January 05, 2009, (Sawf News) - The government has formed a team that will visit Russia to renegotiate the price of INS Vikramaditya, reports The Hindu.
On completion of the price negotiations another team of senior officials will finalize the delivery time with the Russians.
Under a $750 million contract signed in 2004, Russia's Rosoboronexport was to deliver the 44,570-tonne aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, to India in 2008.
In early 2008, Russia claimed it underestimated the scale and the cost of the modernization and said it would not be in a position to deliver the ship before 2012 and at an additional cost of $1.2 billion.
India termed the cost escalation exorbitant. After protracted negotiations, in February 2008 India agreed to pay an additional $800 million for the retrofit.
However, in November 2008, shortly after the Russian nuclear submarine Nerpa met with an accident, Russia demanded an additional $2 billion for the ship, instead of $1.2 billion.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Indian options for keeping Pakistan in check
December 31, 2008, (Sawf News) - Pakistan has unleashed a low intensity asymmetrical war on India in the form of cross border terrorism, which cannot be countered by conventional military response.
While acquiring an overwhelming military advantage over Pakistan will not stop the terror it will give us more room to shape our response to an outrage like the Mumbai terror strike. However, a military advantage will be of little help unless accompanied by a firm leadership and a resolute national resolve.
What use is a cold start strategy when the national leadership dithers during a crisis and has not premeditated its response?
It is amazing how quickly India eases its pressure on Pakistan after an outrage like the attack on parliament or the strike in Mumbai. The smallest hint of co-operation from Pakistan is enough to assuage our bruised egos. We back off knowing we haven't achieved anything, and not surprisingly, they strike again.
The UPA government is now crying hoarse that Pakistan hasn't dismantled its terror network, something they committed to do after the stand off that followed the parliament attack. So why did the UPA government initiate so many peace moves with Pakistan if it knew they were continuing to train and arm terrorists against us?
Our leadership has not acted responsibly now and in the past. Unless that can change we will continue to be at the receiving end. No amount of military superiority will help us.
India's defense spending has increased over the years but we have yet to gain a decisive edge over Pakistan because our defense purchases have not been well thought out. A large amount of funds have been squandered on DRDO projects that have yielded little results but have delayed acquisitions.
A question asked on this forum by flying eagle is:
What are the weapon systems that India should acquire to gain a decisive advantage over Pakistan?
Frankly, I don't think I am very qualified to answer the question. However, I will voice an opinion based on what I know.
1. A larger fleet of AIP submarines and nuclear powered attack submarines.2. Potent attack aircraft like F/A-18E/F Hornets.3. Investments in electronic attack aircraft like the EA-18G Growler.4. Long range surveillance aircraft like the P-8I Poseidon.
We have already made the right moves by investing in the Phalcon AWACS and tanker aircraft. We are in the process of acquiring AIP and nuclear subs, as well as the P-8I aircraft. Hopefully, the IAF will see the sense in opting for more offensive capability with a dedicated strike aircraft like F/A-18E/F Hornets. We should lean on the US to give us the Growlers.
The services are already on the right course with their acquisitions. The government just needs to back them up to the hilt. If we had the nuclear subs today, a naval blockade of Karachi would have been feasible today.
On an aside, the Eireye AWE&C while not as potent as the Phalcon will practically rule out a surprise surgical air strike against Pakistan by the IAF.
Most important of all we need to maintain military pressure on Pakistan till it starts to bleed and agrees to play ball. Our Naval presence around Karachi needs to be heavy and our patrolling in the skies needs to be aggressive, all the year around. The threat of a IAF or Navy strike should loom over Pakistan for months and if required years to come.
While acquiring an overwhelming military advantage over Pakistan will not stop the terror it will give us more room to shape our response to an outrage like the Mumbai terror strike. However, a military advantage will be of little help unless accompanied by a firm leadership and a resolute national resolve.
What use is a cold start strategy when the national leadership dithers during a crisis and has not premeditated its response?
It is amazing how quickly India eases its pressure on Pakistan after an outrage like the attack on parliament or the strike in Mumbai. The smallest hint of co-operation from Pakistan is enough to assuage our bruised egos. We back off knowing we haven't achieved anything, and not surprisingly, they strike again.
The UPA government is now crying hoarse that Pakistan hasn't dismantled its terror network, something they committed to do after the stand off that followed the parliament attack. So why did the UPA government initiate so many peace moves with Pakistan if it knew they were continuing to train and arm terrorists against us?
Our leadership has not acted responsibly now and in the past. Unless that can change we will continue to be at the receiving end. No amount of military superiority will help us.
India's defense spending has increased over the years but we have yet to gain a decisive edge over Pakistan because our defense purchases have not been well thought out. A large amount of funds have been squandered on DRDO projects that have yielded little results but have delayed acquisitions.
A question asked on this forum by flying eagle is:
What are the weapon systems that India should acquire to gain a decisive advantage over Pakistan?
Frankly, I don't think I am very qualified to answer the question. However, I will voice an opinion based on what I know.
1. A larger fleet of AIP submarines and nuclear powered attack submarines.2. Potent attack aircraft like F/A-18E/F Hornets.3. Investments in electronic attack aircraft like the EA-18G Growler.4. Long range surveillance aircraft like the P-8I Poseidon.
We have already made the right moves by investing in the Phalcon AWACS and tanker aircraft. We are in the process of acquiring AIP and nuclear subs, as well as the P-8I aircraft. Hopefully, the IAF will see the sense in opting for more offensive capability with a dedicated strike aircraft like F/A-18E/F Hornets. We should lean on the US to give us the Growlers.
The services are already on the right course with their acquisitions. The government just needs to back them up to the hilt. If we had the nuclear subs today, a naval blockade of Karachi would have been feasible today.
On an aside, the Eireye AWE&C while not as potent as the Phalcon will practically rule out a surprise surgical air strike against Pakistan by the IAF.
Most important of all we need to maintain military pressure on Pakistan till it starts to bleed and agrees to play ball. Our Naval presence around Karachi needs to be heavy and our patrolling in the skies needs to be aggressive, all the year around. The threat of a IAF or Navy strike should loom over Pakistan for months and if required years to come.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
India all set to test fire under sea missile
New Delhi (PTI): 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 Governmet'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.
He said parts of the missile systems would be made in India and the rest in Israel.
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 Governmet'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.
He said parts of the missile systems would be made in India and the rest in Israel.
LCA Tejas undergoes successful high-altitude trials at Leh
New Delhi: India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) crossed a major milestone when prototype vehicle PV-3 landed at Leh air base in the high-altitude Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir for high altitude testing of its systems and engines.
"Tejas (LCA) programme reached a major milestone when the prototype vehicle PV-3 landed at Leh on December 13 this year at 1326 hours," Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials said here on Tuesday.
Leh airfield, situated at an altitude of 10,600 feet, is one of the highest airfields in the world and experiences temperature variations ranging from plus 5 degrees Celsius to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
The objective of the flight trials conducted at Leh was to expose on-board systems to extreme low temperatures and also to assess aircraft performance in rarefied atmospheric conditions, DRDO officials said.
They also said that two Tejas prototypes, PV-3 and LSP-2, were involved in the environmental test. The LSP-2 prototype is powered by the latest F404-GE- IN20 engine with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The engine is in the Standard of Preparation (SOP) mode and will be cleared for induction in IAF service soon.
Reports from the trial location suggest that the current phase of flight trial was progressing with aircraft and systems performing well. Officials said the aircraft were soaked overnight in cold weather, with temperature around minus 20 degrees Celsius and successfully powered up next day for operation.
Based on the F404-GE-402, the F404-GE-IN20 is the highest-rated F404 model and includes a higher-flow fan, increased thrust, a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) system, single-crystal turbine blades and a variety of single-engine features.
The F404-GE-IN20 succeeds F404-F2J3 development engines used for nearly 900 flights, cumulatively covering nine engines.
"Tejas (LCA) programme reached a major milestone when the prototype vehicle PV-3 landed at Leh on December 13 this year at 1326 hours," Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials said here on Tuesday.
Leh airfield, situated at an altitude of 10,600 feet, is one of the highest airfields in the world and experiences temperature variations ranging from plus 5 degrees Celsius to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
The objective of the flight trials conducted at Leh was to expose on-board systems to extreme low temperatures and also to assess aircraft performance in rarefied atmospheric conditions, DRDO officials said.
They also said that two Tejas prototypes, PV-3 and LSP-2, were involved in the environmental test. The LSP-2 prototype is powered by the latest F404-GE- IN20 engine with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC). The engine is in the Standard of Preparation (SOP) mode and will be cleared for induction in IAF service soon.
Reports from the trial location suggest that the current phase of flight trial was progressing with aircraft and systems performing well. Officials said the aircraft were soaked overnight in cold weather, with temperature around minus 20 degrees Celsius and successfully powered up next day for operation.
Based on the F404-GE-402, the F404-GE-IN20 is the highest-rated F404 model and includes a higher-flow fan, increased thrust, a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) system, single-crystal turbine blades and a variety of single-engine features.
The F404-GE-IN20 succeeds F404-F2J3 development engines used for nearly 900 flights, cumulatively covering nine engines.
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