<b>DRDO's integrated missile programme to end this year</b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
With the successful completion of the Akash air defence system, the Defence Research and Development Organisation plans to formally end its two-decade-old prestigious integrated missile programme including four missile systems this year-end with the user trials of Nag anti-tank missile.
Chief controller (Research and Development) of the DRDO, Prahalada said the DRDO would now need only five to six years to develop a missile system as compared to two decades by going in for technological tie-ups with the Indian industry and foreign countries.
However, strategic projects like the Agni missile systems would not be covered under the new philosophy, the top scientist said adding more than 16 countries were now eager to join hands with the DRDO for joint development and manufacture of top the line defence systems.
Elaborating upon the integrated missile programme, he said this year would see "the dream of Dr Abdul Kalam coming to a happy end." Kalam was the main architect of indigenously designing and developing integrated missile programme including Prithvi (range of 200 kms).
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->SUJAN DUTTAÂ
Â
New Delhi, Jan. 8: India has wound up its guided missile programme 24 years after it was launched, jettisoning the political philosophy of isolated self-reliance in military technology.
The burial of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) founded by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in July 1983 was couched in claims by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) that it has delivered all five missile systems that the plan envisaged.
The announcement comes a day before the DRDO celebrates its golden jubilee.
Begun with an initial allocation of about Rs 389 crore in 1983, the cost and time overruns have seen more than Rs 2,000 crore being used up in the programme to develop five missile systems. (See chart)
C.K. Prahlada, the chairman of the IGMDP board and chief controller (research and development) of DRDO, declared today that the Akash surface-to-air missile system tested last month was ready for induction by the army and the air force. With this, the IGMDP has been formally wound up.
The winding up of the IGMDP does not mean that all work on the five missile projects is scrapped immediately. <b>It means the government will not make any further investment in the research and development of these missiles over and above what has already been sanctioned</b>.
For example, the Agni III strategic missile that successfully test-fired in April last year can still be fine-tuned and more tests of it are likely on the road to induction in the armed forces.
<b>The government and the DRDO believe that the winding up of the IGMDP means the emphasis is now shifting from research and development to series production.</b>
Prahlada said missile manufacturing capacities have to be expanded. Capacity at a missile facility in Hyderabad will be expanded in the short term to 100 missiles from 40 a year.
The IGMDPâs time actually ran out in December 2007 and were it not for the DRDOâs advertisement of the Akash as the pinnacle of its success, the programmeâs burial would have been quiet. Work on the smallest of the missiles under the project â the anti-tank Nag â will be over this summer.
âYou must understand the background of the IGMDP,â Prahlada explained. âIt was started at a time when there was no help forthcoming from anywhere. That situation is not there now.â
To illustrate, he said there were organisations from as many as 14 countries that were now willing to collaborate with the DRDO in developing missiles. Among these were the US, Israel, Germany, France and Russia.
When the IGMDP was launched in July 1983, India was dependent almost wholly on Russian military technology. But even Soviet supplies and support for the strategic missile programme was niggardly.
Understanding that the US had imposed a technology-denial regime, India offered to devise its own missiles and put Kalam in charge.
The IGMDP was given time till 1995. On Kalamâs insistence, the P.V. Narasimha Rao government gave it a further lease of life for another 10 years.
In 2006, when the defence establishment had all but taken a decision to mothball the Trishul missile programme, the DRDO insisted again â when Kalam was President â and the government granted it another two years.
In these two years, the DRDO â and not only its missile programmes â came in for criticism from the users (the armed forces) and even its former scientists. But last year, the DRDO carried out probably the largest number of missile tests in the rush to meet the December 2007 deadline.
Asked if the IGMDP was going to be replaced by another programme, Prahlada said there would be a general move towards greater collaborative ventures but this would be decided on a case-by-case basis.
<b>He said two possible models were the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile that is a joint venture between India and Russia run on commercial lines, and the Astra, a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile for which the DRDO is tying up with institutions in at least four countries.
But this model, however, will not be adopted for strategic (read long-range nuclear-capable) missiles like the Surya (which is on the drawing board) and electronic warfare systems.</b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It has been reported in a section of the media today that âIntegrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) as a Strategic Programme stands Scrappedâ.
It is hereby clarified that except for Agni demonstrator, which was successfully completed in 1989, all other projects under IGMDP are related to Tactical Missiles such as anti-tank Nag, short range Trishul, medium range Akash and Prithvi for artillery role with conventional warheads.
All these missiles have since been developed. All are entering Service in one form or other. With this, objectives of IGMDP originally envisaged stand completed.
Strategic Missile Program is entirely indigenous and is being pursued through a number of separate projects. All of them are progressing as per schedule and no Strategic System has been scrapped.
[center]<b>DRDO Researching Applications Of Magnetic Resonance In Defense</b>[/center]
Dated 15/1/2008
The 14th annual meeting of the National Magnetic Resonance Society (NMRS-2008) is being organized by DRDO's Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS) at Dr. S Bhagwantam Auditorium, Metcalfe House, Civil Lines, Delhi from 16th to 19th January 2008.
During this meeting a special international symposium on "Advanced MR Applications"Â is being held during the first two days. The symposium will deal with the developments and advancements in the frontier areas of biomedical magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy with special emphasis on functional, metabolic and neuro-imaging.
The meeting is being attended by about 250 Indian and 25 international delegates from national and international academic and research institutes with several of them legends in their area of work. The event will be inaugurated on 16th January 2008 at 0930 hrs by Dr T Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India and Lt. Gen. Yogendra Singh Director General Armed Forces Medical Service (DGAFMS) will be the guest of honour. Prof Seiji Ogawa of Japan , the inventor of the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) signal based MR contrast which forms the basis of functional MRI, one of the the most upcoming and promising application of MRI will also be present in the inauguration.
The other eminent scientists include Dr W Selvamurthy, distinguished scientist and Chief Controller (LS&HR) DRDO, Prof K V Ramanathan, President NMR Society and Dr R P Tripathi, Director, INMAS. During the inauguration session Maj Gen (Retd) Dr N Lakshmipathi, VSM, Former Director of INMAS will be felicitated by the Society for bringing in the first MRI in the country.
The international delegates include Prof. David G Gadian from University College London, Prof Elaine Holmes Imperial College London, Prof Uwe Klose and Dr Michael Erb from University of Tuebingen Germany, Dr Stefan Posse, University of New Mexico, Prof Veena Kumari from Kings College London, Dr Kohkan Shamsi, Acunova life sciences USA, Dr Tony Stocker from Research centre Juelich Germany.
The meeting would be a great opportunity for the entire scientist community in the country to meet the experts and learn about the advanced techniques and applications of MR. The event has a special significance for INMAS and DRDO as it coincides with Golden Jubilee celebrations of the DRDO.
The National Magnetic Resonance Society (NMRS) of India was established in the year 1995, with the aim of bringing together scientists working in the different areas of magnetic resonance on one platform.
The major participating institutes include Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Tata Institute of Fundamental research (TIFR) Mumbai, Centre of Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) Hyderabad, National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) Pune, IIT Chennai, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Centre for Biomedical Magnetic Resonance (CBMR), SGPGI Lucknow, besides INMAS, Delhi.
Making ballistic missiles is no longer rocket science. "You decide that you will launch a missile on a Sunday after breakfast, and you do it," said Dr Prahlada, chief controller of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). You launch from earth, and you hit a stationary target on earth.
Tactical missiles, which strike several war jets flying faster than sound, are more complex. Only three or four countries such as the US, Russia and France have developed operational multitarget-handling surface-to-air missile systems. With last month's user trials of Akash, India has entered the club. China and Taiwan may soon follow suit.
But there is something more to Akash. It uses solid fuel. No country, except Russia, has mastered solid fuel technology in tactical missiles. Not even the US. That way, DRDO scientists consider Akash superior to the US Patriot. Unlike Patriot, Akash does not coast while it approaches the target, and thus has a higher kill probability. Liquid-fuelled missiles like Patriot would have burnt up all the fuel before they reach the target. In solid-fuel systems, the fuel is rationed so that the velocity is maintained throughout the flight. "Because this missile has an integrated ram-rocket, manoeuvrability is highest. The engine is 'on' throughout the flight.
The thrust is on till the missile intercepts the target," explained Prahlada. With Akash, Indian scientists mastered two unique technologies-multi-function phased array system integration, and integration of ram-rocket propulsion, aerodynamics, structure, and control. "But the beauty of Akash is in something else-that we had 100 per cent success. We conducted nine trials, and not even one failed," said Prahlada.
With Akash's success, and the expected success of anti-tank missile Nag, DRDO expects to close its prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). However, Prahlada's statement was generally interpreted as scrapping of the programme. In an exclusive interview, he clarified the misconceptions, and explained the problems that plagued the DRDO.
<b>The Akash system is not just about a few missiles, but also about the three-dimensional radar, its command-control system and many other systems. How different is it from the systems that we have in service now? </b>
Normal surveillance radars are two-dimensional. They tell you the range and the azimuth [of the target], not the height at which the targets are flying. A missile battery commander also would like to know at what height the enemy aircraft are coming. Our radar, developed by LRDE, tells you this. That is why it is called 3D Central Acquisition Radar [CAR]. We have offered it to the Navy for shore and ship-based surveillance, and to the Air Force for airport and air-based applications.
Then there is another radar in this system, which is a multi-function phased-array radar. This one can electronically scan, do surveillance, track a number of targets, acquire the targets, and guide the missiles towards the targets. All these functions it can do simultaneously, because it is electronically scanned beam. The whole Akash system is highly IT-integrated.<b>
How does it operate in a battlefield condition? </b>
Suppose there are four aircraft attacking a city simultaneously from one direction. A conventional surface-to-air missile system has a radar tracking a target. One radar handles one target. When the second target comes, it will have to leave the first. So you need more radars. What we have now developed is a multi-function radar. This radar is at the heart of the Akash system. It will guide the missile, track the target, and will do surveillance. It can handle multiple targets.
<b>How many countries have this technology? </b>
In the whole world, Russia, the US, France have operational multitarget-handling missile systems for surface-to-air application. China claims they also have it. China and Taiwan may be making it. So this has not proliferated like ballistic missiles.
<b>
Is it also being developed as a weapon-locating radar? India imported a few WLRs from the US. </b>
It also has an application called weapon locating. We now offer this [to the Army], and trials are completed. This has superior features. This is of later generation [than the US-imported radars] and can handle more targets, has less weight, and is much cheaper. The Army has cleared 28 radars. You can say this is a fallout or spin-off from Akash.
<b>What were the user's concerns about Akash? The services have always had problems with DRDO-developed systems. </b>
First, they [IAF] wanted accuracy. It is accurate. We have demonstrated it nine times. It was perfectly accurate all the nine times. Then they wanted consistency. Nine flights, and not a single misbehaviour. The third concern was whether the complete weapon system, not just the missile, was ready. We have all that-the missile, the radar, the control centre, everything. In last month's test, we deployed all of them on the beach, where there was no existing infrastructure. We demonstrated the complete air defence function.
<b>How does it work if deployed, say around Delhi? </b>
You put the CAR. It looks for threats all around Delhi, finds out targets coming, alerts the battery. The batteries get ready, and the targets are assigned. Once the target is within the kill zone, the control centre will assign the target. All this is done automatically. The assignment has to be accepted by the battery, and priority is given. They will check whether the target is enemy or friend. Then the launcher is readied and checked. The moment the target gets assigned, the missile gets powered. The battery will know when the target will reach the optimum kill zone, when you have the highest probability of killing.
<b>
What is the kill probability? </b>
On a single launch it is 88 per cent. Assured 88 per cent. So when the target enters the optimum kill zone, the commander gets a beep. Unless he has any other information, he will clear the launch. Then the missile is checked automatically, and it fires. When the missile flies, the radar tracks it. If the first missile does not take off due to any mistake, automatically a second missile gets launched.
Suppose the target is high priority, the commander would take no chances. He can then launch two missiles at the same target. One will go, and after 5 seconds the other will go. Then the kill probability is 99 per cent.
And it is most reliable. We were telling the Air Force that even if four out of five launches [done last month] succeed, you should take it. Some quality control problem, some loose wires, something not put correctly, can cause a problem in one or two. Even in imported, mature systems, produced in hundreds, a few could fail. But five out of five succeeded. Not even a single one misbehaved.
<b>
What about production? Can the industries take bulk orders now? </b>
We took the people from the industry, and told them to talk to the user. All the hardware are made by the industry, private and public sector. They are ready for production. You place the order, and they will deliver. Now BDL and BEL are ready for serial production. We are now only facilitators.
<b>
DRDO projects have always been plagued by delays. This also has been. </b>
We are late by five to eight years. I agree. We promised to give it in 2000. But technologically, it is not obsolete. This is still state-of-the-art. You can't get such a system elsewhere. We own up the delay, but the delay has not caused the system to be obsolete. It is also cost-effective. You cannot get such a missile system for the price. For an Air Force squadron the cost is approximately Rs 500 crore, one missile about Rs 2 crore. For this class, this accuracy and this range, you won't get another system. Plus it is indigenous. You can upgrade it as you want, change its software, you can produce it the way you want. You want one per month or ten per month you can get it. The whole investment is within the country. No rupee is going out.
We took 20-21 years to perfect the missiles in the IGMDP. You take Barak [of Israel] or Patriot [of the US]. They also took more than 20 years for the first systems to be developed. So we didn't take more. We have done as good as the best in the world. They won't take 20 years to develop the second missile. Nor will India.
Our mistake is that, initially, we said we will take 12 years, and we took 20 years. People were too optimistic, or thought that by giving an early date they could urge everyone to work better. We lost technologists in the 1990s in the IT boom. Then there were the sanctions after the nuclear test, when several components were denied.
<b>There were reports that the IGMDP has been scrapped. Can you clarify? </b>
The IGMDP had five parts-Agni was a technology demonstrator. Then there was Prithvi. The Army accepted it. The three tactical missiles took longer. It was expected that tacticals would take longer. The next was Trishul, over which we got into a technological problem. The Navy was in a hurry to fit their ships; they could not wait. So Trishul was almost taken out so that we could resolve the technical problems. It was successfully tested in 2006-07. The development was completed in January 2006. Then we did mobility test, air defence test, ECM trials. From January 2006 to December 2007, we did all the user-related activities. Akash is completed. We have some money left, but we close the project and give that money back to the government.
<b>
So it is not scrapping, but closing the programme? </b>
The objectives as defined in the original project, when we got the government sanction, have been achieved. So we have completed it. The only one left is [anti-tank missile] Nag. By summer 2008, we will complete all the Nag-related work. By then all the IGMDP-related work would be over. These were five specific projects, and we are completing them.
<b>
What about Agni-3 and other programmes? </b>
There are other programmes, like Agni-2, Agni-3. Then we have got Astra programme sanctioned. They are continuing. But they are not part of the original IGMDP. There is no question of any project [being] closed when the objectives are not met. [While completing the objectives] you take new projects. You go to the government for fresh approval of those programmes.
<b>So Agni-3 and Agni-4 don't come under this? </b>
Agni-3 is under development. [It is] not a part of the IGMDP. Not even Agni-1 was part of the IGMDP. The moment we finished technology demonstration of Agni with three flights, we took it out of IGMDP. And we took separate sanction for Agni-1, Agni-2, Agni-3. Not only for developing, but flight tests, infrastructure. They all got implemented.
The helicopter, which is based on HAL's existing Dhruv advanced light helicopter platform, will be equipped with helmet-mounted targeting systems, electronic warfare systems and advanced weapons systems.
It will be capable of operating at heights of up to 6,000 metres or 18,000 feet and will be powered by the Shakti engine developed by HAL and Turbomecca. The first eight to 10 LCA's are expected to be supplied to the IAF by 2010.
Baweja said the Russian and European platforms are not specifically designed for Indian terrain and LCH will be developed keeping in mind high altitude areas like Jammu and Kashmir and North-East.
He said HAL has already won orders for the supply of 240 Dhruv's to the armed forces, including utility and armed variants.
"We have got very large orders. Orders for 240 machines are already with us. We have already delivered 80. It is going forward as a major programme in India," he said.
Work on the multi-purpose aircraft, Saras, was progressing significantly and was "moving as per schedule," a senior Saras was in operation, Air Commodore M Matheswaran, Commandant, ATSE, told reporters here.
Speaking on the progress on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) front, P S Subramanayam, Director, Aeronautical Development Agency, said the development of LCA was progressing and about 15 to 20 per cent of the work remains.
"Performance wise we have been able to convince the users and should be able to push for the initial operation clearance which we target for 2010", he said.
Work on Saras, the first Indian multipurpose civilian aircraft in the Light Transport Aircraft category and designed by National Aerospace Laboratory (NAC) in cooperation with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), began in 1991.
Saras first prototype completed its maiden flight at HAL airport on May 2004 with a flight duration of 20 minutes and an altitude of 2000 metres. However, the prototype was overweight by around 900 kgs.
BALASORE: After successfully test-firing anti-ballistic missiles and the land version of the Agni series, Indian defence scientists are preparing to launch a ballistic missile from under water.
The ballistic missile (SLBM) K-15 is to be test-fired from an underwater launcher, a replica of a submarine, next week.
"The missile will be fired on February 24 or 25 from INS Kalinga, about 13 km from Vishakhapatnam,'' a source at the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea told TOI.
"The missile will be fired from an underwater launcher 50 metres deep and about eight km from the coastline. Called Pontoon, the launcher has been designed by Electronics Corporation of India,'' said the source, adding that a strategic missile with a strike range of 750 km will be used for the purpose.
Indian defence scientists have achieved a 'breakthrough' with the air force agreeing to induct two squadrons of the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft, Defence Minister AK Antony said here on Saturday.
"In the past, the Indian Air Force (IAF) was not willing to accept even one light combat aircraft (Tejas). But now, after trials, they have agreed to induct two squadrons," Antony said at the ongoing defence exposition.
"This is a breakthrough."
Antony also said that the development of the multi-role combat aircraft was on schedule but admitted to problems with some associated programmes of this ambitious project.
"You all know there is a problem with its Kaveri engine," Antony said, referring to the parallel programme to develop a turbofan engine by the Bangalore-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment.
"But this is being sorted out."
The aircraft first flew in 2000 with the development of four prototypes, powered by General Electric engines. Among them, they have logged over 400 flying hours so far without mishap, defence ministry officials said.
The weaponised version of the Tejas has also been successfully flown.
The light combat aircraft programme was launched in 1983 to primarily replace the ageing fleet of MiG-21 fighters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and also give a fillip to the nation's indigenous aerospace industry.
The programme was eventually named Tejas in May 2003. Some 100 defence-related organisations, academic institutions and research bodies are associated with the programme.
The new hypersonic missile will have great kinematics energy, range and a powerful scramjet engine to make it a precision lethal weapon. The kerosene-fuelled missile is believed to be much cheaper than the design concepts of the western countries.
'The hypersonic missile will have a speed of mach 5. That is five times the speed of sound,' Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and amp; MD of BrahMos Aerospace, told IANS.
'Today we are flying BrahMos at mach 2.8. From that we are going to increase to mach 5. So, the programme involves developing a new scramjet engine to reach hypersonic speed,' he added.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
India is all set to test fire its first ever under sea ballistic missile and join the select band of five nations who have the technology.
The missile K-15, with a range of 700-km, would be test fired from a pontoon immersed in the sea shortly, according to Chief Controller of the Defence Research and Development S Prahlada.
"We have completed all preparations for the first ever test launch of the missile and awaiting Government's nod," Prahlada told newsmen at the ongoing CII-sponsored Defence Expo here.
The defence scientist said the test would be conducted in the seas off the interim test range site at Balasore in Orissa.
He said the DRDO would need just one test to ratify the missile systems and the parameters which would form the main armament of the country's indigenous nuclear submarine expected to enter sea trials late next year.
With this success, India would join handful of countries like the US, Russia, France and China to possess such a capability and it would considerably enhance the country's nuclear deterrence, as sea-launched missiles will form crucial platform for the country's second strike nuclear capability.
The test, he said, would be conducted from a pontoon immersed in the sea as the country does not have a submarine platform to test fire the missile.
Prahlada said DRDO had almost perfected the dry-run trials on the key missile and it would be integrated with the advanced technology vehicle, as officials called the indigenous nuclear submarine there after.
The DRDO official said the preparations have also been made to conduct the second test of 3000-km range Agni-III missile.
"We are just awaiting the weather condition to improve to go ahead with the test," he said.
Prahlada said Agni-III would be ready for induction in the strategic command forces after two more tests.
In the course of his chat, the DRDO official said almost all the major missile system in the country had now been fully inducted.
"DRDO is now getting inquiries for various ranges of Indian missiles from different nations," he said adding it was upto the government to clear the sales keeping in view the international parameters.
He said proposals had been cleared by the government for a joint venture with Israel to produce long-range surface-to- air missile for the Navy.
The Government has cleared the deal worth Rs 2,500 crore and the advanced missile would be ready for induction in three years time.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
NEW DELHI: In an aggressive strategy to survive in the face of private competition, government-owned ordnance factories are putting in place a series of measures to develop their own products.
Among them are a dozen laboratories for research and development, training engineers in foreign universities, as well as a string of global alliances.
âWe donât want to reinvent the wheel, but we want to develop our own products so that we can survive in the new liberalised era,â says a senior Ordinance Factory Board (OFB) official.
Director general (ordnance factories) and chairman of the OFB, Sudipta Ghosh, says all these aggressive strategies would help them reach a turnover of Rs10,000 crore in âanother three to four yearsâ.
There are 40 government-run factories under the OFB, which primarily produce explosives and guns for the Indian armed and paramilitary forces.
As part of its efforts to stand up to private competition, OFB is entering into collaborations with major foreign firms, especially those from the US, Israel, Europe and Russia for jointly making products. At the Defexpo here, almost two-dozen products at the OFB stall have foreign collaborators.
The OFB proposed to set up 12 dedicated research labs. Twenty engineers from OFB have been sent for specialised higher studies in subjects such as armament technology to foreign universities.
The OFBs enjoyed a monopolistic market from 1802, when the British Empire started the first one in Cossipore in West Bengal. But in 2001, the defence sector was opened up to 100% private sector participation. Today it also allows 26% foreign direct investment.
âCompetition brought about by liberalisation of the market is a challenge,â admits Ghosh. He says they are trying to match the competition through several initiatives âall their factories and laboratories are ISO 9002 certified. Starting May 2007, the ordnance factories also provide warranties to customers.
<b>In the past five years the OFB has also been given unlimited powers to engage in R&D. âOur dependence on DRDO is coming down,â admits Ghosh.</b>
All these together would help OFB develop new products, and attain an annual turnover of Rs10,000 crore in about three to four years. This fiscal OFB hopes to have a turnover of Rs6,942 crore.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
India's indigenously developed pilotless target aircraft 'Lakshya' was successfully flight tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from here today.
PTA Lakshya, fitted with a digitally controlled improved engine, was developed by the aeronautics development establishment, Bangalore, to perform discreet aerial reconnaissance of battlefield and target acquisition.
Usually the flight duration of the six-feet-long micro light aircraft is 30-35 minutes and after covering three to four laps in the sky it drops to the ground with the help of a parachute.
'Lakshya' had been tested several times earlier and to further check its engine viability and duration enhancement, today's test was undertaken from the launch complex-2 of the ITR, defence sources said adding "it is a routine trial."
'Lakshya', a sub-sonic, re-usable aerial target system, is remote controlled from the ground and designed to impart training to both air-borne and air defence pilots.
It has already been inducted into Indian Air Force since 2000, the sources said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A detailed article on DRDO's AEW&C from this pdf file
<b>Sentinel of the Indian Air Space</b>
In the early days of waging wars, the Chinese army sent up a soldier on a giant kite to observe enemy positions from some height and the air-borne observer continually shouted down his alerts to the commander on the ground, who then quickly ordered the countermoves to his troops.
This clever âAir-borne Early Warning and Controlâ (AEW&C) concept has come a real long way since then â thanks to the technology explosion in the fields of Radar and Communication Engineering. With its ability to sense the war situations in air-to-air and air-to-surface, all-weather, day and night deployments, the modern AEW&C system has come to be regarded as a powerful âForce Multiplierâ in todayâs military tactical operations.
The prime functions of the AEW&C system are three, viz., sensing the threat scenario, providing early warning to the friendly forces and enabling initiation and execution of counter-measures and counter-threats, all in real-time. Actually, the most important facet of the AEW&C system is that it has the potential to stop a war even before it gets around to be started!
While 28 countries are known to have acquired the AEW&C capability, more countries have launched programmes to obtain tailor-made AEW&C systems to augment defence preparedness as perceived in their individual military context. A number of AEW&C systems are being built on a variety of platforms, like aerostats (balloons/airships), unmanned air vehicles, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft both big and small. While a good number of systems are operational, the efforts continue to build a variety of systems that are at various stages of development and production all over the world.
<b>The Indian AEW&C </b>
The Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have launched an AEW&C programme that is focussed on the needs of the Indian Air Force. The Centre for Air-Borne Systems (CABS) of the DRDO that is tasked with the development of the system is pursuing the
programme with participation of multiple work-centres from within DRDO as well as Industries in the Public and Private Sector.
The Indian AEW&C system will detect, identify and classify threats present in the surveillance area and act as a Command and Control Centre to support Air Defence operations. The system with its multiple Communication and Data Links can alert and direct ighters against threats while
providing âRecognizable Air Surface Pictureâ (RASP) to commanders at the Ground Exploitation Stations (GES) that are strategically located. The AEW&C system can thus support Air Force in ofensive strike missions and assist Forces in the tactical battle area. What is more, the AEW&C system also comprises Electronic and Communication Support Measures that can intercept and counter unfriendly radar transmissions and communication signals.
<b>Primary Surveillance Radar</b>
The primary sensor for the AEW&C will be an Active Electronically Steered Array Radar with a normal detection range and an extended range against a target Radar Cross Section (RCS) of the fighter class of aircraft. Two radiating planar arrays assembled back-to-back and mounted on
top of the fuselage in a Dorsal Unit (DoU) will provide coverage on either side of the DoU. The important modes of operation of the system are the sea surveillance and the air surveillance. The sensor has the abilities to search, track-while-scan, priority tracking, high performance tracking, etc. In priority tracking, the targets will be placed in full track mode even if it crosses the primary surveillance area. In high performance tracking,
additional measurements will be made to improve the tracking accuracies. Utilising the active aperture technology, the radar provides a fast-beam agile system that can operate in several modes concurrently.
<b>Secondary Surveillance Radar</b>
The Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) system, or the Identiication Friend or Foe system, determines whether the target detected by the Primary Radar is a âfriendâ or âfoeâ. The interrogator emits a message querying the target in a particular sector. Replies from the target are automatically associated with the Primary Radar detections. This information is then used by the AEW&C system to identify locations of friendly and unfriendly aircraft in the area and deal with them appropriately.
<b>Mission Communications System (MCS)</b>
The Mission Communications System provides Air-to-Air V/UHF voice and data channels. It also provides for integrated control of all on-board
communication sets and intercom for the entire mission Work Station Operators as well as the light crew. The communication channels have in-built
ECCM features as well. The various segments of the total operational system in the air and on the ground would have a multi-service standardized data link structure that enabled communication among the AEW&C Systems, other AWACS aircraft, the Fighter/Interceptor aircraft and the Ground Exploitation Systems..
<b>Electronic Support Measure (ESM) and Communication Support Measure (CSM) </b>
The ESM and CSM systems will support suppression of hostile air defences. This will be achieved by performing the surveillance of the environment for detection and identiication of hostile emitters of both communication and non-communication types. Towards this, the ESM system operates over a wide range of frequencies with complete coverage of 360° in azimuth and -15° to 5° in elevation. The ESM thus provides the bearing and the location of the hostile emitters to augment the Primary Radar performance. The system is capable of analysing and identifying the emitter characteristics with a frequency accuracy of 1 MHz and a directional accuracy of 2° (rms). An easy search method to scan through the database library of 3,000 emitters would also be a feature of the ESM. The system also has the capability to record and save the data for post-light analysis. The CSM system shall intercept the communication signals and perform the required analysis for in-light operations. It additionally records the signals on-board for post- light analysis.
<b>Self Protection System (SPS)</b>
The AEW&C system will have a Self Protection sub-system. The SPS shall consist of Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), Missile Approach Warning system (MAWS) and Counter Measures Dispensing System (CMDS). The RWR function will be augmented by the ESM and will consist of the Warner Library and Display. The MAWS will be a passive UV based system and, augmented with the RWR, will give necessary warning to the pilot to appropriately activate the CMDS. It provides the essential displays to the pilot and helps in the activation of the CMDS as well as adoption of escape maneuvers for self-protection.
<b>Mission System Controller (MSC)</b>
The Mission System Controller will integrate the information from all the above-mentioned sensors. Its functions include system controls, mission
modes, functional control logic, redundant array of independent disks (RAID), database management, integrity function, multi-sensor data fusion, health monitoring, time synchronization, bus control and other housekeeping functions. In addition, MSC will carry out the intercept control functions. MSC will interface with the DHDS system for all operator control and display features.
<b>Data Handling and Display System DHDS)</b>
DHDS will facilitate mission system operators to interface with the AEW&C system. The AEW&C system will have Operator Work Stations for
Surveillance, Interception, and ESM & CSM functions. All the consoles can be reconigured as required. In general, menus, displays and other
presentation logic can be performed by each console. The consoles also help in planning of the mission with communication information handling, weather data handling, mission data preparation and handling.
<b>Data Links</b>
The AEW&C system will be capable of interoperating with other AEW&C systems, ighters, and AWACS aircraft in the air and other early-
warning and air-defence systems on the ground. The data from the Radar, ESM and CSM can be down linked to the ground stations and the tactical control data up-linked to the AEW&C system. To this end, the AEW&C system will communicate to the Ground Exploitation Stations through âCâ- Band Data Link and SATCOM. The Data Links will operate with two voice channels.
<b>Aircraft Platform</b>
The Aircraft platform to house the AEW&C System should have the matching light performance attributes to facilitate that the Mission System tasks are performed efectively during the operational missions. To facilitate extended operations, the endurance of the aircraft can be augmented by an In-Flight Refuelling system.
<b>Conclusion</b>
The AEW&C System will boost the Air Forceâs Air Operations Capability. The System is multi-disciplinary and complex and is projected to be designed, developed, tested, certiied and inducted into service in an optimal timeframe. Indigenous development of the Indian AEW&C means three things to the Nation:
(i) Air Force is getting a system that costs a fraction of the price of a comparable system in the world market,
(ii) the indigenous capabilities being generated in terms of technologies and infrastructure will be an assurance against technology denials by big-
brother nations and
(iii) the âfeel goodâ factor of becoming one among the select group of Nations who really have the wherewithal to make a machine of this kind.
The adversaries of India should soon be nervous even to warn their forces, âKeep of and keep quiet, the Indian AEW&C is on the prowlâ, as they would know that the Indian AEW&C would be watching, sensing and listening to whatever happens in its domain! Globally speaking, it seems possible that AEW&Cs around the planet Earth can bring about a World Without War, or, nip the war in the bud, if ever someone thoughtlessly triggered one. <!--emo&:cool--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /><!--endemo-->
From the same file an article about Army's High Altitude Light Helicopter.
<b>Win-Win Solution for Armyâs High Altitude Light Helicopter</b>
The Indian Army has been endeavouring to purchase a large number of high-altitude high-performance helicopters since the Kargil conlict.
<b>Early attempts to import the helicopter from Eurocopter were thwarted by HAL. They could prove that although of an older design, Cheetah, made by them, could have comparable performance with the Ecuriel Eurocopter. Actual light trials conducted in the high-altitude Himalayan region by both Cheetah and Ecuriel testiied in HALâs favour and the import proposal was scrapped. </b>
Subsequently HAL undertook to upgrade the Cheetah with a more powerful engine to provide the Army with a high-altitude high-performance helicopter. This has been accomplished since then. <b>However, the Foreign Lobby pressure for import continued, and based on a tender the Eurocopter military variant AS550 Fennec and a Bell 407 were short-listed and inally the Eurocopter AS550 Fennec was selected. Recently the Defence Ministry scrapped the contract for import citing some procedural lapse.</b>
Whatever be the reasons for this scrapping of the contract, it is an opportunity for all concerned to work together to meet the Armyâs need. It is a fact to be noted that neither the AS550 Fennec nor the Bell 407 helicopter is designed for our requirements in the high altitude border area.
HALâs re-engined Cheetah, which already holds a world record, will be an ideal immediate solution. This helicopter is now upgraded with a more powerful engine and HAL has already supplied a few helicopters and everyone seems to be agreeing on their better performance. It would be desirable for the Army to place orders with HAL for the Cheetal (upgraded Cheetah) to meet their immediate requirements for the next two-three years and persuade HAL to take up the development of high-altitude high-performance helicopters in collaboration with a risk sharing partner.
<b>In fact HAL had already made the conceptual design of a very high altitude helicopter, the LOH, and the speciications of the same are far superior to what is proposed to be imported. With the technologies developed, such a helicopter can become a reality in four-five years. This period could perhaps be further reduce by outsourcing considerable amount of work to private sector industries in India with considerable capabilities and IT-enabled design and manufacturing facilities in aerospace. </b>
Partnership with established helicopter design and manufacturing firms from overseas on a cost and work sharing basis could also be beneicial. For this, HAL and Indian private sector industries must be proactive and play a vital role. They should urge the Government not to re-tender for a sub-standard imported helicopter.
The design and development of a really superior high-performance high-altitude indigenous helicopter with the HAL in the lead and in partnership with Indian and overseas industries is the most desired option.
It is in the interest of building on our competence, emerging as a leader in helicopter design and development and being in a position to continue to meet the needs of the armed forces. This option will also be beneicial to partners including the user. Growth through partnership and synergizing our strength for better performance to make a superior product will benefit all.
