Indian Military Aviation News and Discussion

[Arun_S]

[url="http://www.timesnow.tv/Akash-to-secure-our-skies/articleshow/4337178.cms"]Akash to secure our skies[/url]

26 Jan 2010, 1720 hrs IST



Notice the deployment in premier bases in easten air command.





Here is a slew of Doordarshan videos of [url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videorelated_all/5501237.cms"]Republic Day Parade[/url].

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/video...501237.cms





[url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indigenous-Agni-3-missile-on-display/videoshow/5501493.cms"]Agni-3 missile down Rajpath[/url]

[Arun_S]

[url="http://brahmos.com/newscenter.php?newsid=113#"]IAF to induct BRAHMOS missile in 2012[/url]

Brahmand.com , (January 06, 2010)



[left][/left]THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The country's prestigious 'BRAHMOS' missile would be inducted into the Air Force in 2012 that would ensure all the three wings of the military are equipped with the supersonic cruise missile, a top Defence official said on Tuesday.



"We have developed the airborne missile part, and process of integrating it with the Aircraft 'Sukhoi' was progressing', BrahMos Aerospace Ltd CMD A Shivathanu Pillai told PTI at the BrahMos Aerospace's facility here.



Trial run of Airborne BRAHMOS missile would be held next year and the target was to integrate it with the Aircraft in 2012, he said.



As far as integration of the missile was concerned, the original designers of the aircraft were also involved, he said.



"We are working with them (Sukhoi). Some changes are necessary and once the alteration is identified, we will introduce the same in the aircraft," Pillai said.



With that, all the three wings of Indian military -- Air Force, Navy and Army -- would have the supersonic missile 'BRAHMOS', he said.



Development of a new version of BRAHMOS missile, involving a technology that would discriminate the target and attack, in 2009 was a major achievement, he added.



Three flights on the new version had proved successful and the army would be inducting two more of this version shortly, Pillai said.



On the next generation cruise missile, he said hypersonic BrahMos missile was in design stage.

[Arun_S]

Indian FGFA





[url="http://english.pravda.ru/russia/economics/28-01-2010/111914-fifth_generation-0"]Russia To Test Stealthy Fifth Generation Sukhoi T-50 Fighter Jet[/url]

28.01.2010 Russian fifth generation aircraft prepares for its maiden flight. The test flight will reportedly take place on January 28 or January 29 at the air base in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Interfax news agency reports.





“A very important event in the history of the Russian aircraft-making is about to take place. First runs showed very good results. We decided to conduct the first flight here, not in Moscow,” Vyacheslav Shport, the governor of Russia’s Khabarovsk region said.



Only a few people – designers, engineers and test pilots - have seen the new Russian fighter so far. It was said, however, that the plane would develop the speed of 2,100 km/h and fly at the distance of up to 5,500 kilometers.



The first runs of the new fifth generation fighter jet took place in December of 2009 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.



The new plane, known as T-50 or PAK FA, was developed by Sukhoi design bureau. The date of the maiden flight has been changed several times. Vice Premier Sergey Ivanov said in December 2009 that the new jet would take off before the end of the year. Afterwards, it was said that the tests had been pushed back to early 2010, but the date had not been exposed, Itar-Tass said.



The current prototype is Sukhoi's T-50 is intended to replace the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker in the Russian inventory. A fifth generation jet fighter, it is designed to directly compete with the American F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.



The new jet will be able to take off and land on short runways, 300-400 meters long. The fifth generation aircraft will fly at large distances with multiple refueling in the air.



The PAK FA will use on its first flights 2 Saturn 117S engines (about 14.5 tons of thrust each). The 117S is an advanced version of the AL-31F, but built with the experience gained in the AL-41F program. The Saturn AL-41F powered the Mikoyan MFI fighter (Project/Article 1.44). Later versions of the PAK FA will use a completely new engine (17.5 tons of thrust each), developed by NPO Saturn or FGUP MMPP Salyut.



Russia ’s Air Force will have the new fighter jet in 2015. [color="#0000ff"]India’s Defense Ministry already plans to purchase 250 such planes from Sukhoi[/color].

[Arun_S]

Not sure if reported earlier



[url="http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/491771.aspx"]India, Russia set up a USD 600 million aircraft Joint Venture[/url]

Press Trust Of India



Moscow, Russia, December 29, 2009

India and Russia are to invest USD 600 million to set up a joint venture (JV) to produce a medium lift transport aircraft for their armed forces.



While Bangalore based state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will fork out USD 300 million, Russia's United Aircraft Cooperation (UAC) will invest a similar amount for the joint venture which will start rolling out the aircraft by 2017.



The Voice of Russia radio said that the joint venture coming up with fifty-fifty equity would develop the aircraft at Aviastar-SP plant based in Ulyanovsk city on Volga. The Indian Air Force is expected to order at least 35 and Russian Air Force as many as 100 medium lift transport aircraft.



In its basic configuration the new transport aircraft will have a payload capacity of 18.5 tons of cargo and can fly up to a a distance of 2500 km in any climatic conditions.



The aircraft is being designed to also operate from high altitude mountain airstrips, according to information posted on UAC website. India hopes that the new medium lift transport aircraft will replace its ageing fleet of 104 AN-32 aircraft.



Though India has signed a contract worth USD 398 million for the upgradation of these aircrafts between this year to 2017, the new plane will replace it.

[url="http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/491771.aspx#"]

[/url]

[Arun_S]

[url="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100130/jsp/nation/story_12045960.jsp"]Refueller ‘shock’ for Germany[/url] : The Telegraph

New Delhi, Jan. 29: Germany today termed India’s cancelling of a competition to buy six mid-air refuellers for the Indian Air Force a “nasty surprise”.

[left]European consortium EADS Airbus was the frontrunner to clinch the $1.5-billion deal, until the defence ministry cancelled the tender earlier this month. [/left]

[left]“It came as a little bit of a nasty surprise for us and (it was) very disappointing that it was rejected at the political level,” German ambassador Thomas Matussek said, three days before German President Horst Koehler’s week-long state visit beginning Monday. “The rejection was not explained to us in detail. It appears that quality, performance of the system, state-of-the-art-technology, reliability were not exactly the criteria. The selection was done only on the label price as it stands.” [/left]

[left]The IAF had hinted at its preference for the Airbus 330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport refuellers over the Russian Illyushin-78. The tender was cancelled after the finance ministry questioned the price.[/left]

[Guest]

Eurojet Heats Up for Tejas



HALLBERGAMOOS, GERMANY: Emerging from the airport into a desperately snowblown bit of country, I am taken in a small Daimler hatchback to this little commercial spread just outside Munich, southern Germany. On the many slightly deserted buildings, there are no signboards, and everything is covered in fresh powdered snow. My host finally steers his auto into a cavernous subterranean parking lot, where he inserts the vehicle into a slot marked "EJ Visitor". This is the headquarters of Eurojet Turbo GmbH, a four-way partnership of engine-makers from the UK, Italy, France and Germany, that makes the EJ200 turbofan engine, a hunk of metal wizardry that competes hard to power the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. For an organisation that will have some very important visitors in a few weeks, the offices of Eurojet are surprisingly empty. But then it's clear -- most staff are at test sites and development centers making absolutely sure that everything is spot-on for the gentlemen scheduled to touch down this March.



A team comprising India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and the Center for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC) are booked to arrive in Munich early March for what will be their most crucial visit. In what is giving the people at Eurojet, particularly Managing Director Hartmut Tenter great hopes for their product, is the knowledge that the Indian visitors want to discuss certification of the EJ200 for the Tejas. The team has asked to visit test-beds, manufacturing facilities and development centers during their stay.



Discussions between the Indian government and Eurojet are currently at the Q&A phase -- a period post-RFP, where the buyer smoothens out details and calls upon the vendor to explain, clarify or expand anything put forth in their technical bid. A few days ago, Eurojet received a set of 32 such questions from the ADA (Tenter says he is surprised there weren't more), out of which 26 are associated with engineering aspects, while the remaining six pertain to transfer of technology issues. Eurojet faces formidable competition to power the LCA from the American General Electric F-414-400.



OK, now here's the juice. According to Tenter and his team, for the Tejas to be able to take in an EJ200 engine, the engine will need "minor" modifications. These include some changing to the mounting assembly, a different hydraulic pump and an additional generator pack for starters. In addition, engine interfaces might need changes depending on how the LCA is configured. All in all, Eurojet believes its tailor-made EJ200 for the LCA can be ready -- certification tests and all -- in two years flat. Officials at the company point out that one of the biggest downers for their competition is that the F-414-400's intake interface assembly is markedly larger than the F-404 (and, thus, the LCA) and its selection would therefore imply some very serious modifications to the LCA's centre fuselage and intake architecture (in addition to the use of a cone director for airflow). Eurojet insists that the EJ200's installation will require absolutely no airframe and intake changes to the LCA. Both contentions remain unconfirmed at this point.



Even though the LCA new-engine competition and the MMRCA competition are linked for Eurojet (the Eurofighter Typhoon is powered by the EJ200), the company has chosen to keep both campaigns strictly separate.



"When we demonstrated the engine's performance to a team from HAL and DRDO in November last year, they were amazed that there was no thrust droop in the EJ200. The engine is designed to compensate for thrust droop," says Tenter, confident that this and a rapid-fire list of other ostensible unique selling points make the Eurojet a frontrunner in the race.

[Arun_S]

This is a huge welcome news, both fro Indian defense as well as building an economic base for indigenous development and manufacturing.



BTW notice the nuclear payload type. Clearly it will be used as last defense against ballistic missile retry-vehicle, in defense of critical building/facility. A brute force approach that was used in some early ABM systems in the world. It would be a sub-Kt yield nuclear warhead weighing ~ 50 kg.

================

Edited some typos & grammar - Arun_S, 4 Feb 2010

=====================





[url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IAF-orders-another-750-Akash-surface-to-air-missiles/articleshow/5527577.cms"]IAF orders another 750 Akash surface-[/url] to-air missiles

IANS, 2 February 2010, 03:46pm IST

BANGALORE: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered an additional 750 Akash medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) from state-run defence behemoth Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) at a cost of Rs 42.79 billion ($925 million), it was announced on Tuesday.



"A decision to place this fresh order with BEL was taken after the IAF expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Akash missiles that are deployed in two squadrons," defence minister AK Antony said on Tuesday.



The IAF will deploy 125 missiles each in six squadrons as and when BEL delivers them.



"The first order for 250 missiles was placed last year on a pilot basis. The IAF has decided to deploy the weapon in more squadrons for optimal use," Antony said after inaugurating the digital flight control (DFC) computer facility at BEL here.



BEL chairman and managing director Ashwani Kumar Datt said that the first order was worth Rs 12.21 billion.



Designed and developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Akash missile defence system is part of the country's integrated guided missile development programme.



"The missile can target an enemy aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 meters and can be fired from both tracked and wheeled platforms," Datt told reporters on the margins of the function.



The missile is capable of carrying conventional as well as [color="#ff0000"]nuclear warheads[/color] with a payload of 60 kg.



On the occasion, BEL also handed over to the defence minister an advanced gun fire control system for the Indian Navy.

[Arun_S]

[url="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lca-to-get-initial-operational-clearance-by-year-end-antony/84724/on"]LCA to get initial operational clearance by year-end: Antony[/url]

Press Trust of India / Bangalore February 02, 2010, 15:05 ISTStrongly backing the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) programme, Defence Minister A K Antony today said the LCA would obtain Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) by this year-end.



Antony said that when he took over as Defence Minister, there was "all round scepticism" about the project, with critics — apparently referring to "inordinate delay" and technological challenges — questioning its continuation and dubbing it a "total failure".



"All the doubting Thomases have proved to be wrong", he said after witnessing the flight display of the twin-seater trainer version prototype (PV5) and another belonging to the limited series production-2 of the LCA programme.



"Today I can assure you with confidence....I can declare at last LCA is going to be a reality", Antony said, adding the IOC of Tejas would take place by December this year and final clearance by the end of 2012.



He said the LCA has completed all its trials as well as at the sea-level. IAF has already placed orders for delivery of 20 LCAs. Orders for another 20 has been cleared (by the ministry), for which the Cabinet nod would be sought.



Antony said the Cabinet Committee on Security had sanctioned nearly Rs 8,000 crore for further development of the LCA programme in terms of air and naval versions and new engine.

[url="http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct2=in%2F0_0_s_9_0_t&usg=AFQjCNGozjidOMcB4cGN2PVwj6NHybeq8w&cid=8797493558383&ei=K3FoS6KSIYz-lQS7sqjBAw&rt=MORE_COVERAGE&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsonair.com%2Fnews.asp%3Fcat%3Dnational%26id%3DNN2727"]Cabinet outlays Rs 8000 crore for development of LCA[/url]

Feb 2, 2010 All India Radio -



Defence Minister AK Antony witnessed the demonstration flight of 5th prototype of light combat aircraft, LCA, trainer version in Bangalore on Tuesday. Terming the flight demonstration as historic he appreciated the contribution of various organisations



Defence Minister A K Anthony cleared the uncertainty over the future of Light Combat Aircraft LCA, by announcing in Bangalore today that Government will provide all essential impetus for the progress of this project.



Addressing the press after witnessing air display by LCA fighter, the Defence Minister termed the flight display as historic and appreciated efforts of Aeronautical Development Agency and other stake holders for designing and developing LCA within the country.



He disclosed that LCA which has cleared all weather operations capability tests would be getting Final Operational Clearance by 2012. The Defence Minister later inaugurated ‘Digital Flight Control Computer’ manufacturing facility in BEL.



AIR Correspondent Sudhindra reports from Bangalore that today was an occasion to rejoice for our Countrymen, as number of indigenized weapon systems and fighter aircrafts were operationalised and successfully flight tested. The Defence Minister continuously stressed this point on the importance of indegenisation, during his programmes in DRDO and BEL today in Bangalore.



He proudly announced that Akash surface to air medium range missiles developed within the country has been whole heartedly welcomed by our Air Force and additional order has been placed for 750 of them apart from 250 acquired earlier. He also disclosed that Airforce has placed an order for 20 additional LCAs apart from an order of 20 placed earlier. He also welcomed Navy for replacing imported sonars and radars with the one manufactured by BEL.



The Minister however regretted that non availability of advanced technologies indigenously compels the country to import nearly 70 % of our defence procurements. He wished that Indian industry in the Public and Private sector will reduce our over dependence on external sources which are undependable during the time of crisis.

[url="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h4OEnZovTkvgCGpBef1olKqMIXDQ"]India declares indigenous combat jet a success[/url]

BANGALORE — India's defence minister announced Tuesday that a much-delayed project to build an indigenous supersonic combat aircraft was a success.



The jets are intended to become the country's frontline combat plane by 2020.



A.K. Antony told reporters the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) -- billed by India as the world's smallest warjet -- would be cleared for limited flights by the end of 2010.



"Today I can declare that at last the LCA is going to be a reality," Antony said in the southern city of Bangalore where the locally built plane had been on the design board since 1983 when the multi-billion dollar project began.



The minister said the aircraft, powered by engines supplied by US-based General Electrics, would be ready for full induction into the military by 2012.



"All the doubting Thomases have proved to be wrong," Antony said, referring to sceptics who doubted that the combat jet would ever take off.



Antony said the Indian Air Force had already placed an initial order for 20 of the jets.



Although the first LCA prototype rolled out in 1995, the project hit an air pocket three years later when the United States and other Western governments slapped a slew of sanctions on India in retaliation for its 1998 nuclear tests.



The LCA won the nickname "last chance aircraft" <img src='http://www.india-forum.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/angry.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':angry:' /> because of the delays.



India's first attempt in the 1950s to make an indigenous fighter plane failed after it built a limited number of ground attack planes that fell far short of military specifications

[Arun_S]

Oh well, DDM PsyOp title to kill Indian public spirit.



[url="http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/574749/"]Akash, LCA get fresh lease of life[/url]

Johnson TA Posted online: Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 0050 hrs Bangalore : In a boost to indigenous projects, [b]Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday announced a Rs 4,000-crore push for Akash missiles for the Army and a Rs 8,000-crore push for the Light Combat Aircraft[/b] programme’s naval and air versions. [color="#2e8b57"]The weapons at trial stages have not satisfied user agencies in recent days.[/color] The minister was on a tour of defence facilities here. Antony said the Defence Acquisition Council had on Monday cleared the path for the procurement of six more squadrons of Akash missiles to add to existing two. Each squadron comprises 125 missiles and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) had been chosen to build systems for them, Antony said during the unveiling of a digital flight control computer manufacturing facility for the LCA at BEL. [b]“Initially, the Army wanted to exit the Akash missiles programme. What were doubts are now becoming reality. Now they are very happy with the system,” Antony said.



[/b]According to the minister,[b] similar doubts over the LCA and MBT battle tank were also disappearing. “[/b]The Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared a Rs 8,000-crore investment in the LCA development programme for further development of the naval and air versions, also for the development of new engines for naval model,” Antony said.



The [color="#2e8b57"]LCA project recently ran into rough weather with the Navy expressing doubts over the development of a naval version of the indigenous aircraft[/color].



Antony said the LCA would be ready for use by the Indian Air Force by the end of 2012. The IAF has ordered for 20 LCAs or Tejas as they are known. The purchase of another 20 had been cleared and was awaiting Cabinet clearance, he said.

[url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-5529518,prtpage-1.cms"]On for 27 yrs, LCA project gets Rs 8,000 crore more[/url]

TNN, 3 February 2010,

BANGALORE: What Tejas wants, Tejas gets. The much-delayed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme will get an additional funding of Rs 8,000 crore.



Tejas, India’s effort at building an indigenous trainer — in the making since 1983 — will obtain initial operational clearance by the year-end. The government had spent Rs 4,800 crore on the LCA programme till 2009-end.



There has been all-round scepticism of the project over its inordinate delay. Experts have questioned the wisdom of continuing it, and dubbed it a total failure. But defence minister AK Antony on Tuesday strongly defended the LCA programme. ‘‘Today I can assure you with confidence... I can declare at last LCA is going to be a reality,’’ he said.



Dismissing all criticism about the project taking close to three decades, he said that all agencies involved strongly believed in LCA. The Centre would back the development team’s demands.



Maintaining that LCA had to undergo rigorous trials before it became a complete fighting machine, Antony said the development of a new aircraft was not easy; the gestation period is very long. ‘‘Don’t expect miracles. Our expectation is to give a momentum for indigenization.’’ Admitting that Tejas still has a long way to go, he expressed confidence it will get final operational clearance by end of 2012. The Indian Air Force has already ordered 20 LCAs and expressed interest in ordering another 20 aircraft. Antony said the government is in talks with parties abroad for the development of an engine for Tejas.

[Arun_S]

[url="http://www.deccanchronicle.com/national/finally-iaf-will-fly-%E2%80%98made-india%E2%80%99-fighter-194"]Finally, IAF will fly a ‘made in India’ fighter: Deccan Cronical[/url]

February 3rd, 2010

By Our Correspondent



Bengaluru, Feb. 2: The IAF, long ridiculed as one of the world’s biggest air forces that has never flown its own indigenous fighters [color="#9932cc"]{Aruns_S: What Gober !!. India has operationally fielded its own HF-24 before. This is what comes out of people who have reading/learning disorder, and those who only see/read TV and have never read books or used their brains to visit a museum}[/color], could be flying a squadron of Tejas Light Combat Aircraft by the end of the year.



The defence minister, Mr A.K. Anthony, declared on Tuesday that the indigenous aircraft, the world’s smallest multi-role fighter “will certainly get the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) by the end of 2010”.



In January, the Cabinet Committee on Security allocated Rs 8,000 crore for production of the air force version of the LCA and for the development of the naval version and the trainer, clearly indicating that there was now no doubt at the highest decision-making levels about the success of the project.



Tejas — long criticised as being too late, too expensive – was first conceived some 27 years ago. It began as a technology demonstrator project in 1993 and was subsequently cleared for development as a multi-role fighter in 2001.



Nearly, all trials have been completed in some 1,290 flights.



Mr P. S. Subramanyam, the man spearheading the development of Tejas, said, [color="#4169e1"]“Only the Multi-Mode Radar needs to be flown on Tejas, and that we will do this month”[/color].



Mr Antony’s championship of the indigenous military technology has also seen DRDO notch up a Rs 4,000 crore IAF order to supply it six squadrons of Akash air defence missile systems, in addition to the two squadrons it already has and against stiff competition from the Israeli Spyder system.

[Arun_S]

[url="http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article99367.ece?css=print"]IAF to procure more Tejas aircraft and Akash missiles: Antony[/url]

Bangalore, February 2, 2010

In what could be termed a major boost to the indigenous defence manufacturing sector, Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday announced that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to procure 750 Akash missile systems from the public sector undertaking Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at a cost of about Rs.4,000 crore.



Besides, the Minister also announced that the Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared a proposal to sanction Rs.8,000 crore for further development of the indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas, for use in the Navy and the Air Force, and for the development of the LCA’s new engine.



Apart from these, the IAF recently placed an order for an additional 20 LCAs with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).



He told journalists here during his visit to the various defence public sector undertaking and defence research organisations in Bangalore that the Defence Acquisition Committee had decided to buy the Akash missiles as the IAF was satisfied with their performance and had already inducted them for two squadrons (250 missile systems).



These orders for the Akash missiles and the LCAs assume significance for the indigenous defence technology and manufacturing sector as both the projects once faced the threat of being abandoned. The IAF initially was not satisfied with the performance of the Akash missile. “Now the IAF is very happy about it,” Mr. Antony said.



Making it clear that self-reliance through indigenisation remained the government’s objective, Mr. Antony said the defence industry would be given priority over imports if it met the requirement of the Armed Forces. “The government realises the adverse impact of continued over-dependence on external sources for meeting critical defence needs.”



Mr. Antony, who witnessed the flight display of the twin-seater trainer version prototype (PV5) and another belonging to the limited series production (LCP)-2 of the LCA programme, said scepticism that prevailed a few years ago about the LCA project no longer existed with the progress made in project implementation.



Tejas has successfully undergone weapon trials such as the release of the R-73 missile, dropping of bombs, and integration of drop tanks, and the process was due to be completed by the end of this year.



On the LCA’s Naval version, Mr. Antony said that the building of two prototypes was envisaged — a two-seat trainer (NP1) and a single-seat fighter (NP2). The NP1 was nearing completion of equipping after the structural assembly, and it was due to roll out by April next followed by the first flight in June. The NP2 is scheduled for the first flight by June 2011.



Earlier, the PV-5 was flown by the National Flight Test Centre’s chief test pilot R.R. Tyagi and group director R.K. Raveendran. Mr. Antony also inaugurated the System Test and Integration Rig at the Centre for Airborne Systems at the HAL airport.



Secretary (Defence Production) R.K. Singh and Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister V.K. Saraswat, accompanied the Minister.

[gangajal1]

I didn't realize that Akash missile will actually use a sub-kt nuclear weapon to defend against missiles.

[Guest]

That is Desi Dork Media for you.

These idiot reporters have finally 'understood' that missiles == nuclear weapons.

So they invariably ask that question to the DRDO media persons if a given missile can carry nuclear weapons.

I can imagine the ROTFL the DRDO guys must be having, they probably reply, "Yes it possibly can", with as straight a face as they can muster. <img src='http://www.india-forum.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Arun_S]

Re-posting my earlier comment on the Akash news report.



N tipped Aksah has been consistently reported in last 8 years. One can't discount that lightly, as potential last resort weapon against high value aerial target (AWACS), CM or BM, because there is historical precedence of such SAM warheads.





[quote name='Arun_S' date='02 February 2010 - 11:40 PM' timestamp='1265133768' post='103856']

This is a huge welcome news, both fro Indian defense as well as building an economic base for indigenous development and manufacturing.



BTW notice the nuclear payload type. Clearly it will be used as last defense against ballistic missile retry-vehicle, in defense of critical building/facility. A brute force approach that was used in some early ABM systems in the world. It would be a sub-Kt yield nuclear warhead weighing ~ 50 kg.



[url="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IAF-orders-another-750-Akash-surface-to-air-missiles/articleshow/5527577.cms"]IAF orders another 750 Akash surface-[/url] to-air missiles





[/quote]

[Guest]

Saar,



Akash has a 35 cm diameter. And the payload is reported to be 60 Kg. I wonder if DRDO/BARC can fit a nooke in there. If they can, then they can fit one in the BRAHMOS too easily.



I would suppose that a N-tipped SAM / Anti Missile Missile would be a PAD equivalent, both because of its dimensions and because of the altitude where it will intercept with a N-blast.



In this case I will tend to assume this is the result of a DDM display of it usual dorkiness.



But I would love to be corrected.



Added later: Wiki does say that Akash's warhead is a 60Kg fragmentation or a Nuclear warhead. (I tend to trust what wiki says wrt Indian missiles - that's the only source after your pages are no longer viewable).

PS when your missile pages are again viewable, please do update them to current data.



Thanks

[Arun_S]

[quote name='Gagan' date='10 February 2010 - 06:04 AM' timestamp='1265761566' post='104062']

Saar,



Akash has a 35 cm diameter. And the payload is reported to be 60 Kg. I wonder if DRDO/BARC can fit a nooke in there. If they can, then they can fit one in the BRAHMOS too easily.

[/quote]



Of course low yield fission weapon on Brahmos has been known in forum and military circles for quite some time. BTW Brahmos has smaller tighter space constrain compared to Akash

I would suppose that a N-tipped SAM / Anti Missile Missile would be a PAD equivalent, both because of its dimensions and because of the altitude where it will intercept with a N-blast.

Akash is RAM jet powered and PAD is rocket engine. Thus their trajectory/range profile is far different compared to PAD.



Akash can take on a maneuvering target at lower altitude (compared to PAD), and the longer powered flight increases the kill envelop apart from kill envelop of the low yld N weapon. Good to take down high value air target or a wolf pack attack.

[emperor]

Arun,



How about India testing a nuclear SAM? still falls under sanctions periphery?

[Guest]

Air blasts are super duper banned.

This was covered in the PTBT that India signed

In fact all tests except underground are banned under PTBT and India is a signitory.

China, France, Saudi Arabia and Israel haven't signed it.



Check wikipedia

[Arun_S]

[url="http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/feb/09/why-indias-military-needs-an-urgent-update.htm"]Why India's military needs an urgent update[/url]

February 09, 2010 17:58 IST



A strong military cannot be maintained with discipline alone. Today, a strong military means state of the art equipment, steady supply of munitions and morale and most importantly reconnaissance, research and 2nd/3rd strike capabilities, writes Pramod Kumar Buravalli.







[size="5"]W[/size]hen I heard the Indian Air Force Chief [color="#800080"]Air Chief Marshal P V Naik admitting last year that India lacks the air power to meet the myriad terror threats facing the country[/color], I didn't blame him. He was and is still right.



When you have identified adversaries in all geographical directions and just 29 operational squadrons in your air force, how can you claim to be a strong and sovereign nation?



Can you protect all of your borders let alone airspace, cities and strategic installations? Can you even contemplate using the air force to launch a counter strike and a 2nd strike?



These questions have to be constantly asked and answers sought from the Indian leadership.



[color="#800080"]Today, India's only deterrence lies in the (under-development) INS Arihant and the (over-tested) AGNI missile[/color]. For a country and civilization that boasts of the Vimanika Shastra, Chandrayaan missions and numerous wise and dedicated missile men, having so few strike options is indigestible.



Advisors, researchers and strategists have all lamented the lack of military industrial complexes in India. When you are a country of 1.2 billion and aspiring to be at the high table of world powers, the least you can do is to produce atleast half of your military equipment indigenously.



(As always) after my initial round of critiquing, I am unable to stop myself from recommending the following long term steps for the Indian Air Force (since the Indian Navy and Army seem to have taken the lead in the race to stay ahead of our adversaries):



Stop buying old junk from world markets: The aircraft that are being offered to the IAF today by outside countries are older technologies. Only the Su-30/35, Tu-Blackjack, F-22/35, B-1/2 type aircraft can be worthy of procurement and that too under transparent technology transfer agreements.



Start announcing competitive aircraft designing contracts to Indian private sector companies that can (just like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Pratt & Whitney in the USA) come up with competing designs which can later be jointly developed into long serving aircrafts by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and the winning bidder. The Tatas, Mahindras, L&Ts all have the expertise and financial muscle to become the next Boeing or Lockheed.



Create an aerospace military research organisation that focuses exclusively on research, design, development and testing for military uses of aerospace.



For the short term:



Pour more finances and manpower into developing unmanned combat aerial vehicles: India should continue joint initiatives with Russians, Americans and Israelis plus simultaneously develop its own indigenous public and private development initiatives. ADE is already working overtime to develop three new UAV variants. India needs at least 20 squadrons (360 aircraft).



Research and Development with Russia: The fifth generation Indo-Russian (PAK FA) fighter aircraft will be ready for induction by 2017-2020. At least 15 squadrons of these fighters will be required to replace MiG 29's and Mirages by 2025.



Procuring atleast 200 more Sukhoi-30MKI fighter bombers: IAF needs to maintain atleast 500 Sukhois to maintain air supremacy.



Investing more resources into Light Combat Aircraft/Medium Combat Aircraft: IAF is all set to order 2-3 squadrons from HAL over the next few years. However, more time needs to be spent in making the MCA a success rather than just looking at the LCA.



MRCA (MIG 21/27) Replacement: Via a Global RFP (request for proposal), the IAF is set to acquire 180 fighters from 2012 onwards to replace MiG-21s/27s and the competition is between Rafale, Grippen, F-16, F/A-18E/F and MiG-35 .



History shows that the Indians use any technology platform for over 30-40 years and unless the IAF gets the go ahead to purchase the JSF or the F-22, there is no point in getting older technologies from any of the competing bidders.



Missiles: Agni V, Brahmos, Akash and Trishul may be sufficient for now but a new range of undetectable stealth missiles have to be developed for the IAF and navy by the DRDO. These new generations of missiles have to have tactical, surgical and strategic strike capabilities.



Conclusion:



The Indian military and political leadership has to keep in mind two simple things.



Diversity and democracy are tough to maintain. If India wants to be the flag bearer of these two principles in the eastern hemisphere, it has to maintain an independent and strong military.



A strong military cannot be maintained with discipline alone. Today, a strong military means state of the art equipment, steady supply of munitions and morale and most importantly reconnaissance, research and 2nd/3rd strike capabilities.



To counter a giant like China which is constantly trying to find a chink in our armour, we need to revisit Sun Tzu's Art of War and an interesting quote I found invaluable:

"If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him.



If he is in superior strength, evade him.



If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him.



Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.



If he is taking his ease, give him no rest.



If his forces are united, separate them.



If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them.



Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected".

I hope the Indian leaders are listening.



Pramod Kumar Buravalli

[Arun_S]

[url="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5575728.cms"]India to spend $200 billion on defence systems by 2022[/url]

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.