in the course of its fast transition from developing to developed country, he observed inaugurating the Associationâs 28th annual conference and a Symposium on Bioresources in the Development of Medicine, organised by the National Facility for Marine Cyanobacteria, Bharathidasan University.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Selvamurthy, a Founder Member of the IABMS, said the green, white and IT revolutions have put the country on a growth path.
India was now in an advantageous position in Science and Technology and was poised to overtake Japan in 2035 to become one of the three major superpowers.
<b>Common study groups</b>
Urging scientists to go for researches relevant to the countryâs requirements, he suggested formation of common study groups and conduct of e-conferences.
He advocated a triangular link between academic institutions, research organisations and industry. Seeding of new technologies to arrive at new products should take place in academic institutions and their application should be successfully tested in organisations while industry must take up commercial manufacture of the product for wealth generation.
Dr. Selvamurthy made a presentation on âLife Sciences in the Service of the Soldiersâ detailing the various innovative ideas generated by the nine laboratories of the DRDO.
The guest of honour, G.J. Samathanam, Advisor, Technology Development and Transfer, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, said the need of the hour was to take up greater challenges and that scientists have to think big to make the country a developed nation.
As a nation with the strength of intelligence, India can become a knowledge leader, he said and urged professional bodies to conform to performance indicators.
Presiding over, the Vice-Chancellor of Bharathidasan University, M. Ponnavaikko, said the future technologies were biotechnology, nanotechnology and wireless technology.
All forms of medicine originated from Siddha, he said, and complimented the IABMS for its successes in unravelling the medicinal properties of herbs.
S. Rajarajan, President, IABMS, said the conference was a platform for all scientists, researchers, pharmacologists and practitioners of traditional medicines to share and shape knowledge. D. Sakthisekaran, General Secretary, presented the annual report.
T. Thirunalasundari, Organising Secretary, IABMS, and M. Sundararaman, Executive Member, spoke. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
India's Nuclear submarine not a distant dream
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Josy Joseph
Saturday, September 22, 2007Â 12:29 IST
NEW DELHI: The defence establishment is making stunning progress in developing its underwater ability to launch nuclear missiles, the most assured means of launching weapons without enemy detection.
The development of a nuclear submarine and nuclear-capable missile would result in India joining an exclusive club of five countries.
The most potent ability in the nuclear triad â the other two being land and air based nuclear capability â the underwater capability is much closer to realisation than known in public, informed several sources across the military establishment.
Three simultaneous developments are the reasons why optimism is brimming in military circles.
First, the indigenous project called Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) is fast moving towards sea trial.
Secondly, the submarine launched ballistic missile project named Sagarika is getting ready for a full-system test in a couple of months.
And thirdly, a nuclear submarine leased from Russia is expected to join the Indian Navy by the middle of next year.
Sources said to stitch up last minute glitches in the ATV project, a team headed by the chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation, and comprising among others the head of the ATV project, are in Russia to firm up assistance.
The ATV is believed to be close to the design of a Russian nuclear submarine, which India had leased in the late 80s for three years.
According to a source privy to the progress of the project, by 2009 the submarine would be ready for sea trials. Several sources in the military establishment have told DNA that Indiaâs almost two-decade-old project is âmaking progressâ quicker than ever.
The land-based trials of its nuclear reactor, which would fuel the submarine, in Kalpakkam was successful. A hull for the submarine developed by Larson and Turbo is in Vishakapatnam, where the final integration would take place.
Meanwhile, a team of military scientists is getting ready for a test of Sagarika, now codenamed K15, a submarine launched ballistic missile which can be fired from ATV.
The missile has a range of 300 kilometers and scientists are hopeful of extending it to 500 kilometers. The test would bring India closer to its military dream of completing the nuclear triad. The full-system test has to be carried out by January end, before the Bay of Bengal turns turbulent.
What will further add to the efforts would be the arrival of a Russian nuclear submarine on lease for India Navy. The Akula-II class nuclear submarine is expected to be handed to the Indian Navy in June next year.
The submarine would be on lease for a decade, and would be the second time that Indian Navy would get to actually use a submarine run on nuclear power. The first time was in 1988, when India leased for three years a Charlie-I class submarine named INS Chakra. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Next variant of India's DRDO made Agni missile to be inducted within 4 years: DRDO scientist
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Jalandhar (Punjab), Sep 26 (PTI)
The next variant of Agni having a range of 5,000 km will be inducted into the armed forces withing four years, a senior DRDO scientist said today.
"The next variant will also be fully indigenous and will be able to strike at over 5000 km range besides carrying heavy payloads ... It would be a multiple warhead missile with a capacity to carry four to 12 warheads," Advanced System Laboratory Director Avinash Chander said here.
He was speaking at a talk on "Technology management for integrated guided missile programme with special reference to Agni intercontinental missile" at the DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology.
He said the system would be meticulously designed so that the missile's direction and target could be changed in air.
"We are trying to attain an accuracy level of 100 metres," he said.
The Agni variant will be three-stage solid propulsion with road mobility with composite rocket motors, he said. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
LCA is India`s numero uno project
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Bangalore, Sept 27: Asserting that the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is India's numero uno project, Vice Admiral (retd) Raman Puri said that we must succeed in inducting these aircraft into armed forces.
"Capabilities in aviation technology are extremely important in the component of national power," Puri said while delivering a lecture on strategy for indigenous capability building in aeronautics at HAL here.
"Can we possibly make claims in this sense to be an air power without operating a single fighter aircraft of our design. LCA, therefore, is today to my mind a numero uno project and succeed in its induction, we must," he said.
Puri said, technology component of the training of military commanders and those engaged in high defence management does not enable them to realise early in their careers that one key feature of future military requirements is that these cannot be based on a mere "read across from foreign concepts of deterrence--either conventional or nuclear--or from foreign theatres of conflict or combat experience."
Therefore a "reverse conceptualisation" approach to defining technological features of future operational requirements is foredoomed not only to domestic technological unachievability but also to large mismatches between actual theatre requirements and operational performance of composite man-machine systems deployed in these theatres, he noted.
"Such technological features have, therefore to be generated from a deep domestic s&t effort, with its foundational r&d being explored and performed by young people in our academic institutions--and not derivately arrived at from reverse conceptualisation, much less reverse engineering philosophy", he said.
"What we have today in a sense is a system which defines our needs based on what one may call the 'the best of brochure claims'-- the finely honed art of combining the most extremely capable features of an equipment as claimed in glossy brochures of different foreign weapon developers into the minimum acceptable specifications as the 'goal' or 'staff target' for domestic R & D-cum-production," Puri said.
"We need to recognise that what has to be organised for is the ability to deploy military capability along the locus of engagement with the enemy--the weapon, equipment or engagement techniques are means by which that ability is exercised".
The acquisition of these means is not an end goal in itself. The locus of engagement will, in turn `refigure' with changes in military doctrine.
<b>This requires our developing the necessary capabilities to conceptualise our mission needs in the first place, he said.</b>
India therefore must seek, nurture and strengthen scientific and technologic expertise, wherever they currently are or where they can most beneficially be augmented, he said.
<b>Speaking about the "triple trap" -- he said what is developed abroad will not suit our requirements, what is suitable will be denied and what is not denied will be unaffordable and called for efforts to achieve self reliance.</b>
Though there has been a dramatic growth in the civil aviation industry, the industry is dependent on aircraft and maintenance services sourced from developed countries, resulting in a huge net ouflow of foreign exchange, he said.
He also pointed out that despite the boom, while Boeing is talking about flat earth airplane and airbus following the model, the manufacturing work on these aircraft coming to India is virtually nil.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
DRDO's Varunastra to be ready to be inducted in the Indian Navy by 2009
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><i>The NSTL built lethal torpedo will target ships and has a range of up to 30 km </i>
VISAKHAPATNAM: âVarunastraâ an electric torpedo being developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), will be ready by 2009.
The torpedo will target ships and will be the first heavyweight to be inducted into the Navy. The 7.6 m, 1,500 kg torpedo will be more lethal and has a range of up to 30 km.
A new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) will be fully developed in two years. Once developed, the 1.5 ton AUV will be able to carry a payload of 500 kg.
The vehicle will have an âintelligentâ system and will be self-propellant and can also hover at a particular spot but the enemy cannot detect it. Like an unmanned aircraft, it will intercept the target. A Thermal Tarpedo is also indigenously developed at the NSTL.
These are some the new developments explained to a team of reporters on a visit for âA day at NSTLâ organised as part of the new public relations policy of the DRDO.
NSTL Director V. Bhujanga Rao and Principal Associate Director S.V. Rangarajan took the team around and explained some of the unique R&D facilities at the laboratory.
The High Speed Towing Tank is a premier research facility for carrying out studies on the hydrodynamic performance of ships, propellers and submerged bodies through model experiments. The cavitation tunnel tests propellers, torpedoes and weapons in simulated underwater conditions.
The tests validate designs and modify them for ships, submarines and torpedoes.
<b>The pump jets being made for submarines are manufactured only by the U.S., the U.K. and Russia. </b>
âThis facility can take care of needs for the next 50 years. New trials will improve efficiency. It is open for one or two other countries too as well,â said Mr. Bhujanga Rao.
The Shock, Noise and Vibration Centre is specially designed to carry out underwater explosions. It is the only one of its kind in the country.
The process called âruggedisationâ will measure the impact of explosion on ships and what kind of damage it could cause. Ships will be equipped with rubber mounds to withstand the shock of the explosion.
The Acoustics Test Centre of the NSTL has an anechoic room with wedges of 1.5 m all around. Itâs âroom within a roomâ where the sound level is as low as 25 decibels. It is used to identify where sound comes in equipment and reduce it using a robotic arm.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Environmental Survey Vehicle developed by DRDO handed over to Indian Navy
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007
NEW DELHI: An Environmental Survey Vehicle (ESV) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was formally handed over to the Navy here on Monday. DRDO chief M. Natarajan handed over the ESV to Vice-Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Nirmal Verma at a function at the DRDO headquarters.
<b>Laboratory on wheels</b>
Designed and developed by the Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur, the ESV is a radiological laboratory on wheels and equipped with state-of-art instruments.
It is capable of estimating radioactivity in field conditions in solid, liquids and air.
<b>Suitability of eatables</b>
The ESV will help certify the suitability of eatables and drinkables in field conditions from the radiation safety angle for coastal areas.
<b>Radiation</b>
It is also capable of measuring alpha, beta and gamma radiation quantitatively and qualitatively at even very low levels of radioactivity.
This will facilitate early detection of any unusual increase in radioactivity in the area.
The ESV is also capable of detecting any intentional or unintentional release of radioactivity in the marine environment. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Akash missile to be inducted in air force
December 26, 2007
The Indian Air Force has given the go ahead for induction of the indigenous surface-to-air Akash missile.
To start with, a squadron of these missiles, comprising 16 launchers would be inducted into the force, in what could be a happy new year tidings for the missile scientists, after repeated rejections by IAF experts earlier, according to Air Chief Fali Homi Major.
The IAF decision comes after a recent string of successful trials of the missile undertaken at the country's interim test range at Balasore in Orissa.
"The trials of the Akash missile have gone pretty well. We will get a squadron of these missiles once the trials are over," Major told newsperson on the sidelines of a function in Delhi, where he also outlined that IAF was acquiring more advanced radars for a "gap free" coverage of the country's vulnerable areas like the southern peninsula.
He also said that the IAF had undertaken joint exercises in the region to test reaction to threats from the sea as well as to finetune synergy for increasing civil air traffic in the region.
"We just carried out an exercises in the southern peninsula to activate forces in the area and ensure integration of all air defence assets in the area," he said.
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