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India 2014
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d e f e n c e n d i p l o m a c y n S EC U R I T Y SATURDAY, february 8, 2014
hc tiwari
DRDO Chief Avinash Chander lists out the successful culmination of DPSU projects that the year will be a witness to in his first Defexpo press conference
2014: Year of displaying
military prowess
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he year 2014 is going to be historic for the Indian military in more senses than one as it will witness the induction of the Agni-4 IRBM, final operational clearance for the HAL Tejas Mk-1, trials of the K-15/B-05 SLBM from the INS Arihant, handing over of two AEW&C platforms to the Indian Air Force (IAF), induction of heavyweight torpedo Varunastra onto frontline Indian Navy(IN) ships, production of 60 km range Pinaka-II rockets and the initiation of new signals equipment by the military. The ongoing development programmes, according to Avinash Chander, Director General DRDO, will see the first canisterised trial of the Agni-V, launch of the Astra BVRAAM from a SU-30, further technical trials of the Nirbhay GLCM and flight tests of the RustomII MALE UAV. Interacting with the media on the second day of the Defexpo, Chander, who is also the
Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, enumerated successes of the recent past and was candid is his answers to questions on India’s cyber security set-up. Overall, the tenor of the press conference suggested a renewed emphasis on public-private partnerships and upgradation of domestic industrial capabilities through technology partnership with DRDO. Chander and his colleagues also apprised the audience about the growth of seeker technology in India saying that India was self-sufficient in imaging infrared seeker technology and had launched indigenous production of laser seeker heads for munitions. Furthermore, an indigenous detector fabrication facility and larger seeker test facilities were also under consideration. A test of an exo-atmospheric missile interceptor with indigenous dual mode seekers has been slated for next month. On the production side of things, output from a domestic titanium sponge facility has commenced, while
Agenda for 2014 Induction of the Agni-4 IRBM Final operational clearance for HAL Tejas Mk-1 Trials of the K-15/B-05 SLBM Handing over of two AEW&C platforms to the IAF Induction of heavyweight torpedo Varunastra Production of 60 km range Pinaka-II rockets First canisterized trial of the Agni-V Launch of the Astra BVRAAM from a SU-30 Further technical trials of the Nirbhay GLCM Flight tests of the Rustom-II MALE UAV
DRDO’s RCI lab has produced an indigenous system on chip. Moreover, indigenous gunsights built with DRDO technology for mechanised forces are also being progressively inducted. DRDOdeveloped thermal imagers are even replacing image intensifier tubes in the Commander’s sight on legacy MBTs. Fielding questions on delayed programmes such as the India-Israel LRSAM project for the India Navy, Chander stated that all supporting hardware and software for the missile were already integrated with the first destroyer of the Kolkata class and flight trials from the same would begin in mid-2014. Commenting on the yet-to-succeed indigenous foliage penetrating radar (FOPEN) effort, Chander said that though they were open to foreign collaboration in this area, no FOPEN available anywhere was found to be ‘effective in penetrating Indian rainforests’. In the critical area of network security, Chander admitted that ‘true cyber security can
More News on page: 3 & 4 only be realised by optimising India’s basic policy of acquisition’. He mentioned the development of indigenous routers and bulk encrypters in this context. Emphasising the need for DRDO-Industry partnership on processors, an indigenous operating system and other analysis tools, Chander stated that while the DRDO could throw a ‘cupola’ around platforms during early stages of integration a much wider synergised effort in this domain was essential. Replying to a question on the implementation of the Rama Rao Committee report, Chander stated that three out of its five key suggestions with relevance to DRDO were already being implemented with respect to restructuring DRDO’s vertical clusters, new HR policies and the creation of a future technology management group. Saurav Jha
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BRAHMOS: symbol of India’s growing military clout
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eeping pace with its rapidly rising market economy, India has also emerged as a major military power block alongside China and Japan in the Asian continent. The fast- evolving global geostrategic dynamics has made it imperative for the country to empower itself and stand out prominently on the regional as well as the international stage. The size and strength of India’s armed forces and the high-end weapons and systems it possesses today or intend to possess in the near future speak volumes about the country’s growing military clout. Aided by an ever-
expanding domestic defence industrial base along with years of dedicated research and development, India has successfully acquired several critical military technologies despite the restrictive technology denial regime imposed on it by advanced nations for many decades. Today, India boasts of being listed as one among the few elite nations in acquiring the capability to build a nuclear submarine, an aircraft carrier, a fourth-generation light combat aircraft, an intercontinental ballistic missile, a supersonic cruise missile, a main battle tank, a ballistic missile defence system, electronic warfare and multi-
range radar programme among many other military platforms, weapons, systems and subsystems. One such unique stateof-the-art weapon that has empowered the Indian defence forces manifold and rather made it the only military force in the whole world in possession of such an advanced military technological system is BRAHMOS. Born out of deep-rooted longstanding friendship between India and Russia, the unrivalled and unparalleled BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile is the only such mis-
MBDA scholarships for Indians M
BDA, the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation and the Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (ISAE) have signed a sponsorship agreement to set up an Indian scholarship programme in France. Between 2014 and 2017, this programme will contribute towards the financing of 24 students and young aeronautical professionals from India. MBDA would like to support the international popularity of ISAE, especially in the context of its links with India, by establishing a programme designed to finance the studies of Indian students and young professionals at Masters or Specialised Masters level at ISAE. This programme will, as of the 2014 academic year, offer advantageous scholarships
to 24 Indian students. Olivier Zarrouati, President of the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation and CEO of Zodiac Aerospace said: “I am very pleased by the signing of the agreement establishing this new programme which paves the way for a new model in the relationship that ISAE would like to develop with the aerospace industry. After the creation of a Chair heading Innovation Management in 2011 and of another,
set up this year, in the aircraft design field, the Foundation is now supporting the Institute as it strives to strengthen its links with India.” Olivier Fourure, General
Director of ISAE: “The “MBDA Programme of Excellence for India at ISAE” will allow MBDA to benefit, as a major European partner of the Institute, from this reputation and at the same time help to attract some of the brightest of Indian students to ISAE.” Antoine Bouvier, CEO of MBDA: “The development of strategic partnerships with certain major countries forms a key element of MBDA’s development strategy. Supporting the education in France of foreign students at the highest technical and technological levels will contribute very effectively to the implementation of this strategy aimed at firmly establishing MBDA in major countries like India who are keen to develop industrial centres of excellence with us.”
JK expands in defence sector J
K Organisation has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Deepti Electronics & Electro-Optics Pvt. Ltd. (DELOPT), a Bengalurubased company manufacturing defence electronics, avionics and electro-optics, through its group company Global Strategic Technologies Ltd. (GST). JK Organisation, one of India's oldest multi-billion multibusiness conglomerate, has been doing significant work in the defence, aerospace and security domain through GST that provides solutions in select defence areas like assured mobility systems, ballistic laminates and has several initiatives in the pipeline.
Harsh Pati Singhania, Director JK Organisation said, “The Government is committed to opening up the defence sector to private sector participation and, together with defence offsets, offers a significant opportunity for companies with a strong R&D and an industrial manufacturing excellence. We are excited to contribute to this important initiative towards self-reliance in a strategic sector. We are delighted at this acquisition and look forward to strong growth in this domain.” Delopt started two decades ago as a high-end defence R&D company, catering to DRDO labs and DPSUs on prestigious
projects like LCA, MBT, Indian Navy’s communication network, torpedoes and missile platforms. It has since expanded to straddle activities from research, design, development, manufacture, maintenance, support and upgrades. GST is focussed on the growing defence market, both in India and overseas and has signed MoUs with several global majors including some significant pacts with European and North American defence players. Delopt, with over 100 engineers and scientists, has the critical mass and, with JK’s entry, is expected to result in a major change in its growth trajectory.
sile system in its category the world over. The 290km long range tactical missile, presently in deployment with the Indian Army and Navy, has come a long way since its conception in the year 1998. Initially planned to be developed as an anti-ship cruise missile system, today BRAHMOS boasts of numerous variants, each with its distinct prowess to strike down and annihilate all types of enemy targets at different locations and in different surroundings. The multi-platform, multitarget cruise missile, capable
of flying at a top speed of 2.8 Mach, has validated its capability in sea-to-land, sea-to-sea, land-to-land, land-to-sea and subsea-toland configurations. And soon, it is going to add another glorious feather to its cap by being test flown in the air-to-ground configuration from the IAF’s frontline supersonic longrange fighter aircraft, the SU-30MKI. At a time when modern military technology is evolving fast with each passing day, taking into account future warfare strategies, possession of a formidable weapon system such as BRAHMOS by the Indian Armed Forces undoubtedly puts them far ahead of a potential enemy and its offensive means and motives. The universal missile system has successfully maintained a leading trajectory in terms of its unmatched speed, precision, versatility and striking capability. To retain its supremacy, BRAHMOS continues to evolve by adding unique traits and new strengths to its existing potentiality. The weapon thus remains a true “game changer” for the battlefields of today and tomorrow.
Ashok Leyland‘s two-pronged strategy F
or over five decades, Ashok Leyland has been a market leader in the defence logistics segment. More than 70,000 Stallion trucks form the backbone of the logistic operations of the Indian army. Known for their reliability, performance and durability, the vehicles have not only gone through the stringent evaluation criteria of one of the world’s largest armies, but have also successfully endured real battle in Kargil. Going forward, the company has embarked on a strategy for growth that leverages its capabilities involving: (a) Expanding product lines; and, (b) Integration of global weapon systems with mobility platforms. Over the past three years, the company has diversified its product platform at both ends of their product spectrum entering a segment it has never played in before. It has a brand-new 2.5T Truck
and at the opposite end of the spectrum, it has the new variant of our Super Stallion platform with the 10x10 HMV. A new Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) also joins this new fleet. The Garuda 4x4 is a truly contemporary product. Equipped with a powerful yet extremely fuel efficient engine (BS4-ready) and high maneuverability, the Garuda 4x4 can carry payloads up to 2.5 T, thus offering unmatched mobility to the paramilitary forces/security agencies both in India and abroad. The modern cabin offers state-ofthe art ergonomics and comfort with HVAC option. The Super Stallion 10x10 vehicle builds on the strengths of the Super-Stallion 6x6 and 8x8 vehicles, which have performed extremely well in the Indian Army trials ranging from deserts to high altitude areas. The Super-Stallion 10x10 vehicle can carry higher payloads and at the same time offer superior mobility.
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Rafael Showcases Spike Team Trainer (STT)
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srael-based company Rafael displayed its latest Spike Team Trainer (STT) for the first time, at Defexpo 2014. The STT provides tactical training for a Spike combat team. It enables the training of single gunners, section and integrated platoons. STT facilitates training of the unit's full operational sequence from Standing Operation Procedure (SOP), deployment, target acquisition and engagement, repositioning and battle damage assessment (BDA) through debriefing (after action review). Several Spike Indoor Trainers (IDTs) are connected to offer a simulated battlefield where training for several Spike combat teams is simultaneously conducted. Each Spike section
conducts the training session in a separate training room, in order to simulate reality in which the various Spike sections deploy separately but still maintain mutual dependence. The simulated battlefield scenery is transmitted into the eyepiece of the gunner's Command Launch Unit (CLU) and the Commander’s binoculars, which also serve as a Laser Range Finder (LRF) and compass. It's projected on to wide panoramic screen to simulate the real scenery viewed from the Spike section's Point of View (PoV). Spike section Commanders communicate by simulated radio communication using a tactical headset and can deploy in different locations to view the battlefield
show snippets Atlas Electronik, Pipavav tie-up Pipavav Defence & Offshoring Engineering Company (PDOC) aims to offer the Indian Navy (IN) a cutting edge Heavyweight Torpedo in partnership with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, Germany (ATLAS). ATLAS has worked with the IN for over two decades having supplied the successful SUT torpedo for the Shishumar class submarines. The IN has recently entered into a contract with ATLAS to upgrade the SUT torpedo. ATLAS also offers the SeaHake mod4 torpedo, amongst the most advanced Heavyweight Torpedoes in the world and capable of a range in excess of 140 km. In line with PDOC’s philosophy of offering open architecture defence solutions, the SeaHake mod4 is compatible with all current and future Indian Navy submarines including those of the Scorpene and Shishumar classes.
System Controls, Nexeya join hands System Controls Technology Solutions Pvt Ltd and Nexeya signed a strategic collaboration agreement on February 7, 2014. System Controls Technology Solutions represented by Francis Xavier, CMD and Nexeya, represented by Marc Potron, Vice President, signed the cooperation agreement through which both companies would benefit for the development and marketing their products in the field of defence, aerospace, railways, energy and other customer-defined areas in the market.
Coastal Radar System from Typhoon Russian Typhoon JSC displayed its Monolit-B coastal radar system for surface and air reconnaissance which is intended for longrange over-the-horizon detection and tracking of surface and air targets using integrated means of active and passive radio localisation. Monolit-B system is intended for: • Coverage of surface situation in area of responsibility; • Detection and tracking, classification, determination of coordinates of surface targets; • Detection of low speed low-flying air targets of helicopter type; • Surface targets identification friend-or-foe; and By its structure Monoli-B system consists of two identical vehicles. intended for detection and target designation, one of which is a central vehicle of the system, another is a Peripheral vehicle.
KBP'S fighting compartment KBP Instrument Design Bureau, a Russian weapon manufacturer company is showcasing its latest upgrade of armoured vehicle for infantry tanks. The new design ensures successful infantry offensive and defensive actions without the hard armour and artillery support. It can be installed on BMP-2, BMP-3, BMD-3, Rostok APC chassis and other Russian and foreign vehicles of the equivalent payload capacity, as well as can equip boats, ships and stationary firing sites. Bakhcha fighting compartments installed on lightly armoured assault vehicles are in service with the Russian Army.
from a variety of attack positions. The Spike Team Trainer facilitates the training of the platoon, sections or squads, as well as single gunners. Operating the ATGM system supplies high quality tarining for Spike commanders in situational awareness and fire control.
Interactive control by the main instructor produces a dynamic team trainer, simulating the ever-changing, modern battlefield typified by system fault insertion, changing of enemy formations and trajectories, and rapid changing of missions.
MKU showcases night vision devices
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ajesh Gupta, Senior Sales Manager, MKU, said: “This year has seen less participation at Defexpo. However, we are trying to build the brand image.” “Although India is a very promising market, its procurement system is like an onion, it can literally bring tears to your eyes. Those in command have to understand that people are investing time, money, energy, he added.” The show stoppers at the MKU booth are the latest range of personal protection products some of which are patented in the US and comply with the most stringent and new international standards like NIJ 0101.06. Another highlight is the display of the company’s new range of night vision devices.
Raytheon keen to co-produce HAWK missile
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aytheon is keen to provide state-of-the-art capability missile defence to India. Tim R Glaeser, Vice President, Business Development Integrated and Missile Defense (IAMD), Raytheon told the media on Friday at Defexpo that the company was particularly interested in pushing the HAWK XXI (medium range missile defence) for India. “We are prepared to collaborate with India in coproducing HAWK XXI for not only the Indian Army and Air Force but for the international market. Under the Defence Technology Initiative (DTI) programme between India and the United States, we can pro-
duce HAWK XXI in India and export the missile to foreign countries,” Glaeser said. According to him, the company would love to provide India National Advance Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), which includes ground support equipment, a full training package and technical as-
sistance. He also disclosed his company’s interests in India’s internal security (homeland security), particularly in securing the country’s air fields, power plants, ports and dams, Parliament, sporting events and large population concentrations. Meanwhile the GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system jointly developed by Airports Authority of India, the Indian Space Research Organisation and Raytheon has achieved certification level Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 0.1. Civil aircraft in Indian airspace will now have access to more precision navigation data than ever before.
BEL inks MoU and receives purchase order for CoMPASS
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avratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sagem Défense Sécurité, France, to explore co-operation in the production and supply of Navigational sensors like periscopes, Inertial Navigational System and optronic mast to the Indian Navy for its various platforms under consideration for future induction. The MoU was signed by P C Jain, Director (Marketing), BEL, and Bruno Even, CEO, Sagem, France. S K Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director, BEL; Joel Berkoukchi, COO, Director, Avionics Di-
vision, Sagem, France; and Chandrasekhar S, General Manager (Naval Systems) BEL, were also present during the MoU signing at the BEL stall at Defexpo 2014. The MoU will facilitate BEL and Sagem to work together for 24 months and if considered necessary, the same can be extended to a further period agreeable to both the companies. BEL also received a purchase order from ELOP. BEL had previously entered into a Technical Collaboration Agreement with Elbit Systems Intelligence and ElectroOptics — ELOP Ltd (ELOP), a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Limited, for a licensed
collaborated manufacturing and D-Level Maintenance of Compact Multi-Purpose Advanced Stabilized System (CoMPASS®) for the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Programme. BEL has established facilities for the manufacture of CoMPASS in its plants in India and shall provide Indian users with local maintenance support. CoMPASS was already selected and installed in the Indian Army Aviation and Air Force versions of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) of HAL. On February 7, 2014, during DefExpo 2014, ELOP issued a Purchase Order to BEL for the manufacture of CoMPASS systems, for the ALH Programme.
Mahindra-Telephonics update
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ahindra & Mahindra Ltd one of India’s leading business houses, has announced that its joint venture partnership, Mahindra Telephonics Integrated Systems (Mahindra Telephonics) has opened the first private sector aerospace and electronics joint venture
manufacturing facility in Prithla, Faridabad. The Joint Venture partnership is between Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd and Telephonics Corporation, a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of high-technology integrated information, communication and sensor system solutions
for military and commercial markets worldwide. The facility officially opened on February 5, 2014 and represents an important milestone for India’s rapidly expanding private defence industry. The business will focus on the development and manufacture of leadingedge radar technology.
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Ukraine wants JVs with Indian DPSUs
Oleksandr Shevchenko, Ambassador of Ukraine highlights the strengths of his country in technology and points out that the main task now is to set up a Joint Intergovernmental UkrainianIndian Working Group on Defence Cooperation What is your own assessment of the year-old comprehensive defence cooperation agreement between India and Ukraine? Have you begun work on the defence relations aspects that you wanted the two nations to make progress on?
A comprehensive partnership between Ukraine and India was initiated during the state visit of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych to India on December 9-12, 2012. It was during the visit that the agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of India on Cooperation in the field of Defence was signed on December 10, 2012, in New Delhi. And in June 2013, Ukraine and India fulfilled internal procedures necessary for entering the Agreement into force. Both joint statement on comprehensive partnership and defence agreement establish solid ground and provide opportunities to expand cooperation in the field of defence through the exchange of information as well as international transfer of military technology and goods. These documents confirm mutual interest and aspirations of Ukraine and India to develop fruitful cooperation. Furthermore, Ukraine has always been and remains on leading positions in the sphere of high technologies. Ukrainian aircraft, tanks, armoured vehicles, missiles, and space industry, shipbuilding have always been at the vanguard of world trends and innovations. At present, the main task for Ukraine and India is to set up a Joint Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Indian Working Group on defence cooperation which will help to expand the horizons of our cooperation in this area.
Drawing from the defence industrial base of the Soviet era, do you think you could emerge among the top three defence suppliers to India?
Despite all the difficulties during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the formation of the national economy, the defence industry of Ukraine was
able to preserve its scientific, design and production potential. We are ready to offer to India a wide range of areas of cooperation. For example, we can establish joint ventures with HAL, Defence Research and Development Organisation and other companies and organisations, and to work on the creation and production of new aircraft models or adapted to the Indian specific operating conditions modifications to existing aircraft and aircraft engines. The potential of military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and India is large indeed and has long-term perspectives. This is due to a significant number of weapons and military equipment of the Soviet/Russian and Ukrainian production, which has been successfully operated for a long time by Indian armed forces.
25, Mi-35, Mi-17, Mi-8 MTV, Ka-28 and Ka-31 helicopters etc. In addition, more than 300 AI-20 engines are now operating in the Indian Air Force on manufactured in Ukraine An32 military transport aircraft. It is an impressive figure - more than 1500 Ukrainian engines today are operating in India. Maintenance, repair and modernisation of these engines by Ukrainian manufacturer is the guarantee for a long-time service of Russian-made aircraft Do you think India-Ukraine de- and helicopters. High perforfence ties, particularly in arms mance and reliability characsupplies, could be seen adverse- teristics provided by AN-32 ly by Russia? How do you ensure aircraft and AI-20 engines under extreme conditions of high a fine balance in this regard? altitude and hot climate, have Historically, Ukraine has longcontributed to the decision of term political, economic, the Ministry of Defence of the military and cultural ties with Republic of India to moderRussia. The mutually bennise 105 aircraft to ensure their eficial cooperation in differcontinued efficient operation. ent fields has been maintained There is a potential for coand recently gained a new operation between Ukraine momentum. For example, last and India in air cargo transDecember a number of interportation. The existing fleet governmental agreements on of such giants as An-225 and cooperation between UkrainiAn-124 can transport overan and Russian aircraft buildsized cargo with 250 tons of ing companies were signed. lifting capacity. At The purpose the same time, the of these agreements is to en- INDIA-Ukraine “Antonov” new medium passenger hance cooperaRELATIONS aircrafts could betion in the sphere come a new trend of aviation and in Ukrainian-Indian the resumption of production cooperation. of An-124 heavy transport aircraft and An-70 military transport plane. Apart from defence business, A lot of military aircraft and do you see cooperation increashelicopters operating in India ing between India and Ukraine were produced by Russian enin geopolitical matters, capacity terprises. At the same time, a building, etc.? considerable number of them Ukraine’s geopolitical posiare equipped with Ukrainian tion is both advantageous and Motor Sich engines. They inchallenging. We see our role in clude IL-38 anti-submarine cementing and strengthening planes with AI-20 engines, European and Eurasian secuMi-26 helicopters with D-136 rity, political and economic engines. Various modifications architecture. At the same time, of TV3-117V, TV3-117MT and we understand great signifiAI-9 engines provided for Micance of developing stronger
relations with South, East and South East Asia countries. As I mentioned above, comprehensive partnership between Ukraine and India was initiated during the State visit of Victor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine to India in December 2012. We would like this partnership to evolve into efficient strategic relations in the foreseeable future. To achieve this goal, contacts on all levels should be fostered, including political dialogue, economic interaction, scientific, military and technical cooperation, educational and inter-human exchanges. To our firm belief, we should give priority to bilateral projects in the highly technological fields, including space and atomic research, developing alternative and renewable energy projects, biotechnologies and biomedicine, information and telecommunication technologies, nanotechnologies and new materials, high energy physics and astrophysics, while steadily building up our potential for interaction in traditional fields like heavy industry, exploration of natural resources, agriculture, pharmaceutics, infrastructure and tourism. Both countries have enormous potential for that.
How do you view the technology transfer and offset policies of the Indian defence ministry? Do you think Ukraine can contribute in India’s bid to have a defence
industrial base of its own. How?
In the post-Soviet period in Ukraine have been created and put into serial production new regional passenger aircraft: 52-seater AN-140, AN-148 (68 to 85 passengers) and AN-158 (85 to 99 passengers), An74TK-300 transport and convertible plane, An-70 transport military aircraft, which outperforms the European A-400M transport military aircraft, and An-124-100M-150 Ruslan heavy military modernized transport aircraft. Ukrainian aviation industry is preparing to produce the An-148-300 business jet with a range of up to 7000 km and the An-178 medium transport/military transport aircraft with a payload of 18 tonnes. Currently, the Indian aviation industry is about to create and organise its own production of regional passenger aircraft with 70-90 passengers (RTA-90). It is assumed that the project can be implemented for 7 years and will require about $1.8 billion of direct investment. At the same time, a licensed production (together with Indian HAL) of the An148/An-158 adapted aircraft may be started much earlier than the specified period of seven years and at substantially lower cost budget. Ukraine is ready to produce aircraft together with India on mutually beneficial terms.
Showstoppers from MKU
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KU, a leading manufacturer of ballistic protection equipment and night vision devices, with over 25 years of domain experience is taking the opportunity at Defexpo to display some of its latest solutions. The protection solutions on display at the MKU booth will include ballistic jackets, armour inserts, helmets, advanced protection gear, platform protection solutions for aircraft, naval vessels and land vehicles. The show stoppers will be latest range of personal protection products some of which are patented in the US and comply with the most stringent and new International Standards like NIJ 0101.06. Another highlight will be the display of its new range of Night Vision Devices: the Jaguar 7 Binocular, Jaguar 14 Monocular and Night Eye weapon sight. A dedicated NVD experience dark zone will be an integral part of the display. Visitors are getting
a hands-on experience of the performance of a night vision device. The latest range of night vision devices offer larger field of view, long range illuminators and high quality optics. With state of the art infrastructure in India and Germany and ahead of the curve, proven technology, MKU has a presence in more than 100 countries worldwide. MKU holds Patented technologies that are recognised in US, Europe and other parts of the world. It’s products certified by the leading names in the world, including, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), US, HP White Labs, US, Mellrichstadt, Germany, TNO, Netherlands and DRDO, India. MKU is a registered supplier to NATO and The UN. MKU follows and adheres to certified quality management systems like AS 9100:2004 (Aircraft Armoring), ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System).
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Mountain Strike Corps:
Strong counter to China The formation of Mountain Strike Corps by Indian Army is expected to fuel the demand for purchasing modern weapons to counter China
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ndia is raising a new Mountain Strike Corps for its North East to counter China and it brings with it great opportunities for the Indian and the global defence industry. India will spend nearly `65,000 crore (over $10 billion) over the next seven years in buying specialist mountain warfare equipment, military platforms, weapons and building infrastructure of all kinds. Those good trade winds began blowing from the New Year Day of 2014, as the Indian Army hoisted the flag of its youngest of its fighting force – latest addition to its combat formations – the 17 Corps at Ranchi, Jharkhand, signalling its formal raising. 17 Corps will be the first ever Mountain Strike Corps of the Indian Army (IA) focussing on being an offensive arm for the north-eastern frontier, euphemism for China. The Indian Army at present has 13 fighting formations, of which 10 are pivot corps and three are Strike Corps. But the three existing combat formations – Mathurabased 1 Corps, Ambala-based 2 Corps and Bhopal-based 21 Corps are all focussing on an offensive against Pakistan on the western frontier. Major General Raymond Norohna, who was the then Corps Commander-designate and tipped to take over after his
promotion as Lieutenant General by February 1, formally declared the Mountain Strike Corps’ raising with the flag-hoisting, a great news in the New Year, because India will get into a buying spree for arms, systems and other equipment required by its new formation. Though Indian Army had proposed the raising of the new Mountain Strike Corps three years ago, the final approval for the same came at a July 17, 2013 meeting of the Indian government’s Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The Mountain Strike Corps is expected to be operationally fighting fit by 2020. That is quite a short time for raising the Mountain Strike Corps with all its required arms and equipment, considering the long-drawn ways of the Indian defence procurement processes. But hopes of the deadline being met are quite high due to the urgency that the Indian Army has shown in having the formation operational and keeping the gun powder dry. Another `19,000 crore (close to $4 billion) would be spent on raising two Independent Infantry Brigades and two
Independent Armoured Brigades to plug operational gaps along the entire 4,058-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China if the Army’s proposal is implemented. The Mountain Strike Corps alone would have two infantry Divisions, each with 15,000 men specially trained in mountain warfare. The headquarters location of the two Divisions would also be decided later while the forward elements like Brigades could be spread across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. With about 50,000 soldiers and headquartered at Panagarh in West Bengal, the Mountain Strike Corps will also give India the capability to launch offensive action in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) to counteract any Chinese offensive in Arunachal Pradesh. India has already got two Infantry Divisions at Lekhapani
INTERPLAY for SUCCESS There is a clear need for an effective interplay of three important stakeholders — the government, foreign OEMs and Indian industry — each having a defined role and a clear set of aspirations and expectations.
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here is a clear need for an effective interplay of three important stakeholders—the government, foreign OEMs and Indian industry—each having a defined role and a clear set of aspirations, expectations. The Indian defence industry is experiencing significant and progressive change, with some of the most significant orders in the pipeline, and declaration of working towards 'self-reliance' with evolving policy changes brought in through interactive industry debates. On one hand, we are at an infancy stage in critical parametres such as development of advanced technol-
ogy and specialised skill development when compared to our global counterparts, but on the other hand, Indian industry can truly take advantage of its developed manufacturing ability of the automotive sector, and our large pool of scientists and engineers that have proven capabilities to lead the Microsofts of the world. We clearly need an effective interplay of three important key stakeholders - the government, foreign OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and the Indian industry, each having a defined role and a clear set of aspirations and expectations. The need of the hour is that all
these stakeholders play their respective parts to perfection. Simply said, the Indian bureaucracy needs an implementation plan for the formulated policies through effective form of communication, thereby addressing inter-ministerial issues that hamper the industry today. The new entrants in the Indian defence industry, who are from non-defence backgrounds, need to inculcate a long-term mindset and take proactive steps to move up the learning curve. And the foreign OEMs must work towards strategic partnerships and learn to hand-hold Indian counterparts. The major onus, however,
and Missamari in Assam, raised in 2009-10 comprising 1,260 Officers and 35,000 Troopers, to take care of operational needs in Arunachal Pradesh. The government has also proposed to raise 30 new infantry battalions in the 13th five-year plan period, which is another corps-sized force. The Troopers’ equipment and their mobility too would be improved by introducing superior vehicles with better cross country capability. The government has already given its clearance to the Indian armed forces’ overall ‘major force accretion’ plan that will focus on the northern borders with both China and Pakistan. All of this unprecedented force accretion this decade, said to be India’s largest since the 1962 China war, can only mean that there will be heavy buying of arms to equip these new forc-
will continue to fall on the government's methodology of functioning. This sector's strategic importance requires the ministry to be discreet and limit public interaction; however, the Indian MoD is also a customer in the global market with large capital requirements. The MoD is the sole representative of the armed forces users who require and operate these products and systems. This requires the MoD to be knowledgeable about the market and be aware of the latest technology and trends globally. Therefore, the need for a transparent, formalised and yet discreet system of interaction with the industry becomes more important. The largescale modernisation of the armed forces being undertaken will require a strong and dedicated industry interface mechanism, through which sellers can showcase their products and services and ap-
es. What use are the men if they do not have the means to fight the battle? Take a look at all the new weapons and equipment that this full-fledged fighting force would require if it has to be a mean combat machine. The variety of new arms and equipment would be all specialist ones meant for mountain offensive manoeuvres. Infantry weapons and systems such as Rifles, Carbines and Machine Guns; artillery weapons such as ultra light Howitzers and mortars; four types of helicopters for attack, heavy lift, medium lift and reconnaissance roles; armoured vehicles such as light weight tanks and infantry combat vehicles that can help in a thrust into enemy territory; Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) equipment; Communication sets; personal kit for soldiers; technical intelligence gathering systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); and many more. This has the potential to galvanise the country’s defence industrial base, apart from providing an opportunity for foreign companies to sell their wares. The growth of Indian domestic industry could be catalysed through direct procurement of arms and equipment by the armed forces, or through industrial partnership with global original equipment manufacturers, who would be discharging offset liabilities arising from billions of dollars worth of procurement. Furthermore, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of equipment with the Indian armed forces too could provide the necessary business opportunity to Indian firms because of the on-going modernisation of the defence services. The Indian Air Force (IAF) would get its next lot of six C130-J Super Hercules special operations planes, already ordered for nearly $800 million, for use by the Mountain Strike Corps and these aircraft would be based in Panagarh. The planes could be used for air-drop of troops behind enemy lines and for other purposes. There will have three Artillery Brigades, equipped with heavy guns like Bofors 155mm as well as the ultra light Howitzer, which India may procure from the US under the foreign military sales (FMS) route later this year.
proach the relevant authorities as and when required, for clarity on the various rules and regulations governing the defence sector. This can be done through the establishment of appointed offices staffed by MoD and armed forces personnel to oversee systems/ platform demonstrations and provide replies to any regulatory queries that the industry might have. Since the MoD is now one of the world's largest buyers of arms and armaments, the ministry may also identify the Indian embassies in important countries or geographies where defence attaches can play a more effective role in interacting with the defence industries of the host countries or regions. This will lead to greater interest in the Indian market by OEMs and help facilitate a greater participation of global companies in Indian programmes. WgCdr (Retd) Neelu Khatri
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Continued from page 14
Challenges and Way Ahead for Global OEMs the lack of clarity on the qualification of their wholly owned subsidiary as an Indian offset partner specifically for services, which does not have a FDI cap and does not require an industrial license. Given the stringent FDI norms and related ownership issues faced by most cross border partnerships, foreign entities need to focus on niche technologies and specific synergies which can navigate and overcome the challenges typical to the Indian Defence and Aerospace sector. The defence production process must provide a level playing field between defence PSUs and Indian private sector companies forming joint ventures with MNCs where necessary. The amount of FDI that MNCs can bring in must be raised to 49 per cent immediately and to 74 per cent in due course to make it attractive for MNCs. The increase in FDI limit will bring in the capital for establishing new facilities and scaling up the current facilities while benefiting India through large scale job creation. The other important stakeholders, the Indian DRDO labs are pivotal and need to be vigorously engaged and tapped by the global OEMs. The global OEMs must identify areas if collaboration with
DRDO labs in developing cutting edge technologies that have been identified in the Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR) against LTIPP 2012-2027, ostensibly to serve as a guide to the DRDO and the Indian Defence Industry for directing their R&D and technology investments. Though it seeks to encourage public-private partnerships, privately the government continues to retain its monopoly on research and development and defence production through the DRDO, the ordnance factories and the defence PSUs (DPSUs), and hence an increased OEM-Indian MoD interaction through the embassies or the G2G route will lead to greater interest and help facilitate a greater participation of global companies in Indian programmes. Lastly, partnering with suitable Indian SMEs would be highly vital and cannot be ignored by a global OEM for creating a strategic space for itself and increasing its footprint in India. The Indian Government has stressed publicly that SMEs need to be encouraged to boost the defence and aerospace manufacturing sectors. The Indian SMEs are also raring to internationalise, and eager to access to cutting-edge technology and good practices
A worker in an arms and ammunition factory in Udaipur, Rajasthan
to help them become globally competitive. A CII report on defence estimates that the country’s defence sector currently comprises over 6,000 SMEs, supplying around 2025 per cent of components and sub-assemblies to DPSUs, ordnance factories, the DRDO and the armed forces. However, SMEs face a number of hurdles due to the high cost of capital, inadequate certification and training opportunities, low volumes and long gestation period of projects. A strategic partnership with a global OEM could help defray these costs and mitigate the challenges. An global OEM could partner the SMEs in India and focus on co-production, knowledgesharing, promoting joint value
Defence vehicles for multiple uses
I
n the eighth edition of Defexpo India 2014, Polaris India Private Ltd is displaying its wide-range of defence vehicles. Touted as the world's number one producer of off-road and allterrain vehicles, it is the second time that Polaris is participating in the event. Polaris is exhibiting products such as RZRSW, the Sportsman MV 850 and the Widetrak LX (Snowmobile). The RZRR SW can cruise at a top speed of 109 kph and comes with a powerful 800cc twin EFI engine which cranks out 55HP. Widetrak LX is custom-built to tug, catch and get to where the work needs to be done. The Sportsman MV is fitted with a powerful 850cc 4-stroke SOHC Twin Cylinder Gas Engine that
cranks out 77 hp. Pankaj Dubey, Managing Director, Polaris India Pvt. Ltd speaking on the participation of the company in Defexpo 2014 stated, "The Defexpo is an ideal opportunity for us to showcase our line of Defence vehicles. Our military vehicles over the years have received an overwhelming response all over the world. RZRS 800 model, in India is currently being used by the Gujarat Police and we have received very positive feedback regarding the utility of our vehicles. Polaris vehicles are sturdy, reliable and effective over the toughest of terrains. Our vehicles can be used in beach patrolling, dense forest, marshy land, rocky and desert terrain.
propositions and capabilitybuilding in order to be relevant and take advantage of ‘Make’ and ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ India opportunities. Some Indian SMEs are gradually moving up the defence value chain by focussing on innovation, building intellectual property and adopting quality and process standards in order to offer complete sub-systems or assemblies. Global OEMs can share domain knowledge or consider an active industryacademia partnership with leading technology institutes, in order to upgrade, design and offer tailor-made courses for the industry in India. They can work with Indian companies to create joint value propositions and projects including
technology transfer and the sharing of best practices. The Special Economic Zone (SEZ) policy for the sector can play a crucial role by implementing shared facility management for testing, manufacturing and by providing developed infrastructure. Partnering with SMEs also gives the added advantage of receiving a multiplier of 1.5 for all offsets discharged through them. Though the opportunities arising from the global defence industry for Indian SMEs are huge, there are challenges. Foreign companies need to be aware of the major challenges the Indian SME sector faces. The sector is capital-intensive and often suffers from underdeveloped infrastructure, and its turnaround time or product life cycle tends to be long. The lack of skilled personnel can add to the problems around manufacturing quality and product lifecycle time. In conclusion, while in the future defence programmes, the categorisation of each procurement case will favour indigenisation, there are very clear strong and strategic partnership opportunities for foreign OEMs. Within the focus of indigenisation in DPP 2013, there are very clear stronger and strategic partnership opportunities for foreign OEMs by relaxing the conditions to choose offset partners. It also aims to simplify the ‘Make’ category in order to make the process faster.
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INDIAN ARMY
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India 2014 show daily
Are our coasts safe? It is high time India migrates to aggressive defence of her maritime rights as a nation endowed with a 7500 km-long coastline
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s part of its 37th anniversary celebrations in the first week of February 2014 while carrying forward an annual revered tradition, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) adopted as its theme for the year 2014: ‘Safer Lives…Safer Coast…Safer Seas’, which is supposed to be an apt reflection of its motto, Vayam Rakshamah (We Protect). With five Regional Headquarters, 14 District Headquarters, 41 Stations and nine Air Stations/ Enclaves, the ICG is internationally recognised as one of the leading Coast Guards in the Indian Ocean Rim region. In such a scenario, any concerned citizen would naturally want to know how safe are we Indians in terms of coastal security? It is high time India migrates to aggressive defence of her maritime rights as a nation endowed with a 7500 km-long coastline, as compared to the lackadaisical attitude till now. With China continuously flexing its maritime muscles, piracy attacks and unauthorised intrusions and attacks in Indian waters always dangling over the Indian sub-continent, let us take a quick look at the maritime security plan that came into existence after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
The performance audit of the ICG carried out by the Comptroller and Auditor General in June/July 2013 had pulled up the Centre for doing nothing to beef up coastal security since the 26/11 attacks.The audit had revealed various issues ranging from procurement and ageing vessels to acute manpower shortage. “An armed force having sizeable proportion of ageing force levels cannot be said to be operating optimally," was a significant highlight of the report. In response to the Public Accounts Committee's query to state actual numbers required to secure the country’s maritime interests, the Ministry of Defence had then stated that the ICG required 150 ships/boats and 100 aircrafts to adequately secure the nation’s coast and maritime interests. This force level was anticipated to be achieved by 2018, while the fully desired level of 154 ships, 126 boats and 139 aircraft was planned to be achieved by 2027. Data had also showed that the force was short of almost 3500 personnel includ-
ing officers and civilian staff as on March 2013. The ICG and the Navy currently flies the single-engine Chetaks, Advanced Light Helicopters as well as the Dornier fixed-wing aircraft deployed along the country's coastline and in the island territories. As part of its modernisation drive, the Indian Coast Guard is in the process of acquiring 14 shore-based helicopters meant for search and rescue operations including reconnaissance and patrol of offshore installations with foreign firms in the fray. Flight evaluation trials are expected to be held in the first quarter of this year. The acquisition process has, however, literally run into troubled waters following allegations of corruption, kickbacks and bribes in the procurement process. Recently, 29 surface platforms including a Pollution Control Vessel and an Offshore Patrol Vessel, 12 Fast Patrol Vessels, eight Air Cushion Vessels and seven Interceptor Boats with Regional Headquarters (North-East) at Kolkata and District Headquarters-14 at Port Blair have been added to ensure swift responses to emergencies at sea. Another 15-20 vessels too, are expected to be added this year itself. About 15 Coastal Security Exercises and 27 Coastal Security Operations have been conducted in the preceding year alone. According to Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, Director-General, ICG, genuine efforts to implement the Standard Operating Procedures
(SOP) on Coastal Security have contributed immensely towards synergising the efforts of various stakeholders. The Coastal Security Scheme Phase I has been reportedly put into operation and is now in its final phase of stabilisation. Once the Coastal Security Network Phase II too, is put in place, onground translation of a gap-free surveillance along the vast coastline can be effectually realised. Bharat Electronics Limited and the Directorate of Lighthouses and Lightships under the Ministry of Shipping are being consulted for the same. In addition, the pilot project for tracking of shipping vessels less than 20 metres in length is also under way. 46 coastal radar stations along the coast are nearing completion and 38 more stations are in the pipeline in the second phase of delivery.17 more ships are on the building-block of which three would be delivered before the end of this financial year. ICGS (Indian Coast Guard Ship) Abheek, the second Fast Patrol Vessel of the Indian Coast Guard designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) was commissioned recently by Defence Minister AK Antony. ICGS Abheek, commanded by Commandant Manoj Kumar Negi has a crew of 39 personnel and would be based at Chennai. Propelled by a water jet with a
maximum speed of 33 knots and an endurance of 1500 nautical miles, the ship has an integrated gun-mount along with an indigenous fire-control system. Another recent commission is the ICGS (Indian Coast Guard Ship) Abhinav, the third Fast Patrol Vessel built by CSL (Cochin Shipyard, Limited). ICGS Abhinav with its nine-member crew is commanded by Commandant (JG) Raman Kumar and will be based at Kochi. The water jet propelled vessel has a length of 50 metres and displaces 290 tonnes with a top-speed of 33 knots. These Fast Patrol Vessels which
are known as the work-horses of the ICG undertake surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue as well as medical evacuation. The ship is the 24th commissioning that the ICG has achieved this year, a testimony to the country’s indigenous ship-building capabilities. The ICG fleet today boasts of more than 90 ships and over 60 aircrafts. As far as piracy is concerned, the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden -- considered to be global piracy hotspots -- have witnessed a downward slide in piracy attacks since 2010. In the wake of a few piracy-attacks off the west coast of Lakshadweep in 2010, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard had jointly mounted operation Island Watch in December 2010, sanitising the area and making it incident-free since then. Chintha Anil
Are you ready, Commander SAAB? Unique opportunity from defence and security company Saab for India’s defence enthusiasts to become a ‘Commander Saab’: a quiz combat where challengers can prove their mettle and win trophies
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or Defexpo 2014, Saab is presenting a quiz combat to test your knowledge of the options available on the battlefied. The quiz combat will rank all those who pass the test by their level of competence on the field. The battlefield can be found at http://www.commandersaab.com where you can seek honours at three different levels: ‘Captain Saab’, ‘Major Saab’ and ultimately the ‘Commander Saab’. This year’s Commander Saab challenge is the successor to the hugely successful Commander Saab 2013, held dur-
ing Aero India 2013, which saw contestants from nearly 50 Indian cities participate in the quiz combat and win prized Saab collectibles. Winners will be chosen by a computerised draw from all correct answers and will receive trophies ranging from Gripen memorabilia to Saab mementoes and other limited-edition material. “The theme for Saab at Defexpo this year is ‘Teaming Up With India’. Saab will be teaming not just with Indian stakeholders from government, the defence forces, homeland security, research, technology and
industry -- but with all Indians who are driven by the excitement and thrill of witnessing a battlefield through the virtual medium. Saab will create an opportunity for people to learn about the world of defence through the unique Commander Saab contest. “We believe that the more the people of India get to see and understand the complex technologies making their defence and security uncompromising and effective, the more they will appreciate the depth and breadth of Swedish military technologies,” said Lars Olof Lindgren, Chairman of Saab India Technologies Pvt. Ltd. The array of prizes on offer through the Commander Saab contest include collectibles such as Gripen pins, USB cards, Saab caps, pens, bottle openers, sport bottles and mouse mats. Quiz combatants can log in through Facebook and partici-
take the challenge COMMANER SAAB
pate in the contest at any and all of the three levels. Each level will have five questions, all of which need to be answered correctly to make it to the pool of winners from which an automated draw
will take place every week starting 20/01/2014. Prizes will be home-delivered to the winners of the lucky draw. The contest will run until the end of Defexpo 2014.
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India 2014 show daily
SHOW STEALERS
COURTESY: BAE
The second day of Defexpo saw networking, signing of memorandums and a visit by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde who was seen taking a keen interest in the exhibits of homeland security, especially UAVs. Glimpses: Photo: H C Tiwari and Hemant Rawat
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