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India-South Korea – Evolving defence relations PAGE 11

Prime Minister Modi Visit to China DELENG/2010/34651

Page 7 onwards From the editor’s DESK 4 MILITARY REPORT 5 Security Breaches 22

military Viewpoint: The China-Pakistan subconventional pincer 13 Viewpoint: Military’s woes of ammunition shortages 14

The end of a dilemma PAGE 19

military

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Updates

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Viewpoint: Higher Defence Organisation

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Developments

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— Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State for Defence, speaking to Jayant Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, at two-day Naval Aviation Seminar 2015

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ONLY FOrtNightLY ON Military aerospace internal security

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prime Minister Modi Visit to china FroM the editor’s desK Military report security Breaches

1_SP's MAI Cover 9-10-2015.indd 1

4 5 22

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping in Xi’an, China, on May 14, 2015

the end of a dilemma

Page 7 onwards DELENG/2010/34651

“Government is committed to ‘Make in India’, but for critical projects and immediate requirements, we will import. The initial lot of naval utility helicopter (NUH) will be imported while ‘Make in India’ will get involved for the larger quantity and overall requirements. Government needs to sense the strategic requirements and is very clear that ‘Make in India’ is a long-term initiative.

The technical parameters and a scientific approach with necessary R&D base need to be duly taken care of. I see a time frame of five years to establish the ‘Make in India’.”

PAGE 19

Military Viewpoint: The China-Pakistan subconventional pincer 13 Viewpoint: Military’s woes of ammunition shortages 14

Military

aerospace

Updates

15

Viewpoint: Higher Defence Organisation

18

Developments

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20/05/15 5:57 PM

Cover images: PIB, Airbus Defence & Space

Publisher And Editor-in-Chief

Jayant Baranwal Assistant Group editor

R. Chandrakanth SR Technical Group EditorS

Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd) R. Adm S.K. Ramsay (Retd) SPECIAL Contributor

Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Chairman & Managing Director

Jayant Baranwal planning & business development

Executive Vice President: Rohit Goel ADMIN & COORDINATION

Bharti Sharma

Akash weapon system inducted into Army Air Defence

T

he induction ceremony of Akash weapon system into the Indian Army Air Defence Corps was organised at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi recently. The ceremony was marked by the handing over of the ‘key of the weapon system’ by CMD, BDL, to General Dalbir Singh, COAS, who thereafter dedicated the weapon system to the Corps of Army Air Defence by handing over the symbolic key to Lt General V.K. Saxena, DG Army Air Defence. The ceremony was attended by senior dignitaries of the Ministry of Defence, armed forces, DRDO and defence PSUs. The Chief of Army Staff complemented the armed forces, DRDO and the DPSUs for the integrated approach to develop and deliver the complex missile system to the nation.

The event marks the beginning of the new era for the Army Air Defence towards its drive for modernisation to counter the challenges posed by the enhanced air threat due to rapid improvements in the avionics field. This will also give a boost to the all-round capability enhancement and operational effectiveness of the Army to meet all the contemporary and emerging challenges of negating the enemy’s air threat. SP

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From the

Editor’s Desk

Engaging the dragon

I

ndia’s foreign policy is getting a major makeover under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. From a ‘Look East’ to ‘Act East’ foreign policy, the Modi dispensation has given an entirely new dimension to foreign relations. The icing on the cake is the enhanced exchanges with China. It is a new approach.

Though the much-hyped visit to China was significant in itself, there are still nibbling issues such as border and export control regimes that needs to be sorted out with the giant neighbour. If the two nations come to terms that they need to set aside the border and other issues and join hands to become global partners for strategic coordination and strive for a just and equitable international order, then there is no stopping the Asian giants. As such the world is looking at these two countries with awe, respect and an opportunity. The Chinese have already started wooing India to join in its extremely ambitious multibillion-dollar ‘One Belt, One Road’ silk road projects in its bid to add international credibility.

In this issue, we have analysis and opinionated pieces on IndiaChina relationships in the background of the visits of the two Heads of States. Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) hopes that China would heed India-China relationship in the long-term strategic perspective and give up its territorial obduracy.

Around the same time, India and South Korea have raised their level of bilateral relations to ‘Special Strategic Partnership’ which will result in the two countries playing a bigger role together in East Asian affairs. These synergies are going to fetch dividends in the medium and long term, particularly in a market-driven environment.

A lot has been happening during the one year of Modi’s government. The imminent visit of the US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is another step in the two nations fortifying the defence pacts. India has a significant role to play in peace efforts in the region and for that it should be prepared defence and otherwise. It is in this background that the visit of Ashton Carter is seen as a new phase in Indo-US defence and strategic relations as the two defence establishments are expected to give a major push to the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).

4 SP’S MAI Issue 9-10 • 2015

The visit we hope will see progress on four pathfinder projects agreed during President Barack Obama visit. The four products to be co-produced are the next-generation Raven unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); roll-on/roll-off intelligence gathering and reconnaissance modules for C-130J Super Hercules aircraft; mobile electric hybrid power sources and uniform integrated protection ensemble increment-2 (chemical, biological warfare protection gears for soldiers).

While there are going to be technological advancements through partnerships, we find that Indian armed forces are strapped for ammunition. A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General has stated that India faces severe ammunition shortages and with present holdings can fight a war for only 20 days. We hope that the government is attuned to the needs of the armed forces and we already see a proactive government – who could ever think of outright purchase of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft while the medium multirole combat aircraft deal was getting overly delayed in bureaucratic and other tangles.

Happy reading!

Jayant Baranwal

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief www.spsmai.com

MILITARY Report

Photograph: Defense.gov

Carter visit – New phase in India-US defence relations

It is expected that during the visit of Carter, some concrete decisions will be taken not only on next-generation aircraft carrier, but also on issues relating to DTTI under which several weapon systems and platforms are being discussed.

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Baldwin Carter

[ By Ranjeet Kumar ]

A

s a follow-up to the President Barack Obama’s visit to India for Republic Day, the US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will make his maiden visit to New Delhi in his new avatar on June 2 and 3. The Carter visit is expected to mark a new phase in Indo-US defence and strategic relations as the two defence establishments are expected to give a major push to the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI). Both the countries are working on ground-breaking ideas and proposals to deepen the defence partnerships between them for decades to come.

The visit is likely to see a forward movement on the four pathfinder projects agreed during the Obama visit. The four products to be co-produced are the next-generation Raven unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); roll-on/roll-off intelligence gathering and reconnaissance modules for C-130J Super Hercules aircraft; mobile electric hybrid power

sources and uniform integrated protection ensemble increment-2 (chemical, biological warfare protection gears for soldiers). India on its part had shown interest in EMALS (electromagnetic aircraft launch system), which propels fighters into the sky from the decks of a carrier and allows increased payload of the aircraft while saving fuel. Besides these, a working group was also set up on the advanced aircraft carrier.

During the February 2014 visit of Frank Kendall, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the two sides had reviewed the programme under consideration and during the impending Carter visit both sides are likely to announce solid moves to put the joint defence programme on fast track. The US Navy is currently using next-generation technology on its new Gerald R Ford class carrier, which is under construction. Under the DTTI, the US side had proposed 17 defence products and had also requested India to hand over a wish list of projects that India would like to work on. The DTTI was originally called the Carter Issue 9-10 • 2015 SP’S MAI 5

MILITARY Report initiative. According to Frank Kendall, the DTTI is not a treaty or law. “It elevates and accelerates our shared commitment to defence trade and help eliminate bureaucratic obstacles, promotes collaborative technology exchange and enables co-production and codevelopment of select defence items.”

During President Obama’s India visit, the two countries had renewed the Defence Framework agreement which defines steps to be taken in the next decade (up to 2025) to give a major boost to the bilateral defence partnerships, that would have global ramifications.

The Defence Framework agreement has incorporated for the first time a provision to co-produce weapons in India along with transfer of technology under the DTTI. Pentagon is also reported to have set up a Rapid Action Task Force to deal with military technology codevelopment and co-production.

Analysts are skeptical of this taking shape immediately as there are many critical issues still to be resolved. In spite of the highest level political concurrence, major roadblocks like India’s signature on the three foundation agreements like the CISMOA (communication interoperability and security memorandum agreement),

Photograph: US Army

M-777 ultra-light howitzer gun

LSA (logistics supply agreement) and BECA (basic exchange and cooperation agreement for geospatial cooperation) still remain part of the wish list for the US side and the Indian side does not appear to be surrendering to the US dictates of various conditionalities imposed on the use of the weapon systems and platforms acquired through US collaboration. Though there are many highend projects like the joint design of the aircraft carrier that will be on the table during the Carter-Parrikar meeting, the two sides would like to push the low-end projects to become familiar with how the DTTI will work, to remove bureaucratic hurdles, which can impede execution of such projects.

The US Defense Secretary will be accompanied by Frank Kendall to continue the process started at the highest political level of the two countries. Kendall is the Pentagon’s points person on India-related defence issues, particularly on DTTI. During the visit of Carter a very important amendment in the 2005 Defence Framework agreement, which was extended for 10 years, would be decided. This refers to co-production and co-development of military hardware and platforms. This amendment will open the door for new projects which might be undertaken for joint development 6 SP’S MAI Issue 9-10 • 2015

and co-production. The proposal includes the joint production of Scorpion light attack aircraft in India which can also be used as an intermediate jet trainer (IJT) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF is reported to be keenly interested in Scorpion light attack aircraft because of the failure of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to develop the Sitara IJT, which is under development since 1997.

If any agreement is reached on Scorpion, its US developer plans to set up a manufacturing facility under DTTI. The Defence Framework agreement will also be amended in a manner to enable joint advanced military exercises which will bring greater interoperability between the two armed forces.

Before Carter’s arrival, India has already indicated to the US administration its intention to acquire 22 Apache attack helicopters and another 16 heavy-lift Chinook helicopters are also likely to be cleared. The two sides are also expected to thrash out issues relating to the next-generation Javelin missiles for co-production and co-development. The US side is also pushing for early purchase of M-777 ultra-light howitzer guns which India wants to acquire for deployment on mountainous border of China.

After India signed the New Framework for India-US Defence Relations in 2005, it resulted in intensified defence trade, joint exercises, personnel exchanges, collaboration and cooperation in maritime security and counter-piracy, etc. Later the two sides issued a joint declaration on Defence Cooperation in 2013 which highlighted the deepening of bilateral defence relations. Because of these agreements the two countries now conduct more bilateral exercises with each other than they do with any other country. In 2014 for the first time an Indian Navy ship took part in the Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. The two countries already have bilateral dialogue mechanisms in the field of defence which include Defence Policy Group (DPG), Defence Joint Working Group (DJWG), Joint Technical Group (JTG), Defence Procurement and Production Group (DPPG), Senior Technology Security Group (STSG), Military Cooperation Group (MCG) and Service to Service Executive Steering Group (ESGs).

These various forums of interaction between defence and armed forces headquarters have laid a solid foundation for a new era of defence relations in the face of fast changing Asia-Pacific geopolitics, in which India now finds itself embroiled, as China seeks not only to dominate the Pacific sea, more particularly in the South China Sea, but also the Indian Ocean. The US offer to collaborate with India in designing and developing the next-generation aircraft carrier is intended with the motive to equip India to counter the Chinese navy, which intends to expand its footprint to the Indian Ocean, India will thus act as a regional balancer of force vis-à-vis China.

According to Ashley Tellis of Carnegie Endowment, based in the United States, “The principal objective that should guide bilateral cooperation in carrier development is the need to ensure that India’s next-generation aircraft carrier—to include its air wing and its capacity for combat operations—will be superior to its Chinese counterparts.”

India is already working on the second indigenous aircraft carrier, which would be much more advanced than INS Vikrant, under construction at the Cochin Shipyard. If India gets design assistance from the US naval designers at this stage, it would greatly enhance the capabilities of the next Indian aircraft carrier likely to be christened as Vishaal. This collaboration would bind the two nations for decades to come in defence and strategic arena. It is expected that during the visit of Carter, some concrete decisions will be taken not only on next-generation aircraft carrier, but also on issues relating to DTTI under which several weapon systems and platforms are being discussed. SP www.spsmai.com

MILITARY Report

Modi in China – Trust deficit remains

Photograph: PIB

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping in Xi’an, China, on May 14, 2015

Undoubtedly, there was much display of bonhomie by the Chinese leaders, which in fact speaks volumes of the emergence of India as a new player in world power game

[ By Ranjeet Kumar ]

P

rime Minister Narendra Modi’s muchhyped visit to China was significant in itself, but it did not yield substantial results. However, in spite of the prevailing and deepening trust deficit, on issues ranging from border and territory to strategic ones like the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea and China’s stand on various international organisations vis-à-vis India’s membership of UNSC and NSG and other export control regimes, the Chinese leaders did not hesitate from extending a warm welcome to Modi as if the two neighbours were the closest partners in international arena and were close allies.

In fact, one Chinese newspaper has compared Modi’s visit to Nixon’s visit to China in 1972, which

paved the way for dramatic rapprochement between the two nations. But in the current context, strategic equations cannot be said to be the same. Nixon visited China at the height of the Cold War and needed China to counter the Soviet Union. In present-day world politics, India does not need China for such power balance. India is already appearing to be closer to the United States and its western and Asian allies.

On the other hand, China seems to be wooing India. A commentary in the Chinese official news agency, Xinhua said, “This is a chance for the two Asian neighbours to consolidate trust. The world’s two largest developing countries should become global partners for strategic coordination and jointly strive for a just and equitable international order.”

Undoubtedly, there was much display of bonhomie by the Chinese leaders, which in fact speaks volIssue 9-10 • 2015 SP’S MAI 7

Photograph: PIB

MILITARY Report Indian boundary keeps Indian soldiers on tenterhooks and requires huge military expenditures to safeguard territorial interests. But the Chinese seem to be taking it easy as they have been saying since the days of Deng Xiaoping to leave the resolution of the boundary issue for the coming generations, which according to them is a leftover of history and cannot be solved overnight. Hence the Chinese leaders have been telling to Indian leaders that boundary issue can be settled at a proper time and meanwhile move on in other areas of relationships such as economy, trade, culture and tourism.

However, the Chinese leaders seem to have realised that to keep Indians in good humour, they must ensure that the line of actual control (LAC) remains calm and tranquil, hence they have agreed with the Indian Government to take additional military confidencebuilding measures on the ground, for which the two nations have decided to set up a hotline between the two army headquarters.

Besides, additional points along the frontiers would be opened up to enable local commanders to hold crisis management meetings.

The last year’s incursion in Chumar area of Eastern Ladakh during the September visit of President Xi Jinping was a stark reminder of the fact that how such incidents can derail the very cordial diplomatic and political relations at the highest level, In fact, even during the May 13 visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India an incursion Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the happened in the Depsang Valley, 20 km inside Indian areas. When Great Hall of People in Beijing on May 15, 2015 the Chinese refused to withdraw from the Indian side, the then visiting Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid had to frankly tell the umes of the emergence of India as a new player in the world power Chinese officials that India will be forced to call off the visit of the game and Modi as a new star on the world scene who promises to Prime Minister Li Keqiang to New Delhi, which was slated to be his transform India as an economic giant and make India’s billion plus first foreign jaunt after becoming the Prime Minister.

The defence and military exchanges were suspended in 2010 in consumer market easily accessible to them. They also need Modi and his India in the context of the fast changing geopolitics of the the wake of the ‘Staple Visa’ controversy for the residents of Jammu world, in which India appears to be a power balancer. The way India and Kashmir. That time the Chinese had gone to the extent of issudeclared its convergence of its ‘Act East’ policy with the US Asia- ing the staple visa to the then Indian Northern Army Commander.

Pacific policy during President Barack Obama’s Republic Day visit The defence relations were resumed after the Chinese stopped issuto India this year, had created much suspicion and apprehension in ing the staple visa to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Though Chinese strategic circles. If India formally aligns with Asia-Pacific India has also raised the issuance of staple visa to the residents of rebalancing policy in the Asia-Pacific region, it would heavily tilt the Arunachal Pradesh with the Chinese Government, it did not prevent balance in favour of US and China would be left fuming. Though India from agreeing to further deepen resumed defence exchanges.

China single-handedly plans to tackle these emerging forces in Both the governments have decided to resume the naval passage the Asia-Pacific region, it would add to its credibility if India was exercises and visits of Defence Ministers of both the countries.

Besides the defence sector, huge trade imbalance has been of on its side. Hence, the Chinese have been wooing India to join its extremely ambitious multibillion-dollar ‘One-Belt One-Road’ silk prime concern to the Indian public. India relented and agreed to road projects, which would not gain international credibility with- open up the Indian market for Chinese goods, without any reciprocal arrangement from China to open their pharmaceutical and out India’s active participation in it.

In this background, the international strategic observers were information technology sectors for Indians. The result is that in the keeping a close watch on the visit of Indian Prime Minister to overall bilateral trade of over $70 billion, India has suffered a loss of over $40 billion.

China from May 14 to 16, during which PresiThe Chinese too complained about the strict dent Xi Jinping went out of way to impress and visa regime of the Indian Government, which preinfluence Modi with the characteristic Chinese Observers opine that vents an ordinary Chinese citizen and trader to charm. However, this did not prevent Modi visit India without any hitch. In spite of objections from raising concerns on border related issues, the more the Chinese from the Indian security establishment Modi which according to him elicited good response are enmeshed in took a very bold stand and surprised the Indian from the Chinese leaders. Whenever any Indian and Chinese observers when he announced in leader visits China or Chinese leader visits India Indian business and front of a Chinese audience in Shanghai, India’s all eyes are gazed on the undisclosed confabuladecision to facilitate e-visa for Chinese citizens, tions on the border issue, as that concerns each economic activities without any reciprocal arrangement. and every Indian citizen. The issue is upperthe less will be the During the visit business deals worth over most in the minds of ordinary Indians. Hence, $20 billion were signed which will deepen Chiresponding to their concerns, the Prime Minischances of China nese engagement with India. Observers opine ter went out of his way to emphasise to Chinese entering into a direct that the more the Chinese are enmeshed in leaders the need for an early resolution of the Indian business and economic activities the boundary issue so that both the nations are free confrontation with less will be the chances of China entering into a from the shackles of the boundary problem. direct confrontation with India. SP The undemarcated 4,000-km-long SinoIndia 8 SP’S MAI Issue 9-10 • 2015

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MILITARY Viewpoint

Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

Modi in dragon land

Photograph: PIB

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the Chinese CEOs in Shanghai

Hopefully, China would heed IndiaChina relationship in the longterm strategic perspective and give up its territorial obduracy

A

s prelude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in an interview to an Indian monthly said that a growing ChinaIndia relationship is related to the welfare of the 2.5 billion Chinese and Indians and crucial to the peace and prosperity of Asia and the world at large. He expressed hope that Prime Minister Modi’s visit will deepen strategic and cooperative partnership and serve inclusive development of both our countries. He expressed hope in achieving dynamic balance and sustainable growth in bilateral trade between the two countries. He mentioned that China’s overseas investment in the next five years will

reach $500 billion and ‘Make in India’ initiative and other programmes rolled out by the India promises deeper practical cooperation, China already having decided to set up two industrial parks in India. As for China’s proposed ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative, he mentioned the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) initiative, while saying China is open to India’s views and suggestions regarding the ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative.

He talked of positive progress made in boundary negotiations over the past 30 years and more, which actually is quite the contrary with China having put an illegal claim to Arunachal Pradesh as late as 2005.

He also talked of cooperation in counter-terrorism Issue 9-10 • 2015 SP’S MAI 9

MILITARY Viewpoint

Photograph: PIB

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing at the launch of the Centre for Gandhian and Indian Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai

and for building peace and prosperity in the region, all in usual Chinese diplomatic aplomb.

The fake promises of camaraderie were belied by China’s Global Post denouncing Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, considering all media in China is government-owned. When 70 per cent of fake products around the world are made in China, as reported by media, it stands to reason that bulk of their smiles too are fake behind which lie ulterior motives. With this as the background, it was expected that during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China, latter will focus on economic cooperation to China’s advantage and cooperating in international fora like WTO negotiations and climate change discussions and BRICS while continuing to make perfunctory noises about efforts to resolve territorial issues, continue political, diplomatic and military assertiveness at the tactical level, and avoid reference to China’s strategic lodgement in PoK. Already the balance of trade is skewed heavily in China’s favour albeit India-China bilateral trade has crossed $70 billion and is expected to touch $100 billion soon. Yet, China has not given up her policy of backstabbing India. When Premier Li Keqiang visited India, the PLA had a 19-km-deep intrusion in Depsang in Eastern Ladakh. In 2011, the CCTV, China’s state-owned TV, twice showed a map of India minus Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). During the current visit of Prime Minister Modi, CCTV first day showed map of India minus Aksai Chin, but by evening had changed the map to exclude both J&K and Arunachal Pradesh.

It is ironic that China objects to India assisting Vietnam in oil exploration in Vietnam waters on plea the waters are disputed but has the PLA lodged in Gilgit-Baltistan which in under illegal occupation of Pakistan, digging tunnels for deploying missiles and plans the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor through this territory which belongs to India. In his meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, Prime Minister Modi emphasised on exploring a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution to the boundary issue; intensifying CBMs; importance of clarification of AC; tangible progress on issues relating to visa policy and trans-border rivers; regional concerns; need to enhance strategic communication and coordination in the region; enormous bilateral opportunities and many similar challenges, like urbanisation; China’s participation in ‘Make in India’; need to bridge the trade deficit, and enhancing people-to-people contact.

10 SP’S MAI Issue 9-10 • 2015

Both countries will be cooperating in railways, industrial parks and infrastructure. Post the meeting between the two Prime Ministers, India and China signed 24 agreements worth over $10 billion: Protocol for establishing consulates in Chengdu and Chennai; Cooperation in vocational education and skill development and setting up of Mahatma Gandhi Institute on Skill Development in India; Consultative mechanism on cooperation in trade negotiations; Cooperation between Foreign Ministry and Central Committee of Communist Party of China (CCCPC); Action plan between national railway administration of China and Indian Railways; MoU on education exchange programme; Cooperation in the fields of mining and minerals; Space cooperation outline; Safety regulations on importing Indian rapeseed meal; Broadcasting agreement between CCTV and DD; Agreement for cooperation in the field of tourism; MoU on establishing India-China think tanks forum; MoU between NITI Aayog and China’s Development Research Centre; MoU on cooperation in earthquake science and engineering; MoU on cooperation in ocean sciences, climate change and cryosphere; MoU on understanding on cooperation in geosciences; MoU on establishingstates/provincial leaders’ forum; Establishment of India-China state leaders forum; Agreement on establishing of sister states Sichuan and Karnataka; Agreements on establishing sister cities Chennai-Chongqing, Hyderabad-Gingdao and AurangabadDunhuang; MoU between ICCR and Fudan University for establishment of Centre for Gandhian and Indian Studies, and; MoU for the establishing Yoga college in Kumning.

During the joint press conference, Prime Minister Modi said that re-emergence of India and China and their relationship will have a profound impact on the two countries and the course of this century.

He stressed the need for China to reconsider its approach on some of the issues that impeded realising full potential of the bilateral partnership. He suggested that China should take a strategic and longterm view of the relations. Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Shanghai covered a broad range to include infrastructure, IT, pharma, agriculture and manufacturing. At Shanghai, Prime Minister Modi met 22 top Chinese CEOs and addressed a gathering of businessmen, exhorting them to ‘Make in India’ and adding “You are the factory of the world whereas we are the back office of the world. Indian and Chinese companies signed 21 agreements worth about $22 billion thereafter. These included many contracts with Chinese banks to finance Indian firms, and also included deals in the telecom, steel, solar energy and film sectors. While terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan was also discussed by Prime Minister Modi with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, the bottom-line however is that despite all the display of camaraderie the intentions of China remain suspect.

In recent past, China has raised the ante by way of political rhetoric, frequent transgressions across the LAC and cyberattacks on our networks. Despite the 18th round of boundary talks, China shows no inclination to move forward, to enable demarcation of the LAC. China has ‘guaranteed Pakistan’s territorial integrity’ without clarifying her stand on PoK. China has joined Pakistan’s proxy war against India by not only tacitly supporting the latter but Chinese intelligence also aiding and abetting militants in north-east India and the Maoists. Despite the promises to bridge the trade deficit over the past several years, the deficit has only steadily increased. For the present it appears that while China will extract maximum financial advantage from the evolving bilateral partnership, it will continue to undercut India at the strategic level, in conjunction Pakistan. Hopefully, China would heed India-China relationship in the long-term strategic perspective and give up its territorial obduracy. India will need to evolve its own response accordingly. SP www.spsmai.com

MILITARY Report

India-South Korea – Evolving defence relations

Photograph: PIB

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of Korea Park Geun-hye making press statements in Seoul on May 18, 2015

“We intend to deepen our cooperation in defence technology and manufacture of defence equipment in India.” — Prime Minister Modi

[ By Ranjeet Kumar ]

W

ith India and South Korea raising the level of bilateral relations to ‘Special Strategic Partnership’, the two countries are poised to play a bigger role together in East Asian affairs, giving a significant boost to India’s ‘Act East’ policy. From ‘Look East’ to ‘Act East’ marked an important turn in India’s engagement with South East Asian and East Asian countries, some of whom look towards India for diplomatic and security support.

The visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 18 and 19 to Seoul marked a new turn in bilateral relations, with emphasis on strengthening defence and security relations through high level

visits of defence and armed forces officials from both countries for giving concrete shape to the evolving security relations between the two nations. Though the principal agenda of Modi in his engagements with the South Korean President Park Geun-hye was to seek South Korean assistance in India’s economic modernisation, Modi also emphasised on deepening defence cooperation.

After the talks with the South Korean President, Prime Minister Modi said, “We intend to deepen our cooperation in defence technology and manufacture of defence equipment in India. This sector offers huge opportunities in India. Both the countries will organise regular discussions between the national security councils. We have also agreed to expand cooperation between our armed forces.”

Issue 9-10 • 2015 SP’S MAI 11

MILITARY Report FICCI welcomes path-breaking defence cooperation between India and South Korea FICCI welcomes the renewed cooperation between India and Korea. Dr A. Didar Singh, Secretary General of FICCI, complimented Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Park Guen-hye for working towards boosting the strategic relationship between the two countries and scaling it to new highs in military diplomacy. Industry feels that this initiative will go a long way in creating joint strategies for developing a stable and secure South East Asian aegion from defence & aerospace (D&A) perspective.

FICCI believes that South Korean Industries have developed a lot of cutting-edge technologies, products and systems in cooperation with and facilitated by the governmental agencies. Many of these are apt for adaptation and building in India for Indian armed forces through co-development and co-production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative of Indian Government. The mutual trust and friendship will help in creating an environment to encourage Korean companies to participate in ‘Make in India’ initative for codevelopment and co-production.

FICCI is of firm view that Korean companies will play a strategic

role in partnering with Indian companies, especially private sector, towards development of shipbuilding, submarine construction, design & construction of landing crafts mechanised beside a variety of marine equipment & sytems, tracked vehicles, mine counter Measure vessels, land-based artillery rocket systems, thermal imaging systems, propulsion systems for armoured vehicles, to name a few.

FICCI hails Prime Minister Modi for appreciating the ship-building capacity of South Korea which can eventually become a driver of our growth under join collaboration efforts. Cooperation in shipbuilding will help Indian companies to enter into global supply chain and gradually enhancing our position in global market.

South Korea was one of the first countries to realise the potential of India as a manufacturing hub. India is today a home for many big and small Korean companies and Korean expats with ecosystems to support Korean citizens and make them feel homely during their deputation to India. The Korea-Plus may evolve as a single window system given the interdependence and complementarity between Indian and Korean businesses. SP

Along with other sectors of Indian economy, Modi also invited tries can develop partnership. With this aim the South Korean leaders the Korean defence industries to take advantage of India’s ‘Make in agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Shipbuilding with India.

During his mid-April tour to South Korea, Parrikar had visIndia’ policy in the defence sector, as India offers huge market for defence equipments in India. Modi said, “I have requested Presi- ited Korea’s ninth largest corporation, Hanwha, which is a Korean dent Park to support the participation of Korean companies in the leader in ordnance, fuzes, precision guided systems, sensors and aerospace. After the visit and meeting with the President of Hanwha defence sector in India. Her response has been positive.”

The ground work for strengthening India-South Korea defence Shim, Parrikar invited Hanwha to participate in the ‘Make in India’ and security relations were laid during the April 19 visit of the Indian programme, taking into account the enormous opportunities for Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to Seoul where he had extensive mutually beneficial business opportunities emerging in India. He engagement with the top defence echelons of the country. These had also interacted with the senior representatives of DAPA, Korean included Defence Minister Han Min-Koo, National Security Advisor Defence Industries Association and over 15 leading Korean defence Kim Kwan-Jin, Minister of Defence Acquisition Program Adminis- industries. Senior management team of Indian defence firms includtration (DAPA) Chang Myoung-Jin, and Admiral Choi, Chairman of ing Goa Shipyards Ltd., Bharat Electronics Ltd., Mahindra Defence, the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During the visit Parrikar had co-chaired the L&T, and Tata Power SED had accompanied the Defence Minister India-ROK defence ministerial meeting which identified ways and to South Korea. In meetings with the top management of Hyundai means to deepen engagement in the defence sector. During these Heavy Industries, Parrikar had invited them to become strategic high level discussions, both sides recognised that the relationship partners for India’s defence and commercial shipping sectors.

The first memorandum of understanding on defence logistics was one in which there are no obstacles to realising the significant potential for military-to-military ties. Parrikar had then told the South and supplies was signed in 2005 and in May 2007 Indian and South Korean Defence Ministers had organised their Korean defence leaders that in recognition of the first ever consultations on matters of mutual importance India attaches to Korea as a partner, interest and had then agreed to strengthen he had chosen to make Republic of Korea the first cooperation on training of armed forces perdestination of his visit after the ‘Make in India’ South Korean sonnel and strengthening of mutual cooperacampaign began. Both sides agreed to enhance defence industry is tion between the coast guards of the two countheir efforts to develop mutually-beneficial parttries. The then Indian Defence Minister A.K. nerships in defence production. well positioned to Antony had visited Seoul in 2010. In spite of Parrikar during his meeting with the meet many of India’s regular exchange of high level defence delegaNational Security Advisor Kim had discussed between the two countries since the last ways of intensifying bilateral cooperation in military requirements tions one decade the defence engagement between security and defence and considered ways to the two countries is limited to the Indian import enhance these ties in a manner more commenas the country has of three Suknya class offshore patrol vessels surate with close strategic partners. developed a robust which were supplied by Tacoma company in These meetings had in fact cleared the way the early 1980s. Presently, the South Korean for Modi to invite the South Korean defence arms industry and defence industry is well positioned to meet industries to take a look at India’s defence needs wants to emerge as many of India’s military requirements as the and how to be a partner in India’s defence modcountry has developed a robust arms industry ernisation. South Korea is considered strong in a top ten defence and wants to emerge as a top ten defence supdefence electronics and warship manufacturing, plier of the world. SP with who the Indian private sector defence indussupplier of the world 12 SP’S MAI Issue 9-10 • 2015

www.spsmai.com

MILITARY Viewpoint

Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

The China-Pakistan subconventional pincer

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Maldives, with its over 1,000 uninhabited islands, has been systematically radicalised over the past decade through the LeT, which is a proxy of both China and Pakistan. India needs to take note and stop looking inwards.

he West has reportedly developed technology where location of videos shot can be pinpointed with fair accuracy. The focus came after the series of macabre beheadings the ISIS undertook to attract the bizarre. Talk about this technology surfaced after Ayaman al Zawahiri, Al Qaeda chief, announced the formation of the Al Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS) last year. But even at that time it was assessed that his video announcement was recorded on the Af-Pak border but significantly ‘inside’ Pakistan.

So when the AQIS chief Asim Umar through his video message of May 2, 2015, titled ‘From France to Bangladesh: The Dust Will Never Settle Down’ mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi in context of what he claims as the war against Muslims, one can be assured it was shot in Pakistan. One can be doubly certain that when Umar talked of attack on Muslims “through World Bank and IMF policies, drone attacks, satanic conspiracy of Kerry-Lugar bill, Charlie Hebdo’s writings, UN charter, official sermons by muftis and Narendra Modi’s speeches which call for Muslims to be burnt alive—this is the same war”, that the video was filmed under the aegis of the ISI of Pakistan, who also would have provided the script. It would be so because this propaganda could only be the handiwork of the ISI. No speech by Modi, even before becoming Prime Minister, ever had any such mention with respect to Muslims. If such was the case, then why would the PDP agree to forming a coalition government with BJP in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)? And, why would India rescue some 4,400 Muslims amidst the Indians rescued from the recent earthquake in Nepal? The fact is that Asim Umar has been shaped in radicalised seminaries and madrasas of Pakistan. He is known to have facilitated Osama bin Laden’s move to a safehouse in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, where he lived undetected for years before US forces killed him. Asim Umar’s mother organisation HUJI used to run branches in Kashmir and Myanmar and that is why he has been tasked to head Al Qaeda activities from Afghanistan to Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Pakistan’s ISI is notorious for its links with some 14 major terrorist organisations. It has always had firm links directly with Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda’s off -shoot Haqqanis. Michael Hughes had said some-

time back, “Pakistan has had a close relationship with the Haqqanis for over 30 years, who are still seen as a crucial anti-Indian asset.…Nine years, nearly $300 billion and 1,900 dead coalition soldiers later, the US has officially verified that the entire war effort has been focused on the wrong side of the mountains.”

Even Pir Zubair Shah and Carlotta Gall wrote in New York Times, “The Haqqani family, which runs the network like a mafia, maintains several town houses, including in Islamabad ...known to visit military facilities in Rawalpindi...Experts say leaders... may be hiding in plain sight in cities rather than in remote tribal areas.”

Little wonder then that the Pakistani military was sheltering Osama bin Laden. Ayaman al Zawahiri has also declared his full support to Mullah Omar, the Afghan Taliban head. The LeT and Al Qaeda were behind training the cadres of SIMI since early 1990, raising of the IM and the PFI, latter headquartered in Kerala. But what should cause serious concern of our policymakers are reports of the meeting held in Myanmar during March 2015 bringing nine militant groups of north-east India combining into the ‘United National Liberation Front of West South East Asia’ with active indulgence of Chinese intelligence.

This includes the NSCN-Khaplang who abrogated the 14-year-old ceasefire with Government of India recently and the ULFA faction led by Paresh Baruah, latter having been sheltered in Ruli, in China, past several months.

India is apparently being caught in a giant subconventional pincer of the China-Pakistan strategic pincer. Continuing US support to Pakistani military and the $47 billion Chinese largesse has buoyed Pakistani mischief, as indicated by seditious speeches and waiving of Pakistani flags in J&K while China is upping the ante too because of her nefarious and illegal claims to Arunachal Pradesh. This unholy ChinaPakistan nexus requires constant monitoring. One example is Maldives, with its over 1,000 uninhabited islands, that has been systematically radicalised over the past decade through the LeT, which is a proxy of both China and Pakistan. India needs to take note and stop looking inwards. SP The views expressed herein are the personal views of the author.

Issue 9-10 • 2015 SP’S MAI 13

MILITARY Viewpoint

Military’s woes of Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

The bottomline is that the defence of India cannot be righted without military professionals in higher defence organisations, MoD and the governmental defenceindustrial complex, in which respect the government has yet to make any move.

ammunition shortages – and more

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edia is agog with the reports that India faces severe ammunition shortages and with present holdings can fight a war for only 20 days.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) also busted the myth of the indigenous Tejas fighter by stating that this aircraft was dependent on foreign sources for important components like engine, multi-mode radar, radar dome, flight control system actuators, multi-functional display system and the like.

In a report tabled in Parliament, CAG has stated that the Tejas Mark-I jet is just about 35 per cent indigenous and falling short on as many as 53 technical requirements, greatly reducing its capabilities and survivability in combat. The irony is that despite taking over 30 years, the Tejas fighter aircraft is nowhere near combat ready yet. That its induction, operationalisation and employment in conflict situations will remain dependent on some 65 per cent imported components is obvious. The question is how long will our successive governments put up with a directionless, unaccountable and corrupt governmental defence-industrial complex, Tejas being just one example among scores of them. The façade of stamping a defence product as indigenous despite small indigenous contribution must stop some day.

Take the only information system fielded in the Army; the Artillery Command Control and Communication (ACCS) System which is 95 per cent Elbit of Israel but hyped as indigenous by BEL India by contributing just five per cent of the product. Not that we don’ have the expertise in India. It is always the private sector that is optimised in foreign countries for a dynamic defence sector, but that remains misnomer in India by design; everything by and large is ‘through’ the DRDO-DPSUs-OF. While this CAG report findings are in media, the previous five years CAG and CGDA audit reports bring out the rampant corruption prevalent in the government defence-industrial complex. Reports reveal the unethical and corrupt practices that have been going on: DRDO has been developing equipment which is either substandard or have extended deadlines and additional budgets; many projects have no government approval; CAG says corruption and nepotism exists in the upper echelons and there is an exodus of qualified scientists; CGDA audit findings raise serious questions about capabilities of DRDO – in several cases bought equipment from other companies ‘after’

14 SP’S MAI Issue 9-10 • 2015

spending crores of rupees on R&D. When commercialoff-the-shelf (COTS) equipment is available, DRDO still spends crores of rupees for reinventing the wheel; older, foreign technology is being imported under the guise of joint development. These are but few examples. The military as the user often has to put up with substandard products despite protracted time delays.

Many products are not anywhere close to their foreign counterparts. Post the cross-border violations and firing by Pakistan earlier this year and Indian retaliation, media had reported that India did not have enough ammunition to undertake a full-blown war involving intense fighting for even 20 days.

Citing these reports, media now says six months down the line, the situation on the ground has not changed much. But what six months are we talking about? Have we forgotten the leaked letter from General V.K. Singh, then Army Chief (now MoS in the External Affairs) to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2012 of the tremendous ammunition shortages, including tank ammunition? Post the leak of this document, it was assessed that the ammunition and vital weapons and equipment of the Army alone stood at `1,25,000 crore. It can be safely assumed that only a small of this void would have been completed. Now media quotes government officials stating the Modi Government is ‘fully cognizant’ of the ‘shocking state of affairs’ and ‘urgent steps’ are being taken, it will take time to build up the war wastage reserves (WWR) due to the ‘long-winded’ arms procurement procedures as well as the sluggish performance of the 39 factories under the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

But here the unanswered questions are why are the arms procurement procedures still long-winded and why is the performance of the OFB sluggish when the government has been in saddle for one year, the OFB is under MoD and joint secretary level officers of DoDP of MoD are on all boards of the DRDO-DPSUs-OF? A recent Reuters report cites Anil Ambani being asked by Prime Minister if he knew India didn’t make tear gas shells. But while Army Air Defence (AAD) continues to have fair share of World War II vintage L 70 guns, we continue to import their ammunition from Belgium to date. The bottomline is that the defence of India cannot be righted without military professionals in higher defence organisations, MoD and the governmental defence-industrial complex, in which respect the government has yet to make any move. SP www.spsmai.com

MILITARY updates Government committed to strengthening defence forces

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he Indian Navy’s Air Arm has completed over 60 years of yeoman service to the nation. Since its inception in 1953, it has grown slowly and steadily into a strong arm of the Indian Navy with a large fleet of aircraft comprising carrier borne fighters, ship-borne helicopters, long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft and UAVs. Considering the myriad tasks of Naval Aviation and its poise for unprecedented growth, a Naval Aviation seminar was organised by the Indian Navy on the theme “Indian Naval Air Arm – Transforming for Future Challenges” to discuss and debate on the way ahead.

The Minister of State for Defence, Rao Inderjit Singh, stated that ensuring a multidimensional Navy which is capable of securing our growing interests in our near and extended neighbourhood is of highest priority at the Ministry of Defence. He further stated that the government is committed to strengthening the preparedness of the defence forces and will provide full support to the Navy for its modernisation and development plans. “The importance of the ‘winged component’ of the Navy – its Air Arm – is well understood at the highest echelons and we are indeed looking at equip-

Dhanush gun clears winter and summer trials

ping the Indian Navy with a whole array of aircraft to meet the myriad tasks with which it is regularly tasked,” said the minister. SP

Korwa in Uttar Pradesh.

Parrikar said another notable achievement of OFB in the recent time has been the indigenous development of 40mm multi-grenade launcher (MGL) for 40mm x 46mm low velocity grenades (LVG). He also said the assault rifle Ghaatak (7.62mm x 39mm) developed has met all the parameters as per the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs) during the trial evaluation by paramilitary forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Defence Minister said the Ministry has taken a number of initiatives towards improving the performance of OFB. This includes efforts to operate OFB on a corporate model (not corporatise) with a commercial accounting system. The procurement manual has also been revised keeping in view the ‘Make in India’ plan to facilitate long-term procurement. SP

GRSE bags `20,000-crore Indian Navy order

PhotographS: PIB, SP Guide Pubns

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he indigenously designed and manufactured 155mm x 45mm calibre artillery gun, Dhanush, has successfully met all technical parameters during the winter and summer trials. Informing the Members of Parliament of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry, the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said Dhanush incorporates many improved features than the guns which the Army is possessing at present.

The Consultative Committee was discussing the Role Performance and Future of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), one of the oldest and largest production organisations of the Ministry of Defence. OFB is a conglomerate of 39 ordnance factories with another two new projects being set up at Nalanda in Bihar and

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efence public sector undertaking Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) has bagged its biggest order of building three advanced stealth frigates for `20,000 crore from the Indian Navy.

“This is the highest-ever order which GRSE has got. This shows how much trust the government and the Navy has on us. It is a big shot in the arm for us,” GRSE’s Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral A.K. Verma said.

Under project P-17A, Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL), Mumbai, will make four stealth frigates while the Kolkata shipyard will make three such frigates, all of which will be of the same design.

“Frigates are one-man army which can attack under water, surface level and also at air. It can also carry helicopters and has detection abilities as well. It will become the most potent weapon of the Indian Navy,” Verma said.

Once the final design is ready, the construction at GRSE will begin after three years and the first ship will be ready by 2023. SP Issue 9-10 • 2015 SP’S MAI 15

MILITARY updates

Kavaratti – fourth ship of Project-28 launched

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he fourth anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette of Project-28, christened Kavaratti, was launched on May 19 at a glittering ceremony held at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata. The Minister of State for Defence, Rao Inderjit Singh, was the chief guest at the occasion.

In keeping with the nautical traditions, the ship was launched by Manita Singh, wife of the Minister of State for Defence.

Speaking on the occasion Minister Rao Inderjit Singh lauded the contributions made by GRSE in meeting the growing requirements of the Navy. Admiral R.K. Dhowan, Chief of the Naval Staff, during his address acknowledged the excellent work done by the yard for contributing towards achieving Indian Navy’s dream of transforming itself from a ‘Buyers Navy’ to ‘Builders Navy’. He also commended the work of Director General Naval Design (DGND) and his team in designing state-

Naval base at Porbandar commissioned as INS Sardar Patel

PhotographS: Indian Navy

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ardar Patel, the latest naval establishment of Indian Navy, was commissioned at Porbandar, Gujarat, by Anandiben Patel, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, on May 9, 2015. The commissioning ceremony was attended by Admiral R.K. Dhowan, Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral S.P.S. Cheema, Flag Officer Commanding-inChief, Western Naval Command, senior naval officers and other dignitaries of the state government. The event marked yet another important milestone in the Navy’s efforts to augment the security infrastructure in the coastal states and islands.

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral R.K. Dhowan noted that the commissioning of a full-fledged naval base Sardar Patel was another milestone in the commitment of the Indian Navy towards 16 SP’S MAI Issue 9-10 • 2015

of-the-art warships for the country.

The four ships of Project-28 built by GRSE have been designed indigenously by the DGND, New Delhi and bear testimony to the acclaimed legacy of naval designers. The ships have been constructed using high-grade steel (DMR 249A) produced in India.

With a displacement of 3,300 tonnes, the sleek and magnificent ASW corvettes span 109.1 metres in length and 13.7 metres at the beam. They are propelled by four diesel engines to achieve speeds in excess of 25 knots and have an endurance of more than 3,000 nm. The P-28 corvettes also boast of “firsts” such as the revolutionary rail-less helo traversing system, foldable hangar door, use of personnel locator system and use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) superstructure integrated with the steel hull in the third and fourth ships of the class.

These ships have common raft mounted gear box and diesel engines, which give the vessels very low radiated underwater noise. This is well complemented with an efficient propeller with very high cavitation inception speed. The P-28 Ships also have total atmospheric control system (TACS) and an integrated platform management system (IPMS) which include integrated bridge system as well as battle damage control system. The ASW corvettes also incorporate new design concepts for improved survivability, sea keeping, stealth and manoeuvrability. Enhanced stealth features have been achieved by including low radar cross section (RCS) signature through full beam superstructure, inclined ship sides and reduced infrared (IR) signature by use of ‘infrared suppression system (IRSS) device’ for cooling the engine and diesel alternator exhausts. The ships are also equipped to carry and operate one multiple role helicopter.

Kavaratti will also be packed with an array of state-of-theart weapons and sensors, including a medium-range gun (from Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd), torpedo tube launchers as well as rocket launchers (from Larsen & Tubro), close-in weapon system (from Gun and Shell Factory) and chaff system (from Machine Tool Prototype Factory). With significant indigenous content, the ship is a true hallmark of self-reliance attained by our country in warship design and shipbuilding. SP

augmenting the coastal surveillance and maritime security infrastructure in the strategically important state of Gujarat. The Admiral also complimented the crew of the INS Sardar Patel and exhorted them to do their best in discharge of their responsibilities.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister of Gujarat highlighted the maritime heritage of the state of Gujarat, which traces its origin to the Harappan civilisation. She brought out that the economic development of Gujarat was intrinsically linked to the sea. She acknowledged the Indian Navy’s role towards ensuring India’s maritime security and brought out that the State Government of Gujarat will provide all support to the Navy in their quest for strengthening coastal and maritime security.

Cmde B.R. Prakash, VSM who is the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Gujarat, Diu & Daman), is the first Commanding Officer of INS Sardar Patel. SP www.spsmai.com

MILITARY updates Kharga Corps to validate its strike capabilities

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o hone its combat skills and validate its strike capabilities Kharga Corps is undertaking a major exercise in the area of Suratgarh in Rajasthan wherein more than 20,000 troops will participate. Code named ‘Brahmashira’ the exercise aims to validate the battle readiness and operational effectiveness of the Kharga Strike Corps along with all its affiliated components and will witness display of seamless integration of Air Force as part of ‘Integrated Theatre Battle Concept.

The exercise has been conceptualised by the Kharga Corps under aegis of Western Command for rapid mobilisation and speedy multiple offensives deep into enemy territory. The manoeuvres being rehearsed will allow the Army formations to break through multiple obstacles in a restricted time frame. The focus of the exercise will be on new and efficient ways of fighting a war in a synergised battlefield. SP

The scope of exercise Varuna included the entire gamut of maritime operations ranging from aircraft carrier operations, anti submarines warfare exercises, maritime interdiction operations to multi-ship replenishment exercise.

Regular Indian Navy and French Navy interaction over the years has allowed both navies to gradually and systematically increase the complexity and professional content of the joint exercises.

Varuna aims at deriving mutual benefit from the experiences of the two navies. The confidence gained through such exercises helps develop standard operating procedures, particularly in the fields of Joint Maritime Air Operations Planning with exchange of carrier operational capabilities. The other joint exercises included coordinated anti-submarine exercises, surface exercises, cross deck flying, damage control and fire fighting, air defence, firing drills, air-to-seafiring, tactical exercises and visit board search and seize operations, which further hone the fighting efficiency of the two combat forces.

The exercise goes a long way in enhancing interoperability between the two navies and also showcases the close ties between the two countries. SP

Biannual Army Commanders’ Conference

Indo-French Naval Exercise Varuna 2015 concludes

PhotographS: Indian Army, PIB

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ourteenth edition of Indo-French naval exercise Varuna concluded today off Goa. The 10-day-long exercise commenced on April 23, 2015, and included both a harbour and sea phase.

Laxmikant Parsekar, Chief Minister of Goa, French Ambassador François Richier along with Vice Admiral S.P.S. Cheema, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, and other senior naval officers embarked the French Navy’s aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle on the final day of the sea phase of the exercise.

It may be recalled that the French Navy was represented by aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, two destroyers Chevalier Paul and Jean de Vienne, replenishment tanker Meuse and a maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2. The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was carrying its complement of fighter aircraft Rafale M, Strike Aircraft Super Etendard, E2C Hawkeye AWACS and helicopters Dauphin and Alouette 3.

From the Indian side aircraft carrier INS Viraat, destroyer Mumbai, stealth frigate Tarkash, guided missile frigate Gomati, replenishment tanker Deepak, submarine Shankul and a few fast attack craft participated. Aviation assets of the Indian Navy included carrier-borne fighter aircraft Sea Harriers, maritime reconnaissance aircraft P-8 I and Dorniers along with integral helicopters Seaking 42B and Chetak.

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he Biannual Army Commanders’ Conference was held recently in New Delhi to deliberate on major operational, human resources and logistic issues affecting the Army.

The Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who inaugurated said that national security and capability development were a continuous process that must proceed apace and unabated. He further highlighted some key issues and challenges, both external and internal that had an impact on the nation’s security calculus.

He said that one of the topmost priorities of the government was the welfare of ex-servicemen in which the ‘one rank one pension’ scheme implementation process is underway. Similarly, other welfare projects like the ECHS will continue to be fully supported by the government.

General Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff, earlier addressed the conference, and stressed on various major operational, logistics, training and manpower issues. SP Issue 9-10 • 2015 SP’S MAI 17

MILITARY Viewpoint

Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

Higher Defence Organisation – Will the farce continue?

I Parrikar must understand that the CDS is vital not only for providing single-point military advisory to the Cabinet but also to usher in synergy vertically and horizontally between the three services that is completely lacking at the moment, and to transform the three services into networkcentric warfare capable forces

n an interview to the media last month, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar stated that taking over his current assignment was nothing less than an adventure for him and it took him three months to get familiar with ranks in the armed forces. Not many defence ministers would make such candid admission which is in sharp contrast to doctor know-alls like A.K. Antony who brought the defence of India to such sorry state; lip service to modernisation, obsolete weapon and equipment holdings, and absence of a cohesive policy.

But this apart, the harsh truth remains that we are in such state because successive defence ministers have remained dependent on a set of bureaucrats who themselves have little knowledge of matters military, rank structure of armed forces being no big deal. As significantly, the arms lobby is deep-rooted in MoD and the defence-industrial complex, the adverse affects of which should be apparent to Parrikar with ‘Make in India’ in defence sector reduced to sham despite the government completing one year.

The vital issue that the Defence Minister must address is reorganising the Higher Defence Organisation. Presently, the military continues to be kept outside the strategic formulation of matters military and national security. We still are without a National Security Strategy (NSS) and a Comprehensive Defence Review (CDR) in absence of which streamlining defence procurement and military modernisation are sacrificed. The vital recommendation of the Kargil Review Committee and the follow-up Group of Ministers Report to appoint a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has been ignored and move appears to be afoot to plant a permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) replacing the rotational one, which would make little change.

Numerous defence scams have been in the news with alleged involvement of bureaucrats, one example being the details of MoD officials mentioned in Haschke’s diary in the Westland Helicopter deal.

The fact is that to date not a single MoD bureaucrat has been caught. This then is a major reason because of which the military has been kept away however detrimental to national security it may be.

The fact is that defence has been the most neglected sector in India for the past decade with the military saddled with a dysfunctional and inefficient

18 SP’S MAI Issue 9-10 • 2015

model at the highest levels of the government. One wonders if MoD bureaucrats would have briefed the Defence Minister that not he but the Defence Secretary is charged with the defence of India, and that MoD is not accountable to the military as the Service Headquarters are ‘Attached Offices.’ More significantly, the happy situation is that the Service Chiefs would be facing the music any which way if and when war happens. In such a beautiful set up, where is the urgency for ‘Make in India’ in defence or restructuring the Higher Defence Organisation?

Parrikar must understand that the CDS is vital not only for providing single-point military advisory to the Cabinet but also to usher in synergy vertically and horizontally between the three services that is completely lacking at the moment, and to transform the three services into network-centric warfare (NCW) capable forces. Single Service Commands need to be reorganised into Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs) and Integrated Functional Commands (IFCs) speedily rather than restricting such discussion to the pros and cons of the Mountain Strike Corps. Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) should be completely merged with the MoD and in appointing the CDS, it should also be made clear that there should be no question of MoD generalist bureaucrats doing arbitration over disagreement between services, as was cunningly inserted in the document authorising establishment of HQ IDS. The next step required is replacing MoD with a Department of Defence headed by the Defence Minister and manned by career military specialists, with civilian cells in Defence Production and Defence Finance. Changes as these would provide a boost to defence preparedness, usher in a revolution in military affairs (RMA), evolve requisite strategies and policies including for national security, response to asymmetric war, defence procurements, R&D, technology acquisition and reorganising the defence-industrial base. On balance, India’s defence is in dire straits. The chinks and fissures have come up time and again in various forums and media. Yet, the cloak of all is well remains in place. The Defence Minister needs to take an urgent call on this. SP The views expressed herein are the personal views of the author. www.spsmai.com

AEROSPACE Report

air marshal b.k. pandey (Retd)

The end of a dilemma

The speed with which the DAC has cleared the ‘single vendor’ Airbus-TASL proposal for the 56 C-295 aircraft is indicative of a welcome change in the approach of the bureaucracy towards defence procurement

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ver the last two months, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has had its share of surprises that have been extremely pleasant. Just when hopes of getting the Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) from Dassault Aviation of France through the process of global tender were beginning to fade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sprung a surprise! The process of procurement of the badly needed combat aircraft in accordance with the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) seemed to have encountered an insurmountable impediment and there appeared to be no way out of the logjam.

However, during his state visit to France in April this year, displaying an initiative that is unprecedented in the history of political leadership in India especially in the last decade, without any dithering, Prime Minister Modi set aside the stalled MMRCA tender and changed track to initiate a process with the Government of France for the direct procurement of 36 Rafale aircraft to begin with. As stated by the Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar in a briefing to the media later on, the tendering process in this case that had been lingering for over seven years, had been a failure and that this particular requirement of the MMRCA which was so critical to national security, ought to have been progressed through the governmentto-government route in the first place and not through the DPP. Implicit in the statement by the Minister of Defence was the fact that the DPP is totally inadequate to address the imperatives of national security. Essentially, the DPP is flawed and that the framework of rules there under is far too inflexible. There is certainly the need to restructure the DPP so as it to make it resilient enough to meet with the demands of national security and not have defence procurement deals mired in procedural complexities.

Photograph: Airbus Defence and Space

C295 Deal Cleared by DAC

Even while the IAF was in the process of divining the intricacies and implications of the news on the revival of the possibility of getting the Rafale MMRCA in two years time, came another piece of encouraging news that elevated the spirits in the IAF. This news pertained to the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) that is headed by the Minister of Defence, having cleared the proposal submitted jointly by Airbus Defence and Space along with the Indian partner Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) for the supply of 56 C295 twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft valued at `11,930 crore to replace the ageing Avro fleet on the inventory of the IAF. Of the 56 aircraft, 16 would be supplied by the original equipment manufac-

C295 twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft

turer (OEM) in flyaway condition and the remaining 40 would have to be manufactured in India by the Indian partner in collaboration with the OEM. This piece of news must have been a source of great comfort for the IAF as this tender floated under the DPP too had encountered a major roadblock. As the Airbus-TASL combine had been the only one to respond to the request for proposal (RFP) issued in 2013, it had turned out to be a ‘single vendor situation’, something that is normally not acceptable under the provisions of the DPP. Even though the DAC is empowered to provide waiver with due justification, it has generally refrained from doing so in the past. In fact there was a strong possibility that the tender would be cancelled and a fresh RFP would be issued in due course. However, the IAF was rightly apprehensive that in all likelihood, there would not be many takers for this project for a number of reasons. Firstly as the number of aircraft to be manufactured in India was limited to a mere 40 and there was no guaranteed access to the global market. Secondly that Issue 9-10 • 2015 SP’S MAI 19

AEROSPACE Report there was no private company in India that had the required level of experience and expertise in manufacturing or even assembling military or civil transport aircraft. Already bedevilled by uncertainty with practically all projects pertaining to procurement of aircraft, the IAF was certainly not looking forward to such a possibility as it would have only entailed further delay.

Plan of the IAF to Replace the Avro Fleet

Induction of the Avro aircraft from the UK had commenced in the 1960s and subsequently, the Indian aerospace major the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) produced the aircraft under licence both for military and civilian use in the country. While the domestic national carrier then known by the name Indian Airlines, phased out the aircraft over two-and-a-half decades ago, the IAF continues to operate around 50 of these machines in a tertiary role. Given the vintage of the fleet, it has become increasingly difficult to maintain the aircraft and provide a respectable level of flight line serviceability. Replacement of the Avro fleet was therefore overdue.

In September 2011, during a seminar on the Aerospace Industry in India that was attended by the Chief Executive Officers of a number of private companies associated with the aerospace industry in India, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, the then Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), IAF, spoke of the ingredients of the major expansion and modernisation plans that the IAF had embarked upon and the projects that were underway. One particular element of his public discourse that was a significant departure from the past, was the proposal submitted by the IAF to the government in June that year to involve the private sector of the Indian aerospace industry in the effort of the IAF to build a platform to replace the fleet of HS-748 Avro aircraft that had been overtaken by obsolescence. The CAS was of the view that as HAL was already overstretched and was unable to meet with the time lines in respect of the projects already in hand, it would not be advisable to load this defence public sector undertaking further with new projects. Instead, it would be appropriate to give the fledgling private sector an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the military aerospace segment as well as break the monopoly of HAL through fair and healthy competition. A detailed analysis by the government of HAL with regard to its backlog of orders and the capability of the Indian aerospace major to deliver in stipulated time frames, was supportive of the position as expounded by the CAS in the seminar.

Opposition to the Proposal by the IAF As expected, the proposal to exclude HAL from this project triggered response on predictable lines. Some of these even had the potential to stall the whole programme. The strongest objection came from Praful Patel who was then the Minister for Heavy Industries who shot off a letter to the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Praful Patel was of the view that as the state-owned HAL which is the only company in India that has the capability to assemble aircraft, it was inconceivable that it had been excluded from the project.

But perhaps the most bizarre observation came from a retired Director of HAL who not only wrote a detailed letter to the Ministry of Defence questioning the decision of the government with regard to barring HAL from participating in the project, 20 SP’S MAI Issue 9-10 • 2015

he also went on to question as to why the IAF needed an aircraft of nine-tonne capacity to replace the Avro that could carry only five tonnes. If this logic was to be followed for induction of new aircraft, the IAF would never have been able to induct aircraft such as the IL-76 or the C-17 and would have remained stagnant with aircraft of the capacity of the Dakota DC-3 which could lift a payload of only three tonnes! Fortunately for the IAF, the then Minister of Defence A.K. Antony who was normally inclined to put projects on hold on receipt of even the most trivial complaint, thankfully chose to disregard these objections.

The C295 and the IAF

The C295 from Airbus Defence and Space is a combat-proven high performance medium capacity tactical transport aircraft. With a maximum take-off weight of 23,200 kg, cruise speed of 480 kmph and range of 1,300 km at maximum payload, it carries 71 troops or a payload of 9.25 tonnes. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW-127G turboprop engines, it is designed for tactical airlift, search-and-rescue, maritime patrol and environmental surveillance missions. It is a high wing platform with a rear loading ramp that facilitates easy loading and offloading of cargo pallets, passengers, vehicles, equipment for medical evacuation, communication and logistic duties or for dropping paratroopers behind enemy lines. It has proved costefficient to operate and offers better economy in operations against comparable aircraft over its service life. The aircraft has been proven in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The C295 will help bridge the tactical airlift capability gap that was developing in the transport fleet of the IAF. The recent acquisitions such as the C-17 Globemaster III and even the so called tactical transport aircraft, the C-130J Super Hercules are all with payload capacity ranging from 20 to 75 tonnes. The six-tonne payload capacity An-32 inducted beginning in the mid-1980s, is ageing and will be due to retire in a decade or so. Unfortunately, the availability its replacement, the multi-role transport aircraft to be produced by HAL in collaboration with Russian companies, cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. The IAF needs a tactical transport aircraft under ten-tonne payload capacity and the C295 is certainly a good option. Apart from filling the tactical airlift capability gap, it will help balance the structure of the transport fleet in the IAF.

Welcome Macro-level Changes in the Offing

Despite some initial hesitation, the speed with which the DAC has cleared the Airbus-TASL proposal for the 56 C295 aircraft is indicative of a welcome change in the approach of the slow moving civilian and military bureaucracy towards defence procurement. Indeed the Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar, though new to the Ministry, appears to have been able to reenergise the organisation The DPP needs to imparting it momentum through instilling into it a sense of purpose. Apart from a major revamp be restructured to of the DPP currently underway that will have make it resilient enhanced focus on simplification of procurement procedures and a distinct thrust on ‘Make enough to meet in India’ philosophy, the Minister of Defence is also instituting a system of better control over with the demands the functioning of the bureaucracy through of national security periodic reviews, regular feedback and penalty for under-performance especially in the area and not have defence of defence procurement which ultimately has a procurement deals direct bearing on national security.

The Indian armed forces can now look forward mired in procedural to good days ahead at least during the tenure of the Modi-led NDA government! SP complexities. www.spsmai.com

Aerospace Developments Defence Minister’s interaction with IAF Commanders during Air Force Commanders’ Conference

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he Air Force Commanders’ Conference (AFCC) 2015 was held at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan), New Delhi, on April 20 with the Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar, inaugurating it. Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), welcomed Parrikar, Rao Inderjit Singh, the Minister of State for Defence and R.K. Mathur, Defence Secretary.

The aim of this biannual conference was to enhance the operational capability of the IAF. The Air Chief updated the Defence Minister on operational status of the IAF, induction of C-17 and operationalisation of C-130 aircraft. He also highlighted the efforts put in to increase the aircraft serviceability and the corresponding increase in flying task of IAF as compared to the previous year.

Achievements of the IAF especially during the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations were covered by the CAS. He also elaborated on the IAF’s focus areas and covered the future road map for the IAF. The Defence Minister complimented the IAF for professional conduct during relief and rescue operations especially during J&K floods and rescue of Indians from Yemen. He also emphasised

Upgraded Mirage 2000 arrives in Jamnagar

on aviation safety and the importance of conserving available resources.

During the conference senior leadership of IAF deliberated on issues pertaining to air operations, maintenance, human resources and administration. CAS also presented trophies to various Command Headquarters for excellence in sports, welfare activities and promotion of Hindi in IAF. SP

India likely to seek support of C-130J Super Hercules

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Photographs: PIB, SP Guide Pubns, IAF

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he first two upgraded Mirage 2000 aircraft landed at Jamnagar on April 15. These aircraft were flown by IAF pilots from France to India via Greece, Egypt and Qatar over a period of seven days. The upgrade enhances the overall capability of aircraft with advanced avionics, weapons and self-protection suites.

The upgrade contract was signed with Thales Aeroportes Systems and Dassault Aviation of France. The upgrade programme was successfully completed on schedule. The subsequent serried upgrade of the Mirage 2000 fleet is being carried out at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru. SP

he State Department has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to India for followon support of C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $96 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

The Government of India has requested a possible sale for follow-on support for five years for their fleet of C-130J Super Hercules that includes eight spare AN/ALE-47 counter-measures dispensing systems, six spare AN/ALR-56M advanced radar warning receivers, up to 9,000 flare cartridges, spare and repair parts, configuration updates, support and test equipment, publications and technical data, technical services, personnel training and training equipment, US Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship and to improve the capabilities of a major South Asian partner which has been, and contin-

ues to be, an important force for economic progress and stability in South Asia.

India needs this support for its Super Hercules aircraft to ensure its aircraft operate effectively to serve its transport, local and international humanitarian assistance, and regional disaster relief needs. This proposed sale of additional equipment and support will enable the Indian Air Force to sustain a higher mission-ready status for its C-130J fleet. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractor will be the Lockheed Martin Company in Marietta, Georgia. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. SP Issue 9-10 • 2015 SP’S MAI 21

Internal Security Breaches

Drone on Japanese Prime Minister’s office roof

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small drone which landed on the roof of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s office is being investigated.

The Prime Minister was away on a visit to Indonesia. There have been no reports of any untoward incident.

Police investigations are on to figure out how the drone landed on the rooftop, escaping the attention of security personnel. Television footages showed security personnel around the drone which was wrapped in a blue tarp. The drone is about 50 centimetres (1.7 feet) in diameter and had four propellers, carrying a small camera and something that looked like a flare. It was also decorated with a symbol that warns of radioactive material. SP

Florida airport perimeter regularly breached

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ntruders breached the fences and gates that surround Florida’s four busiest airports at least 37 times since the beginning of 2004.

An Associated Press investigation found 14 incidents at Miami’s airport, 13 at Tampa, seven at Orlando International and three at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International.

The breaches were among at least 268 at the nation’s busiest airports between January 2004 and January 2015. None involved a terrorist plot.

In 19 cases, security nabbed a person who scrambled over or under a fence. Last year at Orlando, a man climbed into a jet’s wheel well and stayed for hours. In 2010 at Fort Lauderdale, a man boarded an empty jet after stabbing a plumber. Airports say breaches are relatively rare. Security measures include fences, cameras and patrols, but there are gaps. SP

PHOTOGRAPH: US Embassy Tokyo

Protester lands mini copter on US Capitol lawn

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n anti-corruption protester was arrested after he landed his mini helicopter on the US Capitol lawn and piloted it through Washington’s no-fly zone, triggering a national security investigation and shocking bystanders. The pilot, Douglas Hughes, was detained and illegal transport charges are pending against him, US Capitol Police said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it is investigating the incident along with other US authorities, adding that the pilot was not in touch with air traffic controllers while in the air.

“The FAA did not authorise him to enter restricted airspace,” the agency said in a statement.

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Hughes is from Florida and was conducting civil disobedience to call for campaign finance reform, according to the Tampa Bay Times, which had interviewed and filmed him prior to his audacious flight.

Air space is severely restricted around Washington landmarks, including the White House and the Capitol, which houses the US Congress whose 535 lawmakers were in session at the time.

A bomb squad inspected the gyrocopter, which landed a few hundred metres from the Capitol, but found nothing hazardous. It was cleared from the grounds hours later. Authorities reportedly put the building on temporary lockdown, although it was not evacuated.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was in the Capitol at the time for a meeting with senators.

The gyrocopter typically cruises at 105 kilometres an hour, with flight times of no more than 90 minutes. No airport is required for take-off and a rear propeller is used for thrust. SP

Marilyn Manson wants police to charge man for attack at Denny’s

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ocker Marilyn Manson and his make-up artist are planning to seek legal action against a man who attacked them in a Alberta diner recently. The goth star’s manager insists Manson and members of his entourage were enjoying a quiet late night meal in a Lethbridge Denny’s restaurant when he was approached by two female fans, who asked for a photograph with him.

He obliged and then found himself the target of a man, who hit him in the face.

Manson’s security guard grabbed the guy, who then began screaming about blowing up the rocker’s next concert. Manson’s manager claims the attacker elbowed his make-up artist in the face.

Both are planning to press charges. SP www.spsmai.com