SP's Land Forces Issue 02 - 2014

April-May 2014

SP’s

SP’s

Military Yearbook

2014-

Volume 11 No. 2

AN SP GUIDE

`100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only)

PUBLICATION

2015

ReseRve your Own Copies, NOW! www.spsmilitaryyearbook.com

ar panel.indd 1

In This Issue

ROUNDUP

www.spslandforces.com

The ONLY magazine in Asia-Pacific dedicated to Land Forces

09/04/14 5:34 PM

Page 4 Defence Cooperation with Malaysia India has been working on its ‘Look East Policy’ since 1992 and as part of such a policy it has been enhancing its defence ties with the ASEAN members

>> regional / South east asia

Brigadier (Retd) Vinod Anand

Afloat: 16,000 troops drawn mostly from Japan

Page 5 Asian Arms Procurement on the Rise DSA is known for its display of the world’s sophisticated hardware and electronic warfare on land, air and sea defence, battlefield products/technology, training and simulation systems and police and security peripherals

Japan: 40,000 troops

South Korea: 28,500 troops Philippines: 500 rotational troops, expanded cooperation and rotational arrangements under discussion

R. Chandrakanth Page 6 Indian Army’s Armour Profile

Guam: 4,500 troops Proposed addition of 4,500 troops drawn from Japan

Malacca Straits

Singapore: Plan to station four Littoral Combat Ships Darwin: Proposed - 2,500 troops drawn globally

Delay in decision-making which is enhanced by the innumerable agencies involved, departmental rivalries, general lack of urgency in getting things done and proper resource management, is affecting the Indian Army’s armour profile.

Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor Page 8 Employment of Armour in Future Conflicts Will the armoured fighting vehicle or a tank as it is generally called, be able to survive such an environment in the future?

Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor Page 11 Show Report: Defexpo 2014 Defexpo Underscores Global Partnerships

Perth: US and Australia discussing a plan to allow the US Navy greater access to the Australian naval base here (Source: Congressional Research Report “Pivot to Pacific? The Obama Administration’s ‘Rebalancing’ Towards Asia”, March 28, 2012)

Military Developments in South East Asia The fundamental impulse of US to shift to the Asia-Pacific and particularly South East Asia was the growing influence of China. Return of the US was termed as the ‘pivot or rebalancing’ towards Asia.

R. Chandrakanth

 brigadier (Retd) Vinod Anand

Plus Interview Lt General S.H. Kulkarni DGMF, Indian Army

7

Shitij Chabba Global Business Segment Director, Life Protection, DSM Dyneema

10

Amit B Kalyani Executive Director of Kalyani Group

13

SP’s Exclusives / News in Brief

14

M

ilitary developments in South East Asia or for that matter anywhere else cannot be seen in isolation from the political, strategic and economic contexts. Events that are taking place in South East Asia are also a subset of what is happening in Asia in particular and at the global level in general. While there has been an on-going shift of economic power to Asia it is also quite apparent that most of the conflict spots of the world are in Asia.

Rapid rise of China and its fast tracked militarisation has created its own geostrategic dynamics not only in Asia and South East Asia but also has caused reverberations at the global level. According to a report by the

London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) released in March 2013 Asia overtook European members of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) in terms of nominal military spending for the first time last. The South East Asian nations have not only to respond to festering internal security challenges as the process of nation building is as yet not complete in most of the countries they also have to deal with external threat perceptions.

Looking at the politico-strategic milieu in South East Asian region four broad trends that have impact on military developments can be discerned. First trend is that after having integrated the South East economies and strengthening People’s Liberation Army China has now become more assertive in its sovereignty claims that adversely impact a

number of South East Asian nations. Second trend is that the US fearing loss of its power and influence in Asia-Pacific and South East Asia has been attempting to stage a comeback through its ‘pivot’ to Asia or rebalance to Asia strategy which has political, military and economic components. Thirdly, South East Asian countries especially those who are at the receiving end of China’s assertive policies are attempting to balance China through political, security and defence cooperation with outside powers like the US and others. And fourthly, the South East Asian countries through multi-lateral structures like ASEAN are also attempting to engage China to address their security concerns.

China’s Assertion in South East Asia While the recent events in South China

Applied for 2/2014 SP’s Land Forces

1

www.spslandforces.com

E D I T O R I A L

>> regional / South east asia

Tuesday, April 1 saw the unfurling of a historic decision in Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decided to take his nation away from its post-war pacifism. The government discarded a nearly half-century ban on the export of weapons and military hardware.

This move is obviously aimed at helping Japan assume a larger regional security role to offset China’s growing military might.

Japan’s post-World War II renunciation of war, along with its pacifist constitution, have pre-

vented successive governments from taking a more proactive approach. It is this ban that has been removed but with self-restrictive guidelines that permit the export of weapons only to allies and partners that agrees not to sell them to third nations without Japanese approval. Economically it will imply opening new markets for Japanese defence companies at a time when Japan’s own military spending is increasing while the defence budget is severely constrained by ballooning budget deficits. Moreover with an increasingly assertive China, Japans, regional influence has been reduced and this needs correction. Therefore Abe has decided to carry out the long-discussed change to achieve a larger strategic goal: augmenting Japan’s regional influence by offering its technologically superior hardware to countries who are locked in territorial disputes with China.

Sea (SCS) indicate that China’s has become more assertive about its claims with Vietnam and the Philippines yet these are not the only countries affected by China’s irredentist tendencies. Beijing has through its cartographic propaganda shown Natuna island of Indonesia that contains gas fields as part of China through an official map.

Even some of the Malaysian gas fields off the shore of Sarawak are claimed by the Chinese. Spratly chain of islands besides being claimed by Vietnam and China are also claimed by other SCS littoral nations.

The dispute between China and Philippines about Scarborough Shoal has not abated since early April 2012 when a Philippine Navy surveillance plane spotted eight Chinese fishing vessels docked at Scarborough Shoal. The Philippine Navy despatched a ship to arrest the Chinese fishermen but were prevented by two Chinese Marine Surveillance ships. There were protests by both countries and finally by July 2012 China erected a barrier to the entrance of the Shoal. Chinese surveillance ships have prevented Filipinos from fishing in the area. The dispute has soured the relationship between the two countries.

China has also raised the status of Sansha County in Hainan province to that of ‘Prefecture’. In earlier years when China National People’s Congress had passed a law to make Sansha as a county to administer its claims in the South China Sea it had led to anti-China protests in Vietnam. In addition, a military garrison has also been established in Sansha city in July 2012 with the charter of military mobilisation but the Chinese say that it is only for defensive purposes. PLA Navy is also strengthening its naval base of Hainan (near city of Sanya).

China has also restructured its coast guard and maritime forces. The new restructured body combines the functions of China Marine Surveillance, the coast guard forces under the Ministry of Public Security, the fisheries law enforcement command with the Ministry of Agriculture and maritime anti-smuggling police of the General Administration of Customs.

China has been regularly warning outside powers like the US and even India and others not to interfere in the ongoing disputes in the SCS. In September 2013 Wang Guanzhong, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the PLA, during a meeting with James N. Miller, US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, in Beijing cautioned that “The US should not give the wrong signals to support or allow relevant countries to do whatever they want….China hopes the US will not

2

SP’s Land Forces 2/2014

First week of April has also seen the parliamentary election scene in India heating up. As usual each party is putting its best foot forward and generally trying to field candidates with a relatively cleaner record in public life. What is most significant about the coming elections is that the entire nation wants a change from the corrupt politics and politicians of the UPA era. Therefore it is refreshing to see that this time, unlike on earlier occasions, people are focusing on individuals and personalities and their leadership qualities so that they can look forward to a government with decisive leaders in place.

Culminations of parliamentary elections in the month of May will undoubtedly bring about a new political dispensation and therefore it is important to very briefly examine the legacy being left behind by the current regime as far as the operational preparedness

become a third party in issues related to the Diaoyu Islands and the South China Sea”. On the other hand James Miller appealed to all sides involved to maintain restraint and said the US supported China in solving territorial disputes through diplomatic channels.

Declaration by China of a new overlapping Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) over contested islands of Diaoyu/Senkaku in end November 2013 besides raising the tensions between Tokyo and Beijing have raised questions about China’s intentions and its policy of peaceful development.

Further, PRC also expressed its intentions of declaring ADIZ in other contested zones like the SCS. What is of interest to China’s neghbours both across the land and maritime borders is how China would behave as it continues to rise. China’s unilateral announcement of its new ADIZ which overlaps the existing one has created concerns about China’s continued assertive policies.

of the armed forces is concerned.

All three services are facing severe shortages of vital weapons and munitions. In the case of the Army, 600 odd modernisation schemes amounting to over `70,000 crore in the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12) alone have not fructified. The revised Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) over the years has done little to accelerate the pace of modernisation. There are serious voids in equipment and munitions of the Army to fight a modern war which together with the lack of modernisation of equipment, in virtually all fighting arms of the Army, a capability gap vis-à-vis our likely adversaries exists and this is becoming more pronounced day by day. It is in this context that we should view the letter written by General (Retd) V.K. Singh, the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to the Prime Minister on March 12, 2012, pointing out the lack of preparedness to

fly from its airbases. Australia has already started hosting American marines at Darwin. In addition there have been other deployments elsewhere which can be considered as a response to possible challenges and threats arising out of China’s military modernisation and its muscular policies in South China Sea and East China Sea. Further, the US forces have also worked out concepts to meet the challenges of PLA’s anti-access and area denial strategies.

Added to the above is the American effort to forge cooperative defence ties with the South East Asian nations through joint exercises, supply of weapon systems and joint training. This is also being supplemented by America’s extension of political and economic support to the ASEAN members especially to those who are much affected by China’s assertive policies especially Vietnam and Philippines.

Rebalancing of the US to Asia-Pacific

Response of the South East Asian Nations

After President Obama took over in January 2009 his administration has been paying considerable attention to Asia-Pacific.

Before 2009, there was general feeling among the South East Asian countries that America has withdrawn from the South East Asian region. The fundamental impulse of the shift to the Asia-Pacific and particularly South East Asia was the growing influence of China. Return of the US was termed as the ‘pivot or ‘rebalancing’ towards Asia. The objective was to enhance the credibility of the US as only superpower despite the constraints imposed by economy.

In March 2012 the US came out with a new Defence Strategic Guidance which expanded on the theme. The plans included additional deployment of troops from Australia to Singapore in a phased manner. Its new AsiaPacific strategy besides Asia-Pacific region also extended to Indian Ocean littoral. The military dimension of the pivot was as a response to growing military capabilities of China and its increasing assertiveness that has implications for freedom of navigation and America’s ability to project power in the region.

The map on previous page indicates the likely US military deployments from Singapore to Australia. A large portion of the US Naval fleet (60 per cent) that includes aircraft carriers, submarines and other combat ships would be based in Asia-Pacific. Singapore would have finally four littoral combat ships deployed; Philippines is expected to have 500 rotational troops deployed besides allowing American surveillance planes to

Countries in South East Asia are attempting to rise to the heavy-handed tactics of China through political, diplomatic and to an extent through defence cooperation with outside powers. At the political level while some of the ASEAN members whose interests are not immediately affected have been accommodating China on the other hand others whose vital interests are affected have responded with modernising their militaries, forming quasimilitary alliances with the US and obtaining defence equipment from a wide variety of sources. The ASEAN members also consider the multi-lateral institutions as the best way to engage China rather than solve the problem of the SCS through bilateral mechanisms.

China on the other hand, knowing its advantage has preferred to deal with the maritime disputes on a bilateral basis.

Vietnam and the Philippines both rattled

by China’s aggressive policies have been gradually moving towards cementing their defence ties with the US. The US and Vietnam had signed an agreement on defence cooperation in 2011 and 2012 Leon Panetta was willing to take it further. Panetta had remarked that “It will be particularly important to be able to work with partners like Vietnam, to be able to use harbours like this [Cam Ranh Bay] as we move our ships from our ports on the West Coast, (and) our stations here in the Pacific”.

Both are holding regular defence policy dialogue and there is a deepening of US-Vietnam joint naval engagements; Vietnamese officers are also being sent to US staff colleges.

In last six years or so Vietnam has been

fight and win wars on the battlefields of the 21st century.

Following this it seems that the Defence Ministry had asked Army Headquarters to fast-track acquisitions and the list of essentials was prepared and sent.

However, the situation has not improved but in fact has worsened in the last one year. On the one hand, nothing has come so far, on the other hand, missiles and specialised ammunition holdings which have a shelf-life, have dipped further. The situation has never been so critical earlier.

Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

importing military hardware from Russia and largely naval vessels to include six Kilo class submarines, four frigates, some corvettes and some Su-30 MK2 and Su-27 aircraft aircrafts have been purchased. In addition it has strengthened its defence relationship with India.

The Americans who had withdrawn from their Subic Bay naval base over two decades ago are now returning to the Philippines. A mini-Subic Bay naval base at Oyster Bay which is 550 km south-west of Manila has been planned. The Philippines also has revived plans to modernise and Subic Bay air and naval base with an expenditure of $1.8 billion. The United States is also helping to upgrade and modernise the Philippine military. Earlier in July 2013 US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel visited Manila and observed: “We are using a new model of military-to-military cooperation befitting two great allies and friends”. Before Chuck Hagel’s visit the two military chiefs General Emmanuel Bautista and General Martin Dempsey, signed a joint statement in Washington affirming both sides’ commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty. Another highlight of the enhanced defence relationship was that from only 50 ship visits in 2010, over 90 ships had visited the Philippines since January to early October 2013.

Around 600 US Special Forces troops have been deployed to the Philippines for over a decade to assist in the fight against a longrunning Muslim insurgency on the southern island of Mindanao. Washington has stationed surveillance planes there and promised up to $30 million in support for building and operating coastal radar stations.

So far as Indonesia is concerned the defence relationship with the US has been on upward trajectory. On the sidelines of Shangri La dialogue of June 2013 Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel after meeting his Indonesian counterpart Purnomo Yusgiantoro stated that “the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of deepening ties [and] reviewed progress made in recent years to increase exercises and training, as well as regular defense policy dialogues,” and discussed American support for Indonesia’s military modernisation, including through US foreign military sales.

In August 2013 US Defence Secretary during a visit to Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei had announced a deal worth about $500 million between the United States and Indonesia to sell eight new Apache AH-64E attack helicopters and Longbow radars to Indonesia. Further, Indonesia and the United States have also

regional / South east asia been regularly holding joint military exercises for over last five years. In June 2012 a joint exercise code named Garuda Shield 2012 involving 450 Indonesian and 100 US troops was held; the objectives were counter-terrorist and counter-piracy operations. Indonesia also participates with the United States in a number of regional exercises, including Cobra Gold in Thailand. The United States is providing Foreign Military Financing funds to upgrade ageing Indonesian C-130 cargo planes and is selling Jakarta two dozen refurbished F-16s.

The other countries of the ASEAN have also been modernising their militaries and cooperating with outside powers though their motivations for spurring their defence expenditures could be different. Myanmar, for instance, is becoming more open and its military has expressed intentions to increase defence cooperation with the American military. Similarly, Malaysia, Brunei and Thailand are moving towards upgrading their militaries due to a variety of impulses.

Following the American lead countries like Australia, Japan and the western nations like France, the UK and Canada are also shoring up their defence engagement with some of the ASEAN nations.

For instance, Canada is planning to set up a logistics facility in Singapore, in order to support the US coalition. In addition in its ‘pivot to Asia’ concept the US looks upon India and Japan, among others, as partners.

Further, India has also been developing its defence relationship with ASEAN as part of its ‘Look East Policy’ that pre-dates the unveiling of the American pivot to Asia paradigm. Though India does not wish to get involved militarily in the ongoing disputes in the SCS it has been supporting the free-

dom of navigation and the UN Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS).

Engaging China Multilaterally To address their security concerns the ASEAN had established the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus Eight mechanism that includes China, US, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand besides ASEAN members.

Overall goal was to explore areas of cooperation and minimise areas of dissonance in security issues. One of the major reasons for initiation of such a framework had been the transnational nature of threats that makes it very difficult for a single nation to deal with in isolation. Threats related to violent extremism, maritime security, vulnerability of SLOCs, transnational crimes have a direct and indirect bearing on the trajectory of economic growth. Apart from this the existence of territorial disputes especially on the maritime front plus the issues related to political differences and rise of China have added to the security dilemma in the region giving rise to areas of potential conflict.

ASEAN members envisaged that ADDM+8 could be a useful platform in diffusing security concerns especially when the potential for crisis exists, however, so far only non-conventional security issues have taken the centre stage on its agenda.

Though its multilateral architecture could have a dampening effect on any aggressive or assertive member who may chose to take recourse to arms to settle disputes. It is perceived that ADMM Plus Eight could provide a platform for mutual understanding, military transparency, improving mil to mil relations, confidence building and dialogue

to discuss most of the long-standing issues.

One such proposal in the concept paper of ADMM Plus Eight was to carry out joint exercises and training to facilitate understanding and friendship especially among the defence establishments of the respective countries.

Lastly it seems that the inclusion of USA, Russia and even India to some extent is in consonance with the need to balance the assertive tendencies of Beijing especially in the South China Sea and elsewhere.

Here it is important to mention that during an interview the Chinese Defence Minister told the People’s Daily that South China Sea cannot be on the agenda for ADMM Plus Eight and this particular platform will not be used to discuss the issue of South China Sea. This was in reference to the inaugural conference of the platform in 2010.

In June 2013 a joint military exercise in Brunei under the aegis of ADDM Plus Eight (a total of 18 countries i.e. ASEAN plus six, Russia and the US) that focused on five priority areas of cooperation: humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), medicine, maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism was held. How far it has been able to build confidence between the militaries of member nations is another matter. But the fact of the matter is that China is more comfortable with bilateral engagement in addressing security issues or disputes.

Conclusion Future course of military events would largely depend upon how the US-China, US-ASEAN and China-ASEAN relationships evolve. While India has also been strengthening its politicomilitary relationships with the ASEAN it is unlikely that it will proactively get itself involved in a possible military conflict in the SCS.

>>

Further even though the USA has indicated its desire to return to Asia-Pacific there are views that due to its economic constraints there might be a rethink. However, so far the United States does have a superior military which can support its geopolitical aims in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, countries in South East Asia who feel threatened by China’s rising military capabilities would naturally gravitate towards America as a balancing exercise against China. While China realises that maintaining peace and stability in the region is important for economic growth it is also increasingly being impacted by rising nationalistic tendencies and aspirations fuelled by its economic and military growth. Recent years have seen expansion of China’s core interests and a certain willingness to coerce the weaker contenders militarily.

In coming years the South East Asia region is likely to emerge as a keenly contested region between the United States and China. The US has also been urging India to be more proactive in its ‘Look East Policy’ as a part of US hedging strategy against a rapidly rising China. While the US political and military leadership has described India as a major cog of its Asia-Pacific strategy, in the evolving strategic milieu India would have to find an appropriate role for itself and establish a mutually beneficial relationship with the South East Asian nations to realise its national interests. China’s aggressive policies along its periphery also have implications for India and therefore, New Delhi cannot afford to overlook its military modernisation programme which needs to be fast tracked. SP The author is a Senior Fellow with Vivekanand International Foundation.

2/2014 SP’s Land Forces

3

>> regional / strategy

Defence Cooperation with Malaysia India has been working on its ‘Look East Policy’ since 1992 and as part of such a policy it has been enhancing its defence ties with the ASEAN members. Malaysia is seen as a key member of the ASEAN and a very significant enabler and contributor to the regional security. photograph: PIB

 brigadier (Retd) Vinod Anand

www.spslandforces.com

G

eostrategic location of Malaysia and the emerging security environment in Asia in general and South East Asia in particular makes it imperative for both New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur to strengthen their mutually beneficial defence and security ties. Malaysia is a littoral state of the Malacca Strait that links the Indian and Pacific Oceans and more narrowly the Bay of Bengal to South China Sea. The strategic significance of Malacca Strait for passage of ships both civil and military is also well known. Malaysia’s security dilemmas are further complicated by separation of Malaya peninsula and its territories of Sabah and Sarawak by South China Sea which requires it to pay particular attention to security of air and sea lines of communication. Further, Malaysia has a growing economy with large volumes of trade both with India and China besides many other nations which adds to its strategic significance. Therefore, cooperative defence and security relationships are an inescapable need for Malaysia.

Similarly, India’s defence relationship with Malaysia is motivated by securing its growth and development through promoting a peaceful and stable environment in the region in particular and at the global level in general. India has been working on its ‘Look East Policy’ since 1992 and as part of such a policy it has been enhancing its defence ties with the ASEAN members. Malaysia is seen as a key member of the ASEAN and a very significant enabler and contributor to the regional security. Indo-Malaysian defence and security cooperation is, thus, a subset of a larger regional effort.

Looking back, Indian and Malaysian defence forces have a shared heritage as both nations’ armed forces have evolved from British military. During the British colonial era Madras native Infantry troops served in Singapore, Malacca and Penang in the 19th century. British Indian Army consisting of Indian troops and formations also contested the Japanese offensive in Malaya and Singapore in World War II. Some of the officers of federation of Malay states were trained in the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

A number of such officers have risen to very high positions in the political, civil and military spheres. In 2007, Captain Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, the grandson of the Sultan of Johor state, led a unit of the Indian Army at the Republic Day in New Delhi in 2007.

British forces also practised their counterinsurgency concepts and precepts against the insurgency in Malaya; these concepts with some modifications were used by the Indian armed forces in the Northeast in the early stages of insurgency there.

In recent times the Indo-Malaysian defence relationship gained momentum after signing of a memorandum of understading (MoU) on Defence Cooperation between the two nations in 1993. Earlier, there were some constraints in nurturing the defence relationship due to Cold War equations. This MoU provides the basic framework based on which the relationship was to be progressed.

4

SP’s Land Forces 2/2014

Malaysian Defence Secretary General Dato Dr Haji Ismail Bin Haji Ahmed calling on the Defence Minister A.K. Antony in New Delhi on June 21, 2013

Besides consultations on defence and security issues and supply of defence equipment the MoU provides for joint ventures, joint development projects, procurement, logistics, maintenance support, training and education. Engagement between staff of the services and officials at policy-making level, exchanges in strategic and security studies assessments and experiences, cooperation in areas of c­ ounter-terrorism, maritime security, disaster management and peacekeeping operations are an important part of the MoU. The overall objective was to promote regional and global security and work also with the multilateral regional frameworks in order to achieve such goals.

There is a mechanism of Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) meeting which is jointly chaired by the two Defence Secretaries. The Committee meets once a year to review the progress in defence cooperation.The last MIDCOM meeting was held at New Delhi in June 2013. Dialogue between the three services of both the armed forces takes place on annual basis. The third Army-to-Army Staff talks were held at Kuala Lumpur in December 2012; the fifth Air-to-Air Staff talks at New Delhi in December 2012; and the fifth Navy-to-Navy talks were held at New Delhi in June 2013.

Malaysian officers regularly attend the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Course, the National Defence College (NDC) Course and several other specialised courses in India. Indian officers regularly attend the Malaysian Command and Staff Course as well as other specialised courses.

In recent years, there has been an increase in frequency of political and military leadership’s visits to each other’s countries in order to expand the nature of defence cooperation. For instance, last year in November General Tan Sri Dato Sri Rodzali Bin Daud, Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), along with a high-powered delegation visited India to exchange and enhance cooperation with the Indian Air Force (IAF). The principal objective was to explore fresh areas of collaboration and strengthen relations between India and Malaysia, both the Air Forces are flying aircafts like

Su-30MKI, MiG-29 and British aircraft Hawke. General Daud visited IAF’s Pune airbase to see the training facilities of Su30MKIs and Ozar base repair depot in Nasik which houses MiG-29 upgrade and overhaul facility as well as Su-30 manufacturing facility. Malaysian MiG-29 pilots were trained by the IAF in mid-1990s. In fact, Malaysian Air Force’s requirement of training their MiG pilots was instrumental in propelling it sign the MoU. IAF team has also trained Malaysian pilots and technicians of Su-30. Malaysian Air Force had sought IAF’s help in training their pilots in weapon system operators and maintenance staff for Su-30MKI fighter aircraft. Earlier in January 2013 IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne had visited Malaysia and the airbase at Kedak.

India has also assisted RMAF in setting up a Systems School for the Su-30MKM at Gong Kedak Airbase.

In addition to the cooperation between two air forces the other important dimension of India’s defence diplomacy with Malaysia is cooperation in the naval and maritime domain. Last year in September the Indian Chief of Naval Staff visited Malaysia to strengthen the maritime and naval relationship with Kuala Lumpur.Indian Navy has been regularly taking part in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in Malaysia; Indian naval ships and Indian Coast Guard ships frequently make port calls at Malaysian ports.

Similarly, Malaysian ships have also made port calls at the Indian ports. Malaysian naval ships also have regularly taken part in joint naval manoeuvres named as MILAN series of exercises. The most recent conduct of exercises was in February 2014 ships of where 16 countries along with Malaysian ships also participated. It was the biggest exercise since its beginning in 1995.

The objective of such exercise has been that maritime forces of these nations come closer professionally and culturally cementing friendship and building confidence in the areas of inter-operability. Countering piracy at the sea and coordinating their research and rescue operations and response to natural disasters were other goals of these

manoeuvres. Further, Malaysia and India have agreed to cooperate in the deployment and maintenance of Scorpene submarines, which both countries have bought.

Not to be left behind the Indian Army has also been active in strengthening its ties with its counterpart in Malaysia.

In addition to attending courses at each other’s training establishments Malaysian officers have also attended courses in UN peacekeeping operations being run in New Delhi. For the first time a bilateral army exercise Harimau Shakti based on conventional war in an urban setting, including ­counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency activities, was carried out in Kuala Lumpur in October 2012. The next army exercise is scheduled to be held in India this year.

Malaysia and India also agreed to have an exchange programme for army trainers between the Army Training Centre and Counter Insurgency Warfare Centre and also to expand other existing training arrangements in the form of short courses.

As the security of Malacca Strait is of concern both to India and Malaysia New Delhi had expressed its desire to join the multilateral effort of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. However, the general principle is that primary responsibility of the security of Straits was that of the littoral straits. Indian Navy has been coordinating its patrolling activities on the avenues of entry to Malacca Strait with the Malaysian and Indonesian navies. Another initiative for multilateral efforts has been the Eyes in the Sky programme which is a maritime air surveillance operation over the Malacca Strait. This again has been limited to participation by the littoral states even though many countries like India and China were interested in making a contribution.

Nevertheless, India has been participating in the Cooperative Mechanism on the Strait of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) and contributed to two of the six IMO Projects (Project 1 and Project 4) for enhancement of navigational safety and environmental protection in the Straits.

Both India and Malaysia are members of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADDM) Plus forum where shared defence and security concerns are discussed and joint exercises are carried out especially in the areas of non-traditional security. The basic objective of creating this framework was to bring about cooperative security, especially in the areas of humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, maritime security, counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations. ADMM-Plus has also proposed furthering of bilateral and multilateral dialogue and sharing of expertise among the military forces of member states. The arrangement also advanced proposals to counter particular threats and issues such as piracy and natural disaster through joint military exercises. Last year a joint exercise was held off the coast of Brunei to practise some of the above-mentioned objectives.

Both Malaysian and Indian defence forces took part in the exercise.

Continued on page 14

show preview / dsa 2014

>>

Asian Arms Procurement on the Rise DSA is known for its display of the world’s sophisticated hardware and electronic warfare in land, air and sea defence, battlefield products/technology, training and simulation systems and police and security peripherals. photograph: FNSS

 R. Chandrakanth

T

he 14th Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition and conference gets underway from April 14 to 17 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and is becoming a ‘must attend’ in the region. It is come into reckoning for its high quality exhibition and is ranked by some agencies to be among the top five defence exhibitions. DSA is known for its display of the world’s sophisticated hardware and electronic warfare in, air and sea defence, battlefield health care products/technology, training and simulation systems and police and security peripherals.

The 14th edition, organised by the Ministry of Defence, Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Malaysia Police, has attracted over 1,000 companies from 50 countries and there are 28 country pavilions – that of ASEAN countries.

The major international companies participating include ADS UK, Aimpoint, Armscor, Avibras, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Korea, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, Ukraine USA and BAE Systems, Boeing, BrahMos, CETC, CPMIEC, CSTS/CSSC, Denel, DSME, Eurocopter, EID, Expal, Finmeccanica, GIDS, Glock, Kongsberg, Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA), L-3 TRL Technology, MBDA, Nammo, Nexter, Raytheon, PyserSCI, Renault, RheinMetall AG, Rosoboronexport, Ruag, Russian Technologies, Saab, Sastind, SSM (Turkish Industry Association), Team Defence Australia, Thales, and UKTI-DSO. The Special features of the show are the Chief of Army Roundtable Talks (CART); ASEAN Hall; Battlefield Healthcare; Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR); Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosion (CBRNe); Cyber Security Conference; Contracts & MOU Signing; Defence Procurement Centre (DPC); Business to Business (B2B) Meetings; Live Army Demonstration and Innovation Centre.

ASEAN Hall For the very first time, not just at DSA but in the world, an ASEAN Hall will be introduced at DSA 2014. A new and unprecedented element for this year’s exhibition, the main objective of ASEAN Hall is to promote ASEAN solidarity in defence cooperation. In this regard, each member country is invited to showcase the success stories, progress and development of their own defence industry.

DSA 2012 successfully generated RM4.76 billion in investment opportunities, contracts and memoranda of understanding (MoUs), and the coming DSA 2014 is anticipated to achieve even bigger and better numbers.

Asian Spectre The Southeast Asian arms market is relatively small—collectively worth about $3

PARS 8 x 8 AFV

billion annually, but all the major arms exporting nations – the United States, Russia, Britain, France, even Sweden and China – are present here. Unlike China or India who mostly buy from Russia, or Japan, South Korea or Taiwan, who buy from the US, South East Asia is open to all countries and this can be noticed from the diverse procurements. Malaysia has bought tanks from Poland, Su-30 fighter jets from Russia, multiple rocket launchers from Brazil, submarines from France, and corvettes from Germany. Indonesia, armed with a $1billion export credit from Russia, is buying Su-27 and Su-30 fighters, submarines, attack helicopters, corvettes, and land systems.

Britain’s BAE, Turkey’s FNSS, France’s Thales and South Africa’s Denel among others. The 257 vehicles are expected to be an initial batch with the Army expected to order additional vehicles down the line.

Potentially down the line, the Army plans

to upgrade its tactical 4 x 4s and its truck fleet. In the case of tactical 4 x 4s, though no formal tenders have been called the Malaysian Army is keen to have its over 30 infantry battalions to be equipped as such, a potential order of over 500 vehicles could emerge in the future.

The Army’s requirement include a medium range air defence capability, selfpropelled howitzers, a tactical transport helicopter squadron and an attack helicopter squadron. Both the attack helicopter squadron and the tactical transport helicopter squadron are part of the Army’s 2010 Plus 10 overall development plan which calls for the Army Air Corps to have a squadron each for the light observation, tactical transport and attack role. Currently only the light observation helicopter squadron, equipped with 11 AgustaWestland A109s is in existence. The attack helicopter squadron appears to be a priority for the Army, as the lack of transport helicopters can be made up through cooperation with the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

The Royal Malaysian Navy’s key programme is the six ship second generation Continued on page 14

Malaysian Perspective According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Malaysia’s military budget has grown more than 75 per cent between 2000 and 2006, from $1.7 billion to $3 billion (in constant 2005 dollars). Though budget has gone up procurements have been slow.

Malaysia, like India, has a national election coming up and till it is over, defence procurement decisions are going to be put on hold. It was in 2010 two major procurement programmes were initiated – the development and order to Deftech of Malaysian for 257 indigenously produced AV8 8x8 AFVs and the construction of six second-generation patrol vessels to be built locally by Boustead Naval Shipyards with the assistance of France’s DCNS. Since then no major procurement programme has been initiated save for the signing in December 2011 of an MYR294 million ($97.3 million) contract for the construction of two training ships for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) by Malaysia’s NGV Tech which would be built with the assistance of South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).

The Army’s key current ongoing programme is the indigenous AV-8 AFV to be built by Malaysia’s Deftech and based upon the Turkish FNSS PARS AFV. Deftech is partnered with a number of foreign companies in this programme including Untitled-3 1

17/08/12 5:31 PM

2/2014 SP’s Land Forces

5

>> Modernisation

Indian Army’s Armour Profile Delay in decision-making which is enhanced by the innumerable agencies involved, departmental rivalries, general lack of urgency in getting things done and proper resource management, is affecting the Indian Army’s armour profile. What is worrisome today is that even the desired ammunition of tanks is in short supply. photographs: SP guide Pubns, PIB

are under way. This will give night fighting capability through a thermal imager integrated with the tank’s FCS. Three hundred T-72 tanks of the Army have been fitted with thermal imaging stand-alone sights (TISAS) while 300 more are in the pipeline bringing the total to 600 TISAS. Thus about 1,000 remaining T-72 tanks will be fitted with more modern integrated fire control systems. However, the overall night fighting capability of India’s armour is currently inadequate and operationally unacceptable. The tanks are additionally being equipped with new type of explosive reactive armour (ERA) panels which will provide protection against kinetic energy as well as tandem warhead, chemical energy projectiles for better protection, along with a laser warning system and new radio sets for better and more secure communications. A new power-pack is also under consideration to further enhance mobility, especially with the heavy ERA packages that are being strapped on. An auxiliary power-pack for environmental control and integrated fire detection and suppression system are also being introduced.

Gun barrels capable of firing conventional munitions and guided missiles are likely to replace the existing barrels. The modernisation of the T-72 is way behind schedule due to complicated procurement procedures exacerbated by delayed decision-making and in-house disagreements.

The T-90, the improved T-72 M1 tanks and Arjun tanks, will constitute India’s armour might in the future till a new MBT is chosen or designed indigenously. Meanwhile, light tanks for the eastern theatre are still being debated.

 Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

T

he Indian Army needs to spell out its priorities as far as induction and modernisation programmes of their battle tanks are concerned. The delays in decisionmaking are substantially enhanced by the innumerable agencies involved, departmental rivalries, general lack of urgency in getting things done and proper resource management. What is worrisome today is that even the desired ammunition of tanks is in short supply.

Mechanised Infantry

www.spslandforces.com

Arjun Tank The Army had started inducting Arjun tanks as far back as 2004 but it was much later in 2009 that the tank was fielded in strength. The Army equipped two regiments with Arjun tanks out of the 124 Arjun main battle tanks (MBT) ordered by it earlier. As a result of the satisfactory feedback by the units and from the tank crews, an additional 124 Arjun Mark II tanks have been ordered subject to satisfactory development of the upgraded Mark II version of the tank for equipping two more regiments. These tanks will have substantially upgraded capabilities of firepower, mobility and protection. The development of Arjun Mark II tank with 43 improvements has commenced and limited technical trials incorporating the improvements have been carried out in Rajasthan. First batch of MBT Arjun Mark II is likely to go in for production by 2014-15 at the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) Avadi.

T-90 Tank As regards the T-90 tanks, 310 T-90S tanks had been ordered from Russia in the first instance. Of these, 124 fully-assembled tanks were directly imported from Russia and 186 kits were imported for assembly in India. The first indigenously assembled

6

SP’s Land Forces 2/2014

T-90S Battle Tank

T-90S rolled out from HVF on January 7, 2004. These tanks stand fully operationalised. Additional 347 T-90S tanks were inducted into service which brings the total to 657 T-90S tanks. As per media reports, the Army total requirement is 1,657 T-90S tanks. The defects in the fire control systems of T-90S tanks due to excessive heat in the turrets during the summers, is being remedied through air conditioning of the interior.

On September 13, 2013, a major deal was cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) for the manufacturing of 236 additional T-90 tanks for the Indian Army. The order, worth over `6,000 crore ($940 million), will be executed by the Avadi Heavy Vehicles Factory that already has a licence from Russia to manufacture T-90 tanks from kits purchased from Russia. Another contract, worth about $470 million, has been signed for the deliveries of the Invar missiles, which will be installed

on Russian-built T-90 tanks. This has to be completed within the next five years. Invar is a laser-guided anti-tank missile with a range of five kilometres (three miles) and the capability to penetrate explosive reactive armour (ERA). According to local media reports, India plans to purchase 25,000 Invar missiles for its T-90 tanks, including 10,000 to be procured directly from Russia and 15,000 more to be manufactured domestically under a Russian licence.

Upgrading of T-72 Tank The programme launched to modernise the T-72 M1 Ajeya MBTs is still unsatisfactory and has not progressed much. About 1,700 T-72 M1s have been manufactured under licence at HVF, Avadi. The T-72 M1 modernisation programme under Project Rhino will extend the service life of the MBT by 20 years; enhance their accuracy with new fire control system (FCS) whose trials

The mechanised infantry is currently equipped with the BMP-2 infantry combat vehicle (ICV) named Sarath. Over 1,000 of these have been manufactured since 1987.

A new variant is the 81mm carrier mortar tracked that is based on the chassis of the Sarath ICV and has been indigenously developed to enhance the integral firepower available to mechanised infantry battalions.

Other variants include a command post, an ambulance, armoured dozer and engineer reconnaissance vehicles. The ICVs are being equipped with thermal imaging night sights and image intensifiers. The Army had ordered 198 carrier mortar tracked vehicle, which have since been delivered. The ICV BMP-2/2K is being modernised by upgrading its existing NBC System, fire detection and suppression system, ERA panels to provide extra protection and a new powerpack. The scheme to fit environmental control for ICV BMP-2 is in an advanced stage of procurement. Additional battlefield surveillance radar (medium-range) mounted on high mobility wheeled vehicles are also being procured.

The Indian Army has planned for a futuristic infantry combat vehicle (FICV) to replace the BMP-2 with key operational and performance parameters envisaged in the Indian context. A project to build 2,600 FICV costing approximately `60,000 crore has been approved by the government. This project is a pioneer in ‘Make High-Tech’ category where for the first time the defence industry has invited participation by private established agencies. SP

interview >>

‘The Future Main Battle Tank is to be developed as a state-of-the-art tank, incorporating the latest technologies’ photograph: anoop kamath / Sp Guide Pubns

SP’s Land Forces Team comprising the Editor of SP’s Land Forces, Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor on January 25 interviewed Lt General S.H. Kulkarni, Director General Mechanised Forces (DGMF), Indian Army, in his office at Sena Bhavan. The DGMF spoke about the role and modernisation status of the mechanised forces which comprise both armour and mechanised infantry.

He elaborated on their professional and institutional ethos which makes both these arms so potent for the strike formations of the Indian Army.

SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): What is the charter of duties of the DGMF in respect of Armoured Corps and Mechanised Infantry and Armoured Corps Centre and School?

Lt General S.H. Kulkarni (DGMF): DGMF forms part of General Staff Branch of the IHQ of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) (Army) and functions under DCOAS (P&S). Earlier the Armoured Corps and Mechanised Infantry issues were being dealt separately. However, since February 2005, the Directorate has evolved to a fully integrated model and is responsible for all issues concerning the Armoured Corps, Mechanised Infantry and the Brigade of the GUARDS. The Directorate is responsible for driving the policies, procedures and practices relevant to the Mechanised Forces.

HQ ARTRAC is responsible to oversee the functioning of the Armoured Corps Centre and School. DGMF monitors the training of recruits and coordinates issues which are common to the Mechanised Infantry Regiment Centre and GUARDS Regimental Centre. The aspects of man management encompass various aspects of recruitment, improvement of service conditions and their discharge based on our present and future requirements. The Directorate is responsible for ensuring that the professional and personal aspirations of our personnel are effectively met. The Colonels of the respective Regiments play an important role in guiding the Commandants of their respective centres.

SP’s: In the context of the future threats and challenges, have any new roles been defined for the Armoured Corps and the Mechanised Infantry?

DGMF: The Mechanised Forces are expected to operate through the full spectrum of operations. As the threats undergo a change we adapt our capabilities to deal with them. The

DGMT exercises technical control over them.

SP’s: What are the basic parameters which you consider essential and vital for designing the future MBT of the Indian Army?

How is the Army and the Armoured Corps keeping a tab on the work being done by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in this field? What are the formal arrangements in place to ensure user inputs at all stages of development?

DGMF: The FMBT is to be developed as a state-of-the-art tank, incorporating the latest technologies prevalent at the time of freezing its design. Extensive interaction is underway with all stakeholders, including DRDO. A collegiate meets at regular intervals to consider inputs and responses from various agencies.

SP’s: What is the status of the Arjun Mk II tank presently? What will be the main difference in the Arjun Mk II tank from the earlier version?

DGMF: Arjun Mark II is currently undergoing trials. The main difference will be the addition of missile firing capability. A large number of major and minor upgrades are being evaluated.

SP’s: The main fleet comprises the T-72 M1 tank, indigenously built under licence. The maintainability of this tank now is being questioned. What maintenance and spares problems is the Army facing currently and what are we doing about it? What is the status of medium repair, and base overhaul of these tanks?

DGMF: The T-72 tank forms the bulk of our tank population. As the T-72 tank is likely to remain in service for the foreseeable future, a three-pronged approach is necessary.

This includes a higher inventory of spares, enhanced capacities for overhaul and an upgrade programme. The MGO is addressing these issues.

SP’s: It seems that the T-90 is planned to be the current Main Battle Tank of the Army. Is the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi geared to handle this responsibility in addition to the manufacture of the Arjun tank and the T-72 M1 tank?

DGMF: The ordnance factory has been informed of the impending production and overhaul requirements through MGO. SP’s: Are the mechanised forces planning to induct mini and micro UAVs for their units?

DGMF: UAVs provide surveillance that is useful to all arms. As and when these are inducted, the requirements of the mechanised forces will also be considered.

SP’s: Has any new equipment been planned for the reconnaissance troops and platoons of armoured regiments and mechanised infantry battalions respectively to make them more effective?

DGMF: There is an inescapable need for a customised vehicle for the mechanised troops and platoons. The case to procure these vehicles is under consideration.

SP’s: How far have we reached in the T-72 upgrade and modernisation programme?

DGMF: The T-72 tank constitutes bulk of our tank fleet. Enhancing the combat potential of these tanks through a range of upgrades is a necessity. The process of implementing these improvements has begun.

SP’s: With the introduction of the radio sets CNR-900 (Tadiran) in armoured regiments, which are frequency hopping, how is compatibility being ensured with mechanised infantry, artillery, air defence, assault engineers and others in the armoured divisions and strike corps?

DGMF: CNR 900 (Tadiran) was procured to equip the Mechanised Forces, supporting arms and services with secure commu-

nication facility. These sets have since been installed and are in use. The problem of compatibility between the mechanised forces and other arms is being addressed on priority.

SP’s: What is the state of progress of the futuristic infantry combat vehicle (FICV) of the Indian Army?

DGMF: The FICVs is a test case for the first ever ‘Make’ category scheme sanctioned by the Government of India. The requirement of developing a FICV as a de-novo project was derived from the operational requirement of the Mech Forces, in order to replace the BMP-II ICVs, in a phased manner. The collaborative-cum-consortia approach has been adopted for its development.

SP’s: There is a feeling among the middle cadre officers that with arm-wise vacancy based selections for higher ranks vitiates the concept of “General Cadre” and adversely affects the career prospects of bright officers? How far has this thinking influenced the functional efficiency of the officer cadre in the mechanised forces?

DGMF: The DGMF is primarily responsible for HR policies impacting our armoured regiments and mechanised infantry battalions.

Selection for command assignment at this level has always been within the same arm.

SP’s: In the recent past we have had some cases of indiscipline in the armoured units.

This is very surprising because the AC officers always took pride in their excellent rapport with the other ranks. May we have your views in this regard?

DGMF: The recent incidents that you refer to have made us introspect not only on the causes and remedial actions but equally on anticipating and pre-empting such cases in future. The close bond between an armoured corps officer and his soldiers needs to be fostered through this process of introspection. SP

2/2014 SP’s Land Forces

7

>> operations

Employment of Armour in Future Conflicts Will the armoured fighting vehicle or a tank as it is generally called, be able to survive such an environment in the future? This question is bothering military professionals and military analysts because threats to armour are becoming more and more sophisticated and dangerous.  Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor

T

he effectiveness of US air power in destroying Iraqi armour that manoeuvred during a sandstorm in order to meet the coalition forces is often cited as the type of threat that will immobilise armoured forces in future wars. In the above situation as the coalition forces closed in on Baghdad, Iraq’s Medina, Baghdad and Hammurabi Divisions, counting on the cover provided by the sand storm, repositioned themselves to meet the coalition forces. JSTARS and long range UAVs detected the movement and guided B-1 and fighter-bombers to intercept them.

Using infrared targeting devices that could penetrate the clouds of sand, the aircraft inflicted severe damage on Iraqi armour.

www.spslandforces.com

Future Threats – Air-to-Ground Anti-Armour Weapons Threats to armour are becoming more and more sophisticated and dangerous. For example Lockheed Martin’s Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) has added precision to imprecise sub-munitions dispensers or cluster bombs. The WCMD has added a new tail unit with pop-out fins and inertial guidance to existing Tactical Munitions Dispensers. This enables the system to correct for winds, launch transients, and ballistic errors, thereby allowing accurate high-altitude releases (to within an accuracy of around 50 ft) for what were supposed to be low-altitude weapons. Currently the WMCD can be fielded on US aircraft such as the B-1B, B-52, F-15E and F-16, F-117, A-10 and F-35. They were first used in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom when they demonstrated that they could glide effectively to the right target area from safer stand-off distances.

In parallel is the Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW), a 1,000 lb Tactical Munitions Dispenser containing 10 sub-munitions each with four projectiles. When dispensed these projectiles cover a 1,460 ft x 700 ft footprint; and any scattered projectiles that fail to detonate are programmed to selfdestruct. SFW was proven in Iraq in 2003 when US Marines were held up at the Falluja Bridge. An advancing Iraqi column was engaged by a forward air controller who knew that there was a B-52 aloft with SFW on board. An air drop was requested; nothing happened for around four minutes and then a third of the Iraq armoured column suddenly disappeared in smoke. After witnessing the impact of SFW on their colleagues, the rest of the Iraq armour surrendered. SFW is now operational on the F-16, F-15E, A-10, B-52, B-1B and B-2.

Will the armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) be able to survive such an environment in the future? This question is bothering military professionals and military analysts because threats to armour are becoming more and more sophisticated and dangerous.

What do the Armour Experts Say? Armour experts feel that there is a danger in overplaying the threat to the AFV at present. The current analysis does not take

8

SP’s Land Forces 2/2014

into account the opponents creative thinking and the fact that “a strong desire is the mother of all inventions”. Experience with technology also warns us against adopting any simple equation of military superiority based on superior sensors and communications. Technology will, sooner or later, provide counters to the types of sensors being used currently. Some analysts point out that unmanned sensors can be blinded by lasers, while artillery and multiple rocket batteries used for deep attack can themselves be attacked by tactical ballistic missiles and precision munitions. Attack helicopters can be countered by well laid air defence ambushes and by air defence weapons suitably grouped with all arms combat groups.

The enemy air power can be countered by our own air power by achieving air dominance in the concerned area of operations.

The older AFVs are being upgraded with better mobility and protection and thus greater survivability is now being designed In any case no matter how good the sensor

by future battlefield developments which in turn influence the introduction of new technologies to design the new AFVs. In order to examine the effectiveness and employment of armour in future conflicts it will also be prudent, in the first instance, to understand the basic characteristics of an AFV. Currently, in open terrain (plains and deserts) armour predominant combat forces are employed to lead the advance of offensive formations, to cut off enemy lines of communication, to link up with airborne or helicopter borne operations or special forces inserted in the depth areas of enemy defences, or to occupy key terrain in enemy held area in order to dislocate the enemy, physically and psychologically, and destroy him at a time and place of own choosing. Presently there is no method by which an all arms force can surprise, paralyse and cause dislocation on the ground without the use of armour (tanks). Mere use of greater firepower against strong enemy defences will not suffice.

The latest AFVs have integrated fire photograph: BAE Systems

Armour Protection

Swedish CV90 fighting vehicle

to shooter technology is, the ability of AFVs grouped together with mechanised infantry and other combat elements to seize and hold ground, to deny its use to the enemy and to secure it for use by own troops is currently indispensable. Moreover manoeuvre to dislocate the enemy, to get behind him, to demoralise him so as to impose our will on him will continue to be an important role for armour. Indirect firepower (from ground or air) alone will not be able to achieve this effect despite the advent of precision munitions. Troops on the ground with AFVs lend power and muscle to an operational mission which cannot be fulfilled by stand-off engagements alone. Even a militarily powerful nation like the US has learnt this lesson the hard way in Afghanistan and Iraq where operations continued for many years after the initial military campaign was won virtually against no opposition.

Parameters Affecting Employment There is a need to discuss and debate the issue of employment of armour in the future, in conceptual terms, in the Indian context, so as to enable professionals to assess their employment in view of the challenges posed

tions, which constitute the basic characteristics of an AFV. This quality of armour also fulfills an important tenet of Operational Art called “Operational Shock”, a term adopted from Russian word “Udar”. Manoeuvre theory seeks to defeat enemy without destroying all his forces. “Operational Shock” is the Soviet term for a state of disintegration of resolve which results from depriving commanders the ability to sense their environment or exercise control over their tactical elements or both. Both physical and cognitive means are used to achieve it and armour is indispensable in the land battle in this regard.

A new battlefield environment is emerging due to the advent of stand-off, multispectral sensors with real-time communications that give situational awareness so that targets can be acquired, prioritised and destroyed, by day or by night, in all weathers, throughout the battlefield, with stand off weapon systems firing precision attack munitions. This threat extends throughout the area of operations. Hence it is being pointed out by analysts that indirect and stand-off engagements from aircraft, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) and long range artillery can relieve armour from the role of destroying enemy combat elements at close quarters. Moreover due to the high threat posed by the above systems armoured forces may find it difficult to close in with their intended objectives without neutralising the opponents deep attack systems.

In view of the above rationale many experts on tank designs are predicting that the prime characteristic of future AFVs may well be “survivability” to be able to transit through the battle zone unscathed. Thus the focus currently is on armour protection and stealth.

control systems. Such systems have a ballistic computer and a laser range-finder.

They have radio equipment capable of digital communications and of receiving/ transmitting GPS data. Tanks are fitted with digital computers which are connected into C4I2 (command, control, communications, and computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) battlefield networks.

These tanks integrate known information on enemy targets and friendly units to greatly improve the tank commander’s situational awareness. In addition to easing the reporting burden, these systems also allow for orders to be given complete with graphics and overlays, via the network. The trend is that each tank is becoming a sophisticated and independent fighting machine capable of unleashing far greater and more accurate firepower.

The versatilility and uniqueness of this weapon system, through innovative employment, can achieve a lethal effect on the battlefield called “shock action” which can help in attaining strategic objectives most economically. This results from a combination of mobility, armour protection, accurate and direct firepower and excellent communica-

Armour protection has been substantially improved in the recent years. Tanks, earlier made of steel plates, are now protected by more complex composite armour, a sandwich of various alloys and ceramics. Composite and hybrid armour systems have been adopted for tanks by improving their protection against kinetic and shaped-charge threats. Armour suites include Britain’s Chobham, Germany’s Modular Expandable Armour Systems (Mexas), developed by IBD and hybrid armour from Israeli Military Industries (IMI) which is utilised in the Merkava tank and various Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs).

IMI’s “ballistic plus counter road side” protection defeats various types of advanced roadside bombs. This “add on” armour uses modules combining ceramic and composite materials and weighs approximately 68 kgs (150 lb) per sq metre. Ceramics and Nano materials have the capability to create composites with stopping power and durability unmatched by current armour suites. An Israeli company, Ap Nano, has tested one of the most shock resistant compositions known. It is modelled after a metallic based Nano-material called IF Nanosphere. This material is five times stronger than steel and at least twice as strong as any impact resistant material. In trials they have withstood shocks of 250 tonnes per sq cm. Progress has also been made with insensitive reac-

operations >> tive armour (IRA) which utilises insensitive explosives. IRA tiles react as regular explosive reactive armour when hit by a shaped charge but less violently reducing collateral damage.

Clara armour from German companies Verseidag Indutex and Dynamite Nobel behaves like reactive armour. It is however contained in a lightweight, metal free module made of layers of sheet explosive and composites. It engages shaped charge plasma jet of a projectile but creates no fragments. When combined with Verseidag’s Ultrax composite base armour, it protects against RPG attacks, as well as kinetic energy threats. A form of Chobham armour is encased in depleted uranium on the M1A1 Abrams MBT of the US Army.

The Israeli Merkava tank takes the design of protection systems to an extreme, using the engine and fuel tanks as secondary armour.

India’s MBT Arjun also uses composite armour called “Kanchan Armour” developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.

IBD has unveiled its new advanced modular armour protection (AMAP) composite armor concept as a follow-on to their combat proven modular expandable armour system (MEXAS) protection. AMAP, utilises ultra-fine powders made from nano-particle ceramics to create thinner, lighter but tougher ceramic modules. AMAP is already utilised for a number of new applications including the protection kits for the Italian Army’s MLV, the Norwegian CV-9030 and Swedish CV-9040 armoured vehicles.

Passive countermeasures, like the Russian Shtora system, attempts to jam the guidance systems of incoming guided missiles.

Explosive reactive armour, or ERA, is another major type of protection against high explosive anti-tank weapons, in which sections of armour explode to dissipate the focused explosive force of a shaped charge warhead fired by an anti-tank weapon or a tank. Reactive armour is attached to the outside of an MBT in small, replaceable bricks. Active protection systems (APS) go one step further than reactive armour. An APS uses radar or other sensing technology to automatically react to incoming projectiles. When the system detects hostile fire, it calculates a firing resolution and directs an explosive-launched counter-projectile to intercept or disrupt the incoming fire a few metres from the target.

Future Employment Open Terrain Many professionals who have a fetish for attritional aspects of warfare generally fail to appreciate the unique qualities of AFVs which endow a commander with the ability to win battles against many odds but AFVs cannot function in isolation. Any system whether it operates on land, sea or air must be integrated with other systems within a service and with the weapon systems of the other two services in order to achieve operational synergy against an opponent in the future. Failure to realise this important wider context will result in sub-optimisation of our fighting capabilities.

India is likely to face more complex threats and challenges in the future than ever before and the circumstances are also likely to be different and this is where the military dilemma arises – where, when, for what purpose and how will future wars be fought? In the absence of concrete information the answer lies in building capabilities and skills which can endow us with the potential of achieving effects that we wish to impose on the opponent on future battlefields. Suitably designed AFVs, as a part of the combined arms formations, will continue to play a dominant role in integrated air-land operations by virtue of their survivability, speed and shock effect even in the future, in terrain which favours their employment. In this regard it may be noted that apart from the plains, riverine terrain

India is likely to face more complex threats and challenges in the future than ever before and the circumstances are also likely to be different and this is where the military dilemma arises – where, when, for what purpose and how will future wars be fought?

means, including the destruction of the threat, to avoid acquisition. If acquired, the AFV would have to have a higher degree of responsiveness by resorting to hard and soft kill mechanisms built into the vehicular system. There is also a school of thought which advocates survivability of an AFV being achieved through a collective system rather than being platform based, which could be activated as per requirement. This could include unmanned platforms for high risk functions such as reconnaissance. In conclusion it can be stated that the AFVs will endure the changes in the nature of future wars however they must not be seen in isolation as stand-alone weapon systems but as a part of an all arms group enabling and sustaining decisive manoeuvre and high intensity battle at close quarters through superior survivability against precision attacks and dumb munitions.

in the Northeast and desert terrain, even in the mountainous regions of our northern and western borders there is some scope for employing AFVs innovatively and skillfully both along the line of control (LoC) against Pakistan and the line of actual control (LAC) against China. Employment of AFVs as part of combined arms combat teams and groups here could result in obtaining advantages which are disproportionately higher as compared to the effort employed.

This requires out of the box thinking.

The next important issue with regard to employment of armour is that of new technology. There is no doubt that technology will play a pre-dominant role in designing the conduct of wars and should be combined with innovative Operational Art, to win future wars. India is facing an entirely new technology era and needs to integrate new technologies as warfighting systems for which the requirement is to first decide upon a new joint warfighting doctrine and then evolve weapons and other systems to suit the former. Large sized holding and strike formations of the Indian Army, whose roles are a product of an environment which is fading away, will have to give way to smaller, more agile, more responsive and rapidly deployable formations in which armour will play a very significant role. Employment of fully integrated brigade and divisional sized task forces in the future would require, introduction of three key technologies which are: ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) system that will keep track of enemy and own forces movements through advanced sensors and platforms like aircraft, UAVs, and satellites assisted by global positioning systems (GPS) for an up to date situational awareness; an integrated C4I2 System to view the entire battle space as one composite whole so as to deal with targets in a coordinated and coherent manner; and long-range precision firepower by the most appropriate means (ground/air/ naval) or a combination thereof. Integration of the fire power resources of the three services will ensure optimum effect on the target while the choice is left to the integrated force commander to use the most appropriate and the most effective weapons. India lacks such technology and such capability currently. India has to acquire and develop these technologies with assistance from its strategic partners. She would do well to invest in these technologies at the earliest so that we are ready for future wars when we are required to fight them.

By virtue of their unique characteristics, AFVs will remain the pivot around which battle groups are formed and arranged on ground. The focus of future tank designers may shift to protection and survivability as compared to firepower and mobility and this may be achieved through a combination of technologies. While signature reduction to avoid detection is one possible area to explore, once detected the AFV will have to be equipped with active and passive

Urban Operations There has been rapid and extensive urbanisation at a global level. Forty-eight per cent of the world’s population lived in urban areas in 2003. It is projected to exceed the 50 per cent mark by 2007 and expected to rise to 61 per cent by 2030. In the Indian context the so-called semi-desert and desert terrain, with a growing network of canals and irrigation channels, is fast becoming urbanised with population centres close to the border which are becoming bigger and bigger every year with a good network of roads and motorable tracks. Thus the geography of desert and semi desert is undergoing a change which will impact upon the military operations in such areas.

It is interesting to read that in a review of armoured forces in Operation Iraq Freedom, four reasons were given for highly successful armoured operations in urban sectors (built up area operations):  Firstly, tanks are highly resistant to fire - In Iraq, the British claimed that one Challenger MBT near Basra absorbed 15 RPG hits without suffering penetration. American tanks and IFVs repeatedly sustained volleys of RPG and IED hits that dismounted soldiers and other light skinned vehicles would not have sustained.  Secondly, tanks and IFVs are the logical choice for leading the advance.

Armoured vehicles are essential because situational awareness (SA) regarding enemy forces is generally poor below the brigade level. In insurgent areas it is not possible to maintain full real-time intelligence on the insurgent forces. There is the added complexity of the insurgency inter-mingling with the civilian population. Hence tanks are the weapons of choice for “advance to contact”. It is observed that an inverse relationship between force protection and situational awareness exists. Where SA is poor, strong armour protection is needed and tanks are ideal for this purpose. Moreover tanks are capable of unleashing accurate and high volume of firepower to kill an opponent hidden in the built- up area.  Thirdly, unlike artillery and aircraft which require a longer response time to engage the enemy, tanks and infantry combat vehicles can respond immediately to enemy fire.  Lastly, in urban operations tanks can adopt a variety of tactics and mission oriented groups to effectively deal with changing conditions. Purely dismounted infantry or even infantry combat vehicles cannot match firepower, shock effect, tracked mobility and protection of tanks.

Urban Modification Kits Urban modification kits can be developed to adapt existing tank for urban operations.

Innovations in protection, classified as active protection systems (APS) can be fitted onto existing tanks and infantry combat

vehicles. One such system is the Israeli Trophy APS, which was specifically designed for safe operation in an urban environment, where armoured vehicles work in close proximity to dismounted infantry. This system is able to detect and launch directed and focused countermeasures to intercept the incoming threat with low collateral damage, and relatively low risk to nearby troops.

Tanks and IFVs can also be fitted with RF-jamming devices. One such device is Warlock, which is designed to send out a broad-spectrum signal that will prematurely detonate, delay or prevent detonation of the trigger/firing mechanism of IEDs. These devices have been found to be fairly effective in Iraq and Israel.

Panoramic video camera systems can also be mounted on vehicles. 360-degree omni-directional panoramic cameras, being tested on French Leclerc “Azur” MBTs, enable the driver to drive in reverse without additional guidance. Automatic motion detection capabilities are also built into these video systems, detecting and alerting the crew to potential threats as they emerge.

Unique modification kits have also been added to the Israeli Merkava Mk3 and Mk4 MBTs, whereby a firing hatch and observation window is fitted in the rear access door, for a sniper or sharpshooter to cover the rear from within the tank. Selected models have their turrets replaced with armoured boxes with bullet-proof glass. This modification allows vehicle commanders to roll into hostile neighbourhoods and yet have 360-degree visibility without exposing themselves to enemy fire.

Battlefield Management System The battlefield management system (BMS) can dramatically improve the situational awareness of tank and infantry combat vehicles crew’s especially when operating closed down i.e. when hatches are closed.

BMS also reduces the possibility of fratricide and allows for more efficient command and control. Such systems are already in place in modern armies of the world.

In the Indian Army, the BMS (planned at battalion/regiment and below level for all arms and services of the Army) will comprise of a tactical hand-held computer with individual soldiers and tactical computers at battle group headquarters and combat vehicles. Computers will be integrated employing application and database servers connected on a data enabled communication network. The system will enable generation of common operational picture by integrating inputs from all relevant sources within a battle group by integrated use of GIS and GPS. The BMS will be a highly mobile system which is able to network itself by integration of components and provide a high data rate.

However currently in the Indian context this is only a concept. It will take many years before it translates into a capability.

Conclusion Historically the death knell of armour has been sounded from time to time with the discovery of new types of anti-tank weapons, however armour has always adapted itself to meet the new threats through design changes, innovative organisations and tactical reforms. This trend is continuing and now employment in even urban operations, with urban modification kits, have shown positive results. Trends indicate that the likelihood of urban operations is increasing in the future. Evidence has shown that, with simple modifications, armoured forces can still excel in urban operations, as part of a combined arms team that includes infantry, engineers, artillery, signals, air support, civil affairs (CA) and psychological operations (PSYOPS).

In our case the Directorate General of Mechanised Forces should take an institutional look at the future employment of tanks and infantry combat vehicles to decide on the design aspects of future tanks and ICVs. SP

2/2014 SP’s Land Forces

9

>> interview / oem

DSM Dyneema offers sustainable life-protection The performance and endurance of military, law enforcement and security personnel have always been affected by the weight of their gear. Today, however, major trends are intensifying the impact of weight and underscoring the urgent need for new, lighter materials that can deliver top protective performance combined with usability. Forefront in this endeavour is DSM Dyneema, the manufacturer of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMwPE) fibre, branded as Dyneema, and world leader in life protection materials and high performance fibres. Here in an interview with R. Chandrakanth of SP’s Land Forces, the Global Business Segment Director, Life Protection, DSM Dyneema, Shitij Chabba explains in detail how the company is introducing new concepts, all to ensure life-protection to the soldier on the battlefield.

www.spslandforces.com

photograph: Dyneema

SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): Could you give us a brief profile of DSM Dyneema with a focus on its “Life Protection” business?

Shitij Chabba (Chabba): DSM Dyneema is a business group under DSM N.V. a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema, the world’s strongest fibreTM. Dyneema is respected as the premium brand of UltraHigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) and we manufacture and sell products in several forms including fibre, tape and unidirectional (UD) sheets. The Dyneema brand is used in a wide range of applications such as ropes, slings, cut-resistant gloves, commercial fishing and aquaculture nets, and performance apparels as well as vehicle and personal ballistic protection.

In the life protection segment, DSM Dyneema focuses on developing a sustainable life protection business together with our customers (who are industry leaders in their respective countries) through driving innovation for stronger, lighter, more robust personal and vehicle protection solutions to safeguard the lives of the ‘heroes on the frontline’(military and law enforcement).

Compared to traditional materials in the market such as steel and aramid, Dyneema® is up to 15 times stronger than steel and 40 per cent lighter than aramids on a weightfor-weight basis. This unmatched strengthto-weight ratio allows armour designers to seriously cut weight without sacrificing ballistic protection, durability and comfort.

DSM Dyneema’s leading class of innovative life protection material products and solutions are well suited for both personal (vests, helmets, inserts, shields) as well as armor for air, land and sea vehicles and have been combat proven globally.

Based on diverse needs of the military and law enforcement operations in the region, DSM Dyneema has a diverse soft and hard ballistic portfolio which ranges from the highest performance to products and solutions for every budget/performance level that enable better protection of lives and ensure greater operational excellence.

DSM Dyneema’s continuous focus on innovations and closer collaboration with our customers to address ever-changing market needs is well-proven. We are known to be ‘with you when it matters.’

SP’s: Globally, which are your key markets and which are the future markets that you are betting on?

Chabba: Globally, DSM Dyneema is committed to innovations for personal and vehicle protection solutions that can deliver higher

10

SP’s Land Forces 2/2014

From a real life stories, we have a number on our website which highlights real life situations where the user’s live was saved as they were wearing armour with Dyneema made by our customers. http://www.dyneema. com/apac/stories/life-protection.aspx

ballistic protection and lighter weight so that military and law enforcement officers on the frontline are better protected. In Asia-Pacific, we are focusing on several markets. India is an exciting market for DSM Dyneema with significant growth potential. In addition, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia are also important to us.

SP’s: You recently entered into a joint venture in Japan. Could you give us an update on that and also whether it will be servicing the Asian market and beyond?

Chabba: DSM Dyneema has been in the AsiaPacific region since the early 1980s and is a partner in a manufacturing joint venture with Toyobo in Japan which has existed since 1986. This joint venture focuses largely on the production of UHMwPE fibres and also the defence market in Japan. In terms of servicing the innovative and market needs in the Asia-Pacific region, DSM Dyneema has four offices in this region – Singapore, China, India and South Korea.The introduction of our new Asia-Pacific Technical Centre in Singapore on January 11, 2013, is an important step in our strategy of having local teams and facilities to support our growing customer base in the region.

SP’s: India has huge personnel of armed forces, paramilitary forces, etc. What is your current footprint in India and what kind of penetration do you hope to achieve in the Indian market?

Chabba: DSM Dyneema is actively present is India across the military and law enforcement segments with products and solutions to protect the lives of the Indian heroes on the frontline. Dyneema is well-known in India

since the 1990s as the material of choice in many defence programmes which require higher ballistic protection at a lighter weight.

The value of our innovations, products, solutions and collaborative focus for stronger and lighter personal and vehicle armouring products/solutions is well-known among key decision-makers within our target customer, OEMs, partners, as well as end-user organisations (military and law enforcement). In addition, the introduction of Dyneema Force Mulitplier Technology will enhance India’s defence sector with a new innovative dimension to meet their current and future requirements, and set new ballistic protection standards for the Indian defence market.

SP’s: What is your strategy for the Indian market? Would you consider India as a possible centre for manufacturing and/or a R&D centre? If yes, what route will you take?

Chabba: India is an important market for DSM Dyneema and we are working closely with local strategic customers, OEMs, partners to provide innovative material solutions that can meet the needs for Indian police and military customers for both personal protection and vehicle protection. DSM Dyneema is a part of Royal DSM NV that has a significant presence in both manufacturing and R&D in various states in India.

SP’s: Dyneema is said to be world’s strongest fibre. Can you give a few outstanding examples of life protection wherein the fibre has proved what it claims to be – life protection?

Chabba: Dyneema won best light weight protective product for the soldier in the Soldier Technology Awards.

SP’s: Which are the key applications for Dyneema and which is fast-moving for the company?

Chabba: The number of applications with Dyneema is rapidly increasing. Dyneema is used in a number of industries including personal protection (vests, inserts, helmets), vehicle protecton (land vehicles, aircrafts and ships), high performance apparel including cut resistant gloves and commercial marines and sports.

Due to the unique properties of our material as a stronger and lighter solution, and our innovation portfolio, all segments are having significant growth and our most recent innovation for life protection, Dyneema Force Multiplier Technology is setting new standards in ballistic protection worldwide.

SP’s: The company has recently introduced the Force Multiplier Technology. Could you give some of its salient features?

Chabba: Dyneema Force Multiplier Technology fuses breakthrough polymer science, next-generation fibre technology and unique uni-directional engineering to deliver the very best in ballistic protection: V-50 performance that is off-the-charts.

Lightest weight/lowest profile protection ever demonstrated. All of this enables the creation of new armour that meets tomorrow’s threats and design challenges.

SP’s: What kind of growth around the globe do you expect in the next five years in usage of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibre, driven by defence and security needs?

Chabba: The performance and endurance of military, law enforcement and security personnel have always been affected by the weight of their gear. Today, however, major trends are intensifying the impact of weight and underscoring the urgent need for new, lighter materials that can deliver top protective performance combined with usability. Multiple global government initiatives are underway to reduce the weight of personal protective equipment for soldiers. DSM Dyneema sees the adoption of next-generation lighter material technologies as an important part of the answer. This view is supported by experts, who predict the use of UHMWPE materials in body and vehicle protection will show doubledigit growth in the next five years. SP

show report / defexpo 2014

>>

Defexpo Underscores Global Partnerships photograph: PIB

 R. Chandrakanth

T

he eighth edition of Defexpo 2014, India’s biennial land, naval and internal homeland security exhibition, which was held from February 6 to 9 in New Delhi was important as it highlighted India’s determination to partner with global companies.

Increasingly, the event is coming to be seen where more than selling, companies are interested in joint ventures, partnerships etc to take their business forward. One of the key takeaways from the event was that Indian indigenisation is inevitable and for high-end technologies the answer is foreign collaborations.

SP Guide Publications, which is celebrating its Golden Jubilee, yet again collaborated with the show organisers as the key official media partner. Collaborations, within and without, are the way forward.

Inaugurating Defexpo, the Minister of Defence A.K. Antony underscored the importance of global partnerships to help accelerate the pace of indigenisation in the defence industry. And the global companies are also moving in that direction, entering into artnerships, joint ventures, agreements, memorandum of understanding, etc, with Indian companies.

They want to be here for the long haul and not just as a seller.

While inaugurating Defexpo, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said these initiatives would help in the long run to bring down the dependence on imports from over 70 per cent to below 50 per cent, maybe in the next five to 10 years.

India’s defence market is huge and according to some estimates it is over $150 billion by 2020 and this huge market is attracting players from all over. This year Defexpo attracted 624 companies from 30 countries in the four-day event. Of the 624 companies, 256 were Indian and 368 foreign. The number of Indian companies has gone down from 335 in 2012 as this time companies which are only based in India have been allowed to seek financial concessions of nearly 57 per cent under the category. As many as 30 countries are display-

Defence Minister A.K. Antony inaugurating Defexpo 2014 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on February 6, 2014

ing their equipment and 12 of them have their own “country pavilions”.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was the largest domestic exhibitor which displayed its full range unmanned aerial vehicles and tanks. The largest overseas participation was from Russia, the largest arms supplier to India, with 37 companies followed by France at 24 and Israel at 21. The highlight included the Tor M2KM air defence missile system, which can detect and process up to 48 targets. The Russian ADS assault rifle, claimed to be the most modern in Russia, also was on display.

Expanding joint development and production efforts on weaponry and military equipment were among the key topics during talks between Rosoboronexport (part of the Rostec State Corporation) and Indian partners at Defexpo.

The Defence Minister said the exhibition provided foreign companies an opportunity to tie up with Indian companies to meet their targets under the defence offset policy, which is being modified to allow participation of more firms. The companies have `20,000 crore worth of commitments to fulfil up to 2022. The 26 per cent FDI cap which exists on defence purchases, he stated would be relaxed by the Government in case a vendor brings in state-of-the-art technology. Indian companies had contributed `40,000 crore worth of equipment to the defence sector in 2012-13.

Indian Guns Boom The artillery gun segment also caught attention as India has embarked upon modernisation of the same and the market is said to be the size of $6 billion. Artillery guns from several Indian companies, Tatas,

Kalyani Group, the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), DRDO, etc were presented.

The OFB highlighted ‘Dhanush’ a 155mm 45-calibre gun with a range of over 38 km.

The DRDO showcased, among other things, the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun (ATAG) project, to build a more powerful 155mm, 52-calibre gun. This gun will range out to 60 km, with a weight of just 12 tonnes. The Kalyani Group’s Bharat Forge has built its own gun, the Bharat-2. The group, which has tied up with Elbit Systems of Israel, showcased its 130-155mm fully upgraded gun system. BAE systems had a full team to explain the features of its M777 howitzer and other products.

DRDO also unveiled a 130mm self-propelled gun system, built based on the Arjun tank’s Mark 1 chassis. DRDO also highlighted its network-centric warfare system developed for the Navy. SP photographs: SP Guide pubns

On the occasion of SP Guide’s 50th anniversary, many top officials from MoD, armed Forces and senior excutives from the defence industry came to wish and congratulate the company. Amongst them was Ratan N Tata. (Left) SP Guide Publications CMD and Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal welcoming former Chairman of Tata Group Ratan Tata to SP’s Booth. (Right) Ratan Tata congratulated and offered his best wishes on SP’s 50 years celebration message board.

2/2014 SP’s Land Forces

11

>> show report / defexpo 2014 Tata Group dominates Tata companies were present in full strength.

The key Tata companies which have programmes related to defence include TAL Manufacturing Solutions; Tata Advanced Systems; Tata Consultancy Services; Tata Elxsi; Tata Industrial Services; Tata Motors; Tata Power – Strategic Engineering Division; and Titan Company. Tata Motors displayed a new wheeled armoured amphibious platform and light armoured multi-purpose vehicles. The wheeled armoured vehicle, developed with DRDO, has interchangeable snap-in modules. The vehicle is integrated with the Raytheon-Lockheed Martin Javelin anti-tank guided missile system.

Reaper; the Aegis combat system, etc. The company is clear in its strategy—to keep the Indian market aware of these programmes and to work in partnership with Indian companies to expand its presence here.

MBDA highlights range of capabilities

L&T unveils new mounted gun system Larsen & Toubro, which has tied up with Nexter of France, unveiled a new version of its Caesar 155mm mounted gun system.

The French company teamed up with the Indian companies L&T and Ashok Leyland Defence to offer a system fitted to Ashok Leyland’s six-wheel Super Stallion chassis.

Israel displays wide range of capabilities

Israel was represented by 21 companies, the third largest contingent after Russia and France. Israel Aerospace Industries presented a wide range of strategic systems, including mission aircraft, a variety of UAVs, advanced radar systems, air defence systems and command and control gear for various theatres, including cyber.

Rafael displayed the Spike anti-tank guided munition, which is being considered for purchase by the Indian Army. The Iron Dome short-range artillery system was also on display. In addition, the company displayed the Python-5, Derby and MiC4AD air defence missiles.

IAI offers a wide range of strategic systems

www.spslandforces.com

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) presented a wide range of strategic systems, including a range of mission aircraft, various UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), advanced radar systems, L/MRSAM air defence systems, command and control systems for different levels of warfare including cyber and communication systems.

In the field of homeland security (HLS) and protection of maritime economic exclusion zones (EEZ), IAI showcased its integrated maritime systems including UAVs, sensors, radars, and command and control systems. In addition, IAI presented an unmanned surface vessel (USV), which supports a wide range of applications for HLS and EEZ protection, including harbour security, patrol of coastal and territorial waters, surface security, electronic warfare, coastal and offshore platform and infrastructure protection (including oil rigs and pipelines).

IAI also displayed its advanced BMS (battle management system) for ground forces.

Lockheed Martin focused on three programmes Lockheed Martin has several programmes and capabilities on offer to India such as the guided multiple launch rocket system (GMLRS); Hellfire II modular missile system; unmanned aerial vehicles ranging from micro-UAVs such as the Stalker or the Desert Hawk III to larger platforms like the

12

SP’s Land Forces 2/2014

MBDA, fully integrated European company, had a strong presence at Defexpo and had several meetings with a few Indian companies and officials on taking the partnership further. MBDA displayed its Mistral MANPAD system awaiting a decision on the Indian Army’s very short-range air defence system (VSHORADS) programme.

MBDA also showcased the entire family of Exocet missiles, which included the surface, submarine and air-launched variants. The Exocet SM39 has been ordered for India’s Scorpene submarines. The company also had discussions with the Indian Army to offer its Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW).

The company has developed the MMP missile to meet French Army requirements, receiving a contract for 2,850 missiles in December 2013 and it believes that it will be a good fit for the Indian requirement.

With discussions having been concluded and a decision expected shortly to proceed with a short-range surface to air weapon to fill a recognised capability gap within the Indian Air Force and Navy, a full scale model of the SR-SAM missile took pride of place on the company’s stand. Often referred to as MAITRI, this programme sees MBDA supporting the DRDO and represents the cornerstone of MBDA’s long-term partnership and cooperation strategy in India.

Displayed for the first time in India, the weapon system represents a major advance for the battlefield. This weapon, MMP is being developed as a highly advanced successor to the successful MILAN with a range of important features placing it well beyond the capabilities of the competition.

tems are optimal for the ever-growing arena of urban warfare. These include Rafael’s Spike missiles, remote controlled weapon stations, trophy active protection system for armoured vehicles, air defence systems (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Spyder) etc.

Elbit introduces UGS system for border protection Elbit Systems introduced for the first time, in India, its UGS system for continuous force or border protection using a variety of advanced sensors—The “Treasures”.

The system was presented at the Defexpo.

Elbit Systems introduced the system components and explained that it is based on a combination of four main sensors – A sand sensor sensitive to vibrations, an acoustic sensor (both of these are set in the ground), a miniature tactical radar which can “cover” an area at up to an angle of 60 and a still camera that launches photographs according to a predetermined rate. The sensors are connected to command and control and communication systems, which process the information and transmit it to the back post.

Raytheon’s next-gen solutions

Photonis offers night vision technologies Photonis presented its latest night vision sensor innovations at Defexpo. With deep knowledge of night vision, Photonis offered to upgrade the Indian Army and Special Forces with modern night vision technology such as night sights for rifles, night vision equipment for armoured and mechanised formations. Photonis displayed its combat proven, ITAR free XR5 and XD-4 image intensifier tubes, with auto-gating. It also featured the black and white ONYX variant that is used in many night vision applications.

Photonis also showcased its digital night vision solutions Nocturn, a digital extreme low-light CMOS camera, especially designed for high performance under both daylight and low-light level conditions (up to light level 3). Its small size, weight and power (SWaP) also make this camera module ideal for integration into aerial, mobile and hand-held surveillance systems.

Saab and Kalyani Group in partnership

Rafael technologies for India Rafael’s Litening G4 had been selected following an Indian Air Force (IAF) call for tenders for 164 pods to equip its entire fleet of fighter-bombers. Deliveries are slated for end of 2014 and when completed, the IAF will have about 220 Litening pods. The Rafael stand also featured the Reccelite reconnaissance pod, which retains the outer casing of the Litening but replaces certain components (including the laser designator) with higher-performance sensor and optics.

The IAF plans to fit the new Litening G4 to its Jaguars, MiG-27s, Su-30MKIs and Mirage 2000s, the latter having been equipped several years ago with the earlier-generation Litening. Rafael also stated that it was in discussions with Dassault on the possible integration of Litening on the Rafale, which India is acquiring 126 aircraft for the IAF. Rafael also indicates that integration of the Derby and Python 5 missiles on India’s LCA Tejas combat aircraft should be complete by the year-end. Rafael team at Defexpo explained that its Spike missiles and the Spike Team Trainer were being used by the NATO forces, indicating its combat capabilities.

Rafael specialises in current and future land systems. In addition to the traditional battlefield, Rafael’s combat-proven land sys-

Indian Army’s air defence programmes.”

Håkan Bushke again expressed his continuing support for India’s ambitions noting that “Saab has made a long-term commitment to India and is keen to support India’s efforts to create an indigenous defence industry. This tie-up with Kalyani Group marks a significant step in that direction, where the two parties will serve India’s air defence missile system requirements through indigenous production and transfer of technology.”

The agreement will initially focus on the VSHORAD and SRSAM programmes for India. Saab is offering a system based on the RBS 70 NG missile system for VSHORAD, delivering a highly accurate, man-portable system with 24 x 7 all-target capability that is immune to countermeasures. For the SRSAM requirement Saab is offering a unique combination of its Giraffe AMB 3-D radar and the BAMSE advanced groundbased air defence missile system.

Raytheon delivers next-generation solutions to its partners in India in various areas such as integrated air and missile defence; sonar, navigation, integrated bridge and shipboard combat systems; land and warfare systems; strategic intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; air traffic management; and maritime, border, cyber and civil security.

At Defexpo, Raytheon showcased these solutions and each of these solutions help support critical systems, promote economic growth and strengthen a relationship that is based on more than six decades of innovation. Raytheon officials mentioned that the way forward in India was continued partnership and it was here for the long haul.

The company made an announcement of its testing of Excalibur lb precisionguided artillery shells during an extensive test event in Arizona. The first article test validates performance and reliability and moves the 155mm projectile closer to fullrate production, the company said.

BEL, Textron Systems sign MoU for MicroObserver UGS System

Defence and security company Saab and the Kalyani Group, one of India’s leading hightechnology multinationals, entered into a strategic alliance to partner and address key Indian Army air defence projects, including the VSHORAD and SRSAM requirements.

The teaming combines Saab’s many decades as a leading developer and supplier of proven high-technology radar and missile systems, with the rich engineering and manufacturing capabilities of Kalyani.

The agreement was signed by Saab’s CEO and President Håkan Buskhe and Baba Kalyani, Chairman of the Kalyani Group, during Defexpo in New Delhi.

Baba Kalyani stated: “This coming together of the Kalyani Group and Saab is a very important step in our journey to address the indigenisation efforts of the Indian defence sector. The partnership between the Kalyani Group and Saab will leverage our strong innovation-based manufacturing capability, coupled with Saab’s technical expertise and leadership in air defence systems, to deliver stateof-the-art, world leading solutions to the

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Textron Systems, a Textron Inc company, as a first step toward providing the Textron Systems MicroObserver unattended ground sensor (UGS) system to Indian security agencies.

The MicroObserver UGS system brings a new level of covertness, ease of use and performance for border security, surveillance and critical infrastructure protection missions. Textron Systems reports that its MicroObserver system has been fielded around the world in support of these applications.

“We’re looking forward to working with BEL to bring this critical surveillance system to Indian Government agencies that will benefit from its wide range of proven capabilities,” explained Ian Walsh, Textron Defense Systems’ Senior Vice President and General Manager.

“Bharat Electronics Limited expects the benefits of this system to filter down to various agencies responsible for the management of the Indian borders, thus fulfilling its overall objective of bringing in cuttingedge technologies to India,” said P.C. Jain, Director (Marketing), BEL. SP

interview / industry >>

Kalyani Group Forges Ahead in Defence Sector As India makes strides in indigenisation of defence equipment manufacture, a number of Indian companies are making significant investments in the sector. Kalyani Group is among the top companies which has taken a slew of initiatives in the defence sector. Giving details of the forays in the sector is Amit B Kalyani, Executive Director of Kalyani Group, in an interview with SP’s Land Forces. photograph: Kalyani Group

among the toughest in the world. We are confident of fully meeting the user’s operational requirements in all respects. It would be premature to comment on the outcome of the tender but we are hopeful the best will come through.

SP’s: Any other joint venture or partnership in the pipeline?.

Kalyani: We have also acquired a domestic electronics company and are in the process for acquiring some others both in India and abroad. We believe in both organic and inorganic growth. Our group is successfully running many JVs for last three decades and we are always open to tying up with good and reputed companies in India and overseas. Some agreements are in advanced state of discussions but it would be improper to mention them at this stage.

Baba Kalyani, Chairman, Kalyani Group, and Amit Kalyani, Executive Director, proudly displaying Bharat 52

SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): Do you think indigenisation should be the mantra to take the defence production in the country forward? What initiatives has Kalyani Group taken in this regard?

Amit Kalyani (Kalyani): Indigenisation and innovation is the only way that our country can be self-reliant in supporting the armed forces. Kalyani Group has taken number of steps in the defence sector towards this end. We have been always supporting the defence forces by meeting emergent requirements of ammunition shells for all artillery equipment, road wheels and tracks for armoured fighting vehicles and also developing rockets, rocket motor tubes wherever asked for.

However, we have in the past three years invested considerably in defence R&D through which we have been able to produce a totally indigenously designed and developed 155/52-calibre Howitzer gun.

We have also developed a light weight field gun both of which were on display at Defexpo 2014. Further we have developed indigenous unmanned ground vehicle and forayed in to electronics products that can be used by the defence forces. In addition, through collaborations, teaming and joint ventures we are in the field for manufacturing mine protected vehicles soft kill systems and the like. We believe in the adage of ‘partnering technology and driving innovation’.

SP’s: Could you give an update on your defence R&D activity?

Kalyani: Investment in R&D and scale is

not directly linked. We are passionate about defence and that is what is driving our development effort. We are definitely investing in R&D in certain focus areas. Our R&D is product based.

SP’s: Kalyani Group is making its presence felt in the defence sector. Is it due to slowdown in other sectors that you are in?

Kalyani: For a moment let us forget about any sector and take a look at our demography. India is a country of young people and by 2022 the average age of the nation would be 29 years. We need to engage this young population in useful nation building activity. Manufacturing offers a perfect avenue for channelising their energies. We need to give impetus to manufacturing. Defence and aerospace are two sectors offering great opportunity. The question is whether we as a nation will take advantage of this opportunity. Our drive is initiated by this need and we strongly believe that manufacturing in this country needs encouragement and defence and eerospace can help fill this gap.

SP’s: The group’s business model is heavily dependent on exports. Does this help the company in the present situation where domestic market is going through a sluggish phase or does it expose it to the problems being faced in markets in Europe?

Kalyani: Our business model is focused on both exports and domestic market. We have a de-risked model that has withstood many ups and downs in the last few years.

SP’s: The group has joint venture with an Israeli company for gun production. Could you give us a low-down on the same, particularly on the interest in the product by the Indian Army?

Kalyani: The joint venture is a strategic partnership with Elbit Sytems in the high technology area of the artillery systems. We are partnering together in a number of programmes. We will be manufacturing these systems in India with our JV partner. The JV is aligned with the government regulations and is first such JV in this segment. We believe that we will be able to get the stateof-the-art technology to India with this JV. Indian users trials are most challenging and

“We have in the past three years invested considerably in defence research and development through which we have been able to produce a totally indigenously designed and developed 155/52-calibre howitzer gun.

SP’s: What is your view on the current cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) in defence?

Kalyani: The current cap on FDI in defence is being debated at all levels. I do not want to add to the confusion. We are aligned with the current policy and believe that policy must keep the national interest in mind.

Like I said earlier we are definitely looking forward for joint productions of products and systems required for the Indian armed forces by manufacturing them in India.

We have a joint venture with Meritor and we are currently supplying axles to all the leading manufacturers in the country for all their heavy duty vehicles which are supplied to Indian defence forces.

SP’s: Do you see a positive turn in defence procurement procedure, which is very cumbersome at the moment?

Kalyani: Defence procurement procedure is constantly evolving. We now believe that good procedure is in place based on a good policy. Need of the hour is to operationalise the intent into actionable process.

There are small operational issues which need resolving in respect to licensing, foreign exchange rate variation and on taxes and duties. I am sure all those involved are seized of the necessity to reduce the impediments wherever necessary to make it a faster and more transparent.

SP’s: What is the right way to stimulate the manufacturing sector in India?

Kalyani: Manufacturing in our country has always been the least glamorous. We need to bring focus back to manufacturing. We need to celebrate our successes in manufacturing and bring about a change in the way we look at this sector. This sector is important for the growth of the country. Country has laid out a target for to increase the share of the manufacturing to 25 per cent of the GDP but we are nowhere near this target value. Defence and aerospace and correct use of offsets can help give the required impetus to manufacturing. We must put into place a structure which can ensure we are able to reach this target in a time bound fashion. SP

2/2014 SP’s Land Forces

13

>> Sp’s Exclusives / news in brief Indian Army wants combat flame-throwers

extensively, but were subsequently found to be ineffective in most operational scenarios, given their close-combat requirement. The Indian Army will be looking to use them against bunkers, fortifications, built-up areas to flush out terrorists etc.

Indian Army for night sights for AK-47 & 7.62mm LMG

Intensifier Technology based device to enable accurate engagement of pin-point target by use of Rifle AK-47 at night/hours of darkness/indoor dark areas. Both requirements are part of the overall F-INSAS programme. With summer setting in and infiltration of terrorists likely to be on an upswing, the Army is hoping to procure equipment as quickly as possible to make its frontline fighting units fully night combat capable.

DRDO for portable radar simulator

The Indian Army’s Directorate of Infantry has announced its intention to procure an unspecified number of combat disposable-type flame-throwers for fighting units deployed in counter-insurgency areas. The Army has revealed the flame-throwers will be used during conventional and sub conventional operations against hostile elements as well as for training purposes. The shape and size of the flame thrower should be such that it can comfortably be carried and used by a single soldier. It should be stable for storage for the complete shelf life and should not be prone to accidents while in storage or being transported under operational conditions. The maximum and the minimum range at which Flame-thrower (Disposable) can effectively engage targets will need to be produced as information by interested suppliers. The requirement is a surprising one, given that military flame-throwers aren’t much in use anymore. For instance, the US military discontinued the use of flamethrowers for combat operations in 1978, and they do not figure in any current arsenals. Flamethrowers were used in the World Wars and the Vietnam War

The Indian Army is looking to arm its frontline infantry weapons with new-generation night sights to boost operations after dark. It is specifically in the market now for Uncooled Thermal Imaging Sights for its 7.62mm light machine gun (LMG) currently in the process of being procure. The Army has stipulated that the sight required by the Infantry should be a light weight and ruggedized device to enable accurate engagement of human target by use of 7.62mm light machine Gun at night/hours of darkness/poor visibility at the effective range of 800 metres and above. The Army is looking for passive night sights for its widely deployed AK-47 assault rifles. The passive night sight, the Army says, should be an image

Defence Cooperation ...continued from page 4 Malaysian defence relationship with India needs to be seen in the overall context of what is happening in the Asia-Pacific region. While China is increasingly becoming assertive in its territorial claims and ASEAN nations are responding to China’s rise through cooperation with US and other regional powers Malaysia has been very pragmatic in its approach. Even though it has enhanced its defence ties with the US and western powers it continues to maintain a balanced relationship with China. It needs to be noted that Malaysia has annual trade figure of $106 billion with China which is more than that with India and is at third place in Asia with Japan and South Korea coming at first and second places respectively. Therefore, its opposition to China’s aggressive activities in South China Sea has been muted. But that does not mean that it does not consider China as a security challenge. India is considered as a benign power and somewhat of a balancer to China therefore strengthening of Malaysia-India defence relationship is seen as mutually beneficial to both countries.

In conclusion it can be said that while

there is a tremendous scope for broadening and deepening the defence relationship with Malaysia there is a lack of integrated and coordinated response from India’s ministries of defence, external affairs and economic affairs. The absence of a unified response in forging a strategic relationship with Malaysia despite convergence of both countries’ interest is also possibly due to lack of an articulated national security strategy on part of India. Even though there is a mechanism of regular strategic dialogue between India and Malaysia it has not been paid attention it deserves. Currently, there is a positive perception of India in Malaysia regarding its rising capabilities and as a possible benign balancer in the complex security dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region. India remains a preferred partner of ASEAN in all its endeavours and Malaysia endorses that view. Military-to-military cooperation with Malaysia is required to be further strengthened to achieve India’s strategic objectives of its ‘Look East Policy’. SP The author is a Senior Fellow of Vivekananda International Foundation

www.spslandforces.com

Asian Arms Procurement ...continued from page 5 patrol vessel – littoral combat ship (SGPVLCS). The SGPV-LCS are to be the follow-on to the six Kedah class next-generation patrol vessels (NGPV) built by Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) though the SGPV-LCS will be bigger and more heavily armed compared to the Kedah class. Despite the LCS name, the SGPV-LCS is a conventional design hull based on DCNS’ Gowind design, DCNS being selected as the foreign partner to work with BNS on the SGPV-LCS programme.

The much talked RMAF programme is the multi-role combat aircraft replacement for the MiG-29 fleet, though the RMAF has indicated that it would like to have the aircraft delivered by 2015 to coincide with the phasing out of the MiG-29. The requirement is 18 aircraft and the deal may not be signed

14

SP’s Land Forces 2/2014

in 2013 following the elections. The aircraft in contention are the Boeing Superhornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon (marketed for BAE) and Saab Gripen. The RMAF expects to take deliveries of its four A400Ms in 2015-16 and is expected to soon issue a tender for the construction of facilities at RMAF Subang to house the A400Ms which will be stationed there.

While Malaysia’s programmes may be delayed, other South East Asian countries are on course, raising the question of a regional arms race. This trend has raised the question whether the procurements of such a relatively large number of advanced weapons by a large number of regional actors within a relatively short amount of time could be destabilising. SP

The DRDO is in the market for a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) portable radar simulator to simulate radar threat situations through generated radar emissions to test the efficacy of in-development sensor/warning systems under the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL). The system should be capable of generating a minimum of sixteen different radar emissions in a time shared fashion. DRDO has stipulated that each of the parameters of the simulated radar should be fully programmable. The portable system should be able to simulate pulse doppler radar as well. The 2-18 GHz range system needs to be able to create a library of radars, with specific parameters, including pulse, scan, antenna radiation pattern and direction. The DRDO hopes to use the simulator to both test in-development radars and warning systems as well as to improve current systems already integrated on airborne platforms. The simulator needs to have vendor support for a period of 10 years and should be continuously upgradable during that time. SP

UK Armed Forces participate in Exercise Joint Warrior 2014

—SP’s Special Correspondent For complete versions log on to: www.spslandforces.com

Royal Navy, while the Tactical Supply Wing will supply logistic support to air assets. Joint Warrior provides a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the range of capabilities available for contingency operations, while providing excellent training that tests the highreadiness capabilities of the armed forces.

US Army supplies new hearing protection device

The UK Armed Forces is participating in Europe’s biggest tri-service military exercise, code-named Joint Warrior 2014, off the coast of Scotland. The exercise, which started on March 25, involves more than 35 warships, 25 different types of aircraft, and approximately 13,000 personnel from the various nations taking part, including Turkey, Germany, Belgium, France, Holland, Denmark, and the US. All participating ships, submarines, aircraft and ground troops from the UK, US and other allies are battling each other at sea, in the air and on land in an area that stretches from the Irish Sea, north to Cape Wrath and east to the Moray Firth.

UK International Security Strategy Minister Dr Andrew Murrison said EX Joint Warrior continues to provide realistic training platforms for the UK armed forces, testing the vast capabilities of all three services.

The Royal Navy has deployed 12 ships, including amphibious vessels, destroyers, frigates and mine countermeasures vessels, which will be used by the crews to prepare for their imminent deployments to the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Middle East.

The UK Army is represented by 16 Air Assault Brigade personnel, who will be joined by the Royal Air Force (RAF), army and Commando Helicopter Forces, as well as Apache, Chinook, Sea King, Lynx, Merlin and Puma helicopters for the provision of critical attack support and reconnaissance capabilities.

The RAF is providing fast jet aircraft such as Hawks, Tornados and Typhoons, and will also simulate enemy aircraft and missiles, and provide conventional air warfare capability. In addition to this, RAF surveillance aircraft will provide a detailed picture of enemy movements and positions to the

The US Army has fitted soldiers at Fort Drum in New York with the new technologically advanced hearing protection device, called tactical communication and protective system (TCAPS). Accommodating various ear canals in six shapes, TCAPS is designed to minimise training and battlefield-related hearing loss in soldiers, while enhancing their situational awareness, safety, survivability, and mission effectiveness. Rechargeable through solar, alternating current with US standard and international plug/ports, it can completely shut out unexpected and excruciatingly loud noises, such as explosions or overhead flying objects, while maintaining communication fidelity. TCAPS costs about $2,000 per device and is supplied with software, smartphone, instruction manual, warranty, carrying case and other supporting elements. A total of 2,000 units were issued to the soldiers of 1st Brigade Combat Team.

Approximately 4,000 are expected to be in circulation across Fort Drum, with 2nd Brigade Combat Team scheduled to start training with them as early as this month. The device has also been supplied to the soldiers in Fort Bliss, Texas, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, US.

UN General Assembly rejects Crimean secession vote The UN General Assembly has rejected the mid-March referendum held in the Crimean peninsula that led to its annexation by Russia, affirming its commitment to Ukraine’s unity and territorial integrity. The 193-nation assembly adopted a non-binding resolution on the “territorial integrity of Ukraine”, by a vote of 100 in favour to 11 against, with 58 abstentions, calling on states, international organisations and specialised agencies not to recognise any change in the status of Crimea or the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol. In

news in brief >> addition, the assembly urged all parties to immediately pursue a peaceful resolution of the situation through direct political dialogue and to refrain from unilateral actions and inflammatory rhetoric that could escalate tensions. The 11 countries that voted against the resolution were Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, North Korea, Nicaragua, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Ukraine Foreign Affairs Minister Andriy Deshchytsia said that Russia had forcibly annexed an integral part of Ukraine despite previously committing itself to guaranteeing its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, however, said the referendum had reunified Crimea with Russia, and called on everyone “to respect that voluntary choice”.

Russia could not refuse the Crimeans’ right to self-determination, Churkin added. Russia had previously prevented the UN Security Council from adopting a similar draft resolution that would have declared the Crimean referendum “invalid” even before it was held.

According to Crimean authorities, more than 97 per cent of Crimeans had voted for unification with Russia in March 16’s referendum, prompting Moscow to annex the Black Sea peninsula.

NIITEK gets US Army contract for Husky mounted detection system

NIITEK has been awarded a contract for supply of Husky mounted detection system (HMDS) ground penetrating radar (GPR) test units to the US Army. Under the terms of the $10.6 m firm-fixed-price contract, the company will supply six HMDS GPR units to the army for advanced testing in preparation of a long-term HMDS procurement. The contract also covers a test support package comprising spare parts, technical data, interface control documents, logistics data and related test support services. Army officials would reportedly use the system to help establish a baseline and configuration control for the HMDS and its GPR technology, as the HMDS programme is scheduled to become an army programme of record (PoR).

Under development since 2006, the

>> Show Calendar 14–17 April Defence Services Asia (DSA 2014) PWTC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.dsaexhibition.com 29–30 April Counter Terror Expo Olympia, London, UK www.counterterrorexpo.com 5–8 May SOFEX 2014 Amman, Jordan www.sofexjordan.com 19–22 May Border Management Southwest 2014 Venue to be confirmed, San Diego, CA, USA www.bordersouthwest.com 27–29 May Armoured Vehicles Latin America Rio de Janeiro, Brazil www.armouredvehicleslatinamerica.com 16–20 June Eurosatory 2014 Paris, France www.eurosatory.com

HMDS helps in the detection of surfacelaid and buried explosive threats, including improvised explosive devices with pressureactivated trigger mechanisms, unexploded ordnance (UXO), landmines and weapons caches. The system features four large VISOR 2500 ground-penetrating radar, computer and monitoring system panels, as well as a GPS to provide the operator with 2D and 3D views of objects buried under the ground.

HMDS is claimed to have successfully detected pressure-plate IEDs prior to their detonation in a wide range of road surfaces and soil conditions, since its deployment to Afghanistan in early 2008. The NIITEK GPR is currently in use with the US, Canadian, Australian and Spanish militaries.

NATO Suspends Cooperation with Russia over Crimea Annexation NATO foreign ministers have ordered the suspension of all practical civilian and military cooperation with Russia, in response to its recent takeover of the Crimean peninsula.

During a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, ministers condemned Russia’s illegal military intervention in Ukraine, and urged the country to engage in dialogue towards finding a political and diplomatic solution that respects both international law and Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Russia, through its actions, had chosen to undermine the very foundations upon which our cooperation is built. The ministers said in a joint statement that the political dialogue in the NATO-Russia Council will continue, as necessary, at the ambassadorial level and above, to facilitate the exchange of views on the crisis. The ministers said that they would review NATOs relations with Russia at their next meeting in June. In addition, in a separate meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Deshchytsia, the ministers agreed to intensify cooperation to support Ukraine’s defence reforms.

Selex to supply radios and NVGs for Italian Army’s Soldato Futuro

Selex has been awarded two contracts worth €60m for the supply of SWave software defined radios (SDR) and tactical mobility night vision goggles (TM-NVG) for the Italian Army’s Soldato Futuro programme. Under the first contract, the company will supply 2,726 radio SDR hand-helds to the Italian Army’s light infantry troops. This first batch is part of the lot envisaged for the next five to six years. The second contract covers delivery of 2,726 TM-NVGs, a third-generation binocular device designed to provide advanced equipment for the nocturnal tactical mobility of the Future Soldier. The Swave radio is said to be capable of hosting various wave forms interoperable with both existing and future systems, which permits the realisation of effective economies of scale for the customer, with regard to logistical support. Designed to display all the information and map data provided by the command and control (C2) system on the eye-piece, the TM-NVG is also fitted with an integrated camera that can return the observed scene to the C2 system. Hardware and software developments are expected to provide additional functions and individual navigation capability to the soldier to further enhance their mobility in low-visibility conditions. The TM-NVG is also integrated in the NIMOS night mobility system, 558 units of which are currently being supplied by Selex to the Italian Army as part of the Forza NEC pro-

gramme. Jointly developed by Selex and the Italian Army, the Soldato Futuro programme seeks complete a modernisation of Italian soldiers’ systems and equipment, thereby aligning their operating capacities with current and future scenarios requirements.

India may sign anti-tank ammunition supply contract with Russia The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is likely to sign a contract with Russia for the delivery of several thousands of anti-tank shells, to address the severe shortage of critical ammunition faced by the national army’s armoured vehicle fleet. Unnamed defence ministry officials were quoted by Press Trust of India as saying that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has recently cleared the proposal to acquire a total of 66,000 Mango anti-tank shells from Russia. The deal will also include the transfer of technology on the production techniques of the specialised tank ammunition to the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to facilitate indigenous production, the sources added. The clearance follows a letter sent by the former army chief General V.K. Singh to the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, pointing that only three to four days of tank ammunition was left in the inventory of the armoured regiments.

UK MoD awards Cougar service contract to Morgan-led consortium A consortium consisting of leading UKbased and owned defence companies has secured a contract to support and develop the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Cougar protected patrol vehicles (PPVs), which are returning from Afghanistan. Led by Morgan Advanced Materials and including Ricardo and Ultra Electronics, the consortium will cover the provision of technical and project management services for the in-service Cougar family, including the Mastiff, Ridgback and Wolfhound fleets. Worth up to £20m over the first two years, the Cougar PostDesign Service (PDS) programme covers a fleet of more than 600 vehicles, with more than 20 variants, and could be extended for a further five years. The agreement will focus on the optimisation of safety, configuration management, legal compliance and standardisation of the platforms through rationalisation of the component supply chain.

UK Defence Minister Philip Dunne said the Cougar, Mastiff, Ridgback and Wolfhound fleets have proven themselves on operations, and will now support a more efficient army.

Exelis equips first US Army Stryker with GNOMAD system Exelis has completed the integration of its Global Network On The Move Active Distribution (GNOMAD) system into the first US Army Stryker armored fighting vehicle during the recent Army Expeditionary Warfighting Experiment (AEWE), held at Fort Benning in Georgia, US. Equipped with a fully on-the-move capable satellite antenna and RF components, the GNOMAD is a satellite communications (SATCOM) on-the-move (OTM) system, and provides a robust command, control, communications and intelligence (C3I ) capability that currently supports US deployed forces on other platforms.

Specifically, the system delivers a combatproven, reliable, easy-to-use, modular off-theshelf commercial communications system that fully integrates into a broad spectrum of armoured combat vehicles, such as high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV), mine resistant ambush protected (MRAPs), MRAP all-terrain vehicle (MATVs), SUVs, as well as military platforms of all types and sizes. Having supported the 4th Infantry Division during deployment to Iraq in a variety of vehicle types and used in support of domestic emergency operations, GNOMAD is also providing direct support to forces in South Korea, Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern areas of operations. SP

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal Editor Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor Assistant Group Editor R. Chandrakanth Senior Technical Group Editor Lt General (Retd) Naresh Chand Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey Contributors India General (Retd) V.P. Malik, Lt General (Retd) Vijay Oberoi, Lt General (Retd) R.S. Nagra, Lt General (Retd) S.R.R. Aiyengar, Air Marshal (Retd) Vinod Patney, Major General (Retd) Ashok Mehta, Major General (Retd) G.K. Nischol, Brigadier (Retd) Gurmeet Kanwal, Brigadier (Retd) S. Mishra, Rohit Sharma Chairman & Managing Director Jayant Baranwal Executive Vice President (Planning & Business Development) Rohit Goel Administration Bharti Sharma Creative Director Anoop Kamath Design Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Singh Bisht Research Assistant: Graphics Survi Massey Sales & Marketing Director Sales & Marketing: Neetu Dhulia General Manager Sales: Rajeev Chugh SP’s Website Sr. Web Developer: Shailendra P. Ashish Web Developer: Ugrashen Vishwakarma Published bimonthly by Jayant Baranwal on behalf of SP Guide Publications Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, photocopying, recording, electronic, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.

Printed in India

by Kala Jyothi Process Pvt Ltd © SP Guide Publications, 2014 Subscription/ Circulation Annual Inland: `600 • Overseas: US$180 Email: subscribe@spguidepublications.com subscribe@spslandforces.com Letters to Editor editor@spslandforces.com For Advertising Details, Contact: neetu@spguidepublications.com rajeev.chugh@spguidepublications.com SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD Corporate Office A 133 Arjun Nagar, Opp Defence Colony, New Delhi 110 003, India Tel: +91(11) 24644693, 24644763, 24620130 Fax: +91 (11) 24647093 Regd Office Fax: +91 (11) 23622942 Email: info@spguidepublications.com Representative Offices Bengaluru, INDIA Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey 204, Jal Vayu Vihar, Kalyan Nagar, Bengaluru 560043, India.

Tel: +91 (80) 23682204 MOSCOW, RUSSIA LAGUK Co., Ltd, Yuri Laskin Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia.

Tel: +7 (495) 911 2762, Fax: +7 (495) 912 1260 www.spguidepublications.com www.spslandforces.com RNI Number: DELENG/2008/25818

2/2014 SP’s Land Forces

15