Indian Navy (IN) News and Discussion

[Sea Toby]

i think India should upgrade to nuclear reactor on there CV
it will save theme fuel, they can carry more jet fuel for there planes
it will increase the range


I feel the same way about the British and French CVF. The only problem is where does the cash come from? Adding nuclear reactors, notice the s, s for plural, will double the price of the carrier.

[indian bull]

Guys some new inductions in Indian Navy:
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEA20080406023438&Page=A&Title=Southern+News+-+Andhra+Pradesh&Topic=0

http://www.indiaenews.com/pressrelease/20080406/109321.htm

INS Kesri commissioned today, 05 April 08, at the Naval Base at Visakhapatnam

GRSE is a premier Indian Defence Shipyard and specializes in construction of Landing Ship Tank (Large) for the Indian Navy in addition to other classes of Warships. One of such follow on ships, GRSE Yard 3015 (Kesari) was handed over to the Indian Navy on 21 Feb 08 at Kolkata. She has now been commissioned today, 05April 08 at the Naval Base at Visakhapatnam by His Excellency Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari, the Hon’ble Governor of Andhra Pradesh and dedicated to the service of the Navy. The occasion was graced by VAdm RP Suthan, AVSM, VSM, FOC-in-C, East, VAdm Dilip Deshpande, AVSM, VSM, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, IHQ MOD(Navy), RAdm T S Ganeshan, NM, VSM, IN(Retd), Chairman & Managing Director GRSE, senior officers from the services and other distinguished guests.

The earlier ships of the class viz. INS Magar, INS Gharial and INS Shardul were successfully delivered to the Indian Navy by GRSE in the past. The basic design of the ship was evolved by Directorate of Naval Design at Integrated Headquarters of MoD (Navy), New Delhi. Design modifications of the ship have been carried out by GRSE. The Project is managed by the Directorate of Ship Production at IHQ MoD (Navy).

This new ship Kesari, like her predecessors, will be an important amphibious warfare ship carrying Landing Craft Assault, battle tanks, army vehicles and troops. The ship is capable of beaching for disembarkation of these vehicles and army troops. The new ship has several upgradation in terms of better performance, maintainability, enhanced air-conditioned accommodation for troops and additional inner Bow Door as per latest classification rules. The ship is also provided with helicopter staging facilities for SEAKING MK 42C helicopter or indigenously built Dhruv helicopter.

The new ship Kesari is also fitted with modern electronic equipment. She will have two WM 18 Rocket Launcher mountings and CRN 91 Guns.

The ship has an indigenous content of over 90% with the state-of-the-art equipment such as main engines, gearbox, CPP system, steering gear, air-conditioning and refrigeration plants, power generation and distribution system manufactured in the country. The ship is 124.8 meters long and 17.5 meters broad and will have a deep displacement of 5600 tonnes. The ship can carry 12 main battle tanks, 10 Army vehicles and 500 troops for amphibious operations and is capable of achieving a speed of 15.8 knots. The ship is fully equipped to safeguard the maritime interest of the country.

The ship ‘KESARI’ from to-day is dedicated to the service with the Indian Navy. Commissioning of the ship ‘KESARI’ is yet another milestone in the history of GRSE who had been actively contributing to the defence preparedness of the country.

[Sea Toby]

Very nice LST, reminds me of LSTs of the past. Several of these would be handy for any nation. What is great about them is that they don't cost a leg and an arm, they are cheap compared to frigates and destroyers. Power projection delivering the goods to the beach.

Of course, ships like these working in concert with the former Trenton, make for a very good amphibious capability. Better yet would be ships like these working with a French Mistral. I wish the Indians further success.

[swerve]

Very nice LST, reminds me of LSTs of the past. Several of these would be handy for any nation. What is great about them is that they don't cost a leg and an arm, they are cheap compared to frigates and destroyers. Power projection delivering the goods to the beach.

Of course, ships like these working in concert with the former Trenton, make for a very good amphibious capability. Better yet would bbe ships like these working with a French Mistral. I wish the Indians further success.

As well as Shardul & Kesari, India has a couple of very similar ships built in the 1980s & 1990s, Magar & Gharial. They're based on the old British Round Table class, as used in the Falklands.

[Salty Dog]

The ex-Gorshkov saga continues . . .

India Hopes Gorshkov Project Will Be On Track

(Source: ddi Indian government news; issued April 10, 2008)

Though India and Russia are yet to break the deadlock over fixing a new price for aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, the government has voiced confidence that the key defence deal will be on track.

"The two countries are locked in intense negotiations over the price details," Defence Secretary Vijay Singh told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday.

He said the work on the carrier was in progress in a Russian dockyard. "Technical assessment of the work needed on the carrier is still on," Singh said, adding final price proposal would soon be taken to the Union Cabinet for a fresh approval.

India has already agreed to a new price revision for the carrier at Russia's insistence.

The 45,000-tonne warship was to be delivered by August last year as per a USD 1.5 billion contract signed in 2004 but Moscow stunned India in November last year by demanding an additional USD 1.2 billion for refitting and other works.

The new conditions by Russia meant a delay of up to four years.


"It is difficult yet to put a firm figure on the price escalation," Singh said.

The Defence Secretary had recently led a high-level team to Moscow to inspect the aircraft carrier in a fresh bid to break the deadlock over its purchase.

"The original contract was sketchy," a Defence Ministry official said recently, indicating that India was ready to revise the contract upwards in view of Russian insistence.

The Russian demand was earlier opposed by Naval Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, who had publicly said there should be no revision in the contract.

Russia had conveyed that "extensive" refit work would be necessary on the warship which would now have to undergo sea trials for a year in Russian waters under their experts, a Defence Ministry official said.

Sea trials would cost crores of rupees which would be borne by India, the Defence Ministry official said, making it clear that it would take three to four years for the carrier to be delivered after a nod is given for new refits.

[g2g1]

lol i would have gon with the USN kitty hawk
its batter deal i think i know it too large but it would work
upgrade it to nuke reactor and u have a deal it would cost more
i think but it would be a nice deal nuke reactor dont need refueling
they last for 10-20 years so the deal

just think about it
i know it old but a over hull can help extend its life

[kams]

lol i would have gon with the USN kitty hawk
its batter deal i think i know it too large but it would work
upgrade it to nuke reactor and u have a deal it would cost more
i think but it would be a nice deal nuke reactor dont need refueling
they last for 10-20 years so the deal

just think about it
i know it old but a over hull can help extend its life

:confused: :unknown

[Sea Toby]

lol i would have gon with the USN kitty hawk
its batter deal i think i know it too large but it would work
upgrade it to nuke reactor and u have a deal it would cost more
i think but it would be a nice deal nuke reactor dont need refueling
they last for 10-20 years so the deal

just think about it
i know it old but a over hull can help extend its life

When all have been said and done, the Kitty Hawk was not for sale. Thus India is back to the beginning, building a carrier, thinking about doing so again, and buying a Russian one. The idea is to have three carriers, one to the west and one to the east, with another one in refit.

[niteshkjain]

Coming: India-make N-sub
Friday April 11 2008 09:11 IST
Hemanth Kumar

BALASORE: INDIA is now working on its first-ever nuclear powered submarine dubbed as advanced technology vessel (ATV) to test the submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) under sea.

A top naval official on condition of anonymity disclosed that the first of the three 6,000-tonne ATVs will be ‘ready to go to sea’ for trials by early 2009.

“If the trials go well, it could be inducted into service within two years,” he said on Thursday.

The ATV would be India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine and India’s first submarine able to fire nuclear-armed missiles. Though India began developing nuclear-powered submarines in the 70s, but their development was delayed due to some technical snags.

“Now three indigenous nuclear-powered submarines are being built at Visakhapatnam under the ATV project, whose overall cost will be around Rs 20,000 crore,” he informed.

As India doesn’t have a nuclear-powered submarine and for that reason Pontoon (replica of a submarine) was used during the test of the SLBM K-15 last month. Though India has about 20 submarines but all are diesel-powered.

Sources said when integrated with the ATV, the K-15 missile will give the country second- strike capabilities.

“Though the ATV is designed to carry at least 12 vertical-launched nuclear- tipped SLBMs or SLCMs but it will take some time for the K-15 to be integrated with,” said a defence scientist.

Once the ATV is ready, India will finally achieve its long-standing aim to have an operational ‘nuclear weapon triad’ because fighters like Sukhoi-30MKI and Mirage-2000s,which can be rigged to carry nuclear weapons already constitute the air-based leg.

This apart, in a joint collaboration with Russia, India has also produced the submarine launched version of the BrahMos cruise missile.

But it is waiting for a necessary platform (submarine) for trial because Indian navy’s Russian-made Kilo-class submarines and the German-designed HDW submarines do not have the capability to fire cruise missiles, the sources informed.

Meanwhile, the DRDO has also developed extensive expertise in launching long-range missiles from mobile and railway launchers. This allows the missiles to be scattered all over India before being moved to a launch site by road or rail.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20080410225004&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0

[niteshkjain]

Where N-subs come to roost
Link: http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20080411160937&Title=Kochi&rLink=0

KOCHI: Adding to the strategic import of South India, the Indian Navy is setting up its strategic nuclear base at Rambilli near Vishakaptanam in Andhra Pradesh.

Work on this highly classified project is expected to be over by 2011. All submarines, conventional and nuclear, of the Indian Navy will be moved to this base once it’s completed.

Top sources told Express that Advanced Tactical Vessels, the Indian nuclear submarines expected to dive by 2010, will be the first residents of the base, where they will be moved from the nearby Shipbuilding Centre. The advanced sea trials of the ATVs will be controlled from the new base after the induction of the crew, who are currently undergoing simulator training, is done.

The salient feature of this base will be its channel with enough depth to allow a submarine to remain submerged while approaching or leaving the base. This will thicken the cloak of secrecy covering underwater operations, crucial to inflicting a second strike in case of a nuclear war outbreak.

Once complete, Rambilli will control all operations in the eastern theatre which is getting interesting with the fast modernisation of the Chinese Navy. China already operates 10 nuclear submarines, each carrying 12 missiles. The base is also crucial given the increasing Indian involvement in the east, especially its growing ties with Singapore.

More than the firepower it gives the Navy, Rambilli completes the South Indian role in India’s future plans vis-à-vis deployment of nuclear assets. It also marks the first major futuristic naval initiative on the east coast with the Ezhimala Naval Academy and the Seabird base at Karwar, diagonally south of Rambilli, taking care of the west coast.

"But Rambilli will be bigger, much bigger, than Karwar. The latter will be home to mainline battleships berthed safely beneath several tiers of security including an e-fence as the first line of defence. Rambilli will house all nuclear-powered submarines," sources said.

With this South India will be home to two arms of the N-triad. The Air Force is already accelerating work on its base in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, to be the first India Air and Space Base co-ordinating the second strike possibility. This apart, DRDO has already identified many sick State-owned PSUs in South India that it can enter into joint ventures with for fabrication and assembly of advanced weapons.

[Salty Dog]

Where N-subs come to roost
Link: http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20080411160937&Title=Kochi&rLink=0

KOCHI: Adding to the strategic import of South India, the Indian Navy is setting up its strategic nuclear base at Rambilli near Vishakaptanam in Andhra Pradesh.

Work on this highly classified project is expected to be over by 2011. All submarines, conventional and nuclear, of the Indian Navy will be moved to this base once it’s completed.

Top sources told Express that Advanced Tactical Vessels, the Indian nuclear submarines expected to dive by 2010, will be the first residents of the base, where they will be moved from the nearby Shipbuilding Centre. The advanced sea trials of the ATVs will be controlled from the new base after the induction of the crew, who are currently undergoing simulator training, is done.

The salient feature of this base will be its channel with enough depth to allow a submarine to remain submerged while approaching or leaving the base. This will thicken the cloak of secrecy covering underwater operations, crucial to inflicting a second strike in case of a nuclear war outbreak.

Once complete, Rambilli will control all operations in the eastern theatre which is getting interesting with the fast modernisation of the Chinese Navy. China already operates 10 nuclear submarines, each carrying 12 missiles. The base is also crucial given the increasing Indian involvement in the east, especially its growing ties with Singapore.

More than the firepower it gives the Navy, Rambilli completes the South Indian role in India’s future plans vis-à-vis deployment of nuclear assets. It also marks the first major futuristic naval initiative on the east coast with the Ezhimala Naval Academy and the Seabird base at Karwar, diagonally south of Rambilli, taking care of the west coast.

"But Rambilli will be bigger, much bigger, than Karwar. The latter will be home to mainline battleships berthed safely beneath several tiers of security including an e-fence as the first line of defence. Rambilli will house all nuclear-powered submarines," sources said.

With this South India will be home to two arms of the N-triad. The Air Force is already accelerating work on its base in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, to be the first India Air and Space Base co-ordinating the second strike possibility. This apart, DRDO has already identified many sick State-owned PSUs in South India that it can enter into joint ventures with for fabrication and assembly of advanced weapons.

Besides the port at Vishakaptanam there doesn't seem to be any area suitable for a deepwater port in the area close to Rambilli. A submarine base of the magnitude described in the article will be a tremendous undertaking indeed.

[aaaditya]

with the development of the sethusamudram canal project,it will give indian navy tremendous flexibility,it will also ensure a rapid distribution of assets in the event of a war,i believe that once the scp is completed indian navy may build a third naval base at tuticorin,smaller than the other two.

[niteshkjain]

Good book:
About Indian quest for Blue Water navy

http://www.jmss.org/2008/winter/articles/scott.pdf

Quite informative:)

[niteshkjain]

Check this one

Finally Indian designers are coming of age. Hope we will see more indigenous systems soon in our armed forces

Link: http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?autono=320123&leftnm=1&subLeft=0&chkFlg=

World-class warships at Indian prices
INDIAN NAVY: GLOBAL & LOCAL - I
Ajai Shukla / New Delhi April 15, 2008


Kailash Colony market, a middle-class shopping area in south Delhi, is an unlikely headquarters for one of the world’s most successful warship design programmes.

A single armed sentry post and a strand of barbed wire atop the boundary walls are all that hint at an ultra high-security installation — the Directorate General of Naval Design (DGND) — that has fathered battleships like the INS Mumbai, which turned heads across the globe when it sailed into war-torn Beirut in 2006 to evacuate hundreds of Indians stranded by Israel’s attack on Lebanon.

Rear Admiral MK Badhwar, the navy’s design chief, explains how the navy got so far ahead of the army and air force in indigenising its weaponry. Shaken by the 1962 defeat at the hands of China, the army and the air force gratefully bought military equipment from whoever was willing to sell.

In contrast, India’s tiny navy took the far-sighted decision to build, rather than buy, its fleet. Today, the army and the air force are playing catch-up; latecomers to indigenisation, they are struggling with a technological leapfrog; attempting cutting-edge platforms like the Arjun tank and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) without having first designed simpler weaponry.

The navy, in contrast, learned to walk before it tried to run. Starting with small landing craft in the 1960s, the learning curve rose through the increasingly complex design milestones of the Godavari class, the Brahmaputra class and the Khukri class frigates.

The first big DGND triumph came in the late 1990s, with the muscular 6,700-tonne Delhi class destroyers. Later this year, when INS Shivalik — the first of three 4,800-tonne stealth frigates — sails out of Mumbai’s Mazagon Docks Ltd (MDL) to join the Indian Navy, it will feature in defence journals as one of the world’s cutting-edge warships.

India hasn’t just learned to build world-class warships; it has also learned to make them incredibly cheaply. The three Project 17 stealth frigates being built at MDL — INS Shivalik, INS Satpura and INS Sahyadri — will each cost Rs 2,600 crore (US $650 million).

The three Project 15-A Kolkata-class destroyers, bigger and more heavily armed warships, will each cost the navy Rs 3,800 crore (US $950 million), including the cost of long-term spare parts.

How does that compare with buying a warship in the global market? Ask Australia, which is buying three destroyers from Spanish shipyard, Navantia.

The three 6,250-tonne destroyers, fitted with the hot-selling Aegis radar and fire control system, will set Australia back by Rs 32,000 crore (US $8 billion). At about Rs 11,000 crore per destroyer, that is almost three times the cost India is paying for its Kolkata-class destroyers.

Despite paying a fraction of the cost, says Admiral Badhwar, the Kolkata class is the more powerful battleship. He points out: “Other than (the Aegis radar), the Australian warship doesn’t have much…. We have got much more packed into the Kolkata-class destroyer.

The price tag is inclusive of all weapons systems, and it is a fixed price.” Sceptics of India’s warship-building capability point out, with some justification, that India’s designs borrow substantially from Russian and even western warships.

Without denying the Russian influence on India’s design philosophy, Admiral Badhwar points out, “The Project 15-A is about 90 per cent indigenous by cost. We may have to buy the odd gun from the US, or radar from Russia. But the design itself is 100 per cent Indian. And tens of thousands of Indians earn their living from building warships.”

India is among a handful of countries which retain full-fledged design departments in naval headquarters, as well as design bureaus in the shipyards that construct the warships.

The DGND, based on the navy’s operational plans, frames the concept and the functions of each warship; the design departments at the shipyards then translate that into a detailed design, and production drawings, from which they actually build the ship.

Most foreign navies have left design work to private contractors because they simply don’t buy enough ships to justify jobs for hundreds of designers. But then few navies are expanding like India’s.

With 37 major warships being inducted over the next 5-7 years, the 500 designers in the DGND will have their hands full, saving India an estimated Rs 2,00,000 crore (US $50 billion) when compared with the cost of acquiring those 37 warships from the international market.

[StingrayOZ]

How does that compare with buying a warship in the global market? Ask Australia, which is buying three destroyers from Spanish shipyard, Navantia.

Well thats wrong. Australia is building a somewhat modified spanish design in Australia. The ships would have been heaps cheaper if built in spain. Australia is not trying to build them cheap, it wants to build a very effective ship for its navy and support its own very effective and unique defence industry.


“Other than (the Aegis radar), the Australian warship doesn’t have much

Aegis SM-2, harpoon, SM-3 and SM-6 (likely) and possibly tomahawk are pretty big draw cards. It will give Australia ships that can down just about anything out there including low orbit sats or long range land strikes (if such missiles are required). Aegis is a huge adavantage (and a huge cost). Given that most of the info about the AWD has not been released its a bit premature to judge them.

It also allows Australia to task together its own battle group or join another group from partner nations like the US and the UK.

I find it interesting that they have used Australia as a benchmark. Australia is never going have the sort of vibrant and healthy shipbuilding industry a 1 billion + population country can afford.

But I do see Australia and India doing simular work on partnering and improving existing systems from a major power. The Indians work on improving/adapting Russian technologies while Australia works mostly on US systems.

[niteshkjain]

India’s L&T unveils plans for US$750 million shipyard complex
Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008
Indian engineering and construction giant Larsen & Toubro has selected the site for a Rs. 3,000 crore ($750 million) shipyard and port complex that, it says, will to bridge the gap between India’s shipbuilding industry and that in developed countries, and result in a “paradigm shift” in India’s shipbuilding capabilities.
Today, L&T inked a joint venture agreement with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (TIDCO) that will see the complex set up at Kattupalli village, near Ennore in Tiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu.
A feasibility report has been completed. Evironment studies are in progress. Construction is set to start by the end of 2008, and the project is expected be completed in 24 months.
The proposed complex will be able to build commercial ships such as Very Large Cargo Carriers, specialized cargo ships for liquid / gas transportation and cruise vessels. It will also have the capability to build vessels for the defense sector, offshore platforms and FPSO’s.
The shipyard will also have the facilities for refitting and re-engineering of commercial and defense vessels, and heavy engineering fabrication and components production for ship building purposes.
The shipyard complex will promote several ancillary units for manufacture of components and spares not only for its own use but for export. When operational, the shipyard will become a nucleus for the heavy engineering industry (for fabrications and components manufacturing).
L&T says it selected the Tamil Nadu site for this project based on its suitability, the investor friendly policies of the Tamil Nadu Govt. and the availability of large pool of technically qualified and skilled manpower in the state. This project has significant employment potential.
The Larsen & Toubro Group is a USD 7 billion technology, engineering and construction company, with global operations. It is one of the largest and most respected companies in India’s private sector.

Link: http://www.yourindustrynews.com/blog/?p=948

[niteshkjain]

Ship-handling simulator installed
Visakhapatnam, April 16

A ship-handling simulator was inaugurated at the maritime welfare centre in the Eastern Naval Command here on Wednesday by Vice-Admiral Raman Prem Suthan, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief. According to a press release issued by the ENC, the simulator will be used to train naval officers in the complex procedures of entering and leaving different harbours in the country. Major harbours and different types of ships currently deployed with the Navy have been replicated in the simulator.

The release adds that it is a modern equipment indigenously developed and installed by Applied Research International of New Delhi. It is one of a series of simulators being procured by the Navy for imparting quality training to the personnel.

Link:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041751542100.htm

[niteshkjain]

Indian Sea Harrier Tests BVR Missile

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI
Published: 16 Apr 11:09 EDT (07:09 GMT) PRINT | EMAIL

NEW DELHI - Operating in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Goa last week, an Indian navy Sea Harrier test-fired a Derby beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile.

It was the Navy's first live test of the Israeli-made Derby, a senior service official said April 15, and two more live tests are planned in the near future.

Indian navy sources said the missile hit its target on the high seas from a distance of 20 kilometers at a speed of Mach 1.2 and was able to lock onto the target before launch.

The Indian navy signed a $25 million contract in 2005 with the missile's maker, Rafael, for procurement of 20 Derby missiles to replace aging Sea Eagle missiles bought from BAE Systems in the early 1980s.

Meanwhile, India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics is upgrading the Navy's 15 Sea Harrier jump jets, purchased from BAE in 1983, under a $115 million contract. The upgraded aircraft will be armed with the Derby BVR missile.

The Sea Harriers were set to be retired along with the aircraft carrier INS Viraat in 2010, the Navy official said, but this upgrade will keep the planes in service for deployment on the planned Air Defense Ship.

Link:http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3480072&c=ASI&s=AIR

[Salty Dog]

Indian Sea Harrier Tests BVR Missile

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI
Published: 16 Apr 11:09 EDT (07:09 GMT) PRINT | EMAIL

The Indian navy signed a $25 million contract in 2005 with the missile's maker, Rafael, for procurement of 20 Derby missiles to replace aging Sea Eagle missiles bought from BAE Systems in the early 1980s.

Link:http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3480072&c=ASI&s=AIR

The Derby is a BVR AAM whilst the Sea Eagle is an air-launched anti-ship missile. Someone was mis-informed.

[niteshkjain]

Centre admits to problems in naval deals


Sandeep Dikshit
Admiral Gorshkov has run into time and cost overruns

Russians seek

$900 million more

for Gorshkov

NEW DELHI: The government admitted in Parliament on Wednesday that several naval deals, including ones with the United States and Russia for warships, were facing rough weather.

While the U.S. amphibious assault ship, ‘USS Trenton’ was purchased merely after a “visual inspection,” the modernisation of the Russian aircraft carrier, ‘Admiral Gorshkov,’ has run into time and cost overruns.

Though Trenton encountered time and cost overrun problems, the difference was not as huge as in the case of Gorshkov. In case of the Trenton, the delay was of six months and the cost overrun amounted to about $5 million. But for Gorshkov, the Russians are seeking an additional $900 million and the ship is likely to be delayed by four years. The Trenton has since been renamed ‘INS Jalashwa’ while the Gorshkov will be known as ‘INS Vikramaditya.’

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister A. K. Antony admitted that the American ship was not only bought after a “joint visual inspection” but was 36 years old and the Navy has assessed its residual life to be above 10 years.

In case of the Gorshkov, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence noted that the delays have been caused because of change in scope of work. “The deal appears to have become fait accompli with little scope of effecting economy,” said its report, adding that instead of three aircraft carriers, India had just one. Even this was to be retired this year when the Gorshkov was expected to arrive. But the sole functioning aircraft carrier would have to be pressed into service for another four years till the Gorshkov is modernised and trials held on the high seas. For Gorshkov, the Russians are seeking an additional $900 million and the ship is likely to be delayed by four years.

But a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) went beyond the usual time and cost wrangles in case of naval projects by noting that in case of the U.S. ship, “restrictive clauses raise doubts about the real advantages from this deal. For example, there are restrictions on the offensive deployment of the ship and permission would be given to foreign government [the U.S.] to conduct an inspection and inventory of all articles transferred under the end-use monitoring clause of the Letter of Agreement. Given that the ship is of old vintage, Indian Navy would remain dependent upon foreign-based support.” However, a U.S. officially recently refuted these observations.

Undecided
The purchase of another urgently required piece of naval hardware — deep submergence rescue vehicles (DSRV) — has remained undecided after six years.

The ships would be utilised to rescue sailors trapped in a sunken submarine. In its absence, 118 Russian naval personnel met a slow and agonising death after their submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea in 2000.

Diving support
The Indian Navy presently operates a diving support vessel which uses a rescue bell to rescue personnel from a submarine in distress. But the bell has depth limitations. As an alternative till the DSRVs are inducted,

India has tie-ups with an advanced navy to provide urgent assistance in case of a mishap. The Navy has 16 submarines and according to a CAG report, the overall operational percentage is dismal mainly because of the age of part of the fleet.

Link: http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=9959

[niteshkjain]

Link: http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/19/stories/2008041960470700.htm

Anti-submarine corvette for Navy next year

J Balaji
Each ship will cost around Rs. 700 crore: GRSE General Manager
VISAKHAPATNAM: The Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineeers (GRSE) Limited, Kolkata, a PSU of the Defence Ministry, will release the first of the four anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvettes, ordered by the Navy, in the middle of next year.

GRSE Additional General Manager Deepak Pathi told The Hindu from Kolkata that each ship would cost around Rs.700 crores and this was the first time that the ships, with the state-of-the-art technology, were built in India with mostly indigenous equipment.

Named project 28 class, each ship, known as “hunters and killers”, would be of medium size and would be fully packed with advanced and modern weapons.

Sources said the subsequent ships would be delivered in a gap of 15-18 months. The Navy plans to have 12 such ships and the order for these four ships was given under phase I.

Though the order for the corvettes was given as early as 2003 for some unforeseen reasons the plate cutting for the first vessel commenced only on August 12, 2005.

Each of the ASW corvette would have 2500 tonnes standard displacement with a length of 110 metres. It could sail at a maximum speed of 28 to 32 knots.

The ships would be powered by four Pielstick 12 PA6 STC engines, each rated at 4270 KW.

Known as ASW surface combatant for the Indian Navy for the 21st century, the vessels would be armed with stealth-mounted guns, the latest electronic warfare suite. The structure of the ship would be such that it would cut down noise drastically to prevent it from getting detected by enemy submarines. But it will be able to detect an enemy submarine from a distance and destroy it.

[contedicavour]

Indian Sea Harrier Tests BVR Missile

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI
Published: 16 Apr 11:09 EDT (07:09 GMT) PRINT | EMAIL

NEW DELHI - Operating in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Goa last week, an Indian navy Sea Harrier test-fired a Derby beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile.

It was the Navy's first live test of the Israeli-made Derby, a senior service official said April 15, and two more live tests are planned in the near future.

Indian navy sources said the missile hit its target on the high seas from a distance of 20 kilometers at a speed of Mach 1.2 and was able to lock onto the target before launch.

The Indian navy signed a $25 million contract in 2005 with the missile's maker, Rafael, for procurement of 20 Derby missiles to replace aging Sea Eagle missiles bought from BAE Systems in the early 1980s.

Meanwhile, India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics is upgrading the Navy's 15 Sea Harrier jump jets, purchased from BAE in 1983, under a $115 million contract. The upgraded aircraft will be armed with the Derby BVR missile.

The Sea Harriers were set to be retired along with the aircraft carrier INS Viraat in 2010, the Navy official said, but this upgrade will keep the planes in service for deployment on the planned Air Defense Ship.

Link:http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3480072&c=ASI&s=AIR

Aside from the mistake on the Sea Eagles (ASMs not AAMs) already highlighted by Salty Dog, this is good news for the Indian Navy who has had only bad news on carriers for quite a while...
Derbys are certainly not of the same league as AIM120, but they do provide a serious BVR capability while IN waits for a ship capable of using the navalized MIG29s... looooooong wait....

cheers

[aaaditya]

Aside from the mistake on the Sea Eagles (ASMs not AAMs) already highlighted by Salty Dog, this is good news for the Indian Navy who has had only bad news on carriers for quite a while...
Derbys are certainly not of the same league as AIM120, but they do provide a serious BVR capability while IN waits for a ship capable of using the navalized MIG29s... looooooong wait....

cheers

taht doesnt mean that they cannot use the mig29k's ,mig29k's deployed at shore bases agianst pakistan can prove to be formidable threat to pakistani shipping (both naval and commercial).

on the eastern coast if deployed at haldia or at the carnic base can effectively monitor the mallaca straits though would require inflight refuelling support.

[contedicavour]

taht doesnt mean that they cannot use the mig29k's ,mig29k's deployed at shore bases agianst pakistan can prove to be formidable threat to pakistani shipping (both naval and commercial).

on the eastern coast if deployed at haldia or at the carnic base can effectively monitor the mallaca straits though would require inflight refuelling support.

Good point. Though they will remain land-based for quite a while now and for training purposes they will probably end up in some USN base to ensure the pilots are carrier trained...

cheers

[niteshkjain]

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804252073.htm

Indian naval chief to meet top Pentagon officials

Washington (PTI): Indian naval chief Admiral Suresh Mehta plans to meet top Pentagon officials in Washington to boost military ties between India and the United States. Admiral Mehta is scheduled to meet top US officials including Secretary of the Navy, the Deputy Defence Secretary Gordon England and the Chief of Naval Operations at the Defence Department on Monday.

The Indian Navy Chief is on a "bilateral goodwill visit" and has nothing to do with any signing of multi-billion dollar deals, a senior official told PTI. Admiral Mehta arrived in the US earlier this week and among his first calls were a meeting of the Pacific Fleet Commander and a visit to naval installations and bases in San Diego.

The naval chief also visited United States Navy Training Center that is inclusive of simulators and where more than 50,000 personnel are trained. Before arriving in Washington on April 28 for his meetings, Admiral Mehta will be visiting Jacksonville, Florida, and the navy facility in Norfolk. The Indian Admiral will also plans to see the Naval Academy in Annapolis before leaving for home on Tuesday.

[Firehorse]

India worried about China's growing N-sub prowess (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3013340,prtpage-1.cms)

I wonder what are the odds that the US will help India with her ATV (advanced technology vessel) project (http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/ATV.html) to speed it up?

[niteshkjain]

Why US will help India in this regard moreover the point here is Does India need any help from US in this regard? India has already shown capability to launch SLBM and ATV is slated for sea trials in 2009. So point of US helping India doesn't arise.

[Salty Dog]

Possible Indian buy of additional Phalanx systems. Note the author calls the ex-USS Trenton a "carrier" :)

India May Purchase Phalanx Weapon System (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aerospacedaily&id=news/PHALANX050708.xml&headline=India%20May%20Purchase%20Phalanx%20Weapon %20System)

May 7, 2008

Neelam Mathews/Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – India may be looking at further purchases of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, which is mounted on the carrier USS Trenton that was sold to the Indian navy.

Since renamed INS Jalashva, the Trenton arrived in India with two Phalanx weapons systems onboard. Raytheon Missile Systems is talking to India about purchasing more Phalanx systems for other ships in the Indian navy.

Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled, radar-guided gun system designed to defeat anti-ship missiles and other close-in air and surface threats. A self-contained package, Phalanx automatically carries out functions usually performed by multiple systems – including search, detection, threat evaluation, tracking, engagement, and kill assessment.

Preliminary discussions are on with the Indian navy, which is looking at an annual maintenance contract. “We see this as a sign to move forward as we are talking turkey,” said Mark Nichol, Raytheon’s regional director.

“Our focus is to move from international sales to global business,” he added.

Nichol hopes the talks will lead to India eventually purchasing the Block 1B upgrade to the Phalanx system as well.

With its surface mode configuration, Block 1B would augment the anti-air warfare capability by adding a forward looking infrared sensor and optimized gun barrels to the Block 1A configuration. It allows Phalanx to be used against littoral threats such as helicopters and high-speed boats. Block 1B also adds new control stations with situational awareness that allows operators to visually track and identify targets before engagement

Meanwhile, Raytheon has signed seven memorandums of understanding with private companies in India that produce a wide range of products in the areas of communications, radar, naval systems, telecommunications and broadcast, electronic warfare, tank electronics, opto-electronics, professional electronic components, and solar photovoltaic systems. The partner companies provide offset potential for projects ranging from manufacturing to defense, according to Raytheon.

[niteshkjain]

Six more submarines:)

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/India_to_acquire_six_more_submarines/articleshow/3024705.cms



India to acquire six more submarines: Naval Chief
9 May, 2008, 1356 hrs IST, PTI


MUMBAI: India will soon float global tenders to acquire six submarines but would like to see indigenous development of this technology in the future, Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said on Friday.

These six submarines would be in addition to the Scorpene submarines, which the Indian navy is expected to acquire soon.

"In accordance with the plan to keep a certain number of submarines in the force, we will be acquiring six of one type (Scorpene) and six of another type," Mehta said at a press conference, marking the end of a two-day-long naval commanders' conference held here.

The development of Scorpene submarines had been delayed and it was now time to look for a second type of submarine, he said.

Mehta said, "We need to have indigenous capability for building these submarines and Indian Navy has been a strong proponent of indigenous development. Therefore, we would expect that our shipyards take over the technology from some of these companies and thereafter build it themselves."

The submarines for which tenders would be floated could also have vertical missile launch capabilities, he added.

The Indian Navy's requirement was small and, therefore, it presently could obtain the submarines from abroad, the admiral said, adding the navy was also hopeful of obtaining nuclear powered submarines in the future.

"The nuclear powered submarines could be equipped either with nuclear or conventional weapons. The present nuclear submarine project was being developed by Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO)," he added.

[aaaditya]

Six more submarines:)

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/India_to_acquire_six_more_submarines/articleshow/3024705.cms



India to acquire six more submarines: Naval Chief
9 May, 2008, 1356 hrs IST, PTI


MUMBAI: India will soon float global tenders to acquire six submarines but would like to see indigenous development of this technology in the future, Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said on Friday.

These six submarines would be in addition to the Scorpene submarines, which the Indian navy is expected to acquire soon.

"In accordance with the plan to keep a certain number of submarines in the force, we will be acquiring six of one type (Scorpene) and six of another type," Mehta said at a press conference, marking the end of a two-day-long naval commanders' conference held here.

The development of Scorpene submarines had been delayed and it was now time to look for a second type of submarine, he said.

Mehta said, "We need to have indigenous capability for building these submarines and Indian Navy has been a strong proponent of indigenous development. Therefore, we would expect that our shipyards take over the technology from some of these companies and thereafter build it themselves."

The submarines for which tenders would be floated could also have vertical missile launch capabilities, he added.

The Indian Navy's requirement was small and, therefore, it presently could obtain the submarines from abroad, the admiral said, adding the navy was also hopeful of obtaining nuclear powered submarines in the future.

"The nuclear powered submarines could be equipped either with nuclear or conventional weapons. The present nuclear submarine project was being developed by Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO)," he added.

i wonder which current sub designs have vls capability?i know for sure that amur has this capability.

[niteshkjain]

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Indian-Navy-set-to-get-Boeing-P-8i-Poseidons/310495/

Indian Navy set to get Boeing P-8i Poseidons
Huma Siddiqui




Renton (Washington State),May 15 Indian Navy will soon have an edge in the Indian Ocean once it inks $2.2 billion deal for eight maritime patrol planes from Boeing.The agreement is expected to be signed soon.

The Boeing P-8i Poseidons long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR)patrol aircraft will enable the Indian Navy to operate a platform almost simultaneously with the USNavy.

Richard Buck,Boeing's international programme manager for P8,said that India would be able to leverage on the substantial investment made in the P8 by the US Navy.

A lot of issues relating to the P-8i for the Indian Navy are still in the process of being sorted out,said Buck.

So far,the company officials claim that $4 billion had already been spent on the development of the aircraft.The uniqueness of the programme is that it is not being negotiated under the US foreign military sales (FMS)programme but as adirectcommercial agreement between Boeing and the Indian Navy.

Responding to a question, Buck said,"Under the request for proposal (RFP)received, the first aircraft has to be delivered within 48 months of the contract being signed and the remaining within an eight-year time frame."

Buck said,"We are offering next generation technology that will keep the plane in service till 2050at the least.Beit in an anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare,intelligence gathering,surveillance or reconnaissance roles,the P8I combines superior performance and proven reliability againstanyotheraircraftflying today."

The P-8i,based on the Boeing-737 commercial airliner, was competing with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS)'s A-319 maritime patrol aircraft and other contenders in meeting 'qualitative requirements'in the technical trials held by the Navy.The P-8i,a customised version for the Indian Navy,is based on the hugely successful Boeing-737 commercial airliner.The navy had,in November 2006,expressed an interest in the aircraft as a replacement for its existing fleet of Il-38 aircraft.

[Sea Toby]

I did the math, that is US$ 275 million each. Ouch. That is over Australia$ 300 million each. This is a lot of money.

I can't see New Zealand spending a billion, or more than 3.

[aaaditya]

hey guys,interesting news here,the south korean naval chief is on a visit to india to discuss joint co-operation with india,india seems to be very interested in the south korean ship building technology.

here is the link and the article:

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/311812.html


NEW DELHI, MAY 19: Admiral Jung Ok-Keun arrived here on Monday to mark the first-ever visit of a South Korean Navy Chief to India. The visiting military head, who was given a traditional guard of honour at South Block, met his Indian counterpart Admiral Sureesh Mehta and interacted with the Navy brass.
While their discussions were not made public, it is learnt that the two sides talked about common security concerns and identified areas of mutual interest for maritime cooperation in the future.

The visit comes weeks after China’s latest nuclear submarine base at Hainan island was revealed to the world through satellite images. Interestingly, the Chief of the Philippine Navy — another key player in the South China Sea region — Vice Admiral Rogelio I Calunsag also stopped over for a short visit to New Delhi last week.
Besides common security concerns, India is said to have expressed interest in gaining knowledge in ship building techniques from South Korea. The country, which has one of the biggest ship builders in the world, also has expertise in naval vessels. Admiral Jung Ok-Keun, who will head for Agra after Delhi, is also scheduled to visit Mumbai for interactions with the Western Naval Command. Besides a tour of the New Delhi class frigates, he is also expected to visit the Mazagaon shipyard.

[aaaditya]

hey guys great news here,indian coast guard is to induct fifth advanced offshore patrol vessel soon.

these vessels shall tremendously bolster the coast guard's capabilities.

here check out this interesting link and article,it also gives some information on the vessels specifications.

http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=38988

ANTONY TO INDUCT 5TH AOPV ‘ICGS SANKALP’ INTO COAST GUARD TOMORROW 16:14 IST The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony will induct the 5th Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV), ‘ICGS Sankalp’, into the Coast Guard at a function in Goa tomorrow. The Director General, Indian Coast Guard, Vice Admiral RF Contractor will also be present at the commissioning ceremony.

The ICGS Sankalp has been designed and built indigenously by the defence PSU, Goa Shipyard Limited. The AOPV is designed to carry one twin engine helicopter, including the indigenously built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), and five high speed boats for search & rescue, prompt interception and marine pollution response missions. It is equipped with sophisticated navigational and communication sensors. The special features include an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS), high power External Fire Fighting System and two indigenously built Gun Mounts. Besides, an Infra-Red Surveillance System will impart the AOPV with night vision capability.

The ship, to be based in Mumbai, is 105 meters long, draws 2,300 tons and is propelled by 8000 hp twin diesel engines to a maximum speed of 25 knots. It can sail upto 6,500 nautical miles without refueling. DIG K S Sheoran will be the first commandant of the ICGS “Sankalp”.

The Coast Guard plans to induct one more AOPV, three Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs), five Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) and 11 Interceptor Boats (IBs), which are under various stages of construction at the Indian shipyards, into its fleet by next year.

[kay_man]

hey guys great news here,indian coast guard is to induct fifth advanced offshore patrol vessel soon.

these vessels shall tremendously bolster the coast guard's capabilities.

here check out this interesting link and article,it also gives some information on the vessels specifications.

http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=38988

ANTONY TO INDUCT 5TH AOPV ‘ICGS SANKALP’ INTO COAST GUARD TOMORROW 16:14 IST The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony will induct the 5th Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV), ‘ICGS Sankalp’, into the Coast Guard at a function in Goa tomorrow. The Director General, Indian Coast Guard, Vice Admiral RF Contractor will also be present at the commissioning ceremony.

The ICGS Sankalp has been designed and built indigenously by the defence PSU, Goa Shipyard Limited. The AOPV is designed to carry one twin engine helicopter, including the indigenously built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), and five high speed boats for search & rescue, prompt interception and marine pollution response missions. It is equipped with sophisticated navigational and communication sensors. The special features include an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS), high power External Fire Fighting System and two indigenously built Gun Mounts. Besides, an Infra-Red Surveillance System will impart the AOPV with night vision capability.

The ship, to be based in Mumbai, is 105 meters long, draws 2,300 tons and is propelled by 8000 hp twin diesel engines to a maximum speed of 25 knots. It can sail upto 6,500 nautical miles without refueling. DIG K S Sheoran will be the first commandant of the ICGS “Sankalp”.

The Coast Guard plans to induct one more AOPV, three Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs), five Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) and 11 Interceptor Boats (IBs), which are under various stages of construction at the Indian shipyards, into its fleet by next year.

very vague datails and no pic. how fast does this thing go , weapon systems?

[swerve]

very vague datails and no pic. how fast does this thing go , weapon systems?

Try Google. Works for me.

[aaaditya]

very vague datails and no pic. how fast does this thing go , weapon systems?

they have a cad image of this ship and the nopv on the bharat rakshak site, this vessel is to be eqipped with the oto-melara super rapid 76mm gun ,the nopv design also shows an addition of what could be anti aircraft guns,these vessels have a maximum speed of 25 kts and a range of 6500 nautical miles,the bridge modular displays are to be supplied by raytheon marine systems.

[aaaditya]

such patrol vessels would be extremely usefull in the scenarios highlighted in this article:

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/313850.html


NEW DELHI, MAY 23: Just before the Indian sailors onboard hijacked ship MV Victoria were released on Friday, India had readied a frontline guided missile destroyer, complete with a crack marine commandos (MARCOS) team, for a rescue mission to the Somalia coast.
The strike mission was called off after the issue got resolved, but it has come to light that the Navy had prepared for any extreme eventuality and readied one its most modern warships, the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, for a fast dash to the Somali coast.

A crack team of the Navy’s elite anti-terror special operations unit, which is trained for operations on oil rigs and merchant ships, was placed on board the INS Delhi on Thursday morning.
Officers and sailors of the warship who had gone on leave were called back on ‘emergency duty’ for the mission.
Sources confirmed that the heavily armed warship, which carries two Sea King helicopters and reaches speeds greater thab 32 knots, was hours away from deployment when the situation deescalated.
However, the INS Mumbai, another Delhi class destroyer, was asked to head to Somalia to keep track of the hijacked ship. INS Mumbai was already in African waters as it was returning from an exercise with the South Africa and Brazil navies, although it did not have a MARCOS team onboard
While a rescue mission to Somalia would have required an approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the incident shows that the Navy was prepared to launch what would have been its first ever strike operation at such a distance from Indian waters. Besides the IPKF operations in Sri Lanka between 1987-1990, the only other time MARCOS operated beyond Indian waters was near Maldives during Operation Cactus in 1988.





besides anti piracy these vessels can also be used as convoy escorts to provide security to merchant convoys and for coastal defence,search and rescue roles in times of a war thus reducing the workload on the indian navy.

[aaaditya]

hey guys,check out this interesting link and article,it seems that the indian navy plans to acquire lpd's ,indian navy is particularly interested in the french mistral design,and the garden reach shipyards and engineers limited are studying this design.

here is the link and the article:

http://outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?gid=73&id=572931


Navy proposes to build huge ship landing docks

NEW DELHI, MAY 20 (PTI)
Having cleared the decks for manufacture of large aircraft carriers indigenously, the navy is now proposing to venture into building huge ship landing docks to give it the capability to carry heavily armed troops and armaments over oceans.
The Naval Design Bureau has now finalised plans to go ahead to manufacture over 20,000 tonne displacement landing ship docks on the pattern of the INS Jalashva, which it recently acquired from the US Navy.
Along with trying its hand on manufacturing such large warships, the navy has also proposed to the government to set up two more public-sector shipyards located on the east and west coast, as its order book for vessels grow.
India, at present, only has the knowhow to manufacture smaller amphibious warships of 4,000 to 6,000 thousand tonne displacement. The navy has three such vessels on deployment but with New Delhi's commitments growing in view of demands for humanitarian assistance at sea, plans have now been cleared to go in for larger ship landing docks.
However, as in the case of aircraft carriers, the navy lacks the design expertise to build such huge warships. In the case of the indigenous carrier being built at Kochi shipyard, the navy has roped in an Italian firm Fincantieri.
In order to build the country's first ever blue water troop carrier, the navy is looking at a number of designs, including American and French.
INS Jalashva, formerly USS Trenton, which the Indian Navy recently acquired from the US navy is an Austin class vessel and New Delhi is looking at its more modern versions like Cleveland or Denver class.
With a 17,000 tonne displacement, Cleveland class Ship landing docks can carry six CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters and 900 marines.
India is also looking very closely at the French landing ship dock Mistral, which is a much larger 21,300 displacement warship with an operational range of 19,800 nautical miles and four huge landing barges, naval sources said here today.
Mistral, which was recently here to participate in the Varuna-2008 Indo-French naval exercises has the capability of carrying 16 helicopters and 900 fully armed marines. French shipbuilders DCN international which is already collaborating with India on building Scorpene submarines under technology transfer at Mazagoan docks has offered to collaborate in building of the Ship Landing Dock.

[Sea Toby]

Keep in mind one French Mistral LHD type will cost twice as much as a Dutch Rotterdam LPD/LSD, but you also get twice the sea lift and possibly three times as many helicopters. The Rotterdams I believe costs above 150 million Euros whereas the Mistrals costs over 700 million Euros. Probably more today due to inflation. There is a big difference between $50 million for the old Trenton and a new ship. Of course Indian labor will cut the costs a bit. These amphibious ships are very useful for humanitarian missions and are excellent ships for evacuations.

I knew once the Indian navy had their hands on the old wonderful Trenton, they would want something newer. They are great assets at projecting the army abroad, not to mention their ability for humanitarian missions. And until India can design and build some, more older Trenton types will still be available for the short term as the US Navy discards them for newer ships.

[contedicavour]

It's just about time India focused more heavily on amphibious capability. Building locally an evolved version of Mistrals would make sense (their IAC is an evolution of the Italian Cavour carrier) and allow for mobility of Indian marines for UN missions, for relief operations in case of natural disasters, and for influencing military strategies relating to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh... more than an extra SSK or destroyer ever would. Imagine the weight a potential amphibious landing behind Pakistani lines would have ! For all their costs, a big LPD costs still less than half than a modern DDG.

cheers

[niteshkjain]

Bad news

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=16c7d82a-f286-40d8-91a7-8dd639ead286

Scorpene project runs into rough weather
Rahul Singh, Hindustan Times

New Delhi, May 28, 2008
First Published: 01:57 IST(28/5/2008)
Last Updated: 02:01 IST(28/5/2008)

After the Russians failed to stick to the deadline for readying aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov for the Indian Navy, it is now the turn of the French to let India down. The Rs 18,798-crore Scorpene submarine project has run into rough weather due to delay in technology transfer.

The navy may not be able to induct the first submarine by the 2012 deadline, with the French yet to part with crucial details of technological know-how, including design and drawing documentation. A senior navy official confirmed to HT on Tuesday that the project had been delayed by a year due to “teething problems”.

The Scorpene deal was signed in October 2005.

The Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks Limited is to build six Scorpene submarines under the project, which would ultimately improve India’s indigenous capabilities in submarine design and construction. DCNS, the French firm that has developed the Scorpene, had assured the Indian Navy earlier this year that issues surrounding technology transfer had been taken care of and the first of the six Scorpene submarines would roll out by 2012. The remaining five are scheduled to follow at a rate of one per year.

However, the navy’s latest revelation on the status of the project is likely to fuel concerns about the depleting war-waging potential of the navy. In March 2003, the Defence Acquisition Council had said the force level of the navy should not dip below 142 ships and submarines. But the figure currently stands at 129. Worse, the navy’s stealth frigate and destroyer projects, worth Rs 19,763 crore, are also plagued with time and cost overruns.

Aside from the six submarines being built at Mazagon Docks, the Indian navy is exploring the option of adding six more submarines to its fledgling underwater arm. A global tender for the second line of submarines is planned for 2009. Apart from the German HDW and Russian Amur submarines, French firm DCNS would be eyeing a repeat order.

The navy’s existing submarine fleet is humble comprising a mere 16 conventional diesel-electric submarines, including 10 Russian Kilo-class, four German HDW-class and two vintage Foxtrot-class vessels. The Scorpene project is crucial for the navy given it will be left with just around 10 submarines by 2015.

[kay_man]

Any new on the Advanced technology vessel.?
havent heard about it for a while now...when is the official launch induction date?

[niteshkjain]

Any new on the Advanced technology vessel.?
havent heard about it for a while now...when is the official launch induction date?

Previous report says it may launched next year any time. no concrete date as of now

[Salty Dog]

Bad news

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=16c7d82a-f286-40d8-91a7-8dd639ead286

Scorpene project runs into rough weather

The navy may not be able to induct the first submarine by the 2012 deadline, with the French yet to part with crucial details of technological know-how, including design and drawing documentation. A senior navy official confirmed to HT on Tuesday that the project had been delayed by a year due to “teething problems”.



This could send some bad vibes to the Brazilians. Earlier this year during the French president's visit to Brazil he voiced the France's cooperation with Brazil to develop SSK (Scorpene) and SSN submarines.

[niteshkjain]

This could send some bad vibes to the Brazilians. Earlier this year during the French president's visit to Brazil he voiced the France's cooperation with Brazil to develop SSK (Scorpene) and SSN submarines.
Are french really going to support on SSN project? Isn't it violates any treaty? if not, why india has not taken any support in building its own ATV?
Can you please provide any link which says French offered help on SSN projects?

[Salty Dog]

Are french really going to support on SSN project? Isn't it violates any treaty? if not, why india has not taken any support in building its own ATV?
Can you please provide any link which says French offered help on SSN projects?

Try a Google search with the words "France", "Brazil", and "submarine". You will find plenty of links.

[niteshkjain]

Try a Google search with the words "France", "Brazil", and "submarine". You will find plenty of links.

thanks a lot. but this means India is the dumbest country in the world which tried so hard to build a nuclear submarine all on its own (may be got some covert help). So you can lease a nuclear submarine or you can help to build it but can't sell it??

Correct me if I am wrong.

[niteshkjain]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=81b237eb-d41e-4f06-b1f8-1475ab0788b0

Torpedo all set for user trial

Soumyajit Pattnaik , Hindustan Times
Bhubaneswar, June 03, 2008
First Published: 02:15 IST(3/6/2008)
Last Updated: 02:18 IST(3/6/2008)


The indigenously built heavyweight torpedo, Varunastra, is scheduled to undergo extensive user trials by end 2008 and go into production in 2009. Being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to counter threats from the sea, Varunastra can be fired against hostile submarines and ships. The DRDO’s Visakhapatnam-based Naval Science and Technology Laboratory (NSTL) is currently developing the Varunastra.

“We are developing two types of torpedoes. The lightweight anti-submarine torpedo is currently under production. The heavyweight Varunastra requires more user trials before it can be inducted into the Navy. It will undergo extensive trials by the end of this year and will be ready for production in 2009,” a senior NSTL official, who was visiting DRDO facilities in Orissa, told the Hindustan Times. A torpedo, on entering water, performs pre-programmed search patterns, detects and homes in on targets and explodes on impact to destroy/damage them.

A heavyweight torpedo like the Varunastra is fired from a submarine or ship. “This torpedo is wire-guided. In other words, the guidance wire acts as a medium for communication of data between the torpedo and the firing platform (ship or submarine). The wire is also a medium to communicate data to guide the torpedo towards the target during the underwater run,” the NSTL official said. “DRDO has developed guidance wire spools for wire-guided torpedoes like Varunastra. This system has undergone sea trials and performed satisfactorily. DRDO has also developed an onboard instrumentation system for torpedoes.”

The official added that the instrumentation system performs pre-launch communication, monitors health of the torpedo and stores torpedo parameters online.

Despite the strides made in the indigenous production of torpedoes, the Indian Navy still suffers from a handicap: how to train submarine or ship crew in torpedo firing. Use of real torpedoes for training is cost prohibitive, so naval officials train with practice torpedoes. For this purpose, NSTL has designed, developed and produced a ‘drill and practice torpedo’, which is the equivalent of an Italian torpedo, currently available with the Indian Navy. The indigenous drill and practice torpedo is available at one-sixth the cost of an imported torpedo.

[niteshkjain]

Finally some good news for Indian navy regarding gorshakov

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080603/109132065.html

Russia to test aircraft carrier for India's navy in 2011

The Russian Sevmash shipyard said on Tuesday it planned to test an aircraft carrier currently being modernized for the Indian navy in 2011.

India contracted the $1.5 billion Admiral Gorshkov for its navy in 2004. After long-running delays and disputes, Russia and India agreed in February to raise refit costs for the aircraft carrier, berthed at Sevmash in north Russia for the past 12 years.

The carrier, renamed the Vikramaditya, is to replace India's INS Viraat carrier, which, although currently operational, is now 50 years old.

"The successful solution of all the financial issues will enable the shipbuilders to sail the aircraft carrier out into the Barents Sea for trials. In the winter of 2012, the ship is expected to be finally refitted and trials will continue in the summer of that year. At the end of 2012, the aircraft carrier is expected to be fully prepared for its transfer to the Indian navy in accordance with the schedule approved by the Russian Navy," Sevmash said.

The contract to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier to India, which state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed with the Indian navy, covers the modernization of the ship and equipping it with modern weaponry, including MiG-29K Fulcrum aircraft and Ka-27 Helix-A and Ka-31 Helix-B anti-submarine helicopters.

After it has been refitted, the Gorshkov is expected to be seaworthy for 30 years.

[Sea Toby]

How is the construction coming along of the indigenous aircraft carrier. I read recently India may order another one this year? Any confirmation?

[niteshkjain]

How is the construction coming along of the indigenous aircraft carrier. I read recently India may order another one this year? Any confirmation?
The indigenous ADS (Air Defense Ship) is equally hush hush project like the ATV so there is no concrete information available as of now :)

[kay_man]

i heard this one some where..i dont remember.

the russians had developed a supersonic rocket propelled torpedo !!!
it was undergoing tests on board THE KURSK..
there are speculations that the torpedo had volatile propellant and its explosion caused to kursk to sink !!!

[swerve]

i heard this one some where..i dont remember.

the russians had developed a supersonic rocket propelled torpedo !!!
it was undergoing tests on board THE KURSK..
there are speculations that the torpedo had volatile propellant and its explosion caused to kursk to sink !!!

Please don't dig up old rumours. The official explanation fits the facts, & reflects badly enough on the Russians that there's no reason for them to have made it up.

The volatile propellant (hydrogen peroxide) of a normal, old (not rocket-propelled, not new - in service since 1976 - Type 65-76 "Kit") torpedo leaked. There was an explosion, which set off other torpedos.

Hydrogen peroxide was used because of its high energy content. Western navies had not used it due to concerns over its volatility. The RN lost a ship in the same way in the 1950s, when testing a hydrogen peroxide fuelled torpedo. The USSR accepted the risks as worth the performance.

So there you have it: old technology, effective but deemed too risky in the west. BTW, Russia withdrew HTP torpedos from service after the Kursk accident.

And you could have found all that out for yourself in a few minutes.

[niteshkjain]

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=10&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=39249

Six reconnaissance aircraft to be bought for Navy
Press Trust of India / New Dellhi June 05, 2008, 15:09 IST


With an aim to boost surveillance by the Indian Navy along the country's coastline, the Central government will soon initiate the process to acquire six medium-range multi-role reconnaissance aircraft.


The Defence Ministry has given clearance for Request for Proposals (RFPs) which will be issued any time now, official sources said here today.

The induction will be done in a phased manner after the order is executed in one or two years, sources said. The six MRMR aircraft will replace the Navy's Islanders (BN-21A) from Britten Norman that are being used for coastal surveillance for many decades.

At present, the Navy operates about 12 of them but they are on the verge of being phased out. Once inducted, the MRMR aircraft will be mainly used in reconnaissance role to strengthen the Navy's intelligence and surveillance capablities.

The need for the MRMR aircraft will further arise in future when the Navy's fleet of Dornier-228 aircraft is phased out. Most of Indian Navy's Islanders were phased out some years ago. Some were given to Myanmar for its coastal surveillance.

The Indian Coast Guard also requires six MRMR aircraft. Coast Guard sources say their requirement will be met through a separate RFP.

[aaaditya]

i believe ,that the atr and the embraer meet indian navy's and coast guards requirement well,both aircrafts have been commercially successfull in india with 50+ atr's and 20 embraer's in service with private indian airlines.there will be no dearth os spares and support for these aircrafts.

[niteshkjain]

http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=1&task=view&id=9360&sectionid=36&issueid=57&latn=2

Italians are coming

Last year, when Paolo Girasole, a senior executive with Italian arms major Finmeccanica, was given the option of a foreign posting, he instantly picked India.

The slow-moving decision-making process would need getting used to but the world's second-largest defence market marked an exciting business opportunity.

Reason enough for Italian arms major Finmeccanica to pack its coffee, olive oil and pasta and head for New Delhi.

From one-off suppliers of torpedoes, radars and naval guns to India, Italy is the arriviste in the Indian defence market, quietly becoming one of India's largest potential military equipment suppliers.

Earlier this year, the Indian Navy signed a ¤200 million (Rs 1,300 crore) contract with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for a new fleet tanker.

The tanker to be built in Italy and delivered by 2010 will greatly increase the naval fleet's endurance at sea.

Finmeccanica's helicopter division, Augusta Westland, is the frontrunner in a multi-million contract to supply 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters worth around Rs 110 crore each for use by the President and prime minister.


The AW-101 has been shortlisted to carry the President, prime minister and SPG
Four of these are for the use by the Special Protection Group. In a replay of the Marine One contest for the US presidential helicopter last year, field evaluations conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF), the triple-engined Italian helicopter trumped its only competitor, the US Sikorsky S-92.
The contract to be signed later this year for the flying offices equipped with advanced communication aids and self-protection devices could well be the greatest Italian export to India since the iconic Vespa scooter in the 1960s.

The Italian story rides mostly on the 'two Fins'-state-owned Finmeccanica which supplies electronics, radars, artillery and aircraft, and Fincantieri that makes ships.

Co-located in a single building in downtown Delhi's Nehru Place and co-incidentally headed by two engineers who attended the Italian naval academy together, the firms with turnovers of ¤12.5 and ¤2.5 billion (Rs 81,250 crore and Rs 16,250 crore) respectively are frontrunners in practically every significant defence contract.

"India is the number one export priority for us," says Massimo de Benedictis, country representative, Fincantieri.

Italy on the go

With an EU-imposed arms embargo against China, India is the largest potential arms market. The Italians are front-runners in a number of aerospace and naval programmes. Rapid delivery schedules, high technology and competitive costs make them attractive for tie-ups. For good reason. Current European Union (EU) arms embargoes against China make India, with $45 billion (Rs 1.89 lakh crore) earmarked for defence acquisitions over the next five years, an attractive alternative.

Fincantieri's FREMM stealth frigate is a contender for a seven-warship order worth Rs 30,000 crore. The shipbuilder is also vying to sell six advanced offshore patrol vessels to the navy and coast guard.


If the 38,000-tonne Indigenous Aircraft Carrier being built at the Cochin Shipyard Limited looks like a bigger version of Italy's new carrier, the Cavour, it is because it was designed with assistance from Fincantieri which is also integrating the ship's propulsion system. Italy has emerged as an attractive shipbuilding destination due to rapid delivery schedules, high technology and competitive costs.

While accepting a new oceanographic survey vessel from Fincantieri in December 2007, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal joked how it had taken his ministry three years to get the financing for a ship which took the yard just 18 months to build.

The navy will get its new Italian tanker in just two years, while it took Garden Reach Shipyard 12 years to build the navy's last tanker- the INS Aditya.

The induction of the AW-101 will give Italy a toe-hold into the burgeoning defence aerospace market.

Augusta Westland's NH-90 is a frontrunner to supply 16 Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) choppers for the navy, 324 light utility choppers for the air force and army, 13 ATR turbo-prop maritime patrol aircraft to the navy and coast guard and two C-27J Spartan medium transport aircraft for the Border Security Force.
The company owns 40 per cent of Eurofighter which is a contender in the $10 billion (Rs 40,000 crore) contract to supply 126 fighter aircraft to the air force.
The entry of the Italians is not incidental. Ever since the nations decided to enhance bilateral cooperation in defence production in 2002 and inked a memorandum of understanding on defence industrial cooperation the following year, defence ties have been on a steady trot.

The joint working group on defence, headed by the defence secretaries, held its seventh meeting last March.

One reason for the Italian connection is the recent policy of diversifying India's arms suppliers.

Over 70 per cent of the Indian military machine is of Soviet and Russian origin with the navy almost entirely dependent on Russian weaponry for its warships, submarines and aircraft.

A troublesome relationship, particularly over the acquisition of spares has left the armed forces keen on alternate sources.

"Overall it is best to diversify the supplier base and enter into technological collaboration with the best in different fields because we always face the risk of resumption of sanctions," says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal, director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies.

India's Defence Procurement Procedure, floated in 2005, calls for open tenders for procuring all major arms systems, transfer of technology and offsets of 30 per cent (suppliers have to procure 30 per cent of the value of their contracts from Indian industry).

Italian firms are vying for



Patrol vessels: At least 12 advanced offshore patrol vessels for the navy and the Coast Guard.


Frigates: Seven stealth FREMM frigates worth Rs 4,000 crore each for the navy’s Project 17A programme.


Fleet tanker: ¤200 m contract signed with Fincantieri for delivery of tanker in two years.


Patrol aircraft: Italy’s ATR is in the reckoning to supply medium range patrol aircraft for the navy and the Coast Guard.


NH-90 helicopter: Sixteen anti-submarine warfare choppers for the navy.


C-27J Spartan: Two for the Border Security Force for rapid deployment of forces around the country.

"While Italy has expertise in the production of high-tech weapon systems, India brings in the great asset of manpower," says a defence official.

This allows Italian majors to acquire stakes in private and public sector Indian defence industry and even setting up shop.

This hasn't happened because the cap of 26 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is not attractive enough for the Italian majors.

The Government says it is only a matter of time before FDI is hiked to 49 per cent. And when that happens, the Italians would have truly arrived.

[divedeep]

Expect to see a greater EU focus on the Indian defense market in the coming years as India gradually shifts away from the Russians towards a EU/US/Israel supply base although the army notably retains a strong preference for Russian equipment.

The Fremms certainly are welcome addtions to India's naval modernisation although India still lags noticebly behind in naval logistics ie. underway naval replenishment, a critical fleet of tankers and logistics ships along the lines of the USN's T-AKE fleet to enable power projection further than the Indian Ocean. Given that, it will be interesting to see how the proposed joint Italo-Russian S-1000 SSK sale pans out for the reported additional IN requirement of six SSKs in 2008-09.

[Salty Dog]

Expect to see a greater EU focus on the Indian defense market in the coming years as India gradually shifts away from the Russians towards a EU/US/Israel supply base although the army notably retains a strong preference for Russian equipment.

The main driving factor for every defense contractor in the world is that India will spend BILLIONS over the next several years. That in itself is a highly motivating factor to get into the Indian Defense Market.

[swerve]

http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=1&task=view&id=9360&sectionid=36&issueid=57&latn=2

Italians are coming
...
Finmeccanica's helicopter division, Augusta Westland, is the frontrunner in a multi-million contract to supply 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters worth around Rs 110 crore each for use by the President and prime minister.
...
the triple-engined Italian helicopter trumped its only competitor, the US Sikorsky S-92....
The Italian story rides mostly on the 'two Fins'-state-owned Finmeccanica which supplies electronics, radars, artillery and aircraft, and Fincantieri that makes ships.
...
Augusta Westland's NH-90 is a frontrunner to supply 16 Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) choppers for the navy, 324 light utility choppers for the air force and army, 13 ATR turbo-prop maritime patrol aircraft to the navy and coast guard and two C-27J Spartan medium transport aircraft for the Border Security Force.
...
The company owns 40 per cent of Eurofighter which is a contender in the $10 billion (Rs 40,000 crore) contract to supply 126 fighter aircraft to the air force.


Major errors in that article:

1. Finmeccanica is not a state-owned company. The Italian state owns 34% of the company, the rest being publicly traded.

2. The AW101 is not an Italian helicopter. It is a joint Italo-British helicopter, originally developed by Agusta (Italian) & Westland (British), which have now merged & been taken over by Finmeccanica. Since then, Agusta-Westland has closed down the Italian assembly line for AW101 & concentrated production in England, though some of the sub-assemblies are made in Italy.

3. The NH-90 is not an Agusta-Westland helicopter. It is produced by NH Industries, a joint venture in which Agusta-Westland is a minority (32%) partner, & Eurocopter (62.5%) the majority partner (also 5.5% owned by Fokker Aerospace).

4. Finmeccanica (through Alenia Aeronautica) owns 21% of Eurofighter, not 40%. EADS owns 46%, & BAe 33%.

[niteshkjain]

http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20080609/30766.htm
Indian Navy to seek global bids for upgrading choppers
India will soon float a global tender for the mid-life refurbishment of its fleet of Sea King and Kamov-28 helicopters, an official said Monday. The deal is valued at $150 million.
'We will soon be issuing the RFPs (Request for Proposals) for the mid-life upgrade of the Sea King and Kamov-28 helicopters,' the official said.
'The refurbishment will involve replacing the engine, the avionics, the mission computer, the radar system and missiles,' the official added.
The navy operates 14 Sea King and 12 Kamov anti-submarine helicopters. In addition, the Sea Kings are also used for reconnaissance, search and rescue operations, and for ferrying personnel and supplies.
The Indian Navy bought the Sea Kings from Britain's Westland Helicopters in the late 1980s but found it difficult to operate them in the wake of the sanctions imposed by the US after the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998 as these prevented the sourcing of original parts from the manufacturer.
The Indian Navy then attempted to obtain from local industry components for gearboxes, rotor systems, sonar systems and electronics items for avionics. However, these fell short of reliability requirements and led to some limitations in the machine's anti-submarine warfare operations.
While this problem did not exist in the case of the Russian-origin Kamovs, these machines are also due for a mid-life upgrade

[niteshkjain]

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c_online.php?leftnm=10
Pipavav Shipyard to build patrol vessels for Navy
Press Trust of India / Mumbai June 09, 2008, 16:24 IST

Pipavav Shipyard in Gujarat today said it is looking at building offshore patrol vessels for the Navy and is interested in building other naval vessels.


"We are in the process of registering with the Indian Navy to make vessels for it," a top company official said.
Only a handful of shipyards in India make defence vessels for the country. State-owned Mazagon Dock is making submarines for the Indian Navy in association with the French.

Engineering giant Larsen and Toubro plans to build naval vessels at its proposed shipyard in Tamil Nadu.

"We are looking at offshore patrol vessels for navy, which are less complex and less weapons-oriented. As we gain experience in doing these things, we will look at more complex vessels," the official said.

He did not want to be named because his company has filed draft red herring prospectus with the market regulator.

A couple of months ago, the company bagged an order to build 22 Panamax tankers taking its order book to $1 billion.

Ships classified as Panamax are of the maximum dimensions that will fit through the locks of the Panama Canal.

[niteshkjain]

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080611/110017742.html

Russia starts building new missile frigate for Indian Navy


KALININGRAD, June 11 (RIA Novosti) - The Yantar Shipyard in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad will start on Wednesday the construction of the third Project 11356 frigate for the Indian Navy under a second contract, the company said.

India and Russia signed a contract for the purchase of three additional Project 11356 Krivak IV-class guided missile frigates for the Indian Navy on July 14, 2006. Russia previously built three Krivak-class frigates - INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar - for India, and delivered them all by the end of 2004.

"The Yantar Shipyard will hold an official ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction of the third [Krivak-class] frigate for the Indian navy," a company spokesman said, adding that the work on the first two frigates was progressing according to schedule.

All three ships will be delivered to India by 2012. They will feature the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile system instead of the Club-N/3M54TE missile system, which was installed on the previous frigates.

The Krivak-class frigate has deadweight of 4,000 metric tons and speed of 30 knots, and is capable of accomplishing a wide range of missions in the sea, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines.

[niteshkjain]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=91bd94ec-2603-4cef-9e76-bb922c35d125&MatchID1=4689&TeamID1=4&TeamID2=1&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1182&PrimaryID=4689&Headline=Navy+plans+to+ditch+Dhruv+helicopters


The Indian Navy has virtually written off the naval variant of the advanced light helicopter (ALH), Dhruv, saying it has failed to meet basic operational requirements. The navy, which operates a fleet of six ALHs, has decided against placing further orders with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

A senior navy official told HT, “The ALH has a long way to go before the programme matures sufficiently for it to undertake basic naval roles such as search and rescue (SAR) and communication duties.” He said the helicopter’s ASW (anti-submarine warfare) version developed by HAL still falls short of naval expectations.

Navy officials said that the ALH lacks the desired endurance for mission requirements. The navy is also not satisfied with the chopper’s rotor blade folding mechanism for storage on warships and its payload capacity. The navy has launched a global hunt for new ASW helicopters to replace its ageing fleet of Sea King helicopters.

However, HAL remains buoyant about domestic helicopter sale prospects with the defence ministry entrusting it with the task of developing light utility helicopters for the army and the air force. The ministry has allocated Rs 435 crore for this. The defence public sector undertaking is focusing aggressively on the helicopter business and plans to set up a new helicopter division in Bangalore.

[aaaditya]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=91bd94ec-2603-4cef-9e76-bb922c35d125&MatchID1=4689&TeamID1=4&TeamID2=1&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1182&PrimaryID=4689&Headline=Navy+plans+to+ditch+Dhruv+helicopters

to be honest it does not matter,dhruv was primarily intended for the army and has met army's requirements to the point that 300 helicopters have been ordered ,development of the naval variant was just a secondary process,the indian navy has a requirement for heavy helicopters in the sea king class.

however if they can finetune the dhruv's search and rescue capability the coast guard may acquire more dhruvs,currently the indian coast guard plans to acquire 60 dhruvs.

[niteshkjain]

to be honest it does not matter,dhruv was primarily intended for the army and has met army's requirements to the point that 300 helicopters have been ordered ,development of the naval variant was just a secondary process,the indian navy has a requirement for heavy helicopters in the sea king class.

however if they can finetune the dhruv's search and rescue capability the coast guard may acquire more dhruvs,currently the indian coast guard plans to acquire 60 dhruvs.

Agree but, even if the Naval ALH is not inducted into the IN, HAL and DRDO should still complete the R&D of the Naval variant to get the know-how of how to integrate the radar, weapons, and avionics. The know how needs to be fully developed in this area for the future especially with the indigenous medium-lift helo planned. It will be far easier and quicker to use that as a baseline than start all from scratch. Hope they are not short-sighted and don't just stop all the current R&D effort (as India has done in the past) in this area ... only to pay for it (i.e. have to start from scratch) years later.

[aaaditya]

Agree but, even if the Naval ALH is not inducted into the IN, HAL and DRDO should still complete the R&D of the Naval variant to get the know-how of how to integrate the radar, weapons, and avionics. The know how needs to be fully developed in this area for the future especially with the indigenous medium-lift helo planned. It will be far easier and quicker to use that as a baseline than start all from scratch. Hope they are not short-sighted and don't just stop all the current R&D effort (as India has done in the past) in this area ... only to pay for it (i.e. have to start from scratch) years later.

i believe the problem is not in the sv2000 radar but in the platform,the navy wants a heavier platform like the eh-101 or the sea kings ,because they can carry a greater amount of load and can have a longer range.

on the other hand i think that the indian coast guard is realy interested in the dhruv because the largest coast guard vessel has a displacement of not more than 2500 tons,for these vessels the coast guard cannot use the sea kings which would be too heavier and cannot be landed on the limited desck space of these vessels ,whereas the light helicopters like the chetak can be used but being small cannot provide the adequate range and capabilities ,so the dhruv is an excellent option .thats why all the patrol vessels being developed for the indian coast guard have the capabilty to carry the alh dhruv.with the indian coast guard looking to acquire as many 20 patrol vessels of 2500 ton capability ,i believe that the indian coast guard may acquire a further 40 more alh dhruvs ,20 of these helicopters to be deployad at coast guard air enclaves.

[Rish]

Found this to be interesting on the developments in the Indian ocean. Sorry the article is so long!
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080608/asia_indian_ocean_intrigue.html

Emerging giants India, China jostle for influence over vital Indian Ocean shipping lanes

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka (AP) -- This battered harbor town on Sri Lanka's southern tip, with its scrawny men selling even scrawnier fish, seems an unlikely focus for an emerging international competition over energy supply routes that fuel much of the global economy.

An impoverished place still recovering from the devastation of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Hambantota has a desolate air, a sense of nowhereness, punctuated by the realization that looking south over the expanse of ocean, the next landfall is Antarctica.

But just over the horizon runs one of the world's great trade arteries, the shipping lanes where thousands of vessels carry oil from the Middle East and raw materials to Asia, returning with television sets, toys and sneakers for European consumers.

These tankers provide 80 percent of China's oil and 65 percent of India's -- fuel desperately needed for the two countries' rapidly growing economies. Japan, too, is almost totally dependent on energy supplies shipped through the Indian Ocean.

Any disruption -- from terrorism, piracy, natural disaster or war -- could have devastating effects on these countries and, in an increasingly interdependent world, send ripples across the globe. When an unidentified ship attacked a Japanese oil tanker traveling through the Indian Ocean from South Korea to Saudi Arabia in April, the news sent oil prices to record highs.

For decades the world relied on the powerful U.S. Navy to protect this vital sea lane. But as India and China gain economic heft, they are moving to expand their control of the waterway, sparking a new -- and potentially dangerous -- rivalry between Asia's emerging giants.

China has given massive aid to Indian Ocean nations, signing friendship pacts, building ports in Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as Sri Lanka, and reportedly setting up a listening post on one of Myanmar's islands near the strategic Strait of Malacca.

Now, India is trying to parry China's moves. It beat out China for a port project in Myanmar. And, flush with cash from its expanding economy, India is beefing up its military, with the expansion seemingly aimed at China. Washington and, to a lesser extent, Tokyo are encouraging India's role as a counterweight to growing Chinese power.

Among China's latest moves is the billion dollar port its engineers are building in Sri Lanka, an island country just off India's southern coast.

The Chinese insist the Hambantota port is a purely commercial move, and by all appearances, it is. But some in India see ominous designs behind the project, while others in countries surrounding India like the idea. A 2004 Pentagon report called Beijing's effort to expand its presence in the region China's "string of pearls."

No one wants war, and relations between the two nations are now at their closest since a brief 1962 border war in which China quickly routed Indian forces. Last year, trade between India and China grew to $37 billion and their two armies conducted their first-ever joint military exercise.

Still, the Indians worry about China's growing influence.

"Each pearl in the string is a link in a chain of the Chinese maritime presence," India's navy chief, Adm. Sureesh Mehta, said in a speech in January, expressing concern that naval forces operating out of ports established by the Chinese could "take control over the world energy jugular."

"It is a pincer movement," said Rahul Bedi, a South Asia analyst with London-based Jane's Defense Weekly. "That, together with the slap India got in 1962, keeps them awake at night."

B. Raman, a hawkish, retired Indian intelligence official, expressed the fears of some Indians over the Chinese-built ports, saying he believes they'll be used as naval bases to control the area.

"We cannot take them at face value. We cannot assume their intentions are benign," said Raman.

But Zhao Gancheng, a South Asia expert at the Chinese government-backed Shanghai Institute for International Studies, says ports like Hambantota are strictly commercial ventures. And Sri Lanka says the new port will be a windfall for its impoverished southern region.

With Sri Lanka's proximity to the shipping lane already making it a hub for transshipping containers between Europe and Asia, the new port will boost the country's annual cargo handling capacity from 6 million containers to some 23 million, said Priyath Wickrama, deputy director of the Sri Lankan Ports Authority.

Wickrama said a new facility was needed since the main port in the capital Colombo has no room to expand and Trincomalee port in the Northeast is caught in the middle of Sri Lanka's civil war. Hambantota also will have factories onsite producing cement and fertilizer for export, he said.

Meanwhile, India is clearly gearing its military expansion toward China rather than its longtime foe, and India has set up listening stations in Mozambique and Madagascar, in part to monitor Chinese movements, Bedi noted. It also has an air base in Kazakhstan and a space monitoring post in Mongolia -- both China's neighbors.

India has announced plans to have a fleet of aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines at sea in the next decade and recently tested nuclear-capable missiles that put China's major cities well in range. It is also reopening air force bases near the Chinese border.

Encouraging India's role as a counter to China, the U.S. has stepped up exercises with the Indian navy and last year sold it an American warship for the first time, the 17,000-ton amphibious transport dock USS Trenton. American defense contractors -- shut out from the lucrative Indian market during the long Cold War -- have been offering India's military everything from advanced fighter jets to anti-ship missiles.

"It is in our interest to develop this relationship," U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said during a visit to New Delhi in February. "Just as it is in the Indians' interest."

Officially, China says it's not worried about India's military buildup or its closer ties with the U.S. However, foreign analysts believe China is deeply concerned by the possibility of a U.S.-Indian military alliance.

Ian Storey of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore said China sent strong diplomatic messages expressing opposition to a massive naval exercise India held last year with the U.S., Japan, Singapore and Australia. And Bedi, the Jane's analyst, added "those exercises rattled the Chinese."

India's 2007 defense budget was about $21.7 billion, up 7.8 percent from 2006. China said its 2008 military budget would jump 17.6 percent to some $59 billion, following a similar increase last year. The U.S. estimates China's actual defense spending may be much higher.

Like India, China is focusing heavily on its navy, building an increasingly sophisticated submarine fleet that could eventually be one of the world's largest.

While analysts believe China's military buildup is mostly focused on preventing U.S. intervention in any conflict with Taiwan, India is still likely to persist in efforts to catch up as China expands its influence in what is essentially India's backyard. Meanwhile, Sri Lankans -- who have looked warily for centuries at vast India to the north -- welcome the Chinese investment in their country.

"Our lives are going to change," said 62-year-old Jayasena Senanayake, who has seen business grow at his roadside food stall since construction began on the nearby port. "What China is doing for us is very good."

Associated Press writer Christopher Bodeen contributed to this report from Beijing.

[Rish]

India setting up listening posts in Madagascar.
http://www.*************.com/reports/3453

The article is from india defense in-case the link doesn't work.

Also here as well:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hNkiuHoiDcjL3Aiw7wogBOUTAprwD915B1AO1
This link is more extensive, but says the same thing.

Indian Navy Activates Listening Post, Monitoring Station in Madagascar, Indian Ocean

Dated 18/7/2007

India has activated its first listening post on foreign soil that will keep an eye on ship movements in the Indian Ocean. A key monitoring station in northern Madagascar, complete with radars and surveillance gear to intercept maritime communication, was quietly made operational earlier this month as part of Indian Navy’s strategy to protect the country's sea lanes of commerce.

The monitoring station, under construction since last year when India took on a lease from Antananarivo, will link up with similar naval facilities in Kochi and Mumbai to gather intelligence on foreign navies operating in the region. "A naval asset with limited anchoring facilities has been activated. It will facilitate possible maneuvers by the navy in the region," a ministry official said.

While the station will also monitor piracy and terrorist activities, its primary aim is to counter the growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean Region. The station is India’s first in southern Indian Ocean that is gaining importance due to increasing oil traffic across the Cape of Good Hope and the Mozambique Channel route preferred by super tankers.

The US already has a permanent military base with aerial assets and monitoring facilities in Diego Garcia, 1,400 nautical miles north-east of the Madagascar facility.

India is looking at developing another monitoring facility at an atoll it has leased from Mauritius in the near future. While the ministry remains silent, sources say some forward movement has recently been made on the project.

“With berthing rights in Oman and monitoring stations in Madagascar, Mauritius, Kochi and Mumbai, the navy will effectively box in the region to protect sea lanes right from Mozambique and the Cape of Good Hope to the Gulf of Oman,� an official said.

The navy has already made its presence felt along the African coast with regular warships deployments to monitor piracy and terrorist movements. India also inked an agreement with Mozambique last year to mount periodical maritime patrolling off its vast coast. In 2003, the Indian navy provided seaward protection for the African Union summit at Mozambique.

[niteshkjain]

The Gorshakov saga carries on..........

http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20080617/30998.htm

Russia to drive hard bargain for aircraft carrier

"Russia will drive a hard bargain in renegotiating the price of an aircraft carrier the Indian Navy has purchased and for which Moscow is seeking $1.2 billion over and above the $1.5 billion that had been agreed on, the country's envoy here says."

New Delhi, Delhi, India, 2008-06-17 20:45:03

Russia will drive a hard bargain in renegotiating the price of an aircraft carrier the Indian Navy has purchased and for which Moscow is seeking $1.2 billion over and above the $1.5 billion that had been agreed on, the country's envoy here says.
And, in a clear indication that the defence ties between the two countries were not what they were, Ambassador Vyacheslav I. Trubnikov hedged his bets on transferring technology for the T-90 main battle tank and for the cryogenic engine of the BrahMos cruise missile that India and Russia have jointly developed.
Trubnikov was addressing a press conference after inaugurating a swanky Russian Information Centre here Tuesday.
'It's a complicated issue. There are objective and subjective factors,' the ambassador said while referring to the negotiations underway on the Russian demand for more money for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov that has been renamed INS Vikramaditya.
'Our economy was in a very different condition (when negotiations for the ship had begun). Our shipyards were out of work. We agreed to the hard deal struck by the Indians,' the ambassador maintained.
'The reality is very different today. When we look at the figures, they are unrealistic as the scope of the work (involved in refurbishing the ship) was grossly underestimated,' Trubnikov added.
Under the original deal, India was to buy the carrier for $1.5 billion. Of this, $970 million was meant for the refurbishment of the vessel that has been mothballed since a devastating fire in the mid-1990s. The remaining $530 million was meant for the MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov surveillance and anti-submarine warfare helicopters that will be deployed on the vessel.
The increased cost, the Russians now say, has been necessitated by the new engines and boilers the ship requires, 'hundreds of miles' of cabling, the strengthening of the flight deck, refurbishing the arrester wires and other safety equipment, as also the extensive sea trials the ship will have to undergo after the refit.
Indian officials admit they would have to fork out more for the vessel but are not too sure of the figure.
'The figure of $970 million is perhaps not seriously doable,' Defence Secretary Vijay Singh had said in February on his return here from Moscow after discussions with the Russian authorities.
Independent analysts here point out that even if India were to meet the entire demand for the additional $1.2 billion, at $2.7 billion the ship would come at a bargain as the cost of building a new aircraft carrier is in the region of $4 billion.
Even as the price renegotiations are to conclude, work on refurbishing the ship is on in full swing at the Sevmash shipyard, one of Russia's oldest and where most of its nuclear submarines have been built. The yard has 28,000 workers, of whom 1,200 have been deployed on the Vikramaditya.
The vessel's 18-month sea trials are to begin in 2010, with delivery scheduled for 2012.
On the question of technology transfer, the ambassador chose his words with care.
'This is a technical issue that has to be addressed by the experts,' Trubnikov said.
India had purchased 310 T-90 tanks in 2001 and was to produce another 1,000 under licence. However, delays in the technology transfer prompted India to sign a contract with Russia in 2006 for 347 tanks to ensure adequate force levels.

In the case of the BrahMos missile, India's defence scientists have repeatedly complained that Russia is not living up to its promise to transfer technology for its cryogenic engine.

'We have not got full technology transfer of the (missile's) engines,' C.G. Krishnadas Nair, a former chairman of state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), had said at a seminar here that Defence Minister A.K. Antony inaugurated.
'We must have access to total technology. This denial is a serious matter,' Nair said, adding: 'No one should hold the other to ransom.'

[niteshkjain]

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/324199.html
Barak Deal on CBI radar, Navy awaits panel Nod
Manu Pubby
Posted online: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 2356 hrs

NEW DELHI, JUNE 17: Responding to an Urgent Navy Requirement, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has cleared a $120-million Deal to Procure Additional Missiles from Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd that has been named in CBI’s FIR for alleged kickbacks in the Barak missile defence system deal.

While a final political decision on whether or not to engage the company will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) shortly, the procurement has been cleared by MoD’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) after the Navy pressed for urgent missile supplies to arm its Barak ship defence system.

As reported by The Indian Express on March 11, procurement of additional missiles for Barak systems fitted on board 10 Indian warships has been stuck due to the ongoing CBI probe into the original deal that was signed in 2000 by the NDA Government. A $325-million IAF deal for which Rafael’s Spyder Air Defence System has been shortlisted is also stalled for the same reason.

There is a Sense of Urgency to Push the Deal through with Missile Reserves of the Barak Systems Hitting a New Low. It is fitted on all frontline warships, including the INS Viraat aircraft carrier, to protect them against missile attacks.

The Navy had again brought this to the notice of the Defence Minister earlier this year and had written a letter urging for Immediate Replacements. Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta also threw his weight behind the Deal in March, saying he is “Very Happy” with the Performance of the “Proven Barak System”.

Defence watchers say that while the Barak missile deal is likely to be cleared by the Government in view of the Navy’s requirement, the Spyder deal may take a bit longer to get through.

In 2006, the Navy had Projected a Requirement of 250 Missiles that would cost an estimated $120 million for its 10 Barak Systems. But the deal was stalled after CBI named both Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael, which jointly developed the system, in a FIR lodged on October 9, 2006.

While the MoD has got clearances from both the Central Vigilance Commission and the CBI to go ahead with the Barak deal, the procurement is stuck till a political decision is taken by the Government.

Again politics is affecting the readiness of defense forces :(

[contedicavour]

The Gorshakov saga carries on..........

http://www.indiaprwire.com/businessnews/20080617/30998.htm

Russia to drive hard bargain for aircraft carrier

"Russia will drive a hard bargain in renegotiating the price of an aircraft carrier the Indian Navy has purchased and for which Moscow is seeking $1.2 billion over and above the $1.5 billion that had been agreed on, the country's envoy here says."

New Delhi, Delhi, India, 2008-06-17 20:45:03

Russia will drive a hard bargain in renegotiating the price of an aircraft carrier the Indian Navy has purchased and for which Moscow is seeking $1.2 billion over and above the $1.5 billion that had been agreed on, the country's envoy here says.
And, in a clear indication that the defence ties between the two countries were not what they were, Ambassador Vyacheslav I. Trubnikov hedged his bets on transferring technology for the T-90 main battle tank and for the cryogenic engine of the BrahMos cruise missile that India and Russia have jointly developed.
Trubnikov was addressing a press conference after inaugurating a swanky Russian Information Centre here Tuesday.
'It's a complicated issue. There are objective and subjective factors,' the ambassador said while referring to the negotiations underway on the Russian demand for more money for the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov that has been renamed INS Vikramaditya.
'Our economy was in a very different condition (when negotiations for the ship had begun). Our shipyards were out of work. We agreed to the hard deal struck by the Indians,' the ambassador maintained.
'The reality is very different today. When we look at the figures, they are unrealistic as the scope of the work (involved in refurbishing the ship) was grossly underestimated,' Trubnikov added.
Under the original deal, India was to buy the carrier for $1.5 billion. Of this, $970 million was meant for the refurbishment of the vessel that has been mothballed since a devastating fire in the mid-1990s. The remaining $530 million was meant for the MiG-29K fighter jets, Kamov surveillance and anti-submarine warfare helicopters that will be deployed on the vessel.
The increased cost, the Russians now say, has been necessitated by the new engines and boilers the ship requires, 'hundreds of miles' of cabling, the strengthening of the flight deck, refurbishing the arrester wires and other safety equipment, as also the extensive sea trials the ship will have to undergo after the refit.
Indian officials admit they would have to fork out more for the vessel but are not too sure of the figure.
'The figure of $970 million is perhaps not seriously doable,' Defence Secretary Vijay Singh had said in February on his return here from Moscow after discussions with the Russian authorities.
Independent analysts here point out that even if India were to meet the entire demand for the additional $1.2 billion, at $2.7 billion the ship would come at a bargain as the cost of building a new aircraft carrier is in the region of $4 billion.
Even as the price renegotiations are to conclude, work on refurbishing the ship is on in full swing at the Sevmash shipyard, one of Russia's oldest and where most of its nuclear submarines have been built. The yard has 28,000 workers, of whom 1,200 have been deployed on the Vikramaditya.
The vessel's 18-month sea trials are to begin in 2010, with delivery scheduled for 2012.
On the question of technology transfer, the ambassador chose his words with care.
'This is a technical issue that has to be addressed by the experts,' Trubnikov said.
India had purchased 310 T-90 tanks in 2001 and was to produce another 1,000 under licence. However, delays in the technology transfer prompted India to sign a contract with Russia in 2006 for 347 tanks to ensure adequate force levels.

In the case of the BrahMos missile, India's defence scientists have repeatedly complained that Russia is not living up to its promise to transfer technology for its cryogenic engine.

'We have not got full technology transfer of the (missile's) engines,' C.G. Krishnadas Nair, a former chairman of state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), had said at a seminar here that Defence Minister A.K. Antony inaugurated.
'We must have access to total technology. This denial is a serious matter,' Nair said, adding: 'No one should hold the other to ransom.'

If I were the US I would have some fun by fanning rumours of Kitty Hawk sale again - just to ruin the Russians' negotiation ;)

cheers

[kay_man]

If I were the US I would have some fun by fanning rumours of Kitty Hawk sale again - just to ruin the Russians' negotiation ;)

cheers

ahahahahhaha good 1.:D:);)

however i must say that its about time India should graduate to the next level by buying bigger cariers.

in the next decade India will be operating atleast 2 and at the most 3 small carriers.

ins vikramaditya aka gorshkov
indegenous airdefence ship (around 37000-40000 tons)

and if things proceed smoothly maybe another air defence ship so that it has atleast 2 ships in active service at any given time (one for each fleet).

maybe its time that india should start negotiating for an old kitty hawk sized ship, and maybe few years later try indegenously cr8ing it or buying a new one (maybe nuclear powered:D:D:D:D)

[kams]

Indian Navy to get amphibious warfare school (http://http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/indian-navy-to-get-amphibious-warfare-school_10064055.html)

Kakinada, June 24 (IANS) The Indian Navy took the first step Tuesday in establishing an amphibious warfare school with Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju performing the groundbreaking ceremony for a naval enclave near this Andhra Pradesh port city. The Advanced Amphibious Warfare School and Fleet Support Complex will be housed in the enclave that will come up along the beach road on the outskirts of Kakinada, about 500 km from state capital Hyderabad.

The enclave will also bolster the Indian Navy’s capabilities along the east coast as it will complement its Eastern Naval Headquarters at Visakhapatnam further up the coast and also help guard the Krishna-Godavri basin where huge gas reserves have been discovered

A land fighting demonstration by troops of the Indian Army’s 18 Madras Regiment, a steam past by landing craft and a flypast by Sea King and Chetak helicopters rounded off the show.

So here is the begining of an Indian amphibious assault force. Wonder whether 18 Madras Regiment will be assigned to this task. This is the oldest regiment of Indian army, raised in 1758.

[aaaditya]

Indian Navy to get amphibious warfare school (http://http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/indian-navy-to-get-amphibious-warfare-school_10064055.html)





So here is the begining of an Indian amphibious assault force. Wonder whether 18 Madras Regiment will be assigned to this task. This is the oldest regiment of Indian army, raised in 1758.

i believe there was a proposal earlier to raise a maritime expeditionary force ,with its own assets,i hope that this plan will now be accelerated.

[swerve]

...
maybe its time that india should start negotiating for an old kitty hawk sized ship, ...

1. They aren't for sale.
2. They'd cost so much to refurbish & operate for a few years that it'd very quickly be cheaper to buy a new ship of a modern design.

[niteshkjain]

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/India-to-get-Russian-nuclear-submarine-after-17-yr-wait/330891/

India to get Russian nuclear submarine after 17 yr wait

Posted online: Thursday , July 03, 2008 at 01:38:24
Updated: Thursday , July 03, 2008 at 01:38:24

Moscow, July 3: India will get its first Akula class Russian nuclear submarine in 2009, equipping its navy with the quietest and lethal underwater war machine after a gap of 17 years to enhance its blue water capabilities.
Factory trials of the multi-role nuclear submarine, christened INS Chakra which India-will get on a 10-year-lease, commenced on June 11 at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur shipyard and will be followed by sea trials, Russian defence sources said, adding it will be delivered by September 2009.

According to experts, Chakra would help India fill the void caused by the delays in the indigenous Advanced Technology Vessel project to build a nuclear powered, guided missile attack submarine.

Three Indian naval crews for the nuclear submarine have already been trained at the specially set up training centre in Sosnovy Bor near St. Petersburg.

This facility would also be used for training crews for the Indian nuclear submarines of ATV project currently in the advanced stages of development, sources said.

Though they said that India has financed the completion of construction of submarine of project 971 "Shchuka B"(NATO codename Akula) under the USD 650 million deal signed in 2004 as part of the larger Gorshkov package, they did not reveal the cost of the lease of Chakra.

Akula (Shark) is the quietest Russian attack submarine and Chakra has been christened after its predecessor leased by the Indian Navy in 1988 from the erstwhile USSR.

In January 1988, ex-USSR had leased K-43 nuclear submarine of project 670 (NATO codename Charlie) which was with the Indian Navy as INS Chakra till March 1991, when under the intense US pressure beleaguered Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev had refused to extend the lease.


Quite a good news. As per the news this is the first one hope we get the second one soon.

[gf0012-aust]

In January 1988, ex-USSR had leased K-43 nuclear submarine of project 670 (NATO codename Charlie) which was with the Indian Navy as INS Chakra till March 1991, when under the intense US pressure beleaguered Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev had refused to extend the lease.


Thats stretching the truth a fair bit. The vessel was leaking radiation, had sunk at berth (twice) and was raised to the surface, cleaned out and provided for lease. Soviet and Russian sailors refused to go to sea in it as it was regarded as jinxed.

It was given back as it was regarded as a death trap - it had nothing to do with the americans.

[aaaditya]

hey guys,here is an inteersting article on the sonar development in india.from the drdo news letter,the new generation humsa-ng sonar has been developed and is also to be used on the three krivak class of frigates currently under construction in russia as well as other indian naval warships under construction.

http://www.drdo.org/bnews/npol/index.html

The Eighties- APSOH and HUMVAD
Till early eighties we were dependent on British make sonars for the underwater operation. In 1981, NPOL developed the first sonar APSOH (Advanced Panoramic Sonar Hull mounted) for fitment on warship. It was productionised by Bharat Electronics and was fitted onboard INS Himagiri. It was a great success. This and its variant HUMVAD (HUll Mounted and Variable Depth) were fitted in 10 warships. Each system costed about 3-5 crores then. With this development the indigenisation of ship sonar was achieved.
The Nineties - HUMSA
With the excellent performance of APSOH sonar, Navy wanted technologically upgraded second generation of Frigate sonar. Navy placed order on BE Bangalore directly with NPOL providing the design support. This model of partnership ensured the commitment on both the Navy side and production side towards induction of developed systems. The product was christened as HUMSA (HUll mounted Sonar Advanced). NPOL developed the state of the art display and signal processing hardware and software with advanced algorithms put in place. The increased processing capabilities offered by the microprocessors and signal processors available at that time, made the system quite advanced.
BE has produced more than 14 systems to-date since 1998 and a few more are on demand. The three Talwar class Frigates India purchased from Russia in 2003-04 were also fitted with HUMSA sonar only. This system has been proving its performance in all platforms and its role has been well appreciated by the Navy.
For the New decade of 2000 – HUMSA NG
In the year 2004, when navy decided on its capability build up plan, there was requirement to upgrade HUMSA design with current technology and architecture. The Mazagon Docks placed order with BE for 10 systems. NPOL and BE entered into an MOU for the development. The harbour and sea trials of the first system on each class of ships are joint responsibility of NPOL and BE. Naval Headquarters is involved in the very beginning closely monitoring the development.
This effective association of NPOL ( the designer) – Bharat Electronics (the manufacturer) – Indian Navy (the User) is contributing remarkably towards bringing down the lead time for realization of advanced sonar systems for the Indian Navy.
The significance of the function

NPOL had committed that it will complete the development of its part HUMSA NG (Version - 1) by June 30th 2008 and hand over to BE so that the system can be cleared for installation in July 2008. To mark the timely completion of this task, a copy of the software and documentation CD was handed over by Sri MM Pallam Raju, RRM to CMD of BE from NPOL on 2nd July 2008.
Report for the Function
“Under the changed economic scenario and fast changing technologies, there is a need to tap the growth of industries outside-be it in the private sector or the public sector effectively to reduce system development time. To reduce this time of delivery, need to transfer technologies to the industrial partners very effectively. Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi has a three decades aid history of successful partnership with M/s Bharat Electronics, Bangalore. This relationship is a model for all other industrial partnerships. Maybe, the industry also has to invest same funds in matured sub-technologies, even before Navy places order on them, so that the time at gestation for the first production system can be minimised”. Opined Shri MM Pallam Raju after handing over the documents symbolically to mark the completion of development of HUMSA-NG and its transfer of technology developed at NPOL (DRDO) to Shri VVR Sastry, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Electronics, Bangalore.
Shri VVR Sastry, recalled the long three decades of partnership relations with NPOL in furthering the indigenous development of underwater technology for Indian Navy and this model should be emulated by other research organisations.
“As the innovation made in the field of SONARs is of world class in nature, it is time to look for a global market for such products” said Dr A Sivathanu Pillai, Distinguished Scientist, Chief Controller R&D (NS & ACE), DRDO, while speaking on this occasion. Earlier Shri S Anantha Narayanan, Director, NPOL welcomed. Shri SP Pillai the former Senior Scientist, who gave significant contributions in the sonar development programme was honoured by the Minister. Dr RR Rao, Director (Management) gave vote of thanks.
The Minister visited various project sites and facilities at NPOL and also interacted with the young scientists.

[aaaditya]

hey guys,here is an image of the indian coast guard's advanced offshore patrol vessel ,this vessel is the cgs sankalp commissioned into the indian coast guard on 25 april of this year,another vessel of this class was launched today .

3 of these vessels are being built by the goa shipyards limited for the indian coast guard.

here is the link:

http://www.goashipyard.co.in/tendattach/Events/1.jpg

[aaaditya]

hey guys,great news here ,indian navy is setting up a full fledged uav and naval airbase at uchipuli in south india,this will be the second uav base in the south after kochi,and will drastically increase the surveilance of the palk straits .

here is the link and the article:

http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/05/stories/2008070557910100.htm


3,000-foot runway to be expanded to 6,000 ft
343 acres of land to be acquired to facilitate expansion


RAMANATHAPURAM: The Indian Navy, which commissioned its first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) squadron at Kochi two and half years ago, plans to operate UAVs from the Naval Air Station at Uchipuli near here.
This is expected to enhance the Navy’s surveillance capability along the coast off Tamil Nadu from Tuticorin to Chennai and the sea around southern peninsula. The move is considered an “imperative” step in the context of the prolonged war between Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
The programme took shape after the recent visits of Vice Admiral Raman Prem Suthan, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, Flag Officer Commanding-In-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, and Commodore Phillip Van Haltren, Naval Officer-in-Charge, Tamil Nadu, to the air station.
At least two Israeli-built UAVs based at the Indian Naval Air Squadron at Kochi might be operated from the Naval Air Station at Uchipuli, to be upgraded as a regular commissioned air station. Its 3,000-foot runway will be expanded to 6,000 ft, keeping in mind future requirements. It has been proposed to acquire 343 acres in the nearby areas to facilitate the expansion.
“We will be in a position to station UAVs and operate them round the clock within a year,” Commander P. Rajkumar, Station Commander, Naval Air Station, Uchipuli, told The Hindu.
The focus of the programme was to operate UAVs at a higher altitude from remote.

[aaaditya]

hey guys,here is an interesting article on the nuclear submarine called as chakra operated by the indian navy in the late 80's and the new akula class of submarine to be procured by the indian navy.this article is from the newspaper called the hindu which is one of india's most widely read and highly respected publications.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/05/stories/2008070551341100.htm

The leasing by India of a Project 971 nuclear submarine built in Komsomolsk-on-Amur is the latest hot news. The agreement, whose significance for Russian-Indian cooperation has yet to be assessed, could have a profound impact on the balance of forces in the region.
Russia’s role in creating the Indian submarine fleet is hard to overestimate — Soviet/Russian-built vessels have been its core since the 1970s. Of the current 16 Indian submarines on duty, 12 were built in the Soviet Union or Russia, including two 641 Project and ten 877EKM Project submarines (NATO reporting names Foxtrot and Kilo). The four other submarines are German Project 209 diesel SSs, which India built under license.
Combined with a strong surface force and aircraft, this submarine fleet gives India control of the adjacent seas and makes it the strongest naval power in South Asia. But, with broad ocean expanses to cover, the Indian top brass have always wanted a force capable of operating away from home. Its surface component must have large combat ships, such as aircraft carriers, and its submarine fleet must include nuclear-powered vessels.
The Indian Navy got its first nuclear submarine in January 1988. It was the Soviet K-43, a Project 670 type ship built in 1967 (NATO reporting name Charlie). The boat, equipped with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, was leased out to India and renamed the Chakra. It stayed within the force until March 1991. India asked for an extension of the lease but the U.S. forced the Soviet leadership to refuse the request.
Chakra had a seminal effect on the Indian Navy, producing a generation of senior naval officers, including several admirals. The experience gave India tactical and technical expertise essential for a national nuclear submarine project.
Such a project, code-named ATV (or Advanced Technology Vessel) and involving Russian engineers, got off the ground 30 years ago. The construction of India’s first SSN, sources say, began in the mid-2000s and is expected to be completed by 2010. India is reportedly planning to build between three and six SSNs in the next decade, with a displacement of 5,000 to 6,000 tons each, and fitted out with a combination of missiles and torpedoes.
However, even if the ATV type craft is fitted out by 2010, it will need between three and four years to gain sea experience. This prompted the Indian leadership to raise the lease issue once again, focusing negotiations on a multi-role SSN, Project 971 Shchuka-B, known in the West as Akula, then under construction in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Like the previous Indian SSN, it was re-christened Chakra. On June 11, 2008, it started dockside trials. The submarine is expected to be handed over to India in the autumn of 2009.
The lease contract was signed in 2004 by Russia’s then-Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov during his visit to India. The price of a 10-year lease was fixed at $650 million. A special training centre was built at Sosnovy Bor and has since produced three Indian relief crews. The centre also looks to a busy future: it will train crews for Indian-built SSNs.
The deal gives India a credible combat unit and reinforces its navy appreciably. All experts, including Western ones, agree that Project 971 boats have a low noise profile and run quietly. In that respect they are considered the equal of the improved American Los-Angeles class SSNs and, according to some specialists, even surpass them and compare with the more modern Sea Wolf and Virginia class.
Apart from a low acoustic profile, Project 971 submarines also pack a hefty punch. Their armaments consist of four 650mm torpedo tubes, with 12 torpedoes, and four 533mm tubes, with 28 torpedoes. Torpedoes can be replaced with submarine mines, cruise missiles, rocket-assisted torpedoes, and a variety of other submersibles. The exact complement is not known. The main mystery is whether or not India will receive Shkval rocket-assisted torpedoes and long-range cruise missiles. Some sources say the submarine carries Club missiles.
Will Russia benefit from the transfer? Views are divided, but the general consensus seems to be positive. If we give the official rhetoric on Russian-Indian relations a rest, and concentrate on the real state of affairs, we’ll see that India is Russia’s strategic partner, and the positions of both on a great many international issues coincide. India’s closest neighbour and rival of long-standing, Pakistan, is allied with the United States and has been supported by it militarily for a long time now.
The stationing of an Indian submarine in the region will require a further strengthening of both Pakistan’s naval forces – with reinforcements from the U.S. – and of the U.S. presence in the Indian Ocean, which will divert U.S. forces from other areas. The Indian-built nuclear submarines expected to go into service in the next few years will further contribute to that trend.

[niteshkjain]

Article comparing Indian and Chinese Navy

http://upiasiaonline.com/Security/2008/07/04/comparing_the_indian_and_chinese_navies/5452/

Comparing the Indian and Chinese navies

Hong Kong, China — After 10 years of steady effort, both India and China have made significant qualitative changes in their navies. In terms of submarine capabilities – the construction of SSNs and SSBNs – China is now far ahead of India, however.
China has built two 094 SSBNs and two 093 SSNs, along with JL2 and JL1M submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that are ready to go into service in the PLA Navy, if they have not already done so.

In contrast, India is only preparing to receive one Russian-made Akura SSN for testing purposes by the end of 2008. In February 2008, the Indian Navy also launched from under water a 700-kilometer-range K-15 ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

Nonetheless, India’s pace in the construction of large-tonnage surface battleships and an aircraft carrier is faster than China’s. Thanks to the 290-kilometer-range BrahMos supersonic multirole missile jointly developed by India and Russia, the overall technological standard of the Indian Navy’s ship-to-ship missile is superior to that of China’s PLA Navy. India’s surface battleships currently being built will all be fitted with BrahMos SSMs, according to the plan of the Indian Navy.

Ships added to the PLA Navy over the past 10 years include two 051C DDGs, two 052B DDGs, two 052C DDGs, four 956E/EM DDGs and one 051B DDG, all of which have a full-load displacement of over 6,000 tons. Six additional ships, 054 and 054A FFGs, have also been built. These surface battleships are the flagships of the modern Chinese navy.

In the Indian Navy over the past 10 years three Delhi Class DDGs and three 4,000-ton class Type 1135.6 FFGs have been commissioned, with the latter armed with 300-kilomter-range Club-N surface-to-surface missiles. The Indian Navy has also received three Type 16A FFGs with full-load displacement of 4,500 tons and armed with 16 units of H-35 surface-to-surface missiles.

As a result, in terms of the construction of surface battleships above 6,000 tons, China is temporarily ahead of India, while in the building of 4,000-ton class missile frigates, India and China are about equal, with India slightly ahead in technology.

The Indian Navy is also armed with one Hermes aircraft carrier with a full-load displacement of 28,000 tons as well as 12 Sea Harrier FRS Mk 51 fighters. Obviously, the Indian Navy’s experience in the use of an aircraft carrier is surely superior to that of the PLA Navy.

Regarding the surface battleships under construction right now, India seems to be much more ambitious than China. Since 2007, the only large surface battleship China has been building is the 054A FFG. In contrast, the Indian Navy has started to build three P-15A DDGs at its Mazagon Shipyard. This is an upgraded variant of the Delhi Class DDG, with drastic changes. So far one P-15A has already been launched.

A source from the Mazagon Shipyard told the author in New Delhi that the P-15A construction program is now giving way to the Shivalik, or P-17 FFG. The first P-17 will be delivered to the Indian Navy within this year, and the second and third will be delivered in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

The two types of surface battleships mentioned above will all be fitted with a vertical-launched version of the BrahMos SSM. The P-15A will be armed with 16 such missiles. The P15A DDG has a full-load displacement of 7,000 tons, and still uses the Shtil-1 ship-to-air missile. The P-17 is India’s indigenous stealthy FFG and has a full-load displacement of 5,300 tons. It is also armed with Shtil-1 ship-to-air missiles.

Russia’s Yantar Shipyard currently is also building a second batch of three Type 1135.6 FFGs for the Indian Navy. The first three vessels of this model were built at the Baltic Sea Shipyard, but the contract for the latest three vessels has been awarded to the Yantar Shipyard, which has no experience building this type of missile frigate.

Apparently Russia intends to bail out the Yantar Shipyard, which has not received such an order in recent years through Russia’s system of allocating contracts. For this reason, it is worth watching the progress of this construction project to see if the shipyard can deliver a quality product. India is also concerned whether the overall price of building these vessels will rise as a result of this.

India has also begun building its own indigenous aircraft carrier, which is obviously proceeding faster than China’s program. India is building its aircraft carrier at Cochin Shipyard and is expected to complete it in 2013. However, past experience has shown that the Indian Navy’s vessel construction projects are usually delayed by two to three years.

Why there is no mention of ATV here, if we see aaditya's article

India is reportedly planning to build between three and six SSNs in the next decade, with a displacement of 5,000 to 6,000 tons each, and fitted out with a combination of missiles and torpedoes.

And isn't the deal is for two akula?

So ADS is also getting delayed? Any info on this?

[Feanor]

The INS Vikramaditiya is getting a price hike again, it seems. To a total of 3.4 billion.

http://arms-tass.su/?page=article&aid=56932&cid=25

[kams]

^^From the above report, $100 million for fuel only during 1 year of sea trial!!!? What fuel are they planning to use, molten Gold?

[aaaditya]

hey guys,check out this interesting article , the israeli nruav's (naval rotary unmanned aerial vehicle) development has been completed and this system has already been evaluated by the indian navy which is expected to be the launch customer.

here is the link and the article:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/07/01/225004/iai-completes-unmanned-helicopter-development-work.html

Israel Aerospace Industries has completed the development of its naval rotary unmanned air vehicle system, and expects to secure its first contract before the end of this year.
Intended primarily for use from naval vessels, the NRUAV has already been evaluated by India, and sources say Israel is also following development efforts due to a potential requirement to field unmanned helicopters with its navy missile boats.
Developed by IAI's Malat division, the NRUAV kit replaces a manned helicopter's avionics suite with a flight-control system originally designed for the company's Heron medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV. This allows fully autonomous flight, including take-off and landing, says IAI, which has already conducted remote control tests using Aerospatiale Alouette III and Bell 206 helicopters.
http://www.flightglobal.com/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=23615 © Israel Aerospace Industries


Able to carry additional fuel because of the lightweight FCS, an unmanned Alouette (above) would have an endurance of 5.5h and be able to operate 120km (65nm) from its host ship, according to IAI. The NRUAV is offered with a number of different payload options, including an electro-optical/infrared sensor, maritime search radar, and communications and electronic intelligence sensors.
IAI first pursued an unmanned rotorcraft in the late 1980s with its Hellstar hovering UAV, but terminated the programme after its prototype was damaged in a hard landing. The company believes there is now a large potential market for the NRUAV concept.

[Feanor]

^^From the above report, $100 million for fuel only during 1 year of sea trial!!!? What fuel are they planning to use, molten Gold?

Powdered diamonds. Seriously, I don't know. Maybe it was a typo and they meant 10 million.

[tphuang]

Article comparing Indian and Chinese Navy

http://upiasiaonline.com/Security/2008/07/04/comparing_the_indian_and_chinese_navies/5452/

Comparing the Indian and Chinese navies

Hong Kong, China — After 10 years of steady effort, both India and China have made significant qualitative changes in their navies. In terms of submarine capabilities – the construction of SSNs and SSBNs – China is now far ahead of India, however.
China has built two 094 SSBNs and two 093 SSNs, along with JL2 and JL1M submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that are ready to go into service in the PLA Navy, if they have not already done so.

In contrast, India is only preparing to receive one Russian-made Akura SSN for testing purposes by the end of 2008. In February 2008, the Indian Navy also launched from under water a 700-kilometer-range K-15 ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

Nonetheless, India’s pace in the construction of large-tonnage surface battleships and an aircraft carrier is faster than China’s. Thanks to the 290-kilometer-range BrahMos supersonic multirole missile jointly developed by India and Russia, the overall technological standard of the Indian Navy’s ship-to-ship missile is superior to that of China’s PLA Navy. India’s surface battleships currently being built will all be fitted with BrahMos SSMs, according to the plan of the Indian Navy.

Ships added to the PLA Navy over the past 10 years include two 051C DDGs, two 052B DDGs, two 052C DDGs, four 956E/EM DDGs and one 051B DDG, all of which have a full-load displacement of over 6,000 tons. Six additional ships, 054 and 054A FFGs, have also been built. These surface battleships are the flagships of the modern Chinese navy.

In the Indian Navy over the past 10 years three Delhi Class DDGs and three 4,000-ton class Type 1135.6 FFGs have been commissioned, with the latter armed with 300-kilomter-range Club-N surface-to-surface missiles. The Indian Navy has also received three Type 16A FFGs with full-load displacement of 4,500 tons and armed with 16 units of H-35 surface-to-surface missiles.

As a result, in terms of the construction of surface battleships above 6,000 tons, China is temporarily ahead of India, while in the building of 4,000-ton class missile frigates, India and China are about equal, with India slightly ahead in technology.

The Indian Navy is also armed with one Hermes aircraft carrier with a full-load displacement of 28,000 tons as well as 12 Sea Harrier FRS Mk 51 fighters. Obviously, the Indian Navy’s experience in the use of an aircraft carrier is surely superior to that of the PLA Navy.

Regarding the surface battleships under construction right now, India seems to be much more ambitious than China. Since 2007, the only large surface battleship China has been building is the 054A FFG. In contrast, the Indian Navy has started to build three P-15A DDGs at its Mazagon Shipyard. This is an upgraded variant of the Delhi Class DDG, with drastic changes. So far one P-15A has already been launched.

A source from the Mazagon Shipyard told the author in New Delhi that the P-15A construction program is now giving way to the Shivalik, or P-17 FFG. The first P-17 will be delivered to the Indian Navy within this year, and the second and third will be delivered in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

The two types of surface battleships mentioned above will all be fitted with a vertical-launched version of the BrahMos SSM. The P-15A will be armed with 16 such missiles. The P15A DDG has a full-load displacement of 7,000 tons, and still uses the Shtil-1 ship-to-air missile. The P-17 is India’s indigenous stealthy FFG and has a full-load displacement of 5,300 tons. It is also armed with Shtil-1 ship-to-air missiles.

Russia’s Yantar Shipyard currently is also building a second batch of three Type 1135.6 FFGs for the Indian Navy. The first three vessels of this model were built at the Baltic Sea Shipyard, but the contract for the latest three vessels has been awarded to the Yantar Shipyard, which has no experience building this type of missile frigate.

Apparently Russia intends to bail out the Yantar Shipyard, which has not received such an order in recent years through Russia’s system of allocating contracts. For this reason, it is worth watching the progress of this construction project to see if the shipyard can deliver a quality product. India is also concerned whether the overall price of building these vessels will rise as a result of this.

India has also begun building its own indigenous aircraft carrier, which is obviously proceeding faster than China’s program. India is building its aircraft carrier at Cochin Shipyard and is expected to complete it in 2013. However, past experience has shown that the Indian Navy’s vessel construction projects are usually delayed by two to three years.

Why there is no mention of ATV here, if we see aaditya's article

And isn't the deal is for two akula?

So ADS is also getting delayed? Any info on this?

well, this guy has no clue what he is talking about. I'm going to write a response to this in my blog, but I can't believe UPI is letting this guy write articles for them.

[Rish]

Just wondering, in a wartime scenario how would the indian navy utilize its carrier battle group with the INS Viraat?

tphuang, could you kindly send me a link to your blog? Thanks

[AegisFC]

Just wondering, in a wartime scenario how would the indian navy utilize its carrier battle group with the INS Viraat?

tphuang, could you kindly send me a link to your blog? Thanks

Take a look at his signature.:D

[Rish]

Take a look at his signature.:D

Haha thanks I completely missed that when i posted a reply.

[kams]

Mig-29K handover inches closer (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/07/14/225339/farnborough-2008-indian-carrierborne-mig-handover-inches.html)

[Feanor]

How many will be handed over in the first round?

[aaaditya]

hey guys ,great news here,the grse delivered to water jet propulsion fast attck crafts from its rajabagan dockyard acquired 2 years ago to the indian navy.

here is the link and the article:

GRSE delivers two warships from Rajabagan Dockyard

KOLKATA: The Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd on Wednesday delivered two Water Jet 'Fast Attack Craft' to the Indian navy from its Rajabagan Dockyard acquired two years ago. The warships are the first part of the 10-ship series, each costing Rs 50 cr to be delivered to the Navy by October 2010.
“This is a red letter day for the GRSE for launching the warships from the Rajabagan Dockyard which was acquired in July, 2006,'' said Mr K.C. Sekhar, CMD., GRSE at the launch function. The ships, christened INS Cinque and INS Chariyam, were propelled by water jets and were cost-effective platforms for patrol and rescue operations at sea. “The entire design has been done by us and a model test performed to reach a speed of 35 knots,'' he said. “The ships have improved habitability with fully air-conditioned modular type accommodation. They have sensors/radars, an efficient gun turret of indigenous make and sewage treatment plant to comply with the conditions laid down by the International Maritime Organisation,'' he added.

[aaaditya]

hey guys ,great news here,while it seems that the kaveri project for the lca has stagnated ,some headway has been achieved in the development of the kaveri maritime gas turbine engine based on the kaveri engine for the indian navy warships.

here is the link and the article:

http://frontierindia.net/demonstration-of-12-mw-kaveri-marine-gas-turbine-for-indian-navy#more-2097


Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Bangalore of DRDO had been indigenously developing Kaveri engine for propelling the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas). As a spin off during development, a marine version has been evolved to develop shaft power for propelling Indian Naval ship. Using the core of the Kaveri engine, the scientists of GTRE have added Low Pressure Compressor & Turbine as a gas generator and designed a Free Power Turbine to generate shaft Power for the maritime application.

The Kaveri Marine Gas Turbine (KMGT) as it has been named has been transported to Naval Dock Yard, Vishakapatnam and installed on to the Marine Gas Turbine test bed which is an Indian Navy Facility capable of testing the Gas Turbines upto 25 MW of shaft power through a reduction gearbox and a water brake dynamometer.
The involvement of Indian Navy in the development of the engine including their participation during testing has given a tremendous push to the success achieved so far.
During the recent visit of the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh to Naval Dock Yard, Vishakapatnam, Shri T. Mohana Rao, Director, GTRE has demonstrated the engine to the VVIP along with the Senior Naval Officers. The engine has been further tested to its potential of 12 MW at ISA SL 35°C condition which is the requirement of Indian Navy for propelling the SNF (Rajput) class of ships. This peak power was demonstrated to various dignitaries including the Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri Shri M. Natarajan, Vice Admiral B.S.Randhawa, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Dr. D.Banerjee, CC (R&D) among others.

[niteshkjain]

This is a good news

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEH20080718021439

Full transfer of Scorpene technology: French firm
Friday July 18 2008 12:36 IST

French warship major DCNS says it will fully transfer technology for its Scorpene submarines that are being built in this country for the Indian Navy and that the six boats contracted for will be delivered on schedule by 2017.

"Transfer of technology is not an issue. We will fully abide by our contractual obligations and even go a step further by providing equipment that has not even been asked for but will aid in the construction of the submarines," said DCNS chairperson and CEO Jean-Marie Poimboeuf.

"We have already started to transfer technology. This is a big challenge but we are totally confident we will achieve what we have set out to do," Paris-based Poimboeuf told IANS in an interview here.

India and France had in 2005 signed a Rs.130 billion ($3 billion) deal for six Scorpene submarines armed with Exocet anti-ship missiles. It was originally thought that one of these would be in sail-away condition while the remaining five would be manufactured at the state-owned Mazgaon Docks Limited (MDL) at Mumbai. It now transpires that MDL would build all the six vessels.

"There is no restriction at all from the French government (on transferring technology)," Poimboeuf pointed out.

The official is here for a visit he undertakes every six months to monitor the progress in the construction of the first Scorpene submarine at MDL, which began last year.

He has also interacted with defence ministry officials on future contracts - including for the next generation Scorpenes that will be capable of firing long-range air-breathing missiles.

Discussing the challenges in transferring technology, Poimboeuf said this was because the wheel had virtually to be reinvented in training Indian engineers and technicians for the job at hand.

"We had to start from scratch because whatever expertise India had acquired in building submarines had been lost as no boats have been constructed for nearly 20 years," Poimboeuf explained.

The last time a submarine was built in India was in the late 1980s when MDL constructed under licence two German HDW boats, in addition to two that the Indian Navy had purchased in sail-away condition. MDL was to have constructed a total of four boats but the contract was abruptly terminated following charges that HDW had paid massive kickbacks to secure the Rs.4.20 billion deal.

The four HDW submarines in the Indian Navy's fleet of 16 boats will approach the end of their combat life between 2016 and 2024.

"Today, there is a new generation (of Indian engineers and technicians). We have to start from scratch in training them and are very serious about this," Poimboeuf said.

Toward this end, DCNS has deployed 15 French engineers at MDL against the six it was obligated to and plans to raise the number to 30 as the project proceeds.

It is also opening a fully owned-subsidiary in Mumbai next month to speed up the technology transfer process and to involve Indian industries by way of joint ventures or outsourcing.

"The subsidiary would not only support the submarine project but work with local companies to indigenise the boats," Poimboeuf explained.

Speaking about the construction of the first Scorpene, he said its various sections were being built and after integration of the systems they would carry, they would be put together by the end of the year.

"The full integration of all the systems would take another three years, after which sea trials would be conducted over a period of 12-18 months before the vessel is declared fully operational by 2012," DCNS Vice President (Projects) Pierre Legros explained.

[niteshkjain]

french offering partnership :)

http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/19/stories/2008071960451700.htm

France offers India partnership to export submarines

Sandeep Dikshit
NEW DELHI: France has offered India a partnership to export hi-tech submarines to third countries. “Our strategy is not only to be in India for developing products for India but to develop for others because we think that a submarine is a strategic defence system which a lot of navies are interested in developing,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DCNS Jean-Marie Poimbeuf told The Hindu.

Submarines are counted as among the most potent defence platforms as they can operate undetected far beyond a country’s shores. The DCNS, 75 per cent owned by the French government, is currently building six submarines for India at Mazgaon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai, at a cost of about Rs. 15,000 crore.

“We think India is a good place to develop activity for other countries. We have a lot of countries interested in submarines. Singapore would acquire new submarines in three to five years. Malaysia might ask for a second batch of submarine. Thailand and Indonesia would be interested,” Mr. Poimbeuf said.

Since a submarine is a big-ticket item – each submarine being built for the Indian Navy will cost about Rs. 2,500 crore – the opportunities for the Indian industry would be huge in case the French offer materialises. As a step towards intensifying cooperation with Indian companies, a DCNS subsidiary will be operational next month. It will help in the ongoing submarine project and also set up joint ventures with local companies to locally build specific equipment for submarines.

Project on torpedoes
“Beyond the submarine project, the DCNS (India) will develop cooperation with other shipyards. The DCNS is already working on propulsion system for corvettes with Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE). There is another project of cooperation on torpedoes,” said Mr. Poimbeuf.

The DCNS, he assured, was ready to continue with technology transfer and work with local companies. “We will be very open to technology transfer. We will listen to the governmental policy on the way they would like [the next lot of] submarine would be constructed. We are totally open to develop industrial cooperation and set up a joint venture with a local company that Indian government allow us to do,” he observed.

The DCNS chief said his company would reply to the request for information (RFI) for the next batch of submarines. It is also in discussion for other projects. “We received a RFI for training ships and offshore patrol vessels and would like to answer in cooperation with local shipyard. We will participate with design and support the construction in India.”

The company’s top brass held several sounds of discussions last week with Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta to discuss technology transfer for the present lot of submarines. “I read in newspapers and assured him that there was no restriction on technology transfer from the French government and we are doing that since the beginning of the contract,” he explained.

Admitting that the building of the first submarine had been delayed, he was, however, optimistic of the six submarines rolling out by the projected date of 2017. “It is a very complex naval system. There is nothing more complex more than a submarine. Besides, for over 15 years there was no activity regarding construction of submarines in India. To restart this activity takes time.”

[kay_man]

hey did check out these photos.

the 3rd and last of the shivalik class stealth frigates i.e. INS SAHYADRI being fitted out at mazgaon dock ltd. mumbai.

already it looks stealthy:D:D

[niteshkjain]

Indian navy plans about patrol aircrafts

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Navy_looks_to_boost_snoop_power/articleshow/3254599.cms

Navy looks to boost snoop power
20 Jul 2008, 0346 hrs IST, Rajat Pandit,TNN

[tatra]

hey did check out these photos.

the 3rd and last of the shivalik class stealth frigates i.e. INS SAHYADRI being fitted out at mazgaon dock ltd. mumbai.

already it looks stealthy:D:D
All three have been 'fitting out' for quit some time now. It's about time that the first of class is finished!!!! (I'm very disappointed at the amount of photo material that has emerged, especially compared to what we've been seeing of new chinese naval ships.)