This is a discussion on Indian Navy (IN) News and Discussion within the Navy & Maritime forum, part of the Global Defense & Military category; ATV NUCLEAR SUBMARINE PROGRAM
Russian, Indian, and Norwegian sources reported in July 1998 that Russia was providing some form of ...
Russian, Indian, and Norwegian sources reported in July 1998 that Russia was providing some form of assistance to India's ATV (Advanced Technology Vessel) nuclear submarine program, including assistance in the installation of propulsion reactors for the two submarines laid down in 1998. [1,2,3,4,6] Then-Minister of Atomic Energy Yevgeniy Adamov denied discussing nuclear propulsion with his Indian counterparts.[1] However, Adamov's denial did not exclude the possibility of technical assistance from the Russian Navy. The Russian and Indian Navies have a history of cooperation on nuclear submarine design and operations. In 1988-1991, the Soviet Union leased the K-43, a 670A Skat-class [NATO name 'Charlie I'] nuclear submarine to the Indian Navy.[1] The sub sailed under the name Chakra with a Soviet crew operating the propulsion reactor; the remainder of the crew was Indian.[4] (The NPT does not prohibit the transfer of technology for naval nuclear propulsion, creating what some experts regard as a serious loophole in the international nonproliferation regime.[5]) According to early reports, the design of the Indian ATV submarines, each of which will be propelled by one 190MW PWR reactor, is very similar to that of the new Russian Yasen class, and the subs may be armed with Russian SS-N-15/16 missiles.[3] [This would violate the MTCR unless the range is less than 300km.] However, a Russian nuclear submarine expert says that the hulls under construction are not of Russian design.[4] More recent sources hold that the submarine design is that of the Russian Antey-class [NATO name 'Oscar II'] SSGN.[7] The ATV is an intended launch platform for the nuclear-capable Sagarika missile, which is being developed by India's Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bangalore with Russian assistance; the project itself was initially believed to have been headed by a Russian scientist.[8] Sagarika's range is about 300km and it is expected to be produced both as a cruise missile and a ballistic missile.[7] In early 1998, a group of Indian officers were posted to the Severnoye Mashinostroitelnoye Predpriyatiye (Sevmash) shipyard in Severodvinsk, where a Yasen-class submarine is under construction.[1,3] (A Kilo-class sub exported to India was under repair at the nearby Zvezdochka shipyard.[3]) According to the submarine expert, Sevmash negotiated with India regarding the possible sale of nuclear propulsion reactors to the ATV program, but the proposed deal was not approved by authorities in Moscow.[4] Nevertheless, despite the ties between the two countries' submarine programs, the extent of Russian assistance to Indian nuclear submarine propulsion cannot be determined from open sources.
Due to the slow pace of the ATV program, India may once again resort to leasing Russian nuclear submarines. In 1999 reports surfaced that India was planning to purchase Russian nuclear submarines. At the time, Russian Navy officials issued denials, stating that India had made no inquiries about such a purchase.[9] However, the Russian Ministry of Defense revealed that the matter was discussed in September 1999 during a visit by senior Indian naval officers to St. Petersburg.[10] Reports of Indian plans to lease a Russian nuclear submarine circulated again in late 2000, [11], and, in February 2001, Rosoboroneksport Deputy General Director Viktor Komardin said that India had expressed an interest in leasing a nuclear submarine.[12] In June 2001, a Russian newspaper reported that India and Russia were planning to sign a contract by the end of 2001 for the completion of two unfinished Project 971 Shchuka-B [NATO name 'Akula'] nuclear-powered general purpose submarines.[13] Although the contract was not signed, in January 2002 Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov confirmed that Russia planned to lease two nuclear submarines to India. The terms of the contract included the training of Indian submarine crews in Russia and the lease of two submarines for five years, beginning in 2004.[14] In a January 2001 interview, Indian Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Madhvendra Singh refused to confirm or deny plans to lease Russian submarines. He did note, however, that skills acquired in the operation of Chakra have been lost, and that the Indian Navy would require at least 2.5 years to train another nuclear submarine crew. Therefore, India would like to lease a Russian nuclear submarine in order to train personnel for the future Indian nuclear submarine force.[15] Although it was widely expected that a nuclear submarine lease contract would be signed in February 2002, during Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov's visit to India, the contract did not materialize, and according to some reports the subject was not even raised at the meeting.[16] Some analysts have speculated that India's insufficient defense budget prevented it from concluding the deal, in spite of considerable interest.[17] However, in February 2002 an Indian newspaper reported that an Indian submarine crew has been undergoing training in Russia for about a year, and that its activities included sorties aboard a Project 971-class attack submarine.[18]
With the deal for French Scorpene submarines stuck at the Cabinet level, the Germans are in the country again, pitching hard for their HDW Class 214 submarines to be considered for what will be a Rs 12,000 crore order.
Top officials representing the German shipbuilder HDW—including a technical expert from the shipyard and management top-brass—were here for the last few days. They made a comprehensive presentation to the Navy’s controller of warship production & acquisition, Vice-Admiral JS Bedi, on Tuesday. The HDW officials have been regularly visiting India ever since the firm was cleared of corruption charges three months ago. The case involved their sale of four submarines to the Indian Navy in the mid-1980s.
(Mods should i make Indian Navy news thread so that we can post all this news)
Interesting,Inspite of Navy almost selecting Scorpene,HDW is still pitching hard.
They are even ready to integrate U-214 with Russian 3M54E Klub Cruise Missile of range 220km and can go mach 2.5 at final phase
Presently Klubs are operational in Kilo Class.
They also said if Indian Navy manages to get Sub-Harpoon,then integration will be lot easier.
Recent news is Siemens of offering AIP Upgrade to India for the most famous SSK U-209.
gf,ur sub expert plz say why India Navy selects scorpene over U-214???
Even the bribe charges againt HDW are cleared
There is no reason why Indian Navy would pick scorpene over U-214.
Everything in U-214 seems to be better than Scorpene,
and HDW is ready to integrate a Russian Cruise Missile in U-214.
ofcourse missile is not that imp,more important is Underwater endurance and Silence.
Last edited by ajay_ijn; July 9th, 2005 at 11:18 PM.
(Mods should i make Indian Navy new thread so that we can post all this news)
Interesting,Inspite of Navy almost selecting Scorpene,HDW is still pitching hard.
They are even ready to integrate U-214 with Russian 3M54E Klub Cruise Missile of range 220km and can go mach 2.5 at final phase
Presently Klubs are operational in Kilo Class.
They also said if Indian Navy manages to get Sub-Harpoon,then integration will be lot easier.
Recent news is Siemens of offering AIP Upgrade to India for the most famous SSK U-209.
gf,ur sub expert plz say why India Navy selects scorpene over U-214???
Even the bribe charges againt HDW are cleared
There is no reason why Indian Navy would pick scorpene over U-214.
Everything in U-214 seems to be better than Scorpene,
and HDW is ready to integrate a Russian Cruise Missile in U-214.
ofcourse missile is not that imp,more important is Underwater endurance and Silence.
I'm obviously not privy to why Scorpene has been an uncontested evaluation (up until recently). But I've made it pretty clear on Indian sites like PR that I consider the German 200 series subs to be far superior for a whole range of reasons.
Ultimately any decision will be based on strategic, operational and national interest factors. I'm not going to second guess the Indian Govt - although I do have some personal reasons which are inapprop as public comments.
________________ A corollary of Finagle's Law, similar to Occam's Razor, says:
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity"
''The Scorpene deal has not yet been clinched,'' Mukherjee told newsmen here. The Defence minister said that the Cabinet Committee on Security had directed him to look into some issues which included pricing, cost escalation and new integrity agreement under the new defence procurement policy.
The vice-chief of the French navy had visited India recently to negotiate the deal and it was awaiting clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security.
Nothing new,The same delay which causes frustration to Navy.
INS Beas, the latest Guided Missile Frigate built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata is being commissioned into the Indian Navy on 11 Jul 05 at Kolkata by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Arun Prakash.
'BEAS', a 3600 tonne warship, is 125 metres in length and a draught of 4.5 metres. The platform is densely packed with weapons like Barak Anti Missile Defence system, 04 quad-packs of the URAN Surface-to-Surface missiles, 01 medium range 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount, 04 Close range 30mm AK 630 Guns, 02 Triple tube Torpedo launchers, Sonar and the sophisticated Ellora Electronic Warfare suite. The ship has an advanced Computerised Action Information system for Command and Control of all weapons and sensors. The ship is propelled by two 15,000 BHP steam turbines and is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots.
Is barak the only SAM in that ship,
Trishul had some problems.
What happened to SA-N-7,may be that doesn't fit into the warship.
This ship has highest indegenious systems compared any other locally build warship.
Some 70% is made locally: radars,sonar,EW,combat management systems etc.
but ofcourse,all the weapons are imported one.
We are keen on the F-35s as they are operated with the ski-jump facility and are more compatible: Admiral Arun Prakesh
KOLKATA: The Navy is interested in the F-35 fighter aircraft than the F-18, as our aircraft carrier [the first indigenous carrier being built at the Kochi shipyard] will not have the steam-catapult with which the F-18 takes off," according to Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash said here on Monday.
"We are keen on the F-35 as they are operated with the ski-jump facility and are more compatible," he said.
He, however, does not know whether the issue had been taken up by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee with the U.S. officials.
Now this is surprising becoz a Naval Cheif made that statement.
May be this means Navy really thinks that the Right replacement for Harrier is the another VTOL Fighter,and obviously the future VTOL Fighter is F-35.
I think Navy would buy them from Britain rather than from US as they did buy Sea Harrier and Sea Hawk from UK.
Britain can export JSF right.
` We may have to import as we need five to six new ships or submarines every year'
Placing orders on our shipyards is high on our agenda. But maintaining the force levels is top priority.
Two ships delivered in June; Beas delivered on Monday. Two ships scheduled for launch next month and six due for delivery by June.
Navy to consider adopting "modified classification society" specifications for frontline ships as done in the U.S.
KOLKATA: Chief of the Naval Staff Arun Prakash on Monday criticised shipyards for the slow pace of production. The Navy needed five to six new ships or submarines annually but defence and civilian shipyards could at best deliver only two to three ships a year, he pointed out. This resulted in the Navy turning to imports.
"This is not good enough and our shipyards must accelerate the pace of production. While we are deeply committed to our public sector undertakings, we cannot allow our force levels to decline. Therefore, if left with no alternative, we shall have no choice but to import warships to make up our force levels," he said at a ceremony to launch INS Beas, a frigate with the highest level of indigenisation, at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) here.
"I have just sounded a note of caution. They have to step up the pace of production so that we do not have to go abroad for our requirements. Placing orders on our shipyards is high on our agenda. But maintaining the force levels is my top priority," he said.
See, The result of frustration.Navy wants to buy foreign ships when the local production rate is very slow.
Compared with Airforce and Army,Navy has more indegenous weapons.
Due to some or other reason Ship Building industry says the production is delayed.
I think many workers and engineers are not effeciently working,on the top of this delay in getting steel and other things to build the ship.
They are highly skilled but most of them don't work upto their potential.
This is general opinion in india about any govt owned industries.
BrahMos in its second developmental flight, in the ship-launch configuration from land at the Interim Test Range in Orissa on April 28, 2002.
BRAHMOS, the supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, was flight-tested successfully for the third time on February 12.
The importance of the mission lies in the fact that it was for the first time that the missile was ship-launched, from the Indian Navy vessel Rajput, off the Orissa coast. The first developmental flight took place on June 12, 2001, from the Interim Test Range (ITR), Orissa, when the missile flew out of a canister (silo on land). The second developmental flight, on April 28, 2002, a prelude to the latest one, was in a ship-launch configuration from land, at the ITR.
The third flight has provided enhanced missile capability to the Navy. Western countries do not have a supersonic cruise missile; they have only subsonic ones, which travel at speeds less than that of sound. Russia has sold a supersonic cruise missile, Moskit, to China. But that has a lower speed and a shorter range than BrahMos
India to test advanced version of BrahMos
Giridhar Gopal in Bhubaneswar | December 01, 2004 18:36 IST
Last Updated: December 01, 2004 19:56 IST
India is planning to test an advanced version of supersonic cruise missile BrahMos at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Orissa.
Preparations are underway to test the missile, developed jointly by India and Russia, using a land platform, ITR sources said Wednesday.
With a range of about 300 kilometers, BrahMos can be launched from multiple platforms - land, ships, submarines, aircraft and a ground vehicle.
Defence scientists are also likely to test an advanced version of Trishul, a short-range surface-to-air missile, in January 2005. Trishul can be used by the army, air force and navy.
Now this is surprising becoz a Naval Cheif made that statement.
May be this means Navy really thinks that the Right replacement for Harrier is the another VTOL Fighter,and obviously the future VTOL Fighter is F-35.
I think Navy would buy them from Britain rather than from US as they did buy Sea Harrier and Sea Hawk from UK.
Britain can export JSF right.
SEE THIS FIRST
Service
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Navy
U.K. Royal Navy
Variants
Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL)
Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL)
Carrier-based (CV)
Unit CostFY94$
$28M
$35M
$38M
Inventory Objectives
U.S. Air Force 2,036 aircraft (CTOL)
U.S. Marine Corps642 aircraft (STOVL)
U.K. Royal Navy60 aircraft (STOVL)
U.S. Navy300 aircraft (CV)
Now mate what do you say how much you will get out of 60
Last edited by kashifshahzad; July 16th, 2005 at 10:00 AM.
There does seem to relevant substance to what the Admiral is saying about the F-35, the Indian Navy is planning for the future, and maybe the F-35s do figure in these plans, but i feel more a timescale of 2020-25
________________ FOX NEWS :: Epicentre of neo-con propaganda
The UK does not Manufacture these AC . LM(prime contractor) will use Different Supplier (As subcontractors) from various partner nations (the Majority of them are form the UK and US). And I doubt anyone country would be able to market them (with the exception of US). In-order to receive the AC You would need to be at good terms with the Supplier nations (not just US and UK). I doubt a Marketing strategy has even been built up. We are talking about an AC that first has to be supplied to USAF USN and UK RN. And then you might be able to procure the AC. As it stands right now its an LM project and so it is American. happy days . And you thought F-16 was complicating
Quote:
The JSF UK Industry Team
The JSF UK Industry Team is an informal alliance between BAE SYSTEMS, MBDA, Martin-Baker, Rolls-Royce and Smiths Aerospace.
It has three principal aims:
1. To ensure that UK Industry continues to play a major role during the production phase of the programme, creating value and employment and thereby sustaining a competitive UK defence industry.
2. To broker and subsequently lead the European elements of JSF production and sustainment, optimising both UK operational capability and UK Industry’s involvement.
3. To ensure that UK products, such as helmets and missiles, are qualified as early as possible and are promoted to customers on the same terms as the incumbent US alternatives.
BAE SYSTEMS, Martin-Baker, Rolls-Royce and Smiths Aerospace have been part of the JSF programme since its inception. Their innovation, experience and knowledge have contributed significantly to the programme’s success. UK Industry has secured significant elements of work competitively and on merit.
MBDA, one of the world’s foremost missile system companies, has developed several products, qualification of which on the Joint Strike Fighter would bring enormous interoperability benefits, provide genuine customer choice and create a significant export opportunity.
All these companies have invested considerable amounts of money and proprietary information in the programme and now seek equitable financial returns through long term participation. However there are no guarantees of involvement in future phases, and increasing political pressures risk distorting the allocation of future work within Europe.
At risk is the independence of UK industrial and military capability. There is a short, one-time opportunity for UK industry to secure a meaningful, profitable and long-term role on the programme, but this requires the aspirations of Government and Industry to be closely aligned. This website complements other activities being performed by the Team to raise awareness and promote discussion amongst key UK decision shapers and makers.
Goals for the UK
Operational: Secure sovereign ability to conduct operations and receive priority repair/modification.
Technological: Maintain UK’s lead in key aerospace technologies. Enable UK access to emerging technologies.
Industrial: Safeguard vital aerospace jobs and skill base. Open export markets for UK alternative offerings e.g. missile and helmet
Political: Preserve UK as a leading military, aerospace and industrial power. Retain benefits of early commitment to JSF through programme life
Quote:
The SDD Phase is estimated to be worth ÂŁ1.6billion to BAE Systems in the UK and a further ÂŁ0.5billion to BAE Systems North America.
The value of the subsequent production phase is estimated to be as much as ÂŁ11billion to BAE Systems in the UK and ÂŁ3billion in the US, whilst export sales and support, training and other business opportunities, such as upgrade programmes, represent further significant sales opportunities.
BAE Systems’ participation is spread across many of its operations, encompassing manufacturing facilities at Warton and Samlesbury (Lancashire), avionics facilities at Rochester (Kent) and Edinburgh, and many sites across North America.
BAE Systems brings a rich heritage of Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) experience from the Harrier programme as well as advanced lean manufacturing technology, recently honed on the Typhoon programme, from its facilities at Warton and Samlesbury. The aft fuselage and empennage (tails and fins) for each JSF will be designed, engineered and built at Samlesbury, using the latest in advanced development and manufacturing technology.
BAE Systems is also involved in key areas of the weapon system’s design, such as mission systems, the vehicle management system and autonomic logistics. BAE Systems Platform Solutions Sector is providing the aircraft’s Vehicle Management Computer, the AIS (Active Interceptor System) and the Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems division is responsible for the Electronic Warfare System and significant parts of the CNI (Computing, Navigation and Identification) System whilst the UK-based Avionics Division is supplying the Laser for the EOTS (Electro-Optical Targeting System).
With an annual turnover exceeding € 2 billion (US$ 2.2 billion), a forward order book of € 14 billion (US$ 15.2 billion) and over 70 customers world wide, MBDA is a world leading, global missile systems company.
MBDA’s ASRAAM, Storm Shadow and Brimstone are all threshold weapons for JSF. ASRAAM is in Block 3 (SDD) and Brimstone and Storm Shadow are in Block 4.
Consequently, MBDA is currently supporting, under contract from Lockheed Martin via BAE SYSTEMS, the integration and clearance of ASRAAM and the provision of Storm Shadow and Brimstone on JSF within the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract. Future weapons such as Meteor are expected to be added to the platform in due course.
MBDA’s objective is to support the JSF Team in producing the best integration solution for these 3 weapons in terms of carriage, release, system integration, weapon operations and performance. MBDA working with the JSF Team will aim not only to produce the best solution but also implement these in a cost effective and timely manner.
Historically, MBDA has vast experience of the development and integration of air launched weapon systems onto both European and US aircraft. ASRAAM, for example has been integrated with the Tornado, Eurofighter, F-16 and F-18 aircraft. MBDA’s experience reflects the use of both advanced modelling techniques, wind tunnel testing and trials to streamline and reduce the costs of weapons integration programmes.
Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd (MBA) is the world's longest established and most experienced manufacturer of ejection seats and related survival equipment. Ejection is obviously a last resort for aircrew; 7,026 aircrew owe their lives to Martin-Baker equipment and a staggering 1 in 10 of the ejection seats manufactured to date have saved a life. Every facet of the safety system from initiation, escape path clearance, ejection sequencing, stabilisation, life support and parachute descent to final rescue, must work perfectly to safeguard a precious life. The aircrew member must also reach the ground uninjured, especially in a hostile environment, if they are to have the best possible chance of survival and recovery.
Martin-Baker was selected for the F-35 because of its demonstrable ability to offer a fully integrated escape system that satisfies the very latest in pilot operational capability and safety standards offering a complete 'end-to-end service' from helping the customer to establish operational safety and escape requirements, design, development and qualification, to ongoing support throughout the entire service life of the aircraft.
The System Development & Demonstration (SDD) ejection seat that MBA proposed to Lockheed Martin is a further development of the Mk16 range that has already been successful for the Raytheon Texan II (JPATS), the Eurofighter Typhoon, the NASA T-38 upgrade program and other numerous aircraft platforms around the world.
For SDD, the ejection seat (common to all 3 F-35 aircraft variants) is known as the Mk16E and will provide an unprecedented balanced optimisation, between key performance parameters such as safe terrain clearance, physiological loading, pilot boarding mass and accommodation (the widest aircrew population on record), to fullymeet the F-35 Escape System requirements.
The Mk16E’s prime structural elements comprise the well established twin catapult arrangement that is housed in a side-rail arrangement, and a 19.5” wide seat bucket that is based on the NASA T-38 design to ensure accommodation of the larger aircrew. The seat design is highly modularised and provides ease of seat removal with the canopy in-situ. The seat is lightweight whilst at the same time providing a 30gx crash and egress capability.
SDD has introduced other challenging technical performance requirements. The adoption of the Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) as the prime means of flight data display (“virtual HUD”) for the extended aircrew population has introduced unprecedented head and neck load requirements, whilst an auto-eject system has been introduced to counter the lift-fan failure condition for the F-35B STOVL aircraft.
During the first 48 months of the SDD programme, MBA will develop the ejection seat system and all its related components and sub-systems, culminating in the delivery of 14 flight seats for the SDD flight development aircraft. The subsequent 78 months between System Development & Demonstration (SDD) first flight and FRIP (Full Rate Production) will be spent maturing the overall escape system, supporting the flight development aircraft and preparing for FRIP.
Rolls-Royce is engaged in two distinct activities on the JSF Programme during the Development Phase:
· Teamed with Pratt & Whitney on the design and development of the STOVL LiftSystem™, and
· Teamed with General Electric (GE) on the design and development of the F136 engine, a new engine designed to be fully interchangeable with the incumbent F135.
Rolls-Royce is teamed with Pratt & Whitney to develop the F135 STOVL Propulsion System for Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and ensure interchangeability with the joint GE/Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team’s F136 engine. The Rolls-Royce LiftSystem provides operators with STOVL capability, regardless of engine choice.
The Rolls-Royce LiftSystem comprise 3 principal components: Rolls-Royce LiftFan™, 3 Bearing Swivel Module (3BSM) and Roll Posts.
The LiftFan, a 50-inch two-stage counter rotating fan capable of generating more than 20,000lbs of thrust, is driven from a conventional gas turbine and supplies the forward vertical lift. The 3BSM is a swivelling jet pipe capable of redirecting the rear thrust from the horizontal to the vertical position. It can rotate through 95 degrees in 2.5 seconds and passes 18,000lbs of thrust. Aircraft roll control is achieved using the Roll Posts mounted in the wings of the aircraft, each of which provides further 1,950lbs thrust.
Rolls-Royce is managing the overall development and integration programme from its site in Bristol, UK, which is also responsible for the Rolls-Royce LiftFan™ turbomachinery, 3BSM and Roll Post designs. The team in Indianapolis, US, will provide the system’s gearbox, clutch, driveshaft and nozzle and will conduct the build and verification testing of the LiftFan.
The USG has funded the development of the rival F136 engine, which will provide customers with a choice of engine in time for low rate initial production. GE Aircraft Engines, with responsibility for 60 percent of the program, is developing the compressor, coupled turbine, controls and accessories, structures and the augmentor. Rolls-Royce, with 40 percent of the program, is responsible for the fan, combustor, low-pressure turbines and gearboxes.
Smiths Aerospace draws together the expertise of three key companies; legacy Smiths Industries, the former TI Dowty group and Lear Siegler of the US.
Smiths has continued to win key contracts on the JSF programme, to the extent that it the range of contracts already secured are valued in excess of $10 billion over the lifetime of the aircraft.
Key F-35 systems from Smiths now include:
· standby flight display system, electrical power management system, remote input / output data concentrator unit (Cheltenham UK)
· weapons control and data electronics (Michigan, Maryland and Florida)
· engine and LiftFan™ debris monitoring system (Southampton UK)
· LiftFan™ hose and tube system (New Hampshire and Massachusetts)
. integrated canopy frame assembly (Southampton UK)
. actuation systems and components included in the propulsion system and airframe (New Jersey, Indiana, Washington and Wolverhampton UK)
Smiths Aerospace have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to the programme by investment such as the new Wolverhampton test facility to develop and qualify actuation equipment, funded partly through the JSF programme and also Smiths internal capital expenditure.
Smiths Aerospace Group Managing Director, John Ferrie summarises Smiths’ capabilities, “Our combined integrated systems in electronics, actuation, engine components and aircraft structures offer unique solutions for the F-35. The overall programme will bring greater value to F-35 customers through the use of common test systems tailored to each supplier’s requirements. Smiths are delighted to bring value in F-35 integrated solutions as a first tier supplier http://www.jsf.org.uk/team.htm
As Much as I am Honored that you would think we would have marketing rights for the JSF however I would have to bitterly acknowledge the Upper hand the US would have in this project. On the brighter side we are probably the Most significant ally contributers in the JSF project but even we have limits!!!
Just realized that I am a MOD here, Could we refrain from talking about the JSF even though it is related to Indian Navy's future procurements. Can we get back to the Topic please!! the JSF belongs in the Aviation Section.
Adsh, whats happening with the JSF in terms ToT of high end tech i.e stealth and software codes with Britain and the U.S, would we pull out of the project if its not resolved, were sharing our V/STOL technology, they should share stealth
________________ FOX NEWS :: Epicentre of neo-con propaganda
The Navy will take part in landmark exercises with nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers belonging to the US, French and Russian navies over the next three months. As a result, Delhi's footprint will stretch to the Gulf of Aden for the first time.
The Navy is to take part in anti-piracy exercises in the Indian Ocean with ASEAN nations this month. It will go head-to-head with the US Navy in the Arabian Sea in September and with the French Navy in the Gulf of Aden two months later.
This is the first time that the Navy will be training with the US and French fleets, among the world's most advanced.
The INS Viraat - the Navy's only aircraft carrier, Shishumar-class (German Class 209/1500) submarines, Russian stealth frigates and Delhi-class destroyers will train with a US nuclear-powered carrier carrying a fleet of F/A-18 Hornets. This is the first time the Navy's Sea Harriers will get a chance to fly with the US carrier-based jets. The Navy will also get to engage upgraded US P-3C Orions, on offer to the government.
"The aim of the exercises is to weave interoperability among the frontline warships and weapon platforms of the US and Indian navies," a top Naval official said.
Other sources said the recently signed Indo-US defence framework provided for greater engagement between the two navies, adding that "taking interoperability to a much more advanced level was in order".
The exercises come just weeks after an IAF team returned from a separate exercise with the French air force. The naval exercises, set for end-November around the Horn of Africa, will coincide with the IAF-USAF joint exercises at Kalaikonda.
The exercises, codenamed Varuna IV, will be held with French naval warships including the nuclear-powered carrier Charles de Gaulle and French nuclear submarines from Djibouti.
Between these exercises, Indian Navy warships will also train with a Russian warship fleet in the Bay of Bengal, the second in a series of exercises. The Russian battle group will bring stealth frigates and Akula-class nuclear submarines - which the Navy has long been interested in purchasing or leasing.
"The Russians wanted the exercises to be held every year and now it has been decided that these wargames, codenamed Indra, will be held every other year," officials said.
For now, warships are heading to waters in the Indian Ocean Region for an exercise next Monday with the Singapore Navy. Exercises will also be held with the Indonesian and Malaysian navies.
Link : http://www.defenceindia.com/11-jul-2k5/news23.html
India likely to make huge weapon purchase from US Washington, July 20 (PTI): India is expected to start purchasing $ 5 billion worth of conventional military equipment from the US if the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the two countries is approved by Congress, according to Pentagon officials.
The current US Non-proliferation Act prevents India and other countries that have not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty from acquiring a wide range of US military technology that included components that could be used for nuclear programmes.
While Bush Administration officials have sought to play down how the arrangement fits into a broad White House strategy to help position India as a regional counterweight to China, Pentagon officials told The Washington Post that they expected India to start purchasing as much as $ 5 billion worth of conventional military equipment if the pact is approved by US Congress.
The Pentagon officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Post that they considered many of the potential sales, including anti-submarine patrol aircraft that could spot Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean and Aegis radar for Indian destroyers operating in the strategic Straits of Malaka, as useful for monitoring the Chinese military.
The Navy will take part in landmark exercises with nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers belonging to the US, French and Russian navies over the next three months. As a result, Delhi's footprint will stretch to the Gulf of Aden for the first time.
The Navy is to take part in anti-piracy exercises in the Indian Ocean with ASEAN nations this month. It will go head-to-head with the US Navy in the Arabian Sea in September and with the French Navy in the Gulf of Aden two months later.
This is the first time that the Navy will be training with the US and French fleets, among the world's most advanced.
The INS Viraat - the Navy's only aircraft carrier, Shishumar-class (German Class 209/1500) submarines, Russian stealth frigates and Delhi-class destroyers will train with a US nuclear-powered carrier carrying a fleet of F/A-18 Hornets. This is the first time the Navy's Sea Harriers will get a chance to fly with the US carrier-based jets. The Navy will also get to engage upgraded US P-3C Orions, on offer to the government.
"The aim of the exercises is to weave interoperability among the frontline warships and weapon platforms of the US and Indian navies," a top Naval official said.
Other sources said the recently signed Indo-US defence framework provided for greater engagement between the two navies, adding that "taking interoperability to a much more advanced level was in order".
The exercises come just weeks after an IAF team returned from a separate exercise with the French air force. The naval exercises, set for end-November around the Horn of Africa, will coincide with the IAF-USAF joint exercises at Kalaikonda.
The exercises, codenamed Varuna IV, will be held with French naval warships including the nuclear-powered carrier Charles de Gaulle and French nuclear submarines from Djibouti.
Between these exercises, Indian Navy warships will also train with a Russian warship fleet in the Bay of Bengal, the second in a series of exercises. The Russian battle group will bring stealth frigates and Akula-class nuclear submarines - which the Navy has long been interested in purchasing or leasing.
"The Russians wanted the exercises to be held every year and now it has been decided that these wargames, codenamed Indra, will be held every other year," officials said.
For now, warships are heading to waters in the Indian Ocean Region for an exercise next Monday with the Singapore Navy. Exercises will also be held with the Indonesian and Malaysian navies.
Not thats rocking,USN,French Navy,Russian Navy.
I think Indian Navy must more participate in ASW Excercises as major threat to our navy is from Subs.
They must ask France and German navies to send their SSKs with AIP and from our side we must send frigates,destroyers specialized in Anti-Sub warfare and also Patrol Aircraft.
Like IAF was eager to check the capability of F-16,Navy must aslo try to develop Tactics against Subs with AIP by excercising with European Navies.
USN wanted to check the capability of AIP in SSKs so they excercised with Swedish Gotland AIP Submarine.
Recent news suggest that HDW pitched in at the very last moment with a much cheaper deal, since it was also in the fray to buy out the DCN, the makers of the scorpene and stealing away the approx $6 billion contract would have lowered the value of DCN.
But since the deal to acquire DCN has fallen through and IN clarifying the renegotiation of the Scorpene deal, delaying the already delayed project, I don't see IN buying the U-214
. And you thought F-16 was complicating 
