SP's Naval Forces 02-2006

In This Issue

Future of Submarine Warfare

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Network Centric Warfare 4 page 6

A Quote

Exclusive with Boeing IDS 3 page 19

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6A mine sweeper approaches her anchor berth while ships in the background carry out firing.

We at SP’s are delighted to present the second issue of SP’s Naval Forces to our readers.

Fleet

Editorial

“Just now (during President’s Fleet Review) I witnessed India’s sea power contributed by Indian Navy in high performance through its naval platforms with force multipliers. This gives me the confidence that the nation is assured of its maritime security.”

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam President of India

I would take the opportunity to say that it has indeed been a delight to cover the issues that are of interest to one of the most dynamic and progressive defence services.

SP’s is proud to make a mention that while we were overwhelmed by very kind and supportive comments that were made by Admiral Arun Prakash, Chief of the Naval Staff of India, during the release of this journal. We have been even more overwhelmed by the comments received from varied sectors. In totality, the journal has evoked the positive responses which would duly help us taking the journal a very long way.

Sea Power projected Supreme Commander Reviews the Strength President’s Fleet Review-2006

It is so incidental that the very second issue itself happens to get an opportunity to cover the megaevent ‘President’s Fleet Review’ which takes place once in the tenure of President of India. During the event he reviews the maritime strength of India.

SP’s Naval Forces has made an attempt to cover this photogenic event in a bit illustrative manner.

It is just a beginning. SP’s Naval Forces will remain dynamic. It will indeed continue working towards meeting the aspirations of its readers. We would therefore warmly welcome the suggestions enabling the continuity of this process.

submarine Sindhurakshak, waves during the fleet review on 13 February. It was for the first time that any President of India had sailed onboard a submarine.

Concept of a fleet review was probably conceived both as a show of naval might and inspection of readiness for battle.

In India, the President, as the Supreme Commander, reviews the fleet once during his tenure.

C D R V I N AY G A R G , P R O I N D I A N N A V Y

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he concept of a fleet review was probably conceived both as a show of naval might and inspection of readiness for battle. In India, the President, as the Supreme Commander, reviews the fleet once during his tenure. The ninth fleet review was held, for the first time on the east coast at Visakhapatnam from February 11 to 13, 2006.

About 50 naval ships and 55 aircrafts took part.

The President’s day at sea and presentation of colour to the Eastern Fleet were also held during this period.

Fleet Review

JAYANT BARANWAL MANAGING EDITOR & PUBLISHER

The main event took place on February 12, 2006. President APJ Abdul Kalam embarked on the presidential yacht INS Sukanya after receiving a 21 gun salute and reviewed the anchored ships representing all the naval commands. The crew of each ship were lined up on the upper

Indian Navy

President Bush’s visit to India in March, has introduced an altogether new wave of relationship between the two countries. The direction, the relationship is heading towards; and the variety of gesture exchanges, emergence of positive initiatives and greater understandings of both countries for each other are some of the aspects that have been dealt and analysed by V Admiral Jaitley in the article Fresh Tide in Indo-US Relations. The journal further includes many of the other features, reports etc. which should be of considerable interest to our valuable readers.

4PRESIDENT’S DAY AT SEA: Dr Kalam with Admiral Prakash, onboard Indian Naval

Indian Navy

A forceful and analytical article on Future of Submarine Warfare by a renowned submariner Rear Admiral (Retd) Raja Menon, has been included in this issue. While, an article on Network-Centric Warfare by Vice Admiral (Retd) Parvesh Jaitley discusses the key role that the concept based on Information Age can play extensively in terms of Information Superiority.

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When I am with you, I am reminded of the 1971 heroic action by the Eastern Naval Command. On the declaration of war in December, 1971, INS Rajput, while on patrol, fired depth charges which grievously damaged PNS Gazi. It was a ‘prize trophy’ for the Indian Navy. I am happy that the new INS Rajput has now become the first ship to have the most advanced supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos. I congratulate all ranks of the Navy for their heroic action and their foresight for modernisation to maintain superiority in all future operations.

”

deck in white ceremonials and doffed their caps in unison as salutation when the President’s yacht sailed past. The sound of ‘jai’ three times

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam by the crews echoed over the waves, carrying the promise of allegiance of each and every man to the President and the nation.

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1. The Review column sailing past the anchored ships during Fleet Review on 12th February.

2. Officers and men of a Kashin class destroyer saluting the Supreme Commander (Dr Kalam).

3. Chetak helicopters carrying the national flag and naval ensign overflying a Foxtrot class submarine.

4. Marine Commandos (MARCOS) being retrieved by Sea King helicopter on completion of mission.

5. The President Dr Kalam sharing a moment with the participants of a group song.

6. Naval aerobatics team demonstrating a complex manoeuvre during OP DEMO.

Picture Courtesy : Indian Navy

7. Marine Commandos (MARCOS) heading for a beach assault during OP DEMO .

8. FAC maintaining vigil off Vizag.

9. The President Dr Kalam and Defence Minister Mr Mukherjee seen with Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command of Indian Navy.

10. Aerial shot of INS Gomati and INS Tabar sailing over waters during event.

11. Presentation of Colours by the President of India to the Eastern Fleet.

12. India's first stealth frigate INS Talwar saluting the Supreme Commander in the traditional manner.

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In This Issue President’s Fleet Review-2006

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INAUGURAL ISSUE

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A Quote

Editorial

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The nation is proud of you and in appreciation of your services, I am delighted to present the ‘Colour’ to the Eastern Fleet.

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Operational Demonstration & Beating Retreat

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After the review there was an operational demonstration of the fighting punch of the Indian fleet that showcased the operational tasks undertaken by the various arms of the Indian Navy. The demonstration included high speed manoeuvres by frontline warships, missile firing, landing operations by marine commandos, a submarine display and aerial display by naval aircraft, including its aerobatic team, ‘Sagar Pawan’. The operational demonstration was followed by ‘Beating Retreat’ which took place in the form of a military musical pageant.

The event ended with lowering of the flags, accompanied by a spectacular display of fireworks and illumination of the ships. All the functions were held close to the shore so that the public could get a rare opportunity to watch naval actions at sea.

Presentation of Colour The President presented his Colour to the Eastern Fleet on February 13, at the Eastern Naval Command parade ground. The presentation of the President’s Colour is a matter of great honour and pride not only for the Eastern Fleet but also for the entire Navy. This signifies the coming of age of our sword arm on the eastern seaboard and recognises its contribution towards furthering the country’s security interests in the strategic sea-lanes in the vicinity of the Bay of Bengal. The Royal Indian Navy was presented the King’s Colour in 1935, which is now preserved in the Maritime Museum at Mumbai. After Independence, the Indian Navy was the first of the three services to be presented the President’s Colour on May 27, 1951.

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam President’s Day at Sea The President’s day at sea onboard Indian naval submarine Sindhurakshak was held on February 13, and demonstrated to the President the intricacies of submarine operations. It was for the first time that any President of India had sailed onboard a submarine.

Sindhurakshak is the 9th Kilo class submarine and was commissioned on December 24, 1997 at St Petersburg in Russia. It has taken part in Operation Vijay and Operation Prakaram, and is presently being commanded by Commander Pravesh Singh Bist.

444Presidential Yacht Sukanya

4 INS Sukanya is the lead ship of Sukanya

class, commissioned at Masan, South Korea on August 31, 1989.

4 It is an off-shore patrol vessel, primarily

tasked for patrolling and protection of the offshore assets.

4 Capable of day/night flying operations of

Sea King, Kamov, Chetak and ALH helicopters.

4 Acted as goodwill ambassador by flying

the tricolour in many foreign naval ports and carrying out joint exercises.

4 Provided escort to high value vessels through Malacca Straits as part of Operation Sagittarius in 2003.

4 Earned a certificate of appreciation from

Sri Lankan President for rendering aid during Tsunami.

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The Future of Submarine Warfare

Importance of Numbers

*REAR ADMIRAL (RETD) RAJA MENON

Similarly, the American submarine service was the only weapon system to fight the Japanese after the initial defeats on the American Navy at Pearl Harbour and Guadalcanal. So successful were the American submarines that the last oil tanker to reach Japan did so in the winter of 1944, ten months before the Japanese surrender in 1945.

444 Few admirals read naval history, and hence one finds almost 25 navies less than six or eight submarines in their inventory.333

Despite many pointers, naval warfare was unprepared for the catastrophic effects of the successful German U-Boat warfare in the World War I, and even more surprisingly in the World War II.

Genesis

World War II

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The appalling losses inflicted by the German Uboat captains were a matter of accidental success as Grand Admiral Raeder the C-in-C had convinced Hitler in the inter war years that Uboats would not be a success in the World War II and had all the steel diverted to pocket battleships. Most analysts are perhaps unaware that both Germany and Britain started World War II with roughly 60 submarines each. By 1944, Germany was launching about 700 submarines a year, many of them built in sections far inland and transported on barges to the assembling yards in Kiel and Bremen.

This amounts to the ability to deploy about three or four submarines in case of war, which in turn means the presence of one or two submarines on patrol in any war lasting over a month. So it is clear that when navies acquire six submarines or four or even two, they have no clear idea on what they acquired them for, other than to say they have a ‘balanced fleet’.

By ‘balance’ is apparently meant having a few of everything, like a balanced shopping basket.

Future Employment of Submarines

The training of submarine crews - the captains, the principal control officers and the crew - are probably the most rigorous in any navy. Yet the teaching of how to deploy a submarine or a squadron of submarines is practically non-existent. It is as though once a navy owns a submarine, someone will tell it where to go, for how long and the purpose for which it is being sent.

Presumably anyone can do this job without any formal training. The result of course is that there is a huge mismatch between the dedication and professionalism of submarine crews and the fairly lackadaisical way in which they are deployed or used as a strategic tool.

444 By 1944 Germany was launching about 700 submarines a year.333 6A German VII C Class boat (U-boat) which was used during World War II, on her patroling mission.

5The modernisation of submarine arm of Indian Navy includes induction of Scorpene currently under production.

Gorshkov’s Views Gorshkov suggested that the idea of submarines operating ‘alone’ was impossible where the restrictions of geography enable an intense antisubmarine campaign to be mounted. If there are such areas and submarines are the best platforms to deploy there, then they must be supported by other forces. In other words, the submarine campaign then transcends from a pure sea-denial campaign to an all arms battle. What Gorshkov suggests is that anti-submarine air efforts must be interdicted, Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) ships must be attacked by own aircraft or surface-to-surface missiles and so on.

In this way the battle for the preservation of the sea-denial campaign will grow into a decisive an

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t was in 1911, at the height of the power of the British Royal Navy, that an exercise conducted off the approaches to the English Channel resulted in a well positioned submarine captain ‘sinking’ a number of capital ships as they transited through his patrol area in a rigidly maintained line-ahead formation.

The submarine captain couldn’t believe his luck as the target solution for the lead ship was merely transferred to each subsequent ship as it came into periscope view. At the debrief, the young captain was told not to carry his ‘impertinence’ too far by upsetting what was until then a stable naval equilibrium by ‘damned un-English’ practices. Despite many similar pointers, naval warfare was unprepared for the catastrophic effects of the successful German U-boat warfare in World War I, and even more surprisingly, in the World War II. In the latter war, Italian naval destroyers went to sea in the Mediterranean without sonars of any kind as they were considered too technical to install, too complicated for the crew and of doubtful value, in any case.

Most of the post war strategic thinking has been dominated by World War II narratives, where classical submarine campaigns against the economy and overseas operations conducted over a period of time were stunning successes.

The German U-boat successes came over a period of three to four years. The critical factor here was ‘time’. Even the huge losses on allied shipping would not have had a decisive effect if the war had lasted only for a month or two.

From these narratives it is impossible not to conclude that any submarine ‘campaign’ must be conducted for a minimum of six months before the strategy of sea-denial can dent the war effort of the enemy. The lessons are clear.

A submarine campaign, like any other strategic campaign, must be situated in the overall war scenario to test it for relevance. Some exceptions will always exist. For instance, the density of traffic at chokepoints like the Malacca Straits will always attract a submarine sea-denial campaign. In such cases, where a submarine war may be fought in a restricted area, the ideas of Admiral Gorshkov are most applicable.

If one looks at the way submarine services in the world are structured, it is impossible not to see that most navies have no underlying strategy as regards the employment of conventional submarines. The key of course is ‘numbers’.

Submarines are not tactical weapon platforms.

Many navies think that they are, but they are really strategic weapons or nothing at all. There were almost 40 or 45 submarines deployed at Jutland, but who remembers the role of submarines at Jutland? Similarly there were 19 US submarines deployed at Midway and they affected the course of the battle not at all. About 20 submarines were deployed at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, but except for a contact report made by a scouting submarine, they performed no role in that battle. So tactically, submarines have been failures, but few admirals read naval history and hence one finds almost 25 navies with less than six or eight submarines in their inventory.

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US Navy

all-arms battle which may eventually become Mahanian. So the ultimate objective is not so much the interdiction of sea lines of communications (SLOCs) but the eventual ‘big’ battle.

With all these unsolved mysteries as a background, what is the future of submarine warfare? The two World Wars are no longer useful as models to plan future strategies. If the idea is that submarines will go out on patrol, rotate around with boats in harbour, and that by doing this they will change the course of a naval war, then it is extremely naïve. There are of course many countries that still have what is called ‘single commodity vulnerability’, which is to say that the country is heavily dependent on the import or export of that one commodity. India’s and China’s vulnerability is oil. Pakistan is vulnerable to oil and food. There are other countries that generate 30 to 40% of their GDP from export, and that too of one commodity, like oil in Saudi Arabia. These countries are indeed vulnerable

*The writer is a well known Submariner and a Naval Strategist.

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444 Marketing Supplement to SP’s Naval Forces 2/2006 333

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems:

A concerted effort to mould the future 3Subamrine Class 212A - U 31 - for the German Navy. Built by the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems’ yard HowaldtswerkeDeutsche Werft.

he merger of ThyssenKrupp Werften and the HDW-Group has developed a strong, big European shipyard group ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The emphasis of this alliance is in Germany and is also represented in Europe by shipyards based in Sweden and Greece. In this shipyard group, the main competence in the German naval shipbuilding in the sectors of nonnuclear submarines and surface vessels with its emphasis on frigates and corvettes will be combined. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is aiming for an expansion of its role as leader in these sectors.

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In nonnaval shipbuilding, the competence and the know-how in the sectors of big yachts and merchant vessel building are combined and the existing products will be enhanced. The building of big yachts and merchant vessels represents an important factor in the industrial concept of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The grouping of after-sales activities will provide the ideal coordination of capacities.

The new group combines power, advanced technology and the capability of innovation of ThyssenKrupp shipyards and HDW. It is the base to develop the naval technique knowhow in Germany and to ensure Germany as a shipbuilding location.

Germany—a shipbuilding location For over a decade, the subject of shipyard mergers has been debated both at political and industrial levels and in recent years pressure has been mounting in the European naval shipbuilding sector. The German government has, moreover, demanded naval shipbuilding consolidation on the part of the parties involved.

In the past, HDW and ThyssenKrupp already had successfully joined forces on certain projects: at home—together with others—in the form of project-specific alliances, and on export contracts as consortiums.

Hamburg headquarters both ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and the Surface Vessels Division management. This location will focus on surface naval vessels—frigates and corvettes— and on after-sales business. Additionally, the promising yacht product group is being concentrated and expanded in Hamburg. The midsize yacht segment will be covered by Nobiskrug in Rendsburg.

The industrial plans for Kockums in Sweden and Hellenic Shipyards in Greece will be integrated in the industrial structure of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.

continuation of this cooperation is a safe base for Nordseewerke’s involvement in submarine business.

This merger between the shipyard groups offers numerous benefits: it is a precondition for retaining and enhancing naval engineering expertise within Germany and thus securing Germany’s role as a shipbuilding location. The competence centers in the core businesses of submarines and naval ships are strengthened and expanded while in the yacht sector, the present cooperation will act as a launch pad for aspiring to market supremacy. As a consequence, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems will be working with a concerted effort within this growth segment.

A strong position in naval vessels With the closing on January 5, 2005, the merger between ThyssenKrupp Werften and HDW had been formally consummated. This date also marks the official launch of the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Group headquartered in Hamburg. Essentially, the group comprises Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH, Kiel; HDW-Gaarden GmbH, Nobiskrug GmbH, Rendsburg; Blohm + Voss GmbH und Blohm + Voss Repair GmbH, Hamburg; Nordseewerke GmbH, Emden; as well as Kockums AB, Sweden, and Hellenic Shipyards S.A., Greece.

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems perceives itself as a systems supplier commanding a strong position in the market for naval vessels.

Market continuity The industrial concept Toward its customers, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is demonstrating a well-balanced consideration of production location competence.

The merger ties in with, and advances, existing structures. Kiel and Emden stand for top-caliber technology in conventional submarines while HDW, for years now, has established itself on the marketplace as consortium leader with a first-class reputation. Accordingly, Kiel is the home to the Submarines Division management.

The group‘s structure envisages the retention of all existing locations and focuses on the existing priorities at the individual shipyards. It comprises the four product groups of Submarines, Naval Ships, Nonnaval Ships, and Marine Services.

The Hamburg, Emden and Kiel locations are graduated into Competence Centers with clearly demarcated product responsibilities. This is essential to sustained location survival and healthy development prospects. The purpose behind this product- and customer-focused organization is to respond rapidly and resultfully to market needs and hence cultivate competitive advantages: This concept of focal orientation generates notable synergy potentials. Interfaces will be pruned and multilocational development effort duplication eliminated. The pooling of central purchasing activities, in particular, is expected to deliver benefits while the product-aligned structure will permit improvements in production and materials logistics.

5SAS SPIOENKOP • SAS ISANDLWANA • SAS AMATOLA Type MEKO® A-200 SAN frigates for the South African Navy. Built by the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems’ yards Blohm + Voss and Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in 2003/2004.

Forging a formal merger between the ThyssenKrupp Group and the HDW Group is the logical outcome of the consortium-type cooperation practised to date in the market for naval vessels. For the efficiency of Nordseewerke, in particular, such teamwork is of major significance. With respect to HDW’s past role as consortium leader on submarine orders and HDW’s so-called exclusive components (torpedo tubes, hydrogen storage for fuel cell propulsion), the

patrol vessels (OPVs) and support naval craft.

Emden will still be involved in adding significant value to submarine building. In all, this means a significant expansion in naval shipbuilding plus strengthened naval vessel design facilities.

Blohm + Voss is closely associated with the development of the widely acclaimed MEKO® design. The consolidation of naval shipbuilding in Hamburg and Emden allows the new group to continue to benefit from the reputation built by MEKO® technology.

The yacht, after sales and repair operations are likewise capitalising on existing structures for maximum market presence continuity.

The industrial plan is a win-win situation, having been mapped out to allow for the priorities and capabilities of each location. The new structure is advantageous to each and all.

The competence center for submarine building is in Kiel. While making use of the existing capacity at Emden, Kiel is responsible for such functions as sales, development, engineering design, production, and integration. Kiel is also home to the Submarines Division management. Kiel will continue to have engineering design and production capacities for non-naval shipbuilding—these being spun off into a legally independent company.

5Frigate class 124 SACHSEN for the German Navy.

Built by the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems’ yard Blohm + Voss.

Future prospects for ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems In the market for naval vessels, the new shipyard alliance will be among the leaders in Europe. On an international scale, the Group is outstandingly poised. The new shipyard group unites the core capabilities of German naval shipbuilding in terms of conventional submarines and frigate/corvette type surface vessels. Indeed, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems aims to further sharpen its technological edge in these areas. In the market for naval craft, the new group with its MEKO® technology plays a worldwide lead role in frigates and corvettes while in the market for nonnaval ships (such as yachts), both Blohm + Voss and HDW command vast competence. n

The Emden location concentrates on surface naval and merchant vessels including offshore

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NCW

* V I C E A D M I R A L ( R E T D ) P A R V E S H J A I T LY

The concept of Network Centric Warfare is truly a Revolution in Military Affairs. It implies a fundamental shift from Platform centric approach and leverages the advances in Information age technology to connect battle space entities on real time bases.

Having seen the success of ad hoc applications ashore and effectiveness of the TADILs at sea, NCW concepts got a big boost. This presented a number of options for the military. The commanders felt that operations, logistics, repairs and all other applications and processes that support the cause of war needed to be effectively networked. The solutions varied from computerising the existing operational philosophies and integrating existing networks under one umbrella on the one extreme, to development of new doctrines and operational philosophies on the other extreme. The era of NCW concepts effectively began. The countries that operated TADILs had a distinct advantage in correctly understanding and addressing the relevant issues. However, the confusion too was evident in their vision documents which laid the roadmap to achieve NCW capabilities.

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The volumetric complexity in attaining NCW capabilities is enormous. The vision documents from various sources agree to set-up, ‘the Sensor’s Grid’, that would help collate and fuse the tactical picture obtained from various data sources. ‘The Information Grid’, that would help amplify and analyse the collated data and the, “Weapon Grid”, that would give the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC). Some of them profess the requirements of having the collaborative tools to plan, execute and monitor almost all the affairs of joint operations as an integral part of NCW.

444 It is evident that NCW

aspires to automate the warfare using humans, computers and military equipment in its entirety. 333

Illust: Tapan

It is evident that NCW aspires to automate the warfare using humans, computers and military equipment in its entirety. This cannot be done overnight and also no one knows how the final system will look like. It is a continuous process that is still evolving on account of both, the operational doctrines as well as technologies.

Success of the NCW program involves very high amount of experimentation and field-testing to perfect the processes. Most of all it calls for intense commitment from the top leadership for conception and implementation of the NCW programme.

5An artist’s impression depicting the concept of NCW.

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he character of war is a product of age and keeps changing from time to time with developments in technology.

Major advancements in the information technology in the recent past, which have primarily been driven by the demands of the commercial sector, have found considerable application in warfare to achieve comprehensive information superiority/battle space awareness. In this context, Network Centric Warfare (NCW) or information based warfare is truly a Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). Network centric environment is a comparatively recent concept and encompasses many aspects which demand a radically different approach to military operations. In a collaborative environment, Net Centric Operations (NCO) enables the organisation to rapidly collect and share requisite data in near real time. NCW is not of providing a narrow technological response, but broadly, about an emerging military response to the information age. Fundamentally, the concept of NCW or NCO is about the relationships amongst things and people on the battlefield, as well as achieving and maintaining information superiority by defeating or deterring the enemy by getting the right information to the right place, in the right format, at the right level of precision and accuracy, and at the right time. NCW leverages the advances in information age technology to connect battle space entities such as aircrafts,

ships, tanks and intelligence sensors to each other as well as to the command and control centers on a real time basis.

Evolution of NCW Concepts in the Indian Navy Due to the nature of warfare at sea, navy is intrinsically net centric and operates in an environment that encourages mutual support from its integral elements. Within a ship, team work is extremely important to be able to survive as a fighting unit and therefore networking this team becomes a primary requirement. As the means and technology to network increases, the focus is now shifting from the individual platform to a group of platforms and even the entire navy. Let us consider the naval working environment and look at the chain of events that lead to the development of NCW concepts.

During the early 70s, commanders at sea looked at individual displays in their operation rooms to see radar, sonar or electronic support measure pictures. Then came the era of Command, Control and Intelligence (C2I) systems that enabled them automatically to track the targets, conduct threat evaluation and suggest best search patterns. By early 90s, data links became an integral part of C2I systems that enabled exchange of tracks among various

ships. It became possible to compile a common composite tactical picture among various platforms at sea. This marked the beginning of NCW concepts. By late 90s, considerable technological advancements were made to refine the Tactical Data Information Links (TADILs) for exchange of data over the radio circuits. The TADILs could create and manage the networks and automatically route the required information from source to the destination.

444 By late 90s considerable technological advancements were made to refine the Tactical Data Information Links for exchange of data over the radio circuits.333

The requirements of NCW in the maritime scenario differs significantly from those in the other two services essentially on account of factors like large area of operations, extending deep into the ocean and high seas operation in three dimensions with each dimension having its own propogation characteristics that makes interoperability a major area of concern. Further operation in littoral and featureless sea environments poses their own complexities. Considering the peculiarity of naval requirements, a typical NCW infrastructure should achieve the following capabilities: 4Collation, compilation and presentation of

operations’ related data, emanating from various sources at Maritime Operation Centres of the three commands and transmission of fused picture downstream to constituent elements.

The system should achieve total battle space awareness through integrated global communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

4 Establish a cooperative engagement capability by fusing of sensor and weapon grid.

4Enable smooth operations in the complete

On the other hand, the internet and mobile telephony matured in the civil streets and revolutionised the manner in which the business was conducted by commercial world with considerable success. Following the technology trends, military too took an initiative and set up various independent networks for shore based need in an ad hoc manner.

spectrum of warfare, to include peace time, constabulary role, crisis management, out of area contingencies and war through integrated joint planning and operations.

4Seamless integration of operations, adminis-

trative and logistic support system.

4An effective decision support system.

*The writer is former Chief of Material, Indian Navy.

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Functional Elements To achieve the above capabilities, we would need to have an information web as a backbone which should provide main user interface that integrates the whole system, compiles data from various sources and display Common Operational Picture (COP) taking into account key factors such as timelines, completeness of coverage etc. An important element would be the ability to manage vast reservoir of information for an effective Decision Support System (DSS). Large quantity of information requires greater interaction between constituent elements and hence adequate collaborative tools like voice, data, chat and video services would be necessary. Finally we have to achieve cooperative engagement capabilities as a high-end function of NCO. Needless to say that the network would have to be rugged, reliable and most importantly secure.

Basic Infrastructure Requirements Acquiring and setting up the correct information technology infrastructure plays a major role in NCW. Typical infrastructure would comprise of the following: 4Communication networks would be the heart

of the system which should be spread out geographically with multiple nodes, all over India, using commercially available systems like switches, routes etc. An important feature of this network would be encrypting using proprietary algorithms to be developed in-house. Use of satellites and software defined radio will supplement the network.

4Information Collection and Processing

Systems would be collecting data from their

The Future of Submarine Warfare

to adopt step by step approach, a sort of rapid prototyping. While the conceptualisations and implementations of NCO would need a topdown approach, the system integration will need to be implemented using bottoms-up approach involving following broad steps:

4Command and Control Centres which provide

4Initially interface and integrate weapons, sen-

processed data in a form by which people can make intelligent decisions in real time.

sors and systems with a warship using high bandwidth local area network.

4Evolution Process or Co-evolved Mission

4Thereafter inter-link entities to facilitate infor-

to be handled at appropriate administrative and technical plans, keeping sensitivities of intellectual property rights in mind.

Capability is a major task of NCW. These processes have to be conceptualised, designed, developed, tested and finally feedback needs to incorporate for continuous improvement. This process represents the evolutionary nature of NCW wherein the lessons learnt from operations are modeled and tested and revised software is developed to cater for new requirements or plug the loopholes in existing processes. The approach here is Rapid Prototyping.

mation exchange using tactical data links within a group.

Conclusion

444 Communication networks would be the heart of the system.333 Implementation Strategy In so far as NCW concepts are concerned, the understanding of practical applications and operations philosophy remains hazy and can only be refined and improved with exploitation experience. In view of lack of absolute clarity, the staff requirements remain incomplete and customised solutions are not available. It is an evolving process which would be developed based on continuous user inputs. We will have

444 There are of course many countries that still, have what is called single commodity vulnerability like India and China’s vulnerability is oil.333 What do the other navies do? A very few can get by with owning nuclear submarines and that is a different game altogether. Analysis done in the US Navy in the early 70s, at the time that conventional submarines still existed, indicated that taking transiting times into account and speeds of advance and territory covered, one nuclear submarine is roughly equal to five conventional submarines over a period of time. This is an estimate that can be checked with operational analysis and looks quite plausible. The effect of deploying a nuclear submarine, even tactically as against continental submarines,

high bandwidth networks using a dedicated or shared communication backbone.

Because of the evolving nature of the process, the development process will essentially have to be indigenous.

In so far as technological know-how is concerned, India has a huge pool of talented and young technology professionals that can be easily guided to develop software and hardware systems needed for NCW. The one weakness in India is inadequacy of hardware industry with R&D in design of required hardware. This can be made up by encouraging private sector involvement with partial government funding to set up requisite infrastructure. Because of security concerns, it would be more appropriate to take on this task indigenously, selectively in-sourcing skills, knowledge and technology from abroad.

Another concern regarding indigenous development of NCW system relate to difficulties in integrating our communication protocols in systems procured from other countries. This needs

With the advancements in information technology and successes achieved both in commercial and military application by leveraging the power of network, navies the world over are striving towards enhancing their war fighting efficiencies through doctrinal changes and network enabled organisations, the basic building block for which are surveillance systems, high data capable communication backbone, integrated network systems/applications that work on common standards and protocols, and an environment for collaboration. In order to realise this capability, first and foremost requirement is utmost commitment of top leadership both at government and armed forces for providing personnel and budgetary support.

Since technical expertise exists both in service and industry, it is prudent to utilise this by complementing technical expertise of industry with domain expertise of user service. Realising this concept of NCW is time consuming and expensive effort which has to be done if we are to attain battle space superiority. Attaining NCW capability is a force multiplier and it is heartening to hear Indian armed forces striving towards attaining such capability.

US Navy

2/2006

3The Americans have begun to shift SSBNs to a Tomahawk cruise missile firing role.

Seen here is Florida (SSBN-728) launching Tomahawk cruise missile during Giant Shadow in the waters off the coast of the Bahamas.

was pointedly brought out in the Falklands. Both the two 209s deployed by Argentina had tactical roles and both failed. The one nuclear submarine deployed by the UK sank the Argentine cruiser and so shattered the morale of the Argentine Navy that their aircraft carrier, which could have played a critical role against the landings, did not venture out to sea again.

Role for Indian Submarines The lessons for small to medium navies are therefore clear. They have to think of new roles for submarines. A sea-denial role over a period of time will attract no funding from a discerning government. Even with surface-to-surface missiles, damage can be done to the enemy fleet but what difference will it make to the course of the war? For navies as small as the Pakistan Navy, this question doesn’t matter for it has no strategic role, and its sole purpose is to do ‘something’. And what does the Indian Navy do?

One way out of this blind alley is to shift to land attack weapons - not as a half hearted measure, but in a full throated way. The Americans, it

3The USS George Washington (SSBN 598) was the world’s first nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine.

SP’s NAVAL FORCES

4Finally, integrate groups through extremely

nature of the process, the development process will essentially have to be indigenous.333

...Continued from page 4

to attacks on their economy, which is something submarines can do. But only in ‘numbers’ and over ‘time’.

8

444 Because of the evolving

clients like camera, motion detector, satellite picture, computers, intelligence etc., encrypting and processing it on software programmes running on super computers. The processing nodes forming multiple hierarchies for decision making at the appropriate level of command.

US Navy

NCW

is true, have begun to shift SSBNs (ballistic missile submarine nuclear fuelled) to a Tomahawk cruise missile firing role, with one SSBN carrying almost 150 Tomahawks. A conventional submarine with even 16-20 land attack missiles will be a potent addition to a land attack strategy by navies that wish to do more than attack SLOCs; the latter role may serve no purpose whatsoever in a short war.

Even in a longer war of say 6-8 weeks duration, navies that attempt to defend or attack SLOCs as a bread-and-butter role are doomed to die.

Supplementing the land attack missile capability could be a special forces’ insertion role, particularly when the coast is heavily defended. The US Navy regularly gives presentations where this role has been carried forward to its ultimate. In that scenario, an SSN (nuclear fuelled submarine) lies on the bottom off the littoral and releases a number of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) which are involved in operating special forces, mining of harbours, attacking ships with limpet mines inside harbours, provide beacons for attacking war planes, rescue downed aviators and provide reconnaissance.

In a land attack role, operating for long periods off the littoral, it might just make sense to divert one tube or launcher to anti-ship missiles.

But the fate of serious submarine services is uncertain, just as it is for large armoured forces in land warfare. At a recent congressional hearing on the need to replace the American Main Battle Tank, senators asked the army generals to describe a scenario in which large armoured forces would be required to drive across continents to seize the enemy’s capital to dictate peace terms. There were none. Similarly, submarine warfare strategists have to ask themselves questions before someone else does.

Which is the scenario where submarine forces can bring another nation to its knees? What conditions must apply for a successful traditional submarine campaign? How long will it take, and can the role of traditional submarines be made to match the overall war aim? Adapt and modify now or pay the price later.

Submariners have to seriously think of getting away from SLOC warfare into littoral warfare as there are many things to do in the littoral - but not armed and equipped as submarines are today. As one of the only two growing navies in the world, Indian submariners have to think seriously about the next generation of submarines - the way they will be equipped, armed and fought before they go the way of some armoured forces.

SP’s Naval Forces released by CNS

SP Guide Pubns

Admiral Arun Prakash, the CNS, being welcomed by Mr Baranwal during the release event (left). CNS releasing the journal.

CONCEPT BEHIND THE JOURNAL Currently, Indian Navy is the most happening arm of India’s military system. This stateof-the-art service has also been very interoperable.

This has been well reflected in the joint exercises conducted with some of the very credible navies such as US Navy, French Navy, and so on. SP’s Naval Forces is an output of the ideas to cover such an organisation which duly carries forward the India’s foreign policies through high-seas.

C

ontinuing with its march towards reporting on matter related Defence in all its dimensions, SP Guide Publications launched SP’s Naval Forces on January 12, 2006 when Admiral Arun Prakash, Chief of the Naval Staff, India, released the inaugural issue at an impressive ceremony at the United Services Institute, New Delhi, in the presence of a large number of senior officers from Defence, Industry and diplomatic corps.

Welcoming the distinguished gathering Mr Jayant Baranwal, the Managing Editor and Publisher of SP Guide Publications briefly highlighted the endeavours of the publishing house during the last four decades in bringing out defence publications focused on each service. He particularly thanked Admiral Arun Prakash for his gracious presence on the occasion and for all the encouragement and support that was received from staff of Naval Headquarters, New Delhi in making release of this publication a reality.

The ceremonial release was followed by an interactive session between the guests which provided them an opportunity to interact with Indian Naval Chief.

Different views of gathering of the various personalities during the release event.

SP’S BACKGROUND

Letters to the Editor

Founded by Shri S P Baranwal in 1964, SP Guide Publications has been renowned to fill the voids in the market. Firstly, Military Yearbook was introduced in 1965 with the aim of arousing public awareness about the Indian Armed Forces. At that time there was simply dearth of any such references in India. The Yearbook, now known as SP’s Military Yearbook, has completed over 4 decades and is indeed a premier publication from Asia which offers indispensable reference document for the armed forces. Keeping up with the pace of military and civil aviation and also the space, SP’s introduced SP’s Aviation in 1998. The journal was introduced as a quarterly feature and has been converted into a bimonthly from the beginning of 2006.

SP’s later introduced a bimonthly for the ground forces namely SP’s Land Forces in 2004. It was released by the then Defence Minister Mr George Fernandes in February 2004. Till January 2004, there was no journal in the whole of Asia dedicated to the land forces. It is emerging as the most favourite document within the land forces due to its much focused nature. Not much later, SP’s realised the need of journal typically focused on naval affairs and decided, in consultation with the top brass of Indian Navy, to introduce SP’s Naval Forces to fill the void. With SP’s Naval Forces, SP Guide Publications now offers a full spectrum of specialised publications dealing with Land, Sea and Air.

It is most gracious of you to send me the new Journal. One is more than sure that your organizational strength, leadership and management would enable the Journal to flourish with wider and greater participation.

Vice Admiral Venkat Bharathan, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy

basis, especially to keep up the good work done in the inaugural issue. You have raised the threshold of expectations.

1. I was indeed quite surprised to see the speed with which ‘SP’s Naval Forces’ has been launched. I have gone through the first copy.

Managing Editor’s Reply:

2. I have the following observations for your considerations:a. Being the inaugural issue I wish the photographer of the journal had got the CNS photographed in white uniform. The blue uniform is a recent introduction, which is not known to those who are not associated with the Navy. You are perhaps aware that we wear this uniform once a week in Delhi. b. The size and shape of the journal, appears to be based on the American/British model and I am sure you must have very good reasons to adopt this format. I was merely looking at the economics as also the ability to carry the journal with ease. c. The Navy Being relatively a small service I do hope you will have enough material to cover its progress on a regular

3. Briefly, I wanted to convey that the inaugural issue has started with a bang and I hope the contents and standard of those to follow, would be equally rewarding.

Vice Admiral SCS Bangara, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, Indian Navy

I am grateful for your kind observations on the inaugural issue of SP’s Naval Forces. Please rest assured that we at SP Guide Publications will delightedly give due considerations to them.

The Naval Headquarters at New Delhi have been quite supportive towards this journal. I am more than certain that with the consistent kindness and cooperation, SP’s will be able to sustain SP’s Naval Forces with even better standards, for years to come.

1. In a country where strategic thought process has been woefully inadequate and knowledge of “matters military” confined to a select few, it is indeed heartening to see SP Guide Publications’ efforts to correctly bridge this in formation gap.

CNS SPEAKS AT THE OCCASION I think Indians generally believe that India is a continental power, has always been so but if you go back in history you will find that there was a period of about more than 1000 years upto 1300AD, when India was a maritime power. We were engaged in trade and commerce very actively in the Arabian Sea and on the east coast there was a succession of dynasties like the Pandavas, Mauryas, Cholas and Srivijyas who were not engaged in invading the neighbourhood but transporting Indian culture and religion from India to the whole of South East Asia. The Srivijyas dynasty lasted for many years and was brought down by another dynasty i.e. the Cholas. After that the influx of the Moghuls and Arabs brought an end to the Indian sea power. So after about 13001400 years of dominating the seas, for about 700800 years Indian maritime power had no significant presence. That period coincides with foreign powers dominating us.

I think and hope that we are now going to rejuvenate Indian maritime power and hopeful that in the next 5-10 years, India will become one of the outstanding maritime powers. It is thus a very appropriate and timely occasion you have chosen to launch this new Journal. Mr Baranwal has been bringing up the topic with me from time to time and I must confess that I was a bit doubtful and differed with him on two issues. Firstly I said that will the Journal of this nature be able to sustain itself? Secondly I asked him whether Naval Forces was an appropriate title or would it be better to call it Maritime Forces but on both these issues he had no doubt. He is quite a resolute person and went ahead with what he wanted to do. I am certain that in times to come, he will be proven right and I will be proven wrong.

At this juncture I must also compliment him as I have gone through his publications over the years and I think that they have come a very long way and today all of them are of international quality in content, production and get up. This is a tribute to his energy and devotion, and something we can feel proud of. So in conclusion may I once

again felicitate you Mr Baranwal, it is a day of great significance not only for you and your company but also for us in the Navy. It will give us a forum to project issues and focus on maritime India. I also hope that the name will not be restrictive to navy as the word ‘maritime’ encompasses a whole universe of maritime issues like merchant navy, ports and ships.

2. The inaugural issue of SP’s Naval Forces is indeed a commendable effort and the editorial team needs to be complemented for their maiden venture. The presentation, selection of articles and the layout of the journal are indeed very pleasing to a perceptive reader.

Vice Admiral J S Bedi, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy

I am in receipt of your recent publication SP’s Naval Forces. I had gone through its contents at a glance. It is quite useful and informatory. No doubt it will supplement me for the deliberations in Parliament and among the public.

I welcome the efforts and initiative taken by you in bringing out the publication.

Mr S K Kharventhan, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, India Thank you for sending your new journal SP’s Naval Forces. .…….very informative and of high standard.

Air Commodore R Kumar Principal Director, Armament and Safety Equipment, Indian Air Force

SP’s NAVAL FORCES

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9

eussI sihT nI LARUGUANI EUSSI

Indo-US Relations

V I C E A D M I R A L ( R E T D ) PA R V E S H J A I T L E Y

Recent visit of US President George Bush to India in March 2006 has been acclaimed as a resounding success primarily on account of the signing of the nuclear deal which puts India firmly, if tacitly, in the elite of “Nuclear Haves”, recognising it as an important world power. A significant inclusion in the joint statement issued by the two countries relates to defence cooperation with the words “The United States reaffirmed its goal to help meet India’s defence needs and to provide the important technologies and capabilities that India seeks.”

The statement further explained that on security, the United States and India are building the foundation of a durable defence relationship that will continue to support their common strategic and security interest. The joint statement focused on the following issues: 4Maritime Security Cooperation: The United

States and India are committed to a comprehensive cooperative effort to ensure a secure maritime domain.

4Counter Terrorism: The two countries are

jointly expanding the scope of their counter terrorism cooperation, including work on bio-terrorism and cyber security.

4Military Logistics Support: India and United

States will soon sign an agreement to facilitate mutual logistic support during combined training, exercises and disaster relief operation.

4Defence Trade: The United States reaffirmed

its goal to help meet India’s defence needs and to provide the important technologies and capabilities that India seeks.

SP Guide Publns

The Bush Visit

5Mr Mukherjee (Indian Defence Minister) and Mr Donald H Rumsfeld (US Defence Secretary) smile after signing a document in the Pentagon establishing the new framework for the Indo-US Defence Relationship on June 28, 2005.

perceived mindsets in the US about India’s position on politico-economic issues and its policy of marginalising India by military support to Pakistan. Post-Pokharan tests, India witnessed cooling of relations and an era of technology denial regime accompanied by imposition of sanctions, adversely affecting the product support of US origin equipment. The events of 9/11 brought about a major rethink in the US global strategic perspective and it began looking at India as a key strategic player in Asia to partner it in its fight against terrorism. Having been a long time victim of fundamentalist Islamic terrorism, India was more than willing to help it in curbing and eliminating terrorist groups. In the changed scenario, both countries found other areas of strategic convergence as well like protection of seas lanes from Persian Gulf to the Straits of Malacca, containment of China, energy security, economic interdependence, containment of terrorism at sea and sea piracy etc.

Consequent to this rethink on global strategy

and convergence of views on improving IndoUS relations, defence cooperation matters received a pro-active thrust with the signing of the 10 years Indo-US Defence Framework (DF) on June 28, 2005, during the visit of Indian Defence Minister Mr Mukherjee to US. This agreement lays out an ambitious plan for advancing the relationship to higher militarytechno-commercial levels.

The relationship envisaged is multi-faceted and covers a wide spectrum of activities to include joint exercises, defence sales, exchange students and instructors, individual training courses and collaboration on other military issues. In the recent past, significant momentum to put the relationship between the two countries on firmer footings has been noticed with the increasing exchanges of visit of senior officers.

The head of the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, Lt General Koehler, responsible for military training and military related sales, has visited India several times, working closely with his Indian counterparts on key acquisition issues.

US Defence Industry Enthusiastic An important component of DF was the call for expanding two-way defence trade. During Defexpo 06 held early this year, US defence industry rented the largest amount of display space - a remarkable increase from four years ago when only a few US companies desired to

The content, emphasis and tone of the statement obviously implies that the days of US not being a reliable defence equipment supplier are now history, and with changing strategic perceptions and a great deal of convergence in future areas of mutual interest, there are many mutually beneficial aspects that tie the two countries together. .

Indo-US Defence Cooperation Indo-US defence cooperation, started in 1984 when a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the US and Indian Government for export of ‘Sensitive Commodities and Technologies’ from the US. It largely remained unimplemented due to

4Malabar 05 was the largest and the most complex Indo-Us Naval Exercise to date.

USN

Perspective

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The content, emphasis and tone of the joint statement issued by the 2 countries, obviously implies that the days of US not being a reliable defence equipment supplier are now history, and with changing strategic perceptions and a great deal of convergence in future areas of mutual interest, there are many mutually beneficial aspects that tie the two countries together.

lairotidE

Photos by Sanjay Sharma for SP Guide Publications

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Continued on page 12...

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a tradition of commitment

Honeywell is a leading global supplier of aircraft components, engines, safety avionics, and related products and services for military services, commercial airlines, business and regional aircraft, and spacecraft.

We are building a world that’s safer and more secure – more comfortable and energy efficient – more innovative and productive – and our tradition of commitment continues to fulfill the military missions in India and abroad.

For more information contact us at (011) 4239 9900 or visit www.honeywell.com/sites/india © 2006 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved

eussI sihT nI Fresh Tide

...Continued from page 10

LARUGUANI compete in India. Major American companies like EUSMartin, SI Boeing, Raytheon, etc Lockheed appeared most enthusiastic to enter the Indian defence market during their interaction in Defexpo.

Mr Bush’s visit a glimpse 2

1

One of the largest American defence contractors, Lockheed Martin reportedly joined the Indian Navy’s global bid, offering eight brand new Orions instead of the used ones. This offer and the unending stream of top level visits by big bosses of American weapons firms is indicative of the enormous stakes at play for the American arms industry in doing business with the Indian armed forces. Lockheed Martin has also responded to the Navy’s interest in acquiring eight MH-60R Sea King Helicopters.

In order to make their offer more attractive, some of the American majors are offering much improved product support packages, technology transfer to Indian industry/ R&D establishments, as also India’s participation in some of their new technological development programmes such as Boeing IDS’ Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft programme (P-8I, a variant of P-8A). It will be interesting to see how these will fructify as negotiating these would involve hard bargaining.

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4

3

Navy to Navy Interaction

In so far as defence sales are concerned, Indian Navy is currently processing a number of cases under Foreign Military Sales programme.

These include acquisition of LPD, Submarine Rescue Cover (Global Rescue Flyaway kit), Sea King spares, Goshawk trainers for fighter pilots,

lairotidE

In the emerging strategic scenario, primarily governed by terrorist threats, energy security and protection of sea lanes, it is obvious that naval engagement is bound to be an important aspect of Indo-US strategic partnership. Navy to Navy interaction in the years ahead, would therefore need to be enhanced substantially. The longest continuing US-India exercise is the Navy’s Malabar exercise series Malabar 05, the seventh in the series, included aircraft carriers, maritime patrol aircraft and submarines from both counties. This exercise exemplifies the strong mutual interest of the two countries in cooperating on maritime security issues. Conducted from September 25 to October 7, 2005, the event involved some 9000 sailors, 12 ships and over 100 aircrafts and was the largest and most complex Indo-US naval exercise to date. For the first time, the exercise included Indian and US aircraft carriers (INS Viraat and USS Nimitz). It is envisaged that the complexity of future Malabar series exercises will substantially increase to bring about better coordination amongst the two navies to enable them to work together when required to maintain security on the oceans.

1. President Bush with Lady Laura Bush waving to Indian dignitaries from ‘Air Force One’.

2. With Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife at the airport.

3. President to President: Dr Kalam welcoming Mr Bush.

4. Dr Condoleezza Rice with Mr Pranab Mukherjee at Hyderabad House.

and long range maritime surveillance aircrafts.

In addition, US is engaging the Indian Navy in some of the new development programmes like MMA, Joint Strike Fighter, anti-submarine warfare systems, new concepts in propulsion and NCW. It will be interesting to watch how far the US will go in allowing participation of Indian engineers in the development process to be called a true partner.

US Security Initiatives The US had mooted the Regional Maritime Security Initiative (RMSI), in the aftermath of 9/11, and the growing incidence of terror in South-East Asia. The initiative broadly deals with naval cooperation through joint patrols, information sharing protocol etc. While the initia-

tive has not progressed owing to opposition from countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, it is likely to be reviewed in due course as the opposition to it is withering and the entire South Asian region is laying great emphasis on “Operational Solutions to Maritime Security Problems”. Indian Navy is going to play a major role in addressing this issue.

As an apparent follow-up to RMSI, the US Navy has mooted an initiative called “Regional Operational Information Sharing Network, Cooperative Maritime Forces Pacific” and has proposed Indian Navy’s participation. One can observe a larger degree of professional understanding emerging because of the continued engagement between the navies of the two countries..

Maritime Co-operative Framework on Fast Track Putting the proposed Indo-US Maritime Cooperation Framework (MCF) on the fast track, US Pacific Fleet Commander, Admiral Gary Roughhead, is expected (around April end, this year) to discuss the final modalities with the Navy and Ministry of Defence. His will be one of the three high level visits by US four star officers.

Photos by Sanjay Sharma for SP Guide Publications

As mentioned earlier, the MCF figures prominently in the joint statement of March 2006. It principally provides for joint Indo-US maritime operations encompassing joint patrolling of energy trade routes including Malacca Straits, anti-piracy and other trans-national crimes at sea, search and rescue operation, anti-pollution at sea and rescue and relief operations during natural disasters.

Increased level of US companies presence during Defexpo: Clockwise from top Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing.

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US is keen to get India onboard for energy security in the region and sees Indian Navy’s growth in capacity as an adjunct to its own progressively swelling operational commitments in South Asian waters. Such an agreement would be a logical conclusion to the escort assistance provided by the Indian Navy to US merchant vessels passing through the Malacca Straits a few months after the September 11 attack. Both

sides have also agreed to address the emerging threats and enhance cooperative capabilities, including through logistic support.

Another senior level visit that took place in early April this year, was that of Commander of the US Pacific Air Force, General Paul V Hester, to be followed by the visit of General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It is obvious that both sides have decided to push a busy schedule of top exchanges to keep up a high level of strategic engagement while the US Congress scrutinizes the Indo-US Nuclear deal.

Conclusion While a number of initiatives have been taken in the recent past, particularly after the signing of DF in June 2005, success in defence sales, both in terms of hardware, software and technology transfer, would go a long way in putting Indo-US relations on a firm footing. The Indian mind set, in the light of their earlier experiences that US may not allow adequate technology transfer and thus not bridge the technology gap, has to change. For this the US and US industry will have to come more than half way forward. The Indian industry has matured with sound infrastructure, hardware and a large pool of skilled personnel, and is in a position to be an equal partner of US industry in meeting Indian defence needs. It would be most appropriate to tap this strength which will bring about inter-dependence, greater understanding and hence lasting relationship - a mutually beneficial situation.

A most significant event that will be closely watched is the progress on the Indo-US nuclear deal and its passage through the US Congress.

It is expected that the most convincing defence of the deal by Ms Condoleezza Rice during her testimony to the Senate Foreign Relation Committee and the US House International Relation Committee would have satisfied most Doubting Thomases and the deal will get US Government approval soon. Any setback would obviously have an adverse effect on Indo-US defence cooperation and defence equipment sales to India.

Show Report

In This Issue

Defexpo 06

B Y V I C E A D M I R A L ( R E T D ) P A R V E S H J A I T LY

Defexpo 06 is an acknowledgement of the inevitability of technological interdependence and the need to collaborate with others -Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

D

efexpo 06, the fourth international land and naval system exhibition, organised jointly by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Indian Ministry of Defence was held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from January 31 to February 03, 2006 with the objective of showcasing Indian industrial prowess in the field of defence related technology & associated infrastructure. The exhibition also provided a platform for promoting exports of products manufactured by Indian defence industries and encourage participation of private sector in defence production. The exhibition received overwhelming response from India and abroad, registering nearly 40% growth over the last show in 2004 with the number of exhibitors going up from 350 to 410 and international participants increasing from 180 to around 220. In addition, 44 official delegations from 37 countries reportedly visited the show.

EVENT INAUGURATED: 3The Defence Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee with Mr K P Singh, Secretary Defence Production & Supplies during the ceremony.

Editorial

A Quote

Inaugural Ceremony In his inaugural remarks, Mr Arun Bharat Ram, past President CII, highlighted the thrust being given to encourage the private sector participation in defence sector with recently announced decisions on new procurement procedures and Offset policy by Government of India. He observed that the private sector is now playing an increasingly greater role in domestic defence production and striving to achieve global competitiveness.

Photos by Sanjay Sharma for SP Guide Publications

INAUGURAL 444 The more prominent ISSUE

Mr K P Singh, Secretary, Defence Production & Supplies, while acknowledging the overwhelming response to this exhibition, hoped that this platform would provide an appropriate forum for the armed forces, manufacturers, scientists and business delegation to come together for meaningful exchange of views and develop future partnerships, including joint ventures.

While inaugurating Defexpo - 06, the Indian Defence Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee stated that the initiative taken by the CII and the Ministry of Defence in organising the defence exhibition reflected the synergy that has developed between the government and the industry.

6Mr Mukherjee flanked

by Mr M M Pallam Raju, Minister of State for Defence and Mr Atul Kirloskar.

items on display from DRDO included SSM cruise missile BrahMos. 333 panies led by USA, Israel and Russia, who participated in Defexpo - 06. In December 2005, India had signed its largest-ever individual defence deal worth US $3.5 billion to build six Scorpene submarines using the technology and know-how provided by France’s DCN. India is now in the market for acquiring/building ships, maritime surveillance aircrafts, submarine rescue vessels and other assets for surveillance like UAVs etc. in pursuance of Indian Navy’s modernisation plans. A large number of companies from abroad including Russia, USA, UK, France, Italy and Israel, amongst others, have shown interest. While the US is aggressively trying to tap the huge Indian arms market, Israel has already notched up a large amount in military sales to India over the last three years.

Russia, France, UK, Italy are not too far behind.

Indian Companies

444 Number of exhibitors were 410 including 220 from abroad.

In addition 44 official delegations from 37 countries visited the show. 333 He also pointed out that the large overseas participation in the current Defexpo was an acknowledgement of the inevitability of technological interdependence and the need to collaborate with others and recognise the fact that India was the largest arms importer in 2004.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), alongwith defence PSUs, private sector industrial houses and shipyards showcased their impressive range of products which have been supplied to their customers in India and abroad. The more prominent items on display from DRDO inventory included SSM Cruise Missile ‘BrahMos’, a joint venture of

3BrahMos at display during the event.

In his concluding address, Mr Atul Kirloskar, Chairman CII National Committee on Defence, remarked that with Indian companies having achieved world recognition, the country had emerged as an important international manufacturing hub. Friendly foreign countries could therefore collaborate with them to manufacture and export defence systems for mutual benefit.

He acknowledged the efforts of the government for its enlightened policies towards helping Indian defence industry to grow.

The growing importance of India as a market for defence products was apparent from the large number of the leading global armaments comContinued on page 14...

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Defexpo 06

...Continued from page 13

1

444 Russian agencies added

2

a new dimension to their product support by setting up service centres in India. 333 Defence, UK made strong presence at the exhibition with detailed presentation on Scorpene submarine, multi function radar and associated missile system being used on the European frigate programmes.

4

The large presence of Finmeccanica group of companies at the exhibition gave clear indication of their interest in Indian defence industry.

As is known, Fincantieri has already been awarded a contract for propulsion system integration and consultancy support for the ongoing ADS programme. Otto Melara have also shown their interest in a larger gun for naval ships in collaboration with BHEL, India. It is obvious that in view of major shipbuilding plans on the anvil, Otto Melara is keen to support these modernisation programmes by way of technology transfer and supply of equipment.

6

5

1. Mr Jean-Paul Perrier of Thales group at the stall during the show.

2. EADS stand being visited by Defence Minister Mr Mukherjee.

Photos by Sanjay Sharma for SP Guide Publications

3. This time the level of presence of Armaris and DCN was considerably strong also because of the success they had with the Scorpene deal.

4. Mr Mukherjee being briefed by MBDA delegations 5. Raytheon official addressing media.

6. Mr Anil Shrikhande of Boeing India during his presentation at the show.

444 The Indian defence ship-

DRDO and NPO (M), Russia; electronic surveillance systems from LRDE Bangalore and NPOL, Kochi; and defence research fuel cell which is a 1 KW on-site, silent and continuous power plant with very low thermal signatures, by Naval Materials Research Laboratory, Mumbai.

The development achieved in fuel cell technology would have applications in Air Independent Propulsion System proposed to be developed for submarine applications.

Amongst the public sector giants, Bharat Electronics put up a very impressive product range comprising of combat management system, radars, sonars, communication and EW systems together with night vision opto-electronic devices, simulators and fibre-optic based digital data transport system. Bharat Dynamics Ltd displayed their range of missiles in production.

From the private sector, Larsen and Toubro, Tata Power Systems and Mahindra Defence Systems exhibited their products, ranging from combat management systems, weapons and launchers, power systems, controls and automation which have been produced by them for the Indian Navy. The variety of equipment on displays amply demonstrated the rapidly increasing involvement of private sector in the defence sector.

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yards’ participation evoked a very encouraging response from visitors because of current work being undertaken by them. 333

Defexpo 06 SP’s Presence

While Russian agencies continued to maintain significant presence in the exhibition, the interest shown by US companies was particularly noticeable. Due to constantly improving IndoUS relations, there was a large participation of US industry with US majors like Lockheed, Martin, Boeing, Raytheon supported by Department of Defence.

Thales, DCN and Armaris from Europe, IAI/Rafael from Israel and Department of

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1

The defence shipyard stall evoked a very encouraging response from visitors from India and abroad because of current work on ship/ submarine building being undertaken by these yards. With more than 27 ships, currently on order at these yards, there is considerable scope for the industry from India and abroad to become an active partner in defence shipbuilding. It is also seen that our shipyards are now paying a lot more attention to modernising their infrastructure to be able to take on increasing work load in a more efficient manner.

Overseas Presence

While no major contracts were concluded during the Defexpo 06, the very presence of a large number of defence equipment manufacturers brought out their enhanced interest in entering the defence sector of India. With major shipbuilding programmes under execution/in the pipeline, there is considerable potential for a partnership between Indian and foreign industry in increasing measures by way of MoU for joint ventures and technology transfer with selected Indian agencies. It was also amply demonstrated that Indian industry is fairly competitive and making noteworthy strides towards producing state-of-the-art products for naval application.

4

2

1. Mr Jayant Baranwal, Mg Editor - with Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister of India.

2. With Mr Naveen Jindal, Industrialist & Member of Parliament.

3. With Mr Shekhar Dutt, Defence Secretary, India.

4. With Air Chief Marshal (Retd) S Krishnaswamy and Mr Jean-Paul Perrier of Thales Group (France).

SP Guide Publns

3

Russian agencies added a new dimension to their product support by setting up service centres in India to provide maintenance support for Russian origin inventory in Indian Navy. ROE (India), a joint venture company, set up in Mumbai for this purpose, made a forceful presentation of their capabilities. It is seen that increasing efforts are being made by Russia to improve on product support aspects by establishing centres like Russian Technological Centre (RTC) at New Delhi and ROE (India) at Mumbai, both fully supported by Rosoboronexport and Military Technical Agency, Russia.

In This Issue INAUGURAL ISSUE

444 Marketing Supplement to SP’s Naval Forces 2/2006 333

JSC RATEP on the market of advanced technologies A Quote

5 General Director of JSC RATEP Mr. Vladimir N. Baibakov

J

Editorial

oint Stock Company RATEP, headed by Mr. Vladimir N. Baibakov, is a member of Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern and is a leading manufacturer of control systems for sea- and land-based air defense missile and artillery systems.

History of the enterprise traces back to 1938.

Within its history the plant’s facilities were used for the manufacture, service support and repair of the control systems for air defense missile and artillery systems, passive jamming systems, cruise missiles control units, maintenance facilities and training equipment of the control systems, TV observation systems, radar equipment and its spares.

For its contribution to the Russian fleet support with complicated electronic systems the plant was awarded the highest state orders – the Order of the Red Banner of Labor in 1963 and the Order of Lenin in 1984.

Laid down directions of activity of JSC RATEP and reached results enable to look into the future with confidence. Agreed financial, economic and technical policy enables to preserve leading position of the enterprise in Russia on the international naval equipment market.

By the Russian Navy request JSC RATEP, in cooperation with Federal State Unitary Enterprise AMETIST Design Bureau, produces a family of the PUMA gun fire control systems of the shipborne artillery and non-guided reactive weapons of different calibers. The systems can be installed on the ships of various displacements and provide for radar lock-on and tracking of up to four targets simultaneously and simultaneous control of several artillery systems, including those of different caliber. The system features a unique ECM immunity against background clutter and various kinds of jamming.

Enterprise has a well-developed service support network and provides for guarantee- and postguarantee servicing, repair and upgrade of earlier delivered products, supplies spares and renders assistance in operating delivered equipment and training personnel.

Having highly intellectual design bureau, brandnew technologies, powerful industrial base, unique testing facilities JSC RATEP does not yield positions and is successfully developing, putting a stake on a long-term mutually beneficial cooperation with partners on international and internal markets.

Major direction of activity of JSC RATEP is development and production of radar control systems for air defense missile and gun shipborne systems, fire control modules for shipborne decoy launchers. Considerable practical experience and availability of well-mastered production facilities enable enterprise to implement most challenging tasks.

The GHIBKA featuring minimal complete set can be installed on ships with displacement from 200 t.

The following modifications of the PUMA system have been developed: 4The 5P-10E radar control system provides for

target designation and precise tracking of up to 4 targets in the centralized target designation and autonomous all-round search (detection) mode, as well as control of the 25-152 mm caliber gun mounts and the 122-300 mm caliber non-guided reactive weapon systems.

4The 5P-10-02E radar control system provides for target designation and precise tracking in the assigned sector of up to 4 targets in the centralized target designation and autonomous sector search mode, as well as control of the 25-152 mm caliber gun mounts and the 122-300 mm caliber non-guided reactive weapon systems.

4The 5P-10-03E radar control system is a lightened modification with a weight of antenna post of 700 kg. Provides for precise tracking in the centralized target designation and autonomous all-round search (detection) mode, as well as control of the 30-76 mm caliber gun mounts and the 122-300 mm caliber non-guided reactive weapon systems.

High quality and reliability of products made by JSC RATEP meets the requirements of most demanding customers, as it is ensured by considerable experience of work in defense industry, modern production facilities, highest scientific and industrial potential, skilled personnel and advanced technologies which initially were introduced with heightened requirements for a stable operation of products in the most difficult working conditions.

Paying considerable attention to control of products’ quality the enterprise possesses all required equipment for checking and testing devices, in particular in emergency situations.

The enterprise has introduced a quality management system complying with the GOST R ISO 9001 standard and an ecological management system complying with the GOST ISO 14001.

underway. They differ by a number of launching modules and composition of opto-electronic means. The GHIBKA can be composed of two or four launching modules.

5 Antenna post of the A-190E-5P-10E

shipborne universal artillery system Modifications 5P-10E and 5P-10-02E feature radar and opto-electronic channel providing for visual observation, lock-on and tracking of one optically observable target and incorporating television sight with automatic tracker on angular coordinates and laser range-finder.

Modification 5P-10-03E features radar channel and television-optical sight.

5 The 3M-47 turret launcher GHIBKA for the

IGLA-type portable air defense missile systems The system is equipped with efficient control means. It enables to receive automatically target designation data, to guide turret launcher on target, provide for search, lock-on, tracking of target and launch of missiles both in manual and automatic mode. The GHIBKA system is composed of turret launcher, operator’s device providing for control of system, and power supply unit.

Each launching module is equipped with two Igla-S or Igla missiles. Number of simultaneously engaged targets is 1. Mode of fire is consecutive (from 1 to 4 missiles) or salvo (2 missiles).

The system provides for detection of the aircraft-type target at a range of 20 km.

Response time is less than 8 seconds.

In cooperation with the ALTAIR Naval Radio Electronics Research Institute RATEP is engaged in production of the KLINOK shipborne multichannel all-weather autonomous self-defense missile-gun system. It is intended to repulse mass raids of low-flying anti-ship missiles, other air attack manned and unmanned means, as well as ships, including ground-effect crafts.

The system is capable of detection, without any assistance, air and surface targets and engagement of up to four targets at a time with television-controlled missiles, vertically launched from transport-launch containers located in the under-deck launchers consisting of 3-4 modules with each of them containing 8 containers with missiles. On the medium- and large-displacement ships 2 to 4 KLINOK systems are installed.

Control system of each of them can exercise control of 4 launchers. Multichannel capability of the system is ensured by availability of phased antenna arrays with electronic control of beam and fast computing system with developed software. It can rely on the data from the shipborne target designation systems, control the 30-mm gun mounts fire to protect the close range of the engagement envelope from 200 m and on. Combat operation is automated. System

All modifications can be equipped with a separate opto-electronic module.

is installed aboard the various-class ships of more than 800 tons in displacement, can be operated in coastal version.

In cooperation with the ALTAIR Naval Radio Electronics Research Institute RATEP is engaged in production of the control subsystems for the SHTIL-1 medium-range air defense missile systems installed on surface ships with displacement of 1500 t and more (frigates of project 15, 17, 956, 11356 etc.). The SHTIL-1 system provides for collective and individual air defense of ships against ant-ship missiles and aircrafts attacking simultaneously from different directions. Built on the module principle, can be equipped on customer’s request. The SHTIL-1 is capable of engaging up to 12 targets simultaneously on the basis of shipborne all-round looking radar data.

The KASHTAN air defense missile-gun system, whose radar control system is manufactured by the RATEP, is intended to defend ships and important stationary objects against high-precision weapons (anti-ship missiles and air bombs), aircrafts and helicopters in the super short-range zone and at extremely low altitudes, as well as to engage pinpoint surface targets. The KASHTAN system provides for the high combat stability due to the application of integrated control system (availability of channels of simultaneous tracking of targets and missile in radar and television-optical modes), complete automation of combat work – from detection up to engagement of target.

5 The KASHTAN air defense missile-gun system

JSC RATEP is developing and manufacturing a family of the SMETA-E control modules for the PK-2M series decoy launchers. They provide for fire control of the ZIF-121-02 launchers of the PK-2M shipborne system to protect the ship by means of passive jamming to radar, thermal, television, and visual-optical detection and weapon guidance means of potential enemy. Passive jamming is ship-simulating decoys of various physical nature, which are created by special rockets with time fuses. The system is installed aboard medium- and large-displacement ships.

Manufactured by the enterprise and supplied to the Russian Navy and abroad weapon systems are advanced, competitive, and capable of solving successfully combat tasks in any conditions. RATEPdeveloped products are operated by the Navies of Syria, Egypt, Algeria, Indonesia, Libya, Ethiopia, India, China. There are reasons to claim that a club of countries-customers of the products will be joined by new members shortly. n

All modifications feature high ECM immunity reached by automatic spatio-temporal adaptation with application of digital processing of coherent radar signals with variable base, as well as joint employment of radar and opto-electronic channels.

The 3M-47 turret launcher GHIBKA for the IGLAtype portable air defense missile systems is designed for defense of surface ships and boats of low displacement against anti-ship missiles, attacks of aircrafts and helicopters in the super short-range zone. Currently development of several modifications of the GHIBKA system is

5 Antenna post of the KLINOK air defense

missile system

11, Dzerzhinskogo str., 142205, Serpukhov, Moscow Region, Russia Tel.+7-4967-78-64-00 Fax:+7-4967-36-63-01 e-mail:ratep@ratep.ru www.oao-ratep.com

SP’s NAVAL FORCES

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15

eussI sihT nI Report

LARUGUANI EUSSI

Seminar on Maritime Dimensions of A New World Order *COMMANDER D CHAKRABORTY

The concepts of maritime power require a fresh look from time to time so that ocean governance and management remain relevant to the challenges at hand.

M

aritime power is dynamic and evolutionary, constantly adapting to contemporary realities. The concepts of maritime power therefore require a fresh look from time to time so that ocean governance and management remain relevant to the challenges at hand. These challenges will become all the more imperative as India embraces progressively higher degrees of liberalisation and integrates with the global economy.

lairotidE

Keeping the contemporary maritime environment as a backdrop, the National Maritime Foundation held its international seminar on, “Maritime Dimensions of a New World Order”, at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on February 16 -17, 2006. Speakers included world renowned experts such as: 4Dr John B Hattendorf, Chairman of Maritime 4Dr Eric Grove, Senior Lecturer, University of

NMF

History Deptt of Naval War College (NWC), US

Salford, UK

Committee of International Sea Bed Authority, Indonesia 4Admiral V S Shekhawat, former Chief of the

Naval Staff, India 4Vice Admiral John Lockard, President,

Precision Engagement and Mobility Systems, Boeing 4Vice Admiral P S Das, former Commander-in-

Chief of Eastern Naval Command, India 4Dr Saideh Lotfian, Professor, Tehran

University and 4Mr Arabinda Acharya, Manager Strategic

Projects, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

In addition, about 125 officers from the maritime community from India were also present.

Mr I K Gujral, former Prime Minister of India, inaugurated the seminar. Admiral Arun Prakash, Chief of the Naval Staff of Indian Navy, and Admiral Takashi Saito, Chief of Staff of Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) delivered the keynote addresses. The seminar comprised three sessions spread over about two days.

Session I: Review of the existing concepts of maritime power and their applicability and relevance in future.

Session II: Examination of contemporary maritime challenges.

Session III: Cooperative ocean management including management of Indian Ocean.

Session I Maritime Power – A Contemporary Perspective: In the first paper of the seminar, Dr Eric Grove from University of Salford, UK, examined the classic concepts and constituents of maritime power, beginning with a re-examination of the thinking of Alfred Thayer Mahan and an investigation of the relationship of merchant

shipping and naval power. He then moved on to investigate the contemporary stress on power projection against the shore and the relationship of this thinking to the classical writings of Colomb and Corbett. He concluded that classical concepts of maritime power may be perhaps even more relevant in future decades than they are today.

444 Classical concepts of maritime power may be perhaps even more relevant in future decades then they are today.333 Former Chief of the Indian Naval Staff, Admiral V S Shekhawat, highlighted that unlike threats to national security from landwards, which usually emanate from neighbours, threats from the sea are difficult to anticipate because of the nature, reach, flexibility and mobility of naval forces. An inimical distant naval power, if it gains access to bases in the Indian Ocean, can rapidly alter the strategic balance against Indian interests, even if it does not have the resources of a superpower. History has shown that nations having substantial interests in the seas need to have the capability to protect them against threats which may seem nebulous in tranquil times.

India will thus have to review its maritime forces and infrastructure so that it can meet the nation’s security requirements effectively in the future.

Dr John B Hattendorf from the US NWC said that it was clear that the functioning of the global world economy, for which the term globalisation was just shorthand jargon, was fundamentally a maritime economy in its base. Navies around the world had a fundamental role to play in maintaining and defending this global economy as a shared system for the peaceful enjoyment of the world’s resources. If globalisation was to endure and grow to its full potential in

Clockwise from top left: Mr I K Gujral, former Prime Minister of India, addressing the audience after inaugration.

Admiral Arun Prakash, Indian Naval Chief, delivering the keynote address.

Mr Gujral with Admiral Saito, Japanese Chief of Maritime Self Defence Force. Vice Admiral Bedi, Vice Chief of Indian Navy and Vice Admiral Nayyar of National Maritime Foundation look on.

NMF

4Dr Hasjim Djalal, Chairman, Finance

the long-term future, every individual navy would eventually need to define its role in terms of a maritime strategy and a wider concept of the role of the seas to individual nations and to the global community.

Session II Maritime Challenges: The second session began with an examination of the impact of technology on maritime power. Vice Admiral John A Lockard from Boeing highlighted that most successful and significant technology advancements have featured two common components: a fusion of complementary technologies and a synthesis of strong leadership.

Rear Admiral O P Sharma brought out the legal challenges. He emphasised that there were several instances of ambiguous solutions in the UNCLOS, and where ambiguities prevailed, the meaning of the provisions of the Convention would evolve from state practice. He further postulated that where provisions were either non-existent or outdated, there was considerable room for differences of opinion and hence scope for jeopardising the security environment of the oceans.

Editors Note: The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) was established on February 15, 2005. The Foundation plans to be a maritime think-tank.

Its charter includes promotion of awareness and informed public debate on the importance of the maritime dimension, conducting studies and research spanning the entire spectrum of maritime interests of India, suggesting suitable options in the formulation of the national security strategy, examining maritime cooperation issues including confidence building measures, and finally, study of India’s maritime heritage.

444 There was much apprehension that terrorists could team up with pirates to hi-jack a commercial vessel or a cruise liner and use it as a floating bomb.333 Captain Ryuzo Sakata from the JMSDF highlighted that in many cases the legal and jurisdictional positions of navies and national maritime law enforcement agencies remained unclear, making cooperation difficult to achieve even as it was becoming increasingly necessary both at the national and international levels. Concerted efforts to close this gap was one of the most important challenges that needed to be addressed by maritime forces.

Dr Arabinda Acharaya from Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Singapore argued that of late there had been a growing concern about the possibility of a ‘maritime spectacular’ by the terrorists in Southeast Asian waters. There was much apprehension that terrorists could team up with pirates to hijack a commercial vessel or a cruise-liner and use it as a floating bomb to ram against a maritime target to cause widespread death and destruction, or sink a big ship in a chokepoint in the Straits of Malacca to disrupt global trade and commerce. The possibility of Al Qaeda and/or its associate groups smuggling a crude nuclear

*The writer is a Research Fellow in National Maritime Foundation.

Continued on page 17...

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NMF

etouQ A

Report

In This Issue INAUGURAL ISSUE

Varuna 06

nuclear powered submarine Saphir and maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique-II. In conformance with French Navy’s practice, one Royal Navy frigate, Lancaster also took part in the exercise.

Indo-French Joint Exercise

One of the major thrust areas was dissimilar air combat between Indian Navy’s Sea Harrier aircraft, and Rafale and Super Etendards of the French Navy. Other aspects that were exercised was fleet air defence, intermediate and advance anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction operations, visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) procedures and tactical manoeuvres. Some of the ‘firsts’ of the exercise were the coordinated operations of Viraat and Charles de Gaulle, firing on aerial targets, cross deck operations by Indian Navy’s Sea Harriers from the deck of Charles de Gaulle and participation by the Indian Air Force.

Successful completion of ‘Varuna 06’ is a significant indicator of the growing cooperation between India and France.

T

he Varuna series of joint exercises between the Indian and the French navies commenced in 2001 and have grown in scope and complexity over the years. The exercises have been hugely successful in facilitating mutual learning, interoperability and improving bilateral relations between the two navies. The eighth Indo-French joint exercise was held off the west coast, near Goa, from March 27 to April, 2006.

A Quote

Clockwise from top left: French Puma in flight, while others wait (Indian Kamov and Sea Harriers) onboard INS Viraat. Sea Harrier awaits its turn as Puma flies. French fleet replenishment tanker Somme (left) and INS Betwa during the exercise. Puma overflying INS Viraat.

Indian Navy

Editorial

The Indian Navy fielded aircraft carrier Viraat alongwith her air group, guided missile destroyer Mumbai, guided missile frigates Gomati and Betwa, fleet replenishment tanker Aditya and submarine Shankul; under the command of Rear Admiral Anup Singh, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. The Indian Air Force also participated with Jaguar and Canberra aircraft. The French task force was under the command of Rear Admiral Xavier Magne and consisted of nuclear propelled aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle with her air group, guided missile destroyers Cassard and Montcalm, fleet replenishment tanker Somme,

Seminar on Maritime Dimensions of a New World Order or radiological device into a hijacked ship or loading it into a container and setting it off in a port city, shipping lane or waterway had also emerged as a possible doomsday scenario.

There however appeared to be no consensus among regional governments on how best to counter this threat. While they recognised that treatment of the issue as a mere law enforcement problem could be inadequate, consensus on a framework for a multilateral, collaborative approach appeared to elude them. Proposals such as the Regional Maritime Security Initiative (RMSI) had generated much skepticism and had been rejected by some of the members of ASEAN. At the same time, the possibility of dealing with maritime threats within the framework of ASEAN Security Community (ASC) or by the ASEAN Peace Keeping Force also seemed remote as the proposals put forward by Indonesia appeared to be non-starters.

Session III Cooperative Ocean Management: Beginning the concluding session, Vice Admiral P S Das, former Commander-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command, India postulated that in recent years, non-traditional threats at sea were becoming more threatening even as conventional military threats from nation states had not disappeared. While the latter could be countered by maintaining dissuasive maritime capabilities, the former were more diffused and required a different kind of approach. He said that the North Indian Ocean region was particularly susceptible to such threats. Piracy, smuggling of drugs and maritime terrorism fell into this category. These crimes were transnational in nature and could only be countered through coordination and cooperation between the parties concerned, both external to the region and littoral to it. For effective cooperation, mutual trust and confidence were important. As a major maritime force in the region, and with substantial interests at sea, India had a responsibility and needed to play a proactive role.

Dr Hasjim Djalal from Indonesia argued that even as the process of building up naval power had continued with different degrees in Southeast Asia, the spirit of promoting security by developing cooperation among the countries

...Continued from page 16

in the region had also shown substantial progress in recent years. Some of this spirit had taken the form of formality through the various policies and activities of ASEAN like formulation of ASEAN Security Community (ASC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), ASEAN SocioCultural Community (ASCC), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN-EUROPE Meetings (ASEM), East Asian Summit (EAS), and others.

The countries in Southeast Asia were also attempting to broaden the notion of security to include “comprehensive security” by emphasising the building up of cooperation and harmony in regional relations rather than the building up of military capability, and by focusing on common economic and social progress rather than on deadly competition.

Dr Saideh Lotfian from the University of Tehran brought out that Persian Gulf had drawn the attention of the world’s major powers as a “sea of troubles” with a great potential to destabilise the international system. She said that the regional states had not paid sufficient attention to formulating a long-term strategic policy for the maritime security of this geo-strategically vital 600-mile-long body of water. The most significant issues that could become a source of conflict between the nine Persian Gulf states included territorial disputes over strategic islands, attacks by state-sponsored international terrorists and smugglers, unfair exploration of shared oil and gas resources, presence of foreign military forces and the closure of Strait of Hormuz. The speaker also offered some speculative remarks on the prospects for creation of an all-encompassing and viable Persian Gulf security system.

444Appointments Mr M M Pallam Raju Takes Over as Minister of State for Defence.

Mr M Mangapati Pallam Raju took over as the new Minister of State for Defence, on February 1, 2006. Mr Raju has served on the Board of Directors of Air India and Indian Airlines, from 1994 to 1997. n

Mr Rao Inderjit Singh Takes Over as Minister of State for Defence Production.

Mr Rao Inderjit Singh has taken over as the new Minister of State for Defence Production, on February 1, 2006. Mr Singh has been the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, earlier.n

of Western Naval Command on 28th February succeeding Vice Admiral Madanjit Singh. Admiral Byce, an anti-submarine warfare specialist, was Dy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff (Operations and later on policy Planning and Force Development).n

New Commander-in-Chief (C-inC) of Andaman & Nicobar Command Vice Admiral Arun Kumar Singh has taken over as C-in-C of Andaman & Nicobar Tri-Services Command on 28th February. Prior to this, Admiral Singh was Director General, Coast Guard.n

New Director General (DG) of Coast Guard New Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of Western Naval Command Vice Admiral S S Byce has taken over as FOC-in-C

Dr Prabhakaran Paleri has taken over as the new DG of Coast Guard on 28th February. Prior to this, he has been the Dy Director General.n

In the final paper of the seminar, Vice Admiral A R Tandon, Visiting Lecturer at Military, Police and Civil Institutes of learning, India, postulated that effective management of the Indian Ocean region had to be done by the regional powers. Amongst these, there was little doubt that India had to be a key player given its location, vast maritime interests, large navy and a sizeable coast guard.

It is hoped that the policy options for the future that emerged from the seminar, would help India focus its efforts and attain its rightful place in the new international maritime order.

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formal array multi-function radar system, MFStar. The launch of ‘Kolkata’ is yet another milestone in Indian Navy’s relentless march towards acquiring blue water capabilities.

ndian defence shipyards viz.

Mazagaon Dock Ltd (MDL), Mumbai, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata, and Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) have a number of ships at various stages of construction.

MDL launched the first of the class of follow-on ships under Project 15A on March 30, 2006.

Named ‘Kolkata’ after the great India city that once served as the capital of undivided India, Kolkata displaces 6,800 tons and is 163 meters long. The ship is propelled by four gas turbines and can achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots.

This indigenously designed ship will have stateof-the-art weapons and sensors, stealth features, an advanced action information system, a comprehensive auxiliary control system and a sophisticated power distribution system, amongst other advanced features.

‘Kolkata’ has the distinction of being the first Indian built destroyer to be fitted with the supersonic BrahMos surface-to-surface missile, in addition to a vertical launch long range surfaceto-air missile system. The ship will also pioneer the Indian Navy’s foray into sophisticated con-

GRSE has maintained its hectic pace of shipbuilding activities with the launch of another LST (large), the last of the three follow-on ships ordered by Indian Navy, on March 27, 2006.

Named ‘Airvat’, it will be an amphibious warship carrying armoured tanks, army vehicles and troops. The ship, 125 meters long, has a deep displacement of 5,600 tons and is capable of achieving a speed of 10 knots. The ship has several state-of-the-art features in her equipment fit and is also provided with helicopter staging facilities to embark MK-42C Sea King helicopter or the indigenously built Dhruv. The shipyard recently completed construction of two fast attack craft (FAC) which were commissioned in January/ February 2006. It is of interest to note that GRSE has concurrent construction of LST (L), FAC and ASW corvette being progressed presently in the yard.

Goa Shipyard’s order book comprises offshore patrol vessels for the Navy and the Coast Guard.

3 different views: MDL has launched the first of the class of follow-on ships under Project 15A on March 30, 2006, namely ‘Kolkata’.

MDL

Industry

News from Shipyards

In Brief Northrop Grumman demonstrates Global Hawk maritime surveillance capabilities

Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) for Stricken Submariners The experience of the rescue of the Pritz A S-2S mini submarine by a Royal Navy ROV, which was airlifted from UK to Russian Far East during August last year,

Service-wise Share of Defence Budget

26.28%

27.94%

17.32%

17.33%

Army Navy Air Force

2006-07

2005-06

*US $1= Rs 43 (approx) : 1 crore =10 million

India’s defence budget allocations for the current fiscal year i.e. 2006-07 have been pegged at Rs 89,000 crores (approx US $20 billion). This shows a marginal increase from the last year’s allocation which initially stood at Rs 83,000 crores (approx US $19 billion), but later revised downwards, to approximate Rs 81,500 crores (approx US $18.95 billion). While the Army gets the lion’s share at Rs 42,720 crores – 48%, (US $9.9 billion) and the Air Force gets Rs 24,920 crores – 28% (US $5.7 billion), the has made the Russian Navy opt for the state-of-the-art Panther Plus electric powered ROV of British company Seaeye Marine.

Seaeye’s Moscow based Russian partner, Tetis Pro will integrate the Panther Plus control system and other topside equipment into custom

Panther Plus ROV Weight-0.5 ton.

Sonar and acoustic tracking system.

Full suite of colour and low light black and white video cameras.

Fitted with two manipulators, an 8 inch rotary disc cutter and a hydraulic guillotine cutter to cut upto 38 mm wire rope and assist with debris clearance.

Has capability of inserting emergency life support stores.

Fitted with a tether management system which acts as a subsea garage for the ROV.

SP’s NAVAL FORCES

47.95%

46.72%

SP Guide Pubns

Northrop Grumman recently demonstrated a new integrated sensor suite to support highaltitude maritime surveillance missions by the RQ-4 Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Unmanned Aerial system.

During tests it tracked a ship or pinpointed a buoy at 60,000 feet altitude at various sea states. Surveillance over the ocean is much more difficult than over land because there is a moving object like a ship with a moving background of the sea. The sensor’s ‘mode’ ability was demonstrated successfully when the Global Hawk flew back over land and operators were able to switch its sensors from maritime mode to overland mode. The integrated sensor suite was designed and built by Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems.

18

Likely Changes in India’s Scorpene Deal and its Implications

Indian Defence Budget: 2006-07

2/2006

Navy share amounts to Rs 16,020 crores28% (US $3.7), an increase of nearly Rs 2,000 crores (US $465 million) from the revised estimate of 2005-06. The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) gets Rs 5,340 crores – 6% (US $1.2 billion) of the budgeted amount.

The proposed budget for 2006-07 stands at 2.4% of GDP which is still a far cry for the desirable 3%.

designed containers. Seaeye first worked with Tetis and the Russian Navy following the Kursk submarine disaster with the delivery of 7 smaller inspection / observation class Tiger ROV’s that are currently operational with each of the Russian fleets.

Smart-L Multibeam 3D Radar from Holland Thales Nederland BV, a Dutch arm of French group Thales, has developed 3D long range surveillance radar based on digital beam forming-on-receive that makes this radar one of the first operational system based on such a procedure. Smart-L is primarily a hands-off automatic

Indian Navy increased outlay this year (9% increase in capital and 6% increase in revenue) will help it clear the outstanding expenditures and get on with some of the modernisation plans. In so far as the committed liabilities are concerned, these would include expenditure on projects like acquisition of Gorshkov, construction of Scorpene, modernisation of submarines and aircraft and other ongoing shipbuilding programmes. About Rs 250 crores (US $58 million) is expected to be spent on land acquisition and construction. Amongst the new schemes under the capital outlay, the acquisition of aircraft, frigates and other equipment for modernisation of ships and submarines are likely to consume major portion of the allocation.

Indian Navy has a very good tack record in management of its budget in the last few years whereby allocations have been full utilised. The allocation may have to be reviewed and revised depending upon the progress made in the acquisition process in respect of new schemes.

system with only one mode of operation. The Smart-L radar system is using a planar array of 24 horizontally aligned stripslines. The beam shape and direction in the horizontal direction are fixed with respect to the array. In the elevation direction, digital beam-forming, ‘on receive’, is implemented, based on the 24 horizontal striplines.

Beam patterns are formed by means of high power phase shifters. The antenna structure is rotated mechanically and beam stabilisation is carried out electronically. The functionality of the system includes (hovering) helicopter detection and classification and jamming detection and measurement.

Apart from long range detection

and tracking, detection of stealth targets having a cross section below 0.1 metre square is a very important feature in this radar.

Captas Nano: Latest Surface Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Sonar from Thales Thales, a world leader in the design and development of low frequency active variable depth sonars (LFA-VDS) has developed a compact and light weight LFAVDS called Captas Nano which can be installed on the widest range of ships. Its design features a horizontal transmit array and a linear receive array, all in a single tow with fully automatic deployment and recovery.

India and France signed a contract for construction of six SSK Scorpene class ultra-quiet diesel-electric submarines in India under Project-75, worth US $ 3.5 billion on October 06, 2005. It is now understood that the Indian Navy wants the last three submarines to include DCN’s Mesma Air-independent Propulsion (AIP) systems which will change their designation from CM-2000 to AM-2000.

A thought: The reason for this change is that it will provide Scorpene the ability to operate underwater for about 18 days, depending upon variables like speed, etc. as compared to 4-6 days with the current propulsion system. However the AIP is not in the same class as SSN nuclear submarine. Each Mesma System costs around US $50-60 million as it requires adding a new 8.3 metre hull section to the submarine which weighs 305 tons. The Mesma AIP fitted submarine will be about 70m long and displace 1,870 tons. Pakistan’s 3rd submarine of Khalid class (Agosta 90 B) will also be equipped with it.

Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) to be Commanded by an Islamic Country for the First Time Multinational naval CTF 150 is an important part of ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’, the US led coalition operation against Al Qaeda and connected terror network. It is for the first time that an Islamic country will be in control when Pakistan takes over this naval unit from the Dutch on April 24, 2006. The unit was set up soon after 9/11 attacks and has

Request for Proposal (RFP) by Indian Navy for Maritime Patrol Aircraft The Indian Navy has issued a Global RFP for its maritime patrol aircraft requirements.

Background of requirement: Considering the enormity of threat of terrorism at sea, India has been requested by countries in the South East Asian region to play a major policing role in the region to counter the increased terrorist threat around Straits of Malacca and the sea lanes around Indonesia. This area serves as a chokepoint for a significant percentage of global shipping. Apart from policing duties in the region, India has a

interested to counter piracy policing on the East African Coast in cooperation with Mozambique. Recent hijacking of an Indian merchant ship off the coast of Somalia highlights the problem.

7,516 km long coastline, 1,197 islands and a two million square kilometre EEZ which also requires patrolling. At present Indian Navy has about 20 Dornier aircraft, Searcher MK II and Heron UAVs, 8-10 ultra long range TU-142 Bear aircraft and 3 remaining IL-38 May maritime surveillance aircraft. Dornier 228 and UAVs have limited range and TU142 Bear is obsolete - unless upgraded.

Thus, if India has to fulfil its role as a regional naval power, it needs to acquire state-of-the-art maritime surveillance aircraft with longer ranges. Apart from policing the eastern region, India is also

The RFP was understandably sent to the companies including the following: 4Boeing for Multi-Mission Maritime

Aircraft (MMA)

4Lockheed Martin for Orion 4Rosoboronexport for possibly IL-38

May and TU-142 Bear

4Dassault for Falcon 900MPA 4Embraer (P 99)

The companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin both from US, Embraer from Brazil and others have either reportedly responded to the RFP with their proposals or are in the process of submitting their proposals. So far the US majors are concerned, while Lockheed Martin has come up with the fresh offer of brand new Orions, the Boeing has proposed India to partner in the ongoing MMA programme. It is understood that Dassault Aviation from France has also been working actively on the proposal offering Falcon 900 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

EXCLUSIVE with Boeing IDS

SP’s Naval Forces (SP’s NF): Has Boeing IDS all the permissions towards export licensing/ technology sharing aspects of its ongoing MMA project, particularly in the context of India and its Navy?

Mr Rick Buck (RB): The Boeing Company has all of the necessary licenses in place to offer the Indian Navy a variant of the US Navy’s P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft known as the P-8I. SP’s NF: How does MMA respond to the competition from the same country the programme belongs to? Particularly the recent most development of 'brand new Orions' offer'.

RB: We recognise Lockheed Martin as a formidable competitor, but Boeing has offered an all new, state-of-the-art aircraft that will meet or exceed all the maritime requirements of the Indian Navy.

SP’s NF: MMA being an ongoing project, and the programme yet to be proven operationally, which all factors please advise - would duly supplement and endorse that in the event Indian Navy goes for this programme, its requirements of MPA will be well met?

RB: Boeing has proposed a unique system specifically tailored to the unique needs of the Indian Navy that will enhance the Indian Navy’s capability in anti-submarine and anti-surface war-

since been under the command of the Dutch. It has a large area of responsibility that includes the Strait of Hormuz, territorial waters of Pakistan, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and southwards to Kenya and the Seychelles. Its main task is to prevent terrorists using the sea to launch attacks

fare. The increased range, speed, radius of action and advanced combat power of the P-8I will meet or exceed the requirements of the Indian Navy.

Senior Editorial Adviser Vice Admiral P Jaitly Senior Group Editor Lt General Naresh Chand Contributing Editors Lt General P K Pahwa Lt General V K Kapoor Air Marshal V K Bhatia CONTRIBUTORS India Vice Admiral P J Jacob Vice Admiral R B Suri Rear Admiral Raja Menon Dr W Lawrence Prabhakar Europe Doug Richardson, Andrew Brookes (UK) USA & Canada Lon Nordeen (USA), Anil R Pustam (West Indies) West Asia/Africa Helmoed R Heitman (South Africa)

SP’s NF: Some instances which can reinstate the Boeing's commitment in terms of after sales, technology-related issues, spare parts may please be elaborated.

Chairman & Mg Director Jayant Baranwal Boeing

In an Exclusive with SP’s Naval Forces, Mr Rick Buck, the Programme Manager of P-8 International Programmes in Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems Division, responds to following questions in the context of their proposal they have submitted, during 2nd week of April, to Indian Navy in response to their RFP for MPA:

Managing Editor and Publisher Jayant Baranwal

RB: The Boeing Company stands behind its products providing total life cycle support. An advantage of the P-8 variant for the Indian Navy is that Boeing already has a well established worldwide spare parts distribution system in place for the more than 5,000 737s now in service which negates the need for a customer to make a large upfront investment in spares.

RB: The mission system software designed for the US Navy’s P-8A is highly complex. The mission system software open architecture that we are developing is the most advanced in the world and a truly unique feature of this aircraft. This advanced system is protected by all the robust and proven technologies associated with protecting software and systems from outside interference or intrusion.

SP’s NF: In which all manners India would benefit, if it partners in MMA programme? Some elaboration.

SP’s NF: Schedule of delivery. Besides, some indications towards what edge and value Boeing does offer in terms of pricing factor versus the other competitions to India and how MMA could be a beneficial proposition 'per-se' for Indian Navy?

RB: India as a whole would benefit from the increased maritime security provided by a state-of-the-art anti-submarine warfare/anti-surface warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance weapon system. The interoperability with the US Navy, and mission synergies would be a long-term benefit for both the Indian Navy, and the US Navy. Indian industry would greatly benefit from extensive industrial participation and technology sharing that will take place over the total life cycle of the programme.

RB: Boeing has all of the capability and capacity needed to deliver the eight long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian Navy over a period of four years as required. We think the P-8 is an affordable solution for the Indian Navy that offers significant savings over the total lifecycle of the aircraft.

SP’s NF: What exact effectiveness and the advantages are offered through about 250+ workforce software division working continuously in conjunction with MMA programme? How would the architectural aspect or the other aspects not be affected in the event of any potential hostile bug which can supposedly cause damage if implanted?

SP’s NF: Is ‘direct commercial sale’ proposition a safer route for India, a country which otherwise has had some bitter experiences in the past. And therefore feels FMS brings in certain attached reliability factor in terms of

governmental approvals/ various clearances, concrete endorsements from the services belonging to US towards the technicality of the programmes, etc. If yes, how and if beneficial, why?

RB: A direct commercial sale (DCS) is a sale made by a US company directly to an international customer. Under DCS, the buyer engages directly in contract negotiations and programme management decisions with a US supplier or manufacturer. DCS agreements are appropriate when a government is seeking licensed production of a product or when military requirements differ significantly from standard US configurations. The Indian Navy and the US Navy are better positioned to answer questions about the advantages of DCS or Foreign Military Sales procurement.

SP’s NF: Some technical comparisons of MMA versus competition, would enable greater understanding.

RB: It would be inappropriate to speculate on how the P-8I compares to the products offered by our competitors.

We believe the US Navy selected the P8A because of its superior capabilities, and reliability over current legacy maritime patrol aircraft. We believe these same characteristics will be advantages for us in the competition in India.

Design Misha Oberoi Chakravarty Published quarterly by Jayant Baranwal on behalf of SP Guide Publications P 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 prior written permission of the Publishers.

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by Pragati Offset © SP Guide Publications,

2006 Subscriptions & Advertising Details may be acquired from the contact information below: SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD POSTAL ADDRESS Post Box No 2525, New Delhi 110 005, India 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: guidepub@vsnl.com REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES BANGALORE, INDIA: (Air Marshal B K Pandey) 534, Jal Vayu Vihar, Kammanhalli Main Rd., Bangalore 560043, India.

Tel: +91 (80) 23682534

or transport personnel and weapons. Its secondary aim is to involve countries in the region with CTF 150. This is however a sensitive issue for most Islamic countries due to domestic politics and Pakistan’s taking over CT 150 represents a big step towards this goal.

SP's Naval Forces 95 In This Issue Air Operations at Sea4 page

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INAUGURAL ISSUE

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: LAGUK Co., Ltd. (Mr Yuri Laskin) Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia.

Tel: +7 (095) 911 2762, Fax: +7 (095) 912 1260

Scorpene Construction Programme 4 page 4

A Quote

India’s Evolving Maritime Profile and Strategy 4 page 12

Editorial

“We have a vital stake in the security of the sea-lanes to our East and West. The Indian Navy therefore must expand its capability to protect the sea-lanes.”

Dr Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India

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SP’s has always been known for the new beginnings as the Founder Publisher Shri S P Baranwal introduced Military Yearbook in 1965, continuing with the same SP’s introduced SP’s Aviation in 1998; then SP’s Land Forces (1st journal of its kind from the whole of Asia) in 2004.

Following the tradition of introducing focused platforms thus aiming to fill the void in the market, SP’s now offers SP’s Naval Forces to India’s state-of-the-art Navy.

Admiral Arun Prakash, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and his office have been very supportive towards this new endeavour and SP’s feel duly honoured and rather committed due to such response.

SP’s team with CNS on 18th November, 2005 after the interview.

GENOVA, ITALY: Ediconsult Internazionale, (Dr Vittorio Negrone) Piazza Fontane Marose, 3, 16123 Genova, Italy.

Tel: +39 (010) 583 684, Fax: +39 (010) 566 578

The inaugural issue includes an exhaustive interview that has been conducted with the CNS. It includes a variety of perceptions, views coming from the Admiral, therefore an educative piece for its valuable readers. The journal with pleasure includes a very exhaustive and interesting article on Air Operations at Sea by the CNS,

that illustrates evolution of naval aviation.

Indian Navy has been the most inter-operable service from India which duly reflects in the series of joint exercises that have been taking place with countries like France, United States, Russia and so on. The journal makes an attempt to cover such interactive gestures in an illustrative manner. This issue also touches upon the upcoming mega event i.e. President’s Review to be held in February first half this year.

An article on Scorpene Construction Programme by Vice Admiral (r) P Jaitly discusses the relevant implications of 6 submarines’ contract that has been signed between India and France, as to how it will enable the sustainability of expertise with defence public sectors and also offer a range of opportunities to private sectors in India.

w w w. g u i d e p u b l i ca t i o n s . co m

Indian Navy has been known for its key role towards disaster management in the country and in the region. The journal has covered a seminar held recently which was chaired by Indian Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Chief of the Naval Staff and various heads of Disaster Management Committee.

Also covered are the evolution of the Indian Navy and its initiatives towards its relationship with various countries and the Indian Coast Guard’s relentless efforts to meet the Marine environmental security needs, etc.

The layout of the journal has been designed keeping the aspirations of Navy in mind and the blue water ambitions of this forceful service. We do hope that our readers would enjoy reading.

This is a beginning... and we intend to consistently evolve and therefore request our readers to send us their views, comments and suggestions. So the anchor has been weighed and we are over the waters to sail.

“

JAYANT BARANWAL MANAGING EDITOR & PUBLISHER

So, my main thrust areas have been - networking, transformation, foreign co-operation and indigenisation.

I hope that they will be sustained over the coming years to the benefit of our service and our country...

”

Continued on page 3...

SP’s NAVAL FORCES

5Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Indian Defence Minister handed over INS Tillanchang, a fast attack craft built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) to Maldives Security Service (April 15-17). The ship was renamed as ‘Huravee’ after a Maldivian hero and freedom fighter.

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