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08 Apr 08. India's most secretive project, the development of a nuclear submarine Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) is planned to be launched by April 2009. The nuclear missile will carry, submarine launched nuclear missiles, which are currently being developed with Israeli help by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The ATV will be ready for sea trials by April 2009, said DRDO sources and currently the nuclear reactor, which has been miniaturized, is being sealed in the ATV at India's Vizag naval base; ATV will be inducted by 2010.
ATV will give India its third leg of the nuclear triad by acquiring underwater ability to launch nuclear vessels, and submarine-launched nuclear capable missiles.
Currently India has its two legs, land-based missiles and strike aircraft, for nuclear weapon delivery.
The sea-leg of the nuclear triad is best provided by ballistic missiles positioned on a nuclear submarine, because this leg is clearly the least vulnerable, and therefore, the most survivable, said an Indian defence ministry official.
Launched in 1974, the ATV project is an Indian classified project and is based on a design close to the Russian Charlie nuclear submarine taken on lease earlier by the Indian Navy. Over $500m has already been spent on the project and the DRDO has also tested, with Israeli help, the submarine-launched ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear weapon last year. The submarine-launched ballistic missile, also dubbed as the K-15 missile, has a range of over 750 kilometres and has been tested from a specially designed submersible pontoon.
The vertically launched Sagarika cruise missile is capable of carrying up to a 1000kg warhead and is being developed by DRDO with Israeli assistance. The missile is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, under DRDO supervision.
Sagarika is 5.86 meters long, uses solid propellant and employs a strap-on navigational system augmented by GPS equipment, and has a circular error probability of 25 meters. Several DRDO laboratories are working on this project which includes, DRDL, Hyderabad; The Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, Aerospace Systems Limited, Hyderabad; Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Bangalore; Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) Bangalore and the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NOPL) in Kochi.
India plans to build three ATVs, the hull of the second submarine is already being built by the private sector defence major, Mumbai-based Larsen and Toubro (L&T).
In addition the Indian Navy has already contracted to take two additional nuclear submarines of the Akula class on lease from Russia. India's nuclear submarines will operate from the new naval base, Karwar which is under construction and the operating naval base of Vizag. Another base on the east coast is being considered, to separate the nuclear capability from heavy civilian populated areas.
02 Jun 08. India pressed the full throttle to procure Network Centric warfare solutions from home and abroad worth over $3bn. The tactical evaluations have begun for the $1bn NCW Operational Data Link (ODL) Program for the Indian Air Force in which Lockheed Martin and Raytheon of United States; Thales of France, Rafael of Israel and Singapore Technologies have contributed systems.
Under the ODL Program a variety of Indian Air Force assets will be networked via data links with ground stations via satellites. The ODL NCW Program will be carried out in phases and the entire Program will be in operational state by 2012.
This project aims to develop an Aerospace Planning & Execution (APEX) system to achieve the advantages of networked operations in a network centric operations (NCO) environment.
The state-of-art APEX system will carry out a variety of NCO requirements such as aerospace operations planning, execution monitoring, battle damage assessment and evaluation status of all assets on land, sea, air and space in real-time.
Under this project, a variety of airborne platforms: fighters, transport aircraft, helicopters, and surveillance platforms, including AWACS, UAVs, space and ground radars will be networked in the APEX system.
Besides, the ground stations in (command & control grid) nodes will consist of real-time ground stations – controlling & reporting centres at the battlefield, regional and base levels to monitor the common operational picture and initiate tactical action on threat assessment.
India's state-owned Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been nominated as the nodal agency which will collaborate with the short-listed vendor for facilitating interface with airborne radar/data/display, weapon system operation, EW data and navigation data, etc for operationalizing the APEX system.
Currently the technical evaluation of the vendors is underway after which field trials will commence, then the short-listed vendor will commence price negotiations. “The ODL program is likely to be contracted within one year,” said a senior Indian defence ministry official who admitted that the program is already behind schedule.
The IAF has also short listed prototypes developed by Electronics Corporation of India and BEL for the integration of another NCW Program, Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) the first phase of which is likely to be operational by the end of this year and deployed near India's western border with Pakistan.
The system will handle the service's air traffic control, surveillance, air mission control, airspace management and force management functions.
The Indian Army will go global hunting this year for two NCW projects worth $600m called the Tactical Communication System (TCS), and Defence Communication Network (DCN) for the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy joint communication project.
TCS is a Communication Program linking the theatre and troops on the battlefield and is likely to be completed by 2012.
So far, the Indian Army has integrated an home-grown Army Static Switched Communication Network (ASCON), Mercury Thunder. ACSON is a digital, fully automated, secure and survivable static communication system that is based on microwave radio, optical-fibre cable, satellite and millimetre wave communication equipment,
Phase 1-3 have already been implemented. Phase 3 was ATM based network. Army has now planned the phase 4 of this project. It will be nationwide Carrier class multi protocol converged Next Generation Network for Army. Wipro, India's IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited BEL & state-owned industrial Telephone Industries (ITI) have been short listed
The TCS architecture will comprise secure radios, satellite terminal systems and fibre optic links and will also have new generation protection systems against hostile Electronic jamming threats, said the Indian Army official. The system will be linked with smart antenna systems to support its transmission systems and will be linked to several surveillance and intelligence gathering systems of the Indian Army including the Aerostat radar and several UAVs.
The Indian Navy has lined up a $1m Network Centric Operations (NCO) Program to be implemented in various phases. The dedicated program of the Indian Navy will be set up to create a naval operations tasking solution for a real-time battlefield scenario. Under the phase–one of this project, around one dozen naval platforms will be networked which are expected to be fully operational in three years time.
The RFP has already been issued to Lockheed Martin and Raytheon of the United States Thales of France, EADS of Germany, Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) and BAE systems, U.K.
Under this project, the Indian Navy will set up a high-speed data network by linking its warships, submarines, aircraft, naval basis and vital other naval installations to make the entire fleet network centric operations capable.
After successful implementation of the phase-one program, the Navy will initiate its second phase in the next three to five years under which around 200 platforms are to be networked.
The main hardware of the NCO system would comprise:
[a] Interface Unit capable of receive data from Combat Management System [CMS] of warships and submarines through platform on-board radar and sonar systems ,
[b] Track Fusion Unit which will generate fused tracks from the inputs from the CMS and other information sources and will provide the navy with a Network Tactical Situation Picture,
[c] Data Link Units to provide a seamless communication channel through Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency(V/UHF), satellite communications (SATCOM )systems,
[d] NCO Core to carry out threat evaluation, mission planning and execute both defensive and offensive missions. By providing fastest speed of command to reduce the sensor to shooter time to the minimum and achieve maximum hit and destruction capability. This system provides reliable, accurate tracking and identification on neutral and hostile elements, activities, platforms and individuals.
09 Jun 08. All is set for the ambitious joint development of an advanced next generation low-level quick quick-reaction missile (LLQRM) system between India and France. The LLQRM project, 'Maitri", will jointly developed by India's Defense Research and Development Organisation [DRDO] and MBDA of France.
Senior Indian defence ministry officials resolved some issues on the Maitri project during talks with French officials on the sidelines of the Berlin Air Show, remarked a DRDO scientist. India's Defence Minister A K Antony led a high-level defence delegation to the Berlin Show.
The development paves the way for the development of the Maitri for the Indian Navy and Air Force to be jointly developed by DRDO's missile laboratory - the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) - and MBDA, confirmed an DRDO scientist.
However a formal clearance by the Indian government on the project is likely to take another two to three months, sources said in the Indian defence ministry.
The feasibility study of the Maitri project is complete and the draft proposal has now been approved by both sides.
The Maitri project will be modelled on a government-to-government R&D partnership, as is in the case of the Russian BrahMos project, so that the two governments guarantee the flow of funds and technology.
The plan calls for MBDA to develop the active homing-head system, thrust vector control systems and missiles, while the software, command-and-control system and system integration will be carried out by the DRDL.
The Maitri LLQRM, which is expected to be completed within three years from date of inking of the final deal, likely in the next three months, will have a range of above 35 kilometres. DRDO scientists claimed that the missile system will be an advanced system in its category of air defence systems in the world.
India will develop new generation acquisition radar which capable of tracking multiple targets at a distance of up to 240 kilometres, claimed the DRDO scientist.
Indian defence forces have been pressing the Indian government to procure LLQRM systems from the overseas market as the homegrown Trishul LLQRM system is on the verge of being formally declared a failure. India began looking to foreign firms after Trishul was rejected by the Army, Navy and Air Force. Trishul program was launched in 1984 by the Defence Research and Development Organisation,
The Indian defence ministry shortlisted last year the purchase of 18 Spyder Low-Level Quick Reaction Missiles, (LLQRM), for the Indian Air Force from Rafael of Israel but the contract has still to be inked.
In fact Rafael was short-listed for supply of Spyder Missiles against MBDA for the $325m contract.
Meanwhile the Indian Navy has mounted the Israeli Barak missile system on its warships, including the aircraft carrier, INS Viraat. However, the Barak missile deal has run into controversy with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India investigating charges of kickbacks. The first batch of seven Barak systems was approved by the Indian Cabinet in 1996, followed by another approval in 2000 for $260m during the regime of former defence Minister George Fernandes.
Sources suggest that the CBI is zeroing in on George Fernandes on allegations of receiving kickbacks in the purchase of Barak systems in 2000 from IAI of Israel.
13 May 08. After successful development of the Infantry Combat Vehicle Abhay, India has decided to develop a Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) that it will replace the Russian-made BMP-2 combat vehicles with the Indian Army.
The FICV is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, DRDO. A senior DRDO scientist said that the broad specifications of the FICA include: Combat weight less than 20 tones, Power-to-weight ratio 25:1 hp/t, Amphibious capability, Potent fire power including 3rd Gen fire & forget Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM), Main gun firing (Armored Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) APFSDS and HE ammunition, directed energy weapon, Automatic Grenade Launcher and co-axial machine gun.
In addition the FICV will also have an IFDSS (Integrated fire detection and suppression system), Stealth features, Battle Field Management System and IFF and Defensive Aids Suite to protect against laser/thermal/radar guided munitions.
The FICV will also perform target acquisition, tracking, data, computation, and engagement control functions, primarily using electronic means assisted by electromechanical devices. Besides, it will provide fire-on-the-move, operate in various modes and will have dual-control through gunner and commander joysticks with override facility to commander.
The FICV will eventually replace the BMP-2 fleet. The Indian Army is presently equipped with around 1600 BMP-2 ICVs of Russian origin of 1980s Vintage.
To fill the technological gap of new generation the Programme 'ABHAY' was launched, to develop an Infantry Combat Vehicle as a technology demonstrator, incorporating a blend of state-of-the-art technologies with impressive fire power, excellent mobility and high degree of protection.
The programme commenced in 1998 and the Infantry Combat Vehicle has completed all tests as a technology demonstrator. Following the success of the Abhay technology demonstrator, DRDO has embarked upon a program to produce the FICV, still unnamed, adding that the FICV will eventually be based on the Abhay technical parameters.
The Abhay vehicle has a 550hp power pack with fully automatic transmission. Better ride comfort, exceptional cross country ride performance has been achieved by advance running gear system with hydrogas suspension. The composite armored hull and turret provides all round protection against small arms and frontal protection against 30 mm cannon. Abhay is equipped with 40mm cannon with twin missile launcher system.
The Indian army has already decided to procure the FICV engines from overseas. The new engine should be able to generate 350 to 380hp in object condition, easy to maintain and have long life. The new engine should be able to operate up to an ambient temperature of –30 degree Celsius to+ 55 degree Celsius. The engine life should not be below 600 hours or 2250 kilometres and it should be able to operate in all types of terrain and weather conditions. Its weight should be less than 900 kilograms, said an Indian Army official.
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