CHINA-PAKISTAN NEXUS AND THEIR MEDDLING IN J&K Vol VII, Issue VI, NOVEMBER 2016 n `100
DEFENCE n DIPLOMACY n SECURITY www.geopolitics.in
VEHICLES FOR COMBAT
The Mechanised Forces and the Armoured columns of the Indian Army aren't in a bad state, but they do need modernisation, to be prepared for the future
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Dear Readers, For a very long time, the people of India despaired over the attacks by terrorists on key Indian installations, cities and towns, particularly in Kashmir, orchestrated by Pakistan-based terrorists. They felt helpless. They were angry. And they wanted retribution. But for long, the Indian governments of the past seemed to have maintained silence and had only expressed perfunctory condolences and strong words against terror. With the new government in place over the last two-and-a-half years, the language of condemnation has changed to tough talk. But it is no more left with just tough talk. There are some tough actions too. As was witnessed first in October of 2014 when India took retaliation to ceasefire violations by Pakistan to the next level and then Defence Minister Arun Jaitley warned Pakistan of “unaffordable costs” for Pakistan if it continues its “adventurism”. This September, one was reminded of that hard talk by Jaitley, when Indian troopers carried out a surgical strikes on seven terror training camps on the side of Kashmir now occupied by Pakistan. Their Army too suffered losses when their posts were supporting these terror camps. These were followed again on October 30 when Indian troopers did “fire assaults” on Pakistan Army posts that were indulging in ceasefire violations and causing losses to Indian forces and the people of Kashmir. In this issue of November 2016, Geopolitics writers will give you a glimpse of what the overall structure of special operations forces of India is based on, such as theatre specialisation in support of conventional operations of ground forces. The author of this piece is Brigadier Narendra Kumar, an IDSA distinguished fellow. He will also tell us in another article why Indian soldiers’ response changes immediately when they are entrusted with the task of military operations, other than war, while along the line of control with Pakistan, but during counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, they display a ruthless streak.
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Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal, former CLAWS Director, in his article argues that India’s counter-proxy war strategy should be based on a realistic assessment of the threat and carefully formulated to achieve related national security objectives. He also shows how to do it. This month’s issue also focuses on the latest upgrade programmes of the Indian Army’s armoured fleet, especially the new projects such as the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) and the Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV). The two write-ups by our bureau will look at opportunities that are available to the Indian industry through the two projects that are grabbing attention in the recent months. Geopolitics bureau has tried to help our readers understand the technological challenges that the BMP-2 soldier-carrying fighting vehicle poses while being upgraded. The edition also has a write-up on the personal protection gear of the soldier and lets our readers know how a future soldier of the Indian Army may look like with the new assault rifles, carbines, body armour and helmets that are likely to be procured on a fast-track route in the months to come. We would also strongly recommend you to read the developments in the India-Russia defence ties with back-to-back meetings between the two nations’ political and external security leadership in October. One hint is, Russia has once again emerged as the largest defence supplier to India, elbowing out US to the second spot after nearly a decade-long decline in the Moscow-Delhi ties. This edition also has a variety of other offerings to read, on diplomacy, business news, China analysis and others of interest for you to savour.
Editor
November 2016
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CONTENTS
COVER STORY QUEST FOR FUTURISTIC COMBAT VEHICLE 10 The Indian Army is looking at the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) project and is quite serious about the concept, despite initial criticism over the idea. The FRCVs are to replace the Indian Army’s aging fleet of Soviet-era T-72 armoured fleet.
PANORAMA 08 COVER STORY
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S-400 TRIUMF
UPGRADING THE TANK FLEET
S-400 transportable SAM system is a long and medium range antiaircraft weapon of a new generation, an upgrade of the S-300 family. It is aimed at all modern and prospective airspace attack weapon destruction.
With Arjun’s future in doubt, it is now clear that the upgrade programmes for the T-72s and T-90s are the first steps taken to ensure the force levels are maintained and the combat edge remains intact.
COVER STORY
INTERVIEWS T. Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL
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Game on for India’s FICV programme 18
Aravind Melligeri, CEO & Chairman of Aequs
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SM Vaidya, VP, Godrej Aerospace
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November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
Operational requirement leads to Indian ICV upgrade programme
CONTENTS
PERSPECTIVE 30
India-Russia gets into tight defence embrace
FOCUS 36 39
Life of Soldiers In The Line of Duty ICT and the Armed Forces: In Search for a New Paradigm
SPOTLIGHT
26
Rifles and Body Armour: Basic needs of soldiers' yet to be met
FOCUS
33
Special Operation Forces: Developing Potent Tools of War
PHOTO FEATURE 42
Birds of a feather-84th Air Force Day parade
PUBLISHER
K SRINIVASAN EDITOR
TIRTHANKAR GHOSH
DEFBIZ 44 46 51
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
MTCR may help India double BrahMos missile range UAC to continue strong ties with India Defence Minister inaugurates HE-MRO
VOL VII, ISSUE VI, November 2016
MAYANK SINGH
DIRECTOR
CONSULTING EDITOR
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
M MURLIDHARAN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
NAVEED ANJUM
SENIOR PROOF READER
RAJESH VAID
RAJIV SINGH RAKESH GERA LEGAL ADVISOR
VASU SHARMA SUBSCRIPTION
GEETA JENA DISTRIBUTION
DESIGNER
MOHIT KANSAL
OPINION 64 67
DIPLOMACY 70
G20 2016: Achievements and Pitfalls
BOOK EXCERPTS 72
PHOTO EDITOR
Contours of India's Pro-active Counter-proxy War Strategy Chinese Checkers
The New Arthashastra A Security Strategy for India
H C TIWARI
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
HEMANT RAWAT
CHINA-PAKISTAN NEXUS AND THEIR MEDDLING IN J&K Vol VII, Issue VI, NOVEMBER 2016 n `100
DEFENCE n DIPLOMACY n SECURITY www.geopolitics.in
VEHICLES FOR COMBAT
The Mechanised Forces and the Armoured columns of the Indian Army aren't in a bad state, but they do need modernisation, to be prepared for the future
Cover Design: Mohit Kansal The total number of pages in this issue is 76
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All information in GEOPOLITICS is derived from sources we consider reliable. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our part. Opinions/views expressed by third parties in abstract or in interviews are not necessarily shared by us. Material appearing in the magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part(s) without prior permission. The publisher assumes no responsibility for material lost or damaged in transit. The publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the Indian Advertisements Code. The publisher will not be liable for any loss caused by any delay in publication, error or failure of advertisement to appear. Owned and published by K Srinivasan, 4C Pocket-IV, Mayur Vihar, Phase-I, Delhi-91 and printed by him at Archna Printers 18, DSIDC Shed, Okhla Indl Area Ph-1, New Delhi -110020, Readers are welcome to send their feedback at geopolitics@newsline.in
November 2016
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LETTERS TO EDITOR
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INDIAN AIR FORCE
AIMING FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGES
HEMANT RAWAT
The Indian Air Force has many challenges as it approaches its Centenary in 2032; its equipment, training and human resource have to be nurtured to meet these challenges squarely, writes AIR VICE MARSHAL MANMOHAN BAHADUR VM (RETD)
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he Indian Air Force has been in the news for many reasons in the recent past – from the exceptional relief work done in a spate of natural calamities in Uttarakhand, Srinagar floods, Nepal Earthquake et al and the induction of women in the fighter fleet to the depleting strength of fighter Squadrons as MiG-21s and MiG-27s get phased out from its inventory. There is talk of a discord with the Russians on the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project (though latest report do show some forward movement) and the Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) seems to have disappeared from the radar screens; however, the American and Western majors are making a beeline to India to set up full scale manufacturing facilities to bridge the fighter gap. The Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP) 2102 2027 for the 12th to 14th plan periods is inching from the 12th to the 13th plan and all eyes are now on the new LTIPP
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that would bridge the 15 year period from 2017 to 2032, the year that would be the Centenary of the IAF. This piece analyses where the IAF would be in that significant milestone — 2032. One basic fact needs to be re-iterated upfront to direct the discussion in this article and that is that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been tasked by the Union War Book to be responsible for the air defence of the country. So, the equipping, procurement policies and the employment posture of the IAF reflect national priorities and national strategies while the air arm of the other Services (and the civilian commercial fleet) are representative of the single Service role for which they exist. While being very vital components of the air power of India, the latter are dove tailed into the overall air plan drawn up by the IAF. What would be the threat for which the IAF would have to prepare? Many planners and analysts make the mistake
of seeing single service threats and making recommendations accordingly, but while this does become an end result in a way, a holistic security appraisal has to be the progenitor of such analyses. It is well known that India, as a nation, is now preparing for a two front threat as a default situation. Recent political developments around the country only attest to the correctness of this analysis. The expending of political capital by China in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor confirms this fact and is indicative of a Chinese decision to further cement the relations with Pakistan, Indian protests against foreign activity in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir notwithstanding. While it may not be a collusive two front ‘hot’ war, the ‘second’ front, whichever it is, could have enough of a nuisance value to tie down forces. The IAF has to plan accordingly. The cliché ‘capabilities take time to build but intentions can change overnight’ is never more apt than in the present age.
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efer to “Indian Air Force: Aiming for Transformational Changes” (Geopolitics October 2016). It is true that as the Indian Air Force approaches its Centenary in 2032, it has many challenges ahead. Its equipment, training and human resource have to be nurtured to meet these challenges squarely. The author has pointed out that India, as a nation, is now preparing for a two front threat. Recent political developments around the country only attest to the correctness of this analysis. The expending of political capital by China in the CPEC confirms this fact and is indicative of a Chinese decision to further cement the relations with Pakistan, Indian protests against foreign activity in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir notwithstanding. While it may not be a collusive two front ‘hot’ war, the ‘second’ front, whichever it is, could have enough of a nuisance value to tie down forces. The IAF has to plan accordingly. The cliché ‘capabilities take time to build but intentions can change overnight’ is never more apt than in the present age. Mukesh Sharma, New Delhi All correspondence may be addressed to: Editor, Geopolitics, D-11 Basement, Nizamuddin East, New Delhi-110013. Or mail to: geopolitics@newsline.in
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his is in reference to your well-researched, thoughtprovoking and eye-catchy story “India gearing up to become chopper manufacturing hub” (October-2016). Even in past, in a major boost to strategic ties, India and Russia decided to expand cooperation across various sectors as they signed 16 pacts, including deals on joint manufacturing of Ka-226T military helicopters and construction of 12 atomic plants with involvement of local companies in India. Last year when PM Modi visited Moscow, India and Russia took forward a project to jointly manufacture military choppers under the ‘Make in India’ initiative even as other plans, including one to construct frigates. Russia is one of India’s oldest and most trusted defence partners. Today,
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efer to “Welcome change: ALGs go alive, gives IAF an edge” (Geopolitics October 2016). Kudos to the Indian Air Force as it has marked a significant advancement in India’s strategic posturing vis-a-vis China with the inauguration of the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Pasighat in south-east Arunachal Pradesh. IAF has marked a significant advancement in India’s strategic posturing vis-a-vis China with the inauguration of the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Pasighat in south-east Arunachal Pradesh. This will bring large parts of China within the easy range of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets that can be stationed at Pasighat, which is barely 100 km away from the Sino-Indian border. The IAF has taken a giant stride in operationalising such ALGs. Pasighat is the fifth ALG to be made operational in Arunachal Pradesh, that borders Tibet, over the last two years. The ALGs were originally constructed by the Allied Forces during World War II but were abandoned after
INDIA GEARING UP TO BECOME CHOPPER MANUFACTURING HUB
HAL's Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)
In the past, India has been spending several billions of dollars to purchase military helicopters for its armed forces. It is in the best interest of the Indian industry that it now plans to build helicopters in India and invest in indigenous development work for helicopters. A GEOPOLITICS REPORT
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ndia is rapidly building capabilities to emerge as a preferred destination for manufacturing in the aerospace sector, particularly helicopters. India has skills and competencies in areas that include engineering and production. These capabilities have been recognised and harnessed by foreign companies outsourcing manufacturing work to India. It is estimated that the Light Utility Helicopters market alone for Indian military would be an opportunity worth more than `20,000 crore. If you add another `50,000 crore worth of opportunities in
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the Medium- to Heavy-Lift helicopter category, the helicopter industry alone throws up a `70,000-crore opportunity over the next few years. Between now and 2022, Indian military is expected to need over 1,000 helicopters in the cargo transport, surveillance and attack roles. Of these, the Indian Army is expected to look at acquiring nearly 500 helicopters, the Air Force about 350 helicopters and the Navy another 200 helicopters. Of the Indian military segment requirements, the transport segment is likely to be about 55 per cent, the attack
and specialised roles would be another 35 per cent and the rest would form the remaining 10 per cent of the demand. It is estimated that the military helicopter requirement in India is growing by seven per cent year-on-year and this trend is likely to only improve over the years. India is expected to spend about $20 billion on just military helicopters till 2022. For this reason alone, the Indian helicopter industry for the military segment is witnessing unprecedented growth and this growth is being driven by stateowned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). HAL has played a major role in the
is good for Indian Air force. India has the capacity and strength to become a manufacturing hub. India must emerge as the best destination for manufacturing in the world. We have the reputation of the largest importer of Thedefence first ground-air comms networkOur PM equipment. tailorable to your mission needs. Modi has said that India needs to increase defence preparedness as it has huge requirements to manage internal security. It is to be remembered that to improve the acquisition and approval process we need to ensure that our technology does not fall into the wrong hands. If India’s defence industry becomes strong it will boost country’s security and will add 200,000 skilled personnel in 10 years. The TruNet™ networked communications solution gives your forces the power
Full cross-domain interoperability
to network as never before. It’s the first family of ground, handheld and airborne
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software defined radios to ensure secure connectivity across the entire battlespace.
Easy integration with legacy platforms
No matter what your unique mission requirements, TruNet can flex to meet them.
More nodes/power, low latency
Now you have true control of your networked communications. rockwellcollins.com/TruNet
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October 2016 www.geopolitics.in
© 2016 Rockwell Collins. All rights reserved.
our defence forces use Russian made weapon systems at large be it Navy or Indian Air Force. It would be nice to further accelerate our partnership with one of the world’s powerful military power. India needs large number of helicopters both for military and civilian purposes. Ka-226T Helicopter
WELCOME CHANGE: ALGS GO ALIVE, GIVES IAF AN EDGE IAF has marked a significant advancement in India's strategic posturing vis-a-vis China with the inauguration of the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Pasighat in south-east Arunachal Pradesh
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ill about the end of the 20th Century, India's military planners and political leadership had a Chinese ghost on their backs. The 1962 war had left a deep scar on their psyche. The result was that for over three-and-half decades, India never bothered to develop its infrastructure along the 4,056-km-long Line of Actual Control. What suffered was India's ability to move its troopers faster to the border areas in case of a military eyeballto-eyeball standoff with the Chinese socalled People’s Liberation Army, and of course, its Air Force. Those who had long thought that the Sino-India battle would be fought only on the ground, they are still living in 1962. If there was battle today, India would use its air power full-fledged. That would include its Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and as and when they are delivered three years hence, the Rafale fighters too. But combat planes alone would not suffice. Hence, India would use its entire fleet of cargo planes
and helicopters too, primarily for trooper induction and in support roles for the army fighting units, or for carrying weapons and material to the forward areas in a support role. For this reason, the IAF is upgrading its airfields in border areas, as part of its tactical plan to improve all military-use infrastructure in the areas bordering with its rivals, China and Pakistan. In the 201516 fiscal, `1,330 crore was been allocated for strengthening and re-surfacing of runways. In addition, `48.71 crore has been allocated for repairs of the facilities at the airfields. On August 19 this year, IAF marked a significant advancement in India’s strategic posturing vis-a-vis China with the inauguration of the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Pasighat in south-east Arunachal Pradesh. This will bring large parts of China within the easy range of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets that can be stationed at Pasighat, which is barely 100 km away from
the Sino-Indian border. The ramping up of defences all along the Sino-Indian border, started by the NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was a sharp U-turn from the earlier policy of leaving the border defenceless. The Congress-led UPA-I and II dispensations continued to pursue the policy of strengthening the Indian armed forces' capabilities against China. The Narendra Modi government is only reinvigorated that effort in the last two decades. Pasighat is the fifth ALG to be made operational in Arunachal Pradesh, that borders Tibet, over the last two years. The ALGs were originally constructed by the Allied Forces during World War II but were abandoned after that. Now, these ALGs are being upgraded and made operational once again. Now, missile batteries and advanced air defence systems will be stationed at the ALGs from where Sukhois and the newly-inducted C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft can land and take off.
IAF SU 30 landing at Pasighat ALG on 19 august 2016
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October 2016
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that. Now, these ALGs are being upgraded and made operational once again. Now, missile batteries and advanced air defence systems will be stationed at the ALGs from where Sukhois and the newly-inducted C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft can land and take off. The ALGs at Ziro and Along in Arunachal Pradesh were made operational in March this year, while the one at Menchuka, just 40 kilometres from the Sino-Indian border was opened at the end of May. The ALG at Walong, just
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
Vinod C. Dixit, Ahmedabad
20 kilometres from the border with China, was inaugurated in October last year. The ALGs at Tawang (30 kilometres from the LAC) and Tuting (just two kilometres away from the border) will be operational by September this year. The eighth ALG at Vijaynagar, in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, is expected to be ready by next year. To add to these ALGs, the IAF has already carried out experiments for using stretches of the National Highways and Expressways for landing purposes of choppers and success in such experiments led to a generic plan being sent to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which controls all National Highways and Expressways. To test the conversion of National Highway stretches into emergency landing strips, the IAF had carried out the landing of Mirage-2000 aircraft on the Yamuna Expressway last year and the landing was successful.
Akash Garg Lucknow
CAN WE CARRY MORE?
CAN WE FIND MORE SUBS?
CAN WE FIGHT MORE FIRES?
CAN WE detect MORE OIL SLICKS?
CAN WE CARRY LONGER LOADS?
CAN WE GIVE earlier WARNING?
CAN WE PROVIDE MORE DISASTER RELIEF?
CAN WE DROP MORE?
CAN WE PATROL MORE BORDERS?
CAN WE rescue more people?
CAN WE AIRLIFT MORE STRETCHERS?
CAN WE REFUEL MORE CHOPPERS?
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C295W_EN_GEOPOLITICS_210x274+5.indd 1
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PANORAMA COVER STORY
S-400 TRIUMF The S-400 Triumf mobile multichannel air defence missile system (ADMS) is designed to engage current and future air threats: aircraft jammers, early-warning and direction aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft (including those that are part of reconnaissance-strike complexes), strategic aircraft carrying airborne missiles, tactical and operational-tactical ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles and other air attack vehicles in a heavy ECM environment.
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COVER STORY
Components The Triumf ADMS consists of the 30K6E battle management system, six 98ZH6E SAM systems, ammunition load comprising the 48N6E3 and (or) 48N6E2 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and 30Ts6E maintenance facilities. The use of the 48N6E SAM is possible. In order to use the Triumf ADMS in the foreign customer’s defence system, the appropriate changes to equipment, software and operational documentation may be made in accordance with established procedure. The Triumf ADMS is capable of engaging targets both independently and in cooperation with higher command posts or external radar data sources. Specifications
Engagement range, km: Aerodynamic target Ballistic target Min/max engagement altitude, km: Aerodynamic target Ballistic target
≤600 ≤300 4,800 ≤36 ≤72 3-250* 5-60 0.01/27 2/27
Continuous operation time (with refueling) Travel speed of ADMS components in self-propelled mode, km/h: Hard-surface road Soil road Across country Emplacement/displacement time (combat assets), min Operating temperature range, oC www.geopolitics.in
November 2016
unlimited ≤60 ≤40 ≤25 5 ±50
*when 48N6E3 SAM is used
Target detection range, km Number of simultaneously tracked targets Max target speed, m/s Number of simultaneously: Engaged targets Guided missiles
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COVER STORY
TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES IN A FUTURISTIC COMBAT VEHICLE
T-72 Tank
The conceptualisation of FRCV reflects change in approach to production of new systems with the end user driving the project rather than the DRDO. It is also a deliberate step in consonance with the ‘Make in India’ philosophy
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he Indian Army is now clearly looking at the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) project and is quite serious about the concept, despite initial criticism over the idea. The FRCVs are to replace the Indian Army's aging fleet of Soviet-era T-72 armoured fleet. Under the June 10, 2015 Request for Information (RFI) put out by the Indian Army, the Indian Army is planning to
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design and develop a new generation, state-of-the-art combat vehicle platform for its armoured and mechanised forces in the next decade and it has sought information from global and Indian defence firms to state if they could do it. The planned induction of the FRCVs is for 2025-27 period, according to the Request for Information. The Indian Army had called this next generation fighting machine as
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
the Future Ready Combat Vehicle or FRCV, which has surprised analysts. Whether this RFI is an indirect vote of no-confidence by the Indian Army in India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is already in the process of designing and developing a Future Main Battle Tank (or just FMBT) to replace the T-72 fleet is still not clear yet, though.
COVER STORY
develop other need-based variants on this platform," the RFI said. The FRCV is planned to be a Design and Development project, to be executed in three stages: Design, Prototype Development, and Production stages. The RFI has been issued by the Directorate General of Mechanised Forces (DGMF). "With a view to identify probable designers/design bureaus who can undertake the Design stage of the FRCV Project, interested parties are requested to forward information on the work they can undertake," the RFI said, indicating that its purpose is limited to the first stage of the three-state FRCV Project. Here is what the RFI document says about the work it wants done: Design and Development of FRCV 1. The Indian Army is seeking development of futuristic combat vehicle for induction by 2025-27. This fighting vehicle needs to be developed on a modular concept as part of a family of combat vehicles. The Tracked Main Battle Tank will be the primary/base variant and the entire project will be called the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV).
T-72
The Army has, however, expressed its intent to populate its armoured fighting vehicle fleet with the FRCV and to subsequently develop 10 more needbased variants in various roles, with the first 'tracked' variant of the FRCV as the base vehicle for the future variants. "The Indian Army is planning to design and develop a new generation, state-of-the-art combat vehicle platform for populating its Armoured Fighting Vehicle fleet in the coming decade. This vehicle, which will be called the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV), will form the base platform for the Main Battle Tank, which is planned to replace the existing T-72 tanks in the Armoured Corps. It is also planned to subsequently
2. A 'Future' Combat Platform design must cater for 'future' battlefield environment and technological possibilities. To address the future battlefield scenario and the envisaged force profile in the coming years, the FRCV needs to be developed on a modular concept with a high degree of flexibility in a manner that, as a tank platform, it can address the varying requirements of different terrain configurations. At the same time, it can provide the base on which a 'Family of Vehicles', catering to the operational needs of various arms of the Army, can be developed. 3. The following variants are planned to be developed on the FRCV platform: (a) Tracked Main Battle Tank - Primary variant (b) Tracked Light Tank (c) Wheeled Version (d) Bridge Layer Tank (BLT) (e) Trawl Tank and Mine Ploughs (f) Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) (g) Self Propelled Artillery Gun/Howitzer (h) Air Defence Gun/Missile System (j) Artillery Observation Post Vehicle (k) Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle and (l) Armoured Ambulance. FRCV Development Process
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November 2016
4. In this process, the development of FRCV will be in three separate stages, namely Design stage, Prototype Development stage and Production stage. The Design Agency and Developing Agency can be separate entities. The best design will be chosen and given to nominated Development Agency(s) for production of the prototype(s). The selected prototype will be given to Production Agency(ies) (PAs) for bulk production. Details of the three stages are as under: (a) Design Stage – In this stage, there will be a FRCV Design Competition for selecting the best design. Established tank designers will be invited by means of a global RFP (Request for Proposal), wherein the broad design philosophy for the FRCV will be given out, along with the detailed guidelines for conduct of the competition. The participants will be asked to submit detailed designs based on the FRCV design philosophy. The evaluation and selection of the best design will be carried out by a Design Selection Committee, under the aegis of DGMF, which will have members selected from among domain experts and representatives of concerned defence agencies. The selection will be based on detailed and comprehensive Evaluation Criteria. (b) Prototype Development Stage – The selected design will be given to nominated Development Agencies. These Development Agencies will then develop the design and produce their respective prototypes. There will be close involvement of the User (Service HQ) and the Design Agency with the Development Agency(s) during the development of the prototype(s). (c) Production Stage – After the prototypes are successfully trial-evaluated, the approved design will be given to one/two nominated Production Agencies for bulk production. Broad Framework of The Design Competition 5. While the detailed guidelines and the operational requirements/design philosophy of the FRCV will be articulated later, the broad framework of the proposed Design Competition is as under: (a) The Design Competition will be open to tank design bureaus/agencies from within and outside the country and will be conducted in
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COVER STORY
two stages. (b) In the first stage, based on the operational requirements and design philosophy given out, participants will submit broad concept designs, giving out the outline configuration and layout of the platform. These will be evaluated and shortlisted by the Design Selection Committee, under the aegis of DGMF. (c) In the second stage, shortlisted participants will be asked to submit detailed designs of the FRCV platform on a common software platform. The detailed designs will be evaluated by the Design Selection Committee. The best design(s) will be shortlisted in order of innovative design and suitability for Indian Army. The winning design(s) will carry suitable cash prize(s). (d) The winning design(s) will become the sole property of the Indian Army. 6. The agency/bureau whose designs are selected will require to continue to work on the project through the prototype and the Limited Series Production (LSP) stages. For this, a separate contract will be drawn. The agency/bureaus participating in this competition will mandatorily have to give an undertaking to this effect while applying for the competition. Brief Description of FRCV 7. The FRCV will be a fighting vehicle platform that will be required to conduct sustained continuous operations by day and night in all weather conditions in terrain and temperature ranges obtaining on India's western borders. 8. The design should be modular and compact to enable strategic, operational and battlefield mobility, as also facilitate up-gradation, easy replacement/ repair of assemblies and production of variants. The FRCV platform should enable creation of variants for employment in various operational roles in all terrain by varying its configuration and/or weight/armour envelopes. 9. The salient operational characteristics of the FRCV are as under: (a) Dimensions – The FRCV should be in the 'Medium Tank' category whose physical dimensions should facilitate transportability over existing terrain, in-service military bridges
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and major civilian infrastructure (including bridges) in the border areas (on either side of the western border). (b) Crew – The number of crew members should be such that they can perform their designated tasks, and operate all on-board systems without hindrance and without any overlapping of duties/responsibilities. (c) Fire Power – (i) Should be well matched to contemporary MBTs in engagement ranges, all-weather day/night fighting capability, depth of penetration and variety of ammunition, and (ii) Should have very high accuracy [High FRHP (First Round Hit Probability)] and very high lethality [High SSKP (Single Shot Kill Probability)], at par with contemporary MBTs. (d) Protection – (i) Should provide very high all-round protection, including ballistic, active and any other form of anti-armour technologies, to ensure survivability in the contemporary and future battlefield, (ii) Should incorporate signature reduction technologies, and (iii) High response evasion/anti-detection system. (e) Mobility – (i) Should have adequately high power-to-weight ratio to enable all on-board systems to be run simultaneously, without disrupting the agility and mobility of the vehicle, and (ii) Should have high operating range, comparable to contemporary MBTs. The above requirements projected was criticised as the Indian Army chasing pipe dreams forever. The global RFI for a multi-purpose FRCV generated much mirth in military-industrial circles, for its sheer ridiculousness and operational folly, said analysts, soon after the RFI was issued. The criticism was over the Army's request for a futuristic vehicle that will not only serve as a 'medium'-sized main battle tank to replace the Army's ageing fleet of licence-built Russian T-72s but also as a ‘light-tracked and wheeled tank’, built on the same platform. In layman terms, this is like asking for a Humvee and a Maruti 800 on the same platform, the analysts said. They said this request from the Directorate General of Mechanised Forces at Army Headquarters was an irony and it was irrational to draw up such absurd General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs), which are technologically impossible for any manufacturer to fulfil.
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
Such QRs are formulated after extensive discussion, not only by the division concerned — in this case, the Mechanised Forces — but finally approved by the Army's Deputy Chief (Planning & Systems), who is responsible for acquisitions. His office, as are those involved in formulating the requests and the subsequent proposals, or tenders, is purportedly staffed by competent scientific and technical advisers. A Parliamentary Standing Committee in its report tabled on April 30, 2012, pointed out that 41 of the Army's proposals for diverse equipment in recent years were withdrawn or terminated. The Army had cited reasons including formulation of faulty or over-ambitious qualitative requirements, and this resulted in the Committee unambiguously pinning responsibility for those withdrawal and termination of tenders on the Army. Service Headquarters consult with the largely uniformed Directorate General Quality Assurance (DGQA), sometimes with inputs from the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Analysts noted that the typical process for QRs is to gather all available literature on the equipment and collating all its multiple characteristics. The idea is to include as many features as possible to demonstrate how exhaustively the task has been performed. Thereafter, as the draft travels up the chain of command, it gathers additional parameters, as each officer feels compelled to suggest more improvements. The final QR takes the shape of a well-compiled wish list of utopian dimensions, which simply do not exist, they said. Such criticism from several quarters led to the Army issuing a clarification that they had a plan to incorporate the Defence Research and Development Organisation as a technological partner in the proposed FRCV project. It seemed that the clarification was to assuage the hurt in the DRDO that was already working on technology for a futuristic tank -- the Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT). The Army also stuck to its guns on the FRCV plans, noting that it wants to adopt a novel approach for designing and developing its future category of battle tanks. The RFI issued for FRCV aimed only to identify and seek willingness of established tank designers, design bureaus and agencies to participate in a design competition. The FRCV is planned to be developed on a modular concept to support
COVER STORY
India has expressed interest in purchasing the Armata T-14 tank
the subsequent development of at least 10 different variants, including light tanks, and trawls. The development of FRCV is proposed to be Service HQdriven and managed by a dedicated FRCV Project Management Team (FPMT), they added. The RFI for FRCV had come just a few weeks after Russian fifth generation main battle tank based on the Armata Universal Combat Platform was displayed publicly during rehearsals for the 2015 Moscow Victory Day Parade. A Russian Presidential aide Vladimir Kozhin said a few days later that India has expressed interest in purchasing a new military equipment presented at the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, including the Armata tank. Even before the FRCV RFI was issued, the Russian media already had reported that India is very much interested in developing FMBT based on Russian Universal Combat Platform for its future requirements. That was the first salvo fired by Russians on India on possible sale of Armata tank. While the West has constantly gone in for heavier tanks, the Russians have recently paraded their Armata T-14 Main Battle Tank, based on the Armata universal combat platform, which has given a different approach to tank design. The tank has unique characteristics which comprise an unmanned turret, active defences, isolated crew capsule in the hull and remotely fired
weaponry. Ideally, a state-of-the-art tank should have armour protection of 1000 mm to 1200 mm, mobility 100 km per hour, range of over 700 km, maximum power to weight ratio, a 120/125/152 mm Gun with a very high muzzle velocity, situational awareness cameras, laser TV sights, remotely controlled 30 mm cannon, 12 mm gun, deep penetrating ammunition, crew compartments enclosed in armoured capsules separated from one another. Further the tank can carry 50 to 60 rounds and suitably integrated with state of the art sighting system. Currently, turret systems have been the norm for tanks with the Commander or Gunner operating within. The threats from Rocket Propelled Grenades and Improvised Explosive Devices are forcing the crew to remain within capsules down below to improve survivability. This has led to the proliferation of remote weapon stations which enables the crew to operate the weapon from within the better protected hull. Tanks are being increasingly used in urban surroundings where the remote weapon stations enable the crew to fire against militants and remain protected. This however does not allow a Commander to keep eye contact with the battlefield and despite the best optical instruments, eye contact with the battlefield is more convenient. Further, the turret cannot be traversed until, the
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November 2016
commander is safely inside the tank and his hatch is closed. This does not permit the tank to fight with the hatch open. The main challenge would be integrating the system on the FRCV platform. As already stated the overall weight must be light to enable move and quick deployment in varying terrain configurations. What is more interesting is that in the two years prior to the FRCV RFI, the Indian Army had been brainstorming on General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs) for Future Main Battle Tank to be developed by DRDO and had failed to come with its requirements, which left the DRDO in a spot since they cannot develop a product without customer specified Staff Qualitative Requirements provided to them. Since the Army has stated that it wanted an FRCV in the 'medium tank' category, this will allow the new platform to be used on existing infrastructure, thus automatically eliminating many western tank manufacturers, who usually develop Heaver battle tanks, similar to Arjun MBT. Technical requirements laid down are also unclear and depends on Design Bureaus for ideas and suggestions on new platforms. The FRCV must be viewed on three aspects: Deployability, Employability and its own Capability. Undoubtedly it must be a vehicle of the future which should be agile, technologically relevant and versatile. It should be capable of being deployed in the western, northern and eastern theatre, be air lifted for out of area tasks and for operations by United Nations Peace Keeping Forces. In terms of Capability it should deter the adversary by its lethality, agility and protection. The conceptualisation of FRCV reflects change in approach to production of new systems with the end user driving the project rather than the DRDO. It is also a deliberate step in consonance with the ‘Make in India’ philosophy. If the army can get a single basic platform, with a modular design, and utilise it for multiple activities that an armour protected vehicle is required for, it surely would meet our futuristic requirements. Whether the concept can be translated to a tank/tracked gun system/armoured recovery vehicle is not just the apprehensions are all about, it's also the timeframe and funding that the project will call for. But this is all doable. — Geopolitics Bureau
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COVER STORY
INDIA’S BATTLE TANK UPGRADE PROGRAMMES TO BOOST FLEET CAPABILITIES
MOD
With Arjun's future in doubt and the Indian Army's Armoured Regiments looking for futuristic combat vehicles, it is now clear that the upgrade programmes for the T-72s and T-90s are the first steps taken to ensure the force levels are maintained and the combat edge remains intact
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ndia is preparing to convert all of its main battle tanks from the T-72 and the T-90 fleet into fighting fit machines. The upgrade programme for the two main battle tanks currently in the Indian Army's fleet includes changes in their power plant and enabling their night fighting capabilities. In the army’s long-term planning, the T-72 — which will be replaced by the more
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advanced T-90 only gradually — will continue to equip almost half of the Army's 59 tank regiments as far in the future as up to 2022. Christened as Ajeya, the Indian T-72 tank is a licence manufactured Russian T-72M1, which started in the late 1970's. There are some 1,700 T-72s in the Indian Army armoured regiment fleet now. In fact, the T-72s became the backbone of
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
the Indian combat vehicles fleet in the 1990s when India struggled with the development of the Arjun Mk-I tanks by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The T-72M1 were in need of overhauling and repairing, and this upgrade programme is a manifestation of those needs. The latest in the series of upgrade programmes for the T-72s that the Indian
COVER STORY
Army has been working on in the last two decades is the changes it wants to effect on the tank's power plant. Ukraine, despite its troubles with Russia in the recent years, has submitted offers on its own to take up the upgrade of the Indian T-72 main battle tank fleet. Ukranian state-owned Ukroboronprom is said to have submitted proposals before August 2016 to extend the life and upgrade the capabilities of the Indian Army’s T-72 Main Battle Tank (MBT) fleet. The Indian side is also said to be interested in placing an order for the modernisation of T-72 in Ukraine. Currently, the parties are negotiating on the cooperation for the project for upgrading of at least 1,000 T-72 tanks. The main Indian requirement for T-72 is the re-engining of the armoured vehicles with the Ukrainian 6TD-2 power 1200 HP, and also equip tanks with air conditioning and autonomous power plant. The current engines fitted in the T-72M1 Ajeya offer 780hp of power. India has been working on a long-term upgrade programme of its Ajeya tanks in stages. Ukraine has competition for the Indian Army's T-72 upgrade programme from Russia and Israel. Israeli firm Nimda has offered to help upgrade the Indian Army's T-72s, it was reported in March 2016. At the DefExpo 2016 in Goa, the company stated that it is in the advanced stages of negotiations for an agreement with an unnamed Indian company in order to move production to India. "We will join the Indian company as a business partner in the promotion of tank upgrade projects for the Indian Defence Ministry, and will also cooperate with other local companies that will act as vendors of Powertracks parts," Isaac Pery, Nimda's Vice President of defence marketing, was reported as saying. Nimda has offered to boost the T-72 engines to provide 1,000hp output, along with a fully automatic transmission, integral air filtration system and a cooling system suited to extreme environment. The company said its powerpack would half the acceleration times from 0 kmph to 32 kmph. However, since India manufactures the T-72 through a licenced-production and technology transfer route from Russia, with some critical parts of the vehicle imported from there, Russians have argued that it only makes sense to do the upgrade using the original technology developers. The original Russian engine in T-72 tanks has performed well in all climatic conditions.
"Mating untested foreign parts with a platform manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s is fraught with uncertainty," the Russians have argued. The Russians have instead tasked Rosoboronexport to offer to upgrade the T-72 as well as T-90 tanks with a powerplant, running gear, weapons and sensors which will make the tanks much more lethal than many current generation tanks, besides offering better protection. The Indian defence ministry may be looking at not placing all its eggs in one basket, but the Russian enterprises are hopeful that they can bag the orders for the upgrade of both T-72 and T-90 fleet of the Indian Army. At the DefExpo 2014 in New Delhi, Russian military firms showcased their prowess, hoping that Russian
when firing the machine gun. The vehicle has additional spaced armour modules on the sides and on the turret. There is a system for electronic suppression of guided anti-tank weapons. The vehicle has a 2A46M5 gun and an automatic loader, providing the possibility of firing missiles at a range of five km. The gunner's sight with optical thermal channel can be used day or night in all weather conditions. Thanks to this, the characteristics of the vehicle are level with the best world standards of modern armoured vehicles. In addition, it is proposed to install a 1,000 hp engine to improve the mobility. However, what caught the Indian eye was modified version of the tank support combat vehicle, the BMPT-72. It was nicknamed the 'Terminator' in the Russian
TERMINATOR 2 Fire Support Combat Vehicle BMPT-72 URALVAGONZAVOD
armoured vehicles would remain the backbone of India's tank fleet. The Russian enterprises are currently focusing on bagging businesses from India on the T-72 and T-90 upgrade programmes. Russian production corporation, UralVagonZavod, has offered to India several options for the two tanks' upgrade programmes. The first one entails modernisation of the T-72 tank and involves an increase of the durability of the vehicle and its crew during combat in an urban environment. Designers have equipped the commander's hatch with a special armoured cab, protecting the commander
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November 2016
Army for its firepower. The machine's design is based on the chassis of decommissioned T-72 tanks. The modernisation operations can be performed, using the kits supplied by UralVagonZavod. The main advantage of BMPT-72 is that, being created on the platform of the T-72 tank, it provides a unique opportunity to extend the life cycle of vehicles, thus raising the combat capability of the army to a new level quickly, and at a low cost. During the modernisation, a double unit of two 30 mm automatic guns with the battle reserve of 850 shells, two launchers of guided anti-tank attack missiles with
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COVER STORY
NIMDA.CO.IL
cumulative or thermobaric warheads, the latest 12.7 mm Kord machine gun with a battle reserve of 2,000 cartridges are installed on the T-72 tank, a report said. The vehicle is less vulnerable to antitank weapons, compared to a tank. The combat capabilities provide the assured destruction of a tank or a permanent firing position of the enemy at a range of up to five km. BMPT-72 can hit low-flying helicopters, as well as crews of antitank batteries and personnel of the enemy. Military experts say that one BMPT is equivalent to a motorised infantry platoon armed with BMP-3, in terms of combat effectiveness. The designers emphasise that all proposals for the modernisation of armoured vehicles are based on experience of recent military conflicts. The Russian military has already decided to modernise its own fleet of T-72s to the level proposed by UralVagonZavod. In January 2010, then Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor expressed concern that India's tank fleet was largely incapable of fighting at night. Soon after came the news that the Indian Army is withdrawing the T-72s from the comparative trials with the Arjun tanks, highlighting the deeper malaise in the fleet and indirectly acknowledging that T-72s were nowhere in the league of the Arjun tanks. Another signal of the T-72's obsolescence was its then withdrawal, by the army's Directorate General of Mechanised
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NIMDA’s powerpack assembly line for T-72
Forces (DGMF), from the comparative trials with the indigenous Arjun tank held in April 2010. An embarrassed DGMF has realised that, without major refurbishing, the T-72 was not in the Arjun’s class. Over 38 years have passed since the first T-72s arrived in India, which is much more than the Army's standard of 32
at all hasise th tion p m e s r e n a The desig for the modernis ased b ls a e s r o les a itar y prop red vehic of armou nce of recent militar y on experieThe Russian mil dernise conflicts. dy decided to mo has alrea eet of T-72s its own fl
years life for a battle tank, indicating that a bulk of the existing T-72 fleet should have been retired by now, making way for more modern T-90 and Arjun tanks. At that stage in 2010, the Directorate General of Mechanised Forces was planning to spend `5 crore per T-72 tanks for their upgrade involving 1,000 T-72s. Thus the budget worked out to `5,000 crore on the T-72 upgrade programme,
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
hoping to add another 15-20 years to that tank's service life by replacing crucial systems, such as its fire control system, main engine and night vision devices. The Annual Acquisition Plan for 2008-2010 (AAP 2008-10) of the Indian Armed Forces had listed out the cost of modernising the T-72 fleet as follows: (a) New 1000-horsepower engines (identical to the T-90 tank) to replace the T-72's old 780-horsepower engines. The cost of each engine: `3 crore. (b) Thermal Imaging Fire Control Systems (TIFCS) that will allow the T-72 gunners to observe and fight at night. Each TIFCS will cost `1.4 crore. (c) Thermal Imaging (TI) sights to provide T-72 tank commanders with night vision. Each TI sight costs `0.4 crore. (d) An auxillary power unit (APU) to generate power for the tank's electrical systems. Each APU will cost `0.16 crore. In 2011, reports emerged that under the phase-I of the T-72 upgrade programme, the Indian Army took help from a Russian scientists team to perform week-long summer trials of the modified version of Russian tank T-72 in Jaisalmer's Lathi Field Firing Range. The 12th Five Year plan envisaged that by March 2017, some armoured regiments of the Indian Army will replace the T-72 with T-90 tanks. The rest of armoured regiments having T-72 tanks will undergo major modification such as introduction of an upgraded 1000 BHP engine and thermal imaging fire control system, the report said. The T-72s were well liked by the Army for its ruggedness, low silhouette and weight (41.5 tons) as well as firepower. Licence production of the tank was undertaken at the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi, Tamil Nadu. India's inventory in ground forces includes about 1,700 T72M1 vehicles, and 1,000 T-90S tanks. It also includes 248 Arjun tanks designed in India. The fleet is expected to be replenished with another 118 tanks of the next modification – Arjun Mk-II. However, this will not happen until 2025. Until that time, the main strike force will be formed by Soviet and Russian tanks T-72 and T-90. As things stand today, Indian Army is not likely to place any more orders for Arjun tanks, as it feels that the indigenous tanks are of a very old technology. The Indian Army seeks a futuristic tank that can join the fleet in the next decade or so, as it doesn't want to be left behind in the technological advancements that battle tanks have witnessed over the years. But during the early 1990s, the economy went
COVER STORY
TIFCS
ELBIT SYSTEMS
Elbit Systems' Thermal Imaging Fire Control System (TIFCS) -Gunner Sight
through a tumultuous phase and the resulting fiscal problems forced these plans into abeyance. Now, the economy is on an upswing and the Army has hence been allocated funds to pursue this critical modernisation. The T-72 tank upgrade programme will proceed in stages. The upgradation began by bringing 250 tanks up to the DRDO's (Defence Research & Development Organisation) 'Combat Improved' Ajeya standard. Till the 11th five-year plan that ended in 2012, the mainstay of the Indian Army's armoured regiments in terms of the numbers were the T-72 tanks, followed by T-55 tanks. The T-90 and Arjun were to provide the cutting edge. By the end of the 11th plan, all T-55 tanks will be replaced by T-90 tanks. In November 2011, then Defence Minister A K Antony told parliament that the T-72 tank fleet is being optimally used and is the mainstay of the present tank fleet. The entire fleet of this tank is fully battle worthy with high mission and operational reliability. A part of the T-72 fleet is already equipped with high end technology night vision, device which has been fully integrated and exploited. In 2013, reports suggested that the Army would end the night blindness of the Indian T-72 and T-90 tanks by 2017. The then Antony-led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in April 2013 gave its approval to a `2,820-crore Army proposal to buy night vision devices from the domestic defence public sector Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to enhance the MBTs capability to take out enemy mechanised
troops in the dark. India was playing catch up with neighbouring China and Pakistan. Close to 80 per cent of Pakistan's and 100 per cent of Chinese battle tanks fleet have better night vision capabilities than India's. Among the proposals cleared by DAC include the DRDO-developed Thermal Imaging (TI) systems with a six-km range for commanders of all T-72 tank variants. The 2,000-odd TI systems will cost about `1,000 crore. Around 300 of the existing 2,400-strong T-72s fleet were already fitted with the TI systems, on a pilot project basis, by then. The T-90 commanders will get TIcum-day sights, about 1,200 of which would be bought for `960 crore. An earlier effort to provide night vision with French Catherine Thermal Imagers on the 310 initial lot of Russian-origin T-90 tanks had failed. India, then, decided to go in for an upgrade on its existing fleet of 800 tanks to provide the Driver TI sight of up to 200 metres, the Gunner up to 5,000 metres and the Commander about 400 metres. India's plan is to have a fleet of over 1,600 T-90 tanks with upgraded TI sighting system. The gaps in night vision capabilities of the Indian Army's battle tanks fleet was one of the poor defence preparedness issues flagged by then Indian Army chief General V K Singh in his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in early 2012 that got leaked to the media, triggering a Parliament uproar. For the T-72s, the Indian Army wanted a new ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour)
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November 2016
that will keep out the new 125mm Fin Stabilized Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot and other kinetic energy projectiles and tandem-shape charged weapons. Fin Stabilized Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (FSAPDS) is a soft core Tank Ammunition fired from tanks. It is the most lethal kinetic energy ammunition, capable of destroying all known tank armour up to direct shooting range. It has the capability of defeating the heavy triple target. The complete round consists of two cartridges, the secondary charge (or the front cartridge) and a main powder charge called the primary charge (or the rear cartridge). SMPP manufactures cartridge cases for both the front as well as the rear cartridge. Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies (ADT) is an offset partner of Israeli Elop-Elbit, which won the contract for T-72 upgradation. The Israeli company started supplying the Thermal Imager Fire Control Systems (TIFCS) in November 2014. With Arjun's future in doubt and the Indian Army's Armoured Regiments looking for a futuristic combat vehicles, it is now clear that the upgrade programmes for the T-72s and T-90s are the first steps taken to ensure the force levels are maintained and the combat edge remains intact. — Geopolitics Bureau
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COVER STORY
GAME ON FOR INDIA’S
FICV PROGRAMME The making of the muchawaited Fighting Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICV) will be a game-changing lift for the defence business of most of the companies
Tata Motors’ FICV concept
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t is game on for Indian Army's Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle programme, in its second attempt. The project is currently in progress, despite speculations that a fresh Expression of Interest (EoI) - the third attempt if it happens - will be issued by the Indian Army for the estimated $8.75-billion programme. The reason for this speculation is justified. The 2015 EoI, for which the deadline to submit offers had ended in midFebruary 2016, was issued under the 2008 Defence Procurement Procedure. The 2008 DPP envisages a requirement for 30 per cent indigenisation for a 'Make' project. However, under the 2016, which was promulgated in April 2016, envisages a 40 per cent indigenisation, which is a win
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situation for Indian companies competing in the FICV programme. Now, the amended DPP-2016 has not only been notified, relevant chapters have also been uploaded on the Ministry of Defence website. The MoD had invited 10 companies in July 2015 to submit proposals to develop the FICV, with specification that two development agencies would be chosen. They included Mahindra, Bharat Forge, Larsen & Toubro, Punj Lloyd, Tata Power, Tata Motors, Pipavav Defence, Rolta India, Titagarh Wagons and Ordnance Factory Board. The FICV project was approved in October 2009, and since then private sector is not only looking forward to participate but have also put in place the designers and technical facilities needed for devel-
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
oping the complex FICV. The initial EoI issued in 2010 was cancelled in 2012 after 20 months as it did not define the criteria by which the winners would be selected. In 2015, the Army re-issued the EoI after a gap of three years to 10 Indian companies and had sought responses by mid-January 2016. For the project, the Indian companies have been encouraged to form consortium (maximum five) and tie up with as many foreign companies to bring home latest technologies on a licence basis to strengthen indigenous know-how. An E&Y report 'Eye on Defence 2016' said, "the desired product should be comprehensive indigenous solution, which can support the requirements of the Indian Army throughout the life cycle of the product." It further states,
"the assessment of the responses of 'Lead Member' and his associated 'Consortium Members' will be on four major criteria, including a generic rule, in case of response by an individual EoI holder, the scoring will be as per the vendor response submitted. In case, the response was submitted by a consortium, the total cumulative score of all members of the consortium would be considered as aggregate score of the consortium." An individual Eol respondent cannot, at the same time, be member of a consortium responding to the EoI. Furthermore, a member of a responding consortium cannot be member of any other consortium responding to the EoI. The cost of development of the prototype would be shared among the Ministry of Defence and the contenders in a 4:1 ratio. DRDO, being a technical evaluation agency, would not be competing/ participating as a potential partner for any of the 40 key technologies identified by the Army in its proposal. The ownership of any intellectual property generated from any joint development would be mutually agreed upon and may be transferable to the MoD, if required for the programme. Under the 'Make' procedure, the defence ministry would choose the best two proposals. Those two companies, and the OFB, would design and develop separate FICV prototypes. The defence ministry would reimburse 80 per cent of their prototype development expenses. No design of such major platform has been developed in the country and hence, no suitable data on cost of design and development is available for guidance. The best prototype would then be selected, and the vendor that built it would get a manufacturing contract. Once selection is completed, the DAs will be required to produce the prototype within 24-36 months. About 2,610 FICVs would be needed to replace the Army's old Russian-origin BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles held by some 50 Mechanised Infantry battalions. The question now is, as to how the Project Management Team is going to select the two winners out of 10. It is going to be a great challenge to the Team. Hopefully since they have the evaluation/ assessment criteria charted out and with the experience of assessing the four companies, the process is likely to be completed in time. The contract needs to be inked by 2023-24 so that induction begins by 2028-29 to have a replacement for the flogged BMP II (35-40 years). It is apparent that there is little scope for slip-
RAFAEL
COVER STORY
Samson RCWS with a Spike missile launcher being incorporated in the Tata Motors-led proposed FICV programme
pages and there is no alternative. On February 16 this year, the Indian Army opened the bids that it had received for the FICV programme and it turned out that it has received six bids for the estimated `60,000-crore ($8.75 billion) Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) programme, for rapid movement of troops into the battlefield. The six competing bids were submitted on February 15 by eight of the 10 companies invited to participate in the programme through an Expression of Interest (EoI) issued by Army Headquarters on July 16, 2015. Technical bids were opened in the Delhi Cantonment by the FICV's Integrated Project Management Team. It is learned that of the field of 10, Punj Lloyd and Rolta have not responded and dropped out of the competition. Significantly, two Tata entities - Tata Motors and Tata Power SED - are competing against each other in separate consortia. While Tata Motors has submitted a joint proposal with Bharat Forge, Tata Power SED has tied up with Titagarh Wagons Ltd. to form the second consortium. Rules restrict formation of consortium among only those companies invited to bid for this project. Individual bids have been submitted by Mahindra Defence, Larsen & Toubro, Pipavav Defence & Offshore Company (now Reliance Defence & Engineering Limited) and the government-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), the last having been guaranteed a free pass through nomination when the competi-
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November 2016
tion commenced in July last year. In their respective bids, the companies were required to present the concept and spell out details of technology tie-ups. The bidding entities were free to select foreign partners for design, technology and funding. The 10 establishment were given initially 90 days to respond to the EoI, but extensions of the deadline were provided for an additional four months that ended on February 15. A report ahead of the bids submission on February 15 indicated that the Bharat Forge-Tata Motors combo roping in General Dynamics of the US as the technology partner, which has not been formalised. Tata Power SED and L&T are leveraging their existing partnerships in ongoing programmes with South Korean companies Doosan and Samsung Techwin respectively for the FICV project. The opening of bids on February 16 is a signal that the Army and Ministry of Defence have ignored multiple objections by the industry, and decided to go ahead with the decade-old programme under Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2008 rules. An earlier attempt was aborted after allegations of irregularities during the tenure of the previous Manmohan Singh government. The second attempt too had run into trouble after the private players objected to the government nominating the OFB as a contender in the FICV project for which the deadline to submit EoI ended in February 2016. The private industry felt that despite repeated claims of the government to en-
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COVER STORY
General Dynamics Ajax Infantry Fighting Vehicle GENERAL DYNAMICS
sure a level playing field for the private sector, the nomination of the OFB had reduced the opportunity for the private sector, which fears that only one of the five bids from them would get to do prototypes along with the OFB, which has been given a green card for the project. This second attempt is one of the most keenly watched 'Make in India' programmes in the defence sector in India. Similar 'Make' programmes for the Army's Battlefield Management System (BMS) and Tactical Communication System (TCS) have evoked a lot of interest. Two industry consortia – Tata Power SED-L&T, and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)-Rolta – have been down-selected as development agencies in the two Corps of Signals programme. The making of the much-awaited Fighting Infantry Combat Vehicles (FICV) will be a game-changing lift for the defence business of most of the companies. For these companies see that the muchdelayed FICV contract could result in orders worth about `60,000 crore over the next few years. The companies are making no mistakes and want to secure the contract for themselves. The two consortia in the field – headed by one of the two Tata Group companies – are trying to bring synergies among their members’ companies, as they need to marry 40 different critical technologies for the FICV. The FICV is mobility oriented and is established by the fact that three of the five core technologies and 19 of the 34 critical technologies are mobility related, such as engines, transmission and running gear, which are core to
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The FICV is conceived as an armoured battle vehicle capable of carrying a crew of three and another eight combat-kitted infantry men. The FICV needs to be compact, tracked and amphibious, and no heavier than 18-20 tons, so that it can be air-portable by Il-76 or C-17, and transportable by other means, onto combat zones. The vehicle must fire anti-tank guided missiles, to ranges beyond four km. these companies. The companies leading these consortia have years of experience of integrating key technologies needed in the armoured mobility segment. There is possibility of the Samson Remote-Controlled Weapon Station (RWS) and Rafael’s Spike Missile also being incorporated in the Tata Motors-led consortium proposed FICV. Both the RWS and Spike Missile too were on display at DefExpo 2016. The defence unit of Tata Group company, which started with the logistics side of defence, was focusing on mobility and now is focusing on mobility plus integration by installing technology for fitting arms and ammunition. FICV is one of the key programmes that the Tata Group companies – especially Tata Motors – are focusing on to be able to change the defence businesses of these companies that could contribute 15 per cent revenues
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
from the current three percent. Tata Motors could be a natural choice for the ministry for being a strategic partner in land-based mobility solutions, as the company has demonstrated its capabilities of building armoured vehicles through manufacturing of Kestrel within 18 months. Down-selected as the development agency of the DRDO, the ICV Kestrel was jointly developed by Tata Motors with DRDO, in a competitive tender process, in a record period of 18 months. The wheeled ICV Kestrel platform will now be offered by the DRDO to the mechanised forces of the Indian Army, for UATT (User Assisted Technical Trials). Last year, the ministry of defence, through a notification, had clarified that it will consider only a company’s domestic operations for shortlisting companies for the FICV project. In other words, the key support from UK-based unit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) for Tata Motors will not be considered in evaluating the firm's commercial strength and eligibility. Reliance Defence is still exploring partnership with Original Equipment Manufacturers for the FICV programme of the Indian Army and has not revealed much of its plans in this regard yet. Larsen & Toubro so far has not made any announcement as to who will be its partner for the FICV project. They are, however, confident of coming up with a state-ofthe-art FICV incorporating advanced drive-by-wire technology, following successful collaboration on the K9 self-propelled howitzer. In September 2015, L&T emerged finalist for a $800 million contract to supply 100 self-propelled howitzers to the Army. The vehicle is the K9 VAJRA-T, a variant of the K9 specially designed for operation in the desert areas. L&T could team up with Hanwha Techwin of South Korea for the FICV. Mahindra has tied up with BAE Systems for its land systems project earlier and this included the now-cancelled tender for FICV (the first attempt). It it yet unclear if the recent tie up between the two companies for the M777 ultra-light howitzer could translate into a larger collaboration on all land systems including the latest FICV programme, but it is certainly likely. Both companies previously had a joint venture to manufacture 6×6 Mine Protected Vehicles. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and BAE Systems had announced naming a corporate structure for their land system focused Joint Venture defence company based in India known as 'Defence Land Systems India' in 2011, but later parted ways in February 2013.
COVER STORY
Nexter Systems' T40 turret featuring 40mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (CTAS) which is on offer for Tata Power SED
The FICV is conceived as an armoured battle vehicle capable of carrying a crew of three and another eight combat-kitted infantry men. The FICV needs to be compact, tracked and amphibious, and no heavier than 18-20 tons, so that it can be air-portable by Il-76 or C-17, and transportable by other means, onto combat zones. The vehicle must fire anti-tank guided missiles, to ranges beyond four kilometers. The intended FICV structure should be lightweight compound armoured hull with rounded corners to reduce silhouette enhancing stealth capability. To strengthen it further, it is mounted with compound armour. The Composite Armour must be multi-ceramic, titanium, high hardness, dual hardness spaced and anti-fragment armour to give weight reduction. It has to have all-round protection against SA, medium calibre protection from front, NBC, Integrated fire detection and suppression, laser warning and AP systems incorporated. The ERP should mean lighter impact version of explosive reaction armour (ERA) as APS with mounting features to offer protection without any damage to base armour. The NBC Protection System must have Radiation Detecting Measurement and Control unit (RADMAC). In addition, there is requirement of Automatic Control Unit (ACU), Blower control unit
and automated NBC protection system. The Running Gear System should comprise of a double pin rubber track with control horn. The Advance Automotive Dashboard of the ICV should have an advanced automotive dashboard with sensors fully integrated with vehicle and interfacing with GPS system. The Turret System should be RWS, and the Electronic Weapon Control System should be a Digital Fire Control System with independent stabilisation. Weapon is required to be controlled with electronic system along with its stabilisation system. As part of the Fire Power, the weapon systems required are a mix of 40 mm calibre gun with APFSDS and HE Ammunition, 7.62 mm Machine Gun and 30 mm Grenade launcher. The Twin Missile Launcher System should cover 75 meters to 4 km distance. QR of the missile system has not been finalised. Any system better than above QR will be of interest to the project. In addition to Konkur and Nag Missile system, they are evaluating Spike system of Israel. At present, there are more than 900 BMP-2 units in service and the FICV is considered a replacement for these vehicles by 2022. In 1967, the Soviets paraded the BMP-1 armed with a 73mm gun, A-3 Sagger ATGM besides carrying infantrymen. The top 10 ICVs in the world today
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November 2016
are BMP-3 (Russia), Kurganets (Russia), M2 Bradley (USA), K-21 (South Korea), Puma (Germany), ZBD-08 (China), Warrior (UK), Freccia (Italy), CV90 (Sweden) and Piranha V (Switzerland). Russia's Kurganets-25 is a next-generation IFV, successor to BMP-3. Its first batch was delivered in 2015 and full-scale production is slated to begin this year. Production cost of South Korean K-21 is half that of the American M2 Bradley, but latter reportedly has better protection. In the Indian Army, the main ICV is the BMP-2 Sarath, built by Ordnance Factory, Medak under license from Russia. The first vehicle, assembled from components supplied by Russia was ready in 1987. By 1999, about 90 per cent of the complete vehicle and its associated systems were being produced in India. It was naturally expected that the Make in India initiative of the Modi government would lead to display of competition in DefExpo 2016, but such competition was perhaps most intense in the race to qualify for the future infantry combat vehicle (FICV) of the Indian Army. Needless to mention that the FICV will obviously have enormous potential in terms of defence exports also. — Geopolitics Bureau
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COVER STORY
BMP Sarath with amphibious capabilities
OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT LEADS TO INDIAN ICV UPGRADE PROGRAMME Geopolitics takes a look at the Indian Army’s quest to upgrade its Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) fleet with anti-tank guided missile systems and new engines
I
ndia's unique geography and the terrain features have led to its Army making use of Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICV) on its western border with archrival Pakistan and this situation may continue in the future too. These operational requirements of the Indian Army have led to its plans to upgrade its existing ICVs — the soviet-origin Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty-2 (BMP-2/2K) — in its Mechanised Forces inventory. To this effect, in March 2016, the Indian Army issued a Request for Information — two in number to meet different types of requirements — to upgrade its 1,500 BMP-2/2K ICV fleet with (a) anti-tank guided missile systems and (b) new engines. According to Indian Army officials, they would have an initial requirement of approximately
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10,000 to 15,000 anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), followed by an annual requirement of 1500 to 3000 ATMGs. According to the two RFIs, global vendors responding to these requirements of the Indian Army should be ready to part with critical technologies and produce the upgraded components in India. "The two requirements will be processed in accordance with DPP 2016 now that it has been promulgated. When the RFIs were issued, we were yet to have the DPP-2016, hence the RFIs had the clause that the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) could be issued under an earlier DPP," an Army officer said. The RFIs state that the ATGMs should be capable of being fired from both Vehicle Mounted and Ground Launcher. "Night firing and Fire and Forget capability must exist from both
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
Vehicle and Ground Launcher. At least one twin ATGM Launcher must be provided when employing in vehicle mode. No separate sighting system for the ATGM is desired and it must be integrated with combined 'day and night' gunner and commander sight," the RFI for the ATGM stated. The equipment is intended for use in varied climatic and terrain conditions varying from extreme hot desert conditions to extremely cold high altitude regions. As per the RFI regarding the mobility upgrade, the BMP must be capable of negotiating water current up to three knots while achieving a speed of seven kmph in water. It must be able to negotiate unlined banks up to surface gradient of 20 degree with underwater gradient up to 15 degree. The offered mobility upgrade must also include
COVER STORY
(OFB) for the project. The plan to open the project to the private sector has increased the chances for top players like Tata and Mahindra to get a significant chunk of the work in collaboration with a foreign partner. Also, in the cases of both the RFIs, foreign collaboration would be allowed, but under a technology transfer by the foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer to meet the Indian government's 'Make in India' requirements. The upgrade programme seems to be an arrangement required by the Indian Army due to the delays also in the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle programme that has just been kick-started for the second time in 10 years. In December, it was reported that in a major boost for the private industry, the Army reversed a decision to hand over a mega `12,700 crore ($1.8 billion) upgrade of its fleet of infantry combat vehicles to the new BMP 2M standard to
focus on involving the private sector in the projects, so as to help them create an ecosystem in India and to learn how to make armoured vehicles, and it's subsystems. Tata is already involved in the FICV project and is working on a platform known as Kestrel. In February 2015, when the upgrade programme was announced, another Indian firm Kalyani Group (Bharat Forge) tied-up with Israeli firm Rafael to upgrade the BMP with Spike and RCWS systems. However, due to the cancellation of the order to OF, Medak, the upgrade process could be slightly delayed now, as is obvious. In October 2015, as a stop gap arrangement, the Indian Army had no choice but to buy 149 of the BMP-2s from the Indian government-owned Ordnance Factory Board, faced with the continued delay of efforts to select a domestic company to upgrade its BMP2 infantry combat vehicle fleet. This order is worth $140 million. "Upgrading
MOD
necessary changes in running gear and suspension system to ensure above mobility parameters with Combat Weight up to 16 tonnes to ensure that NGP does not go beyond 0.7 Kg/cm2. The offered upgrade will ensure the upgraded BMP achieving following parameters with combat weight of 16 tonnes (this weight includes weight increase because other upgrades as also combat load of up to 1.8 tonnes. However, it is stressed that maximum allowance for mobility upgrade is 250 kg). The equipment will be evaluated with the combat weight of 16 Tonnes, the RFI stated. US company General Dynamics, Britain’s BAE Systems, France’s Thales and Russia’s Rosoboronexport may all be interested in the project and could join hands with Indian private sector companies that were issued the RFI to explore the possibilities of working on the upgrade programme. In January, this year, the Indian Army had issued an RFI to procure new generation ammunition to replace the existing ammunition being fired by 30 mm Cannon gun fitted on BMP-2/2K armoured vehicles. The RFIs have been issued to both Indian and global players for the two major projects to improve the mobility and weapons package, reversing an earlier decision to nominate the government owned Ordnance Factory Board
The Kornet-EM anti-tank missile system
the public sector. The army had previously proposed that the comprehensive upgrading of its BMP-2 armoured vehicles — 969 units are to be modernised with new fire control systems, Kornet E anti-tank missiles and third generation night vision capability — be handed over the Ordnance Factory, Medak (in Telangana) which had tied up with a Russian firm for the same. The PSU had pipped all other private vendors to secure the deal. The latest decision to reissue the RFIs mainly
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November 2016
ALEXEI MIKHEEV
the BMP-2 ICVs in inventory will take time, and in the interim, this order for 149 will replace the ones that have lived their life and are to be condemned beyond repair," an officer said. BMP-2 meets the requirement of the Indian Army within the limited scope of its present war doctrine. However, as history and the recent conflicts around the world involving BMP-2 (the wars in Chechnya and Syria) have shown, BMP2 as a weapon platform is extremely vulnerable to anti-tank weapons and
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COVER STORY
Some of the top modifications in the 'Sarath' has been highlighted here: BMP-2 Light Tank This is a tracked amphibious light tank developed in India by DRDO. Based on the 'Sarath' chassis with a French GIAT TS90 turret and 105mm gun, this vehicle is specially designed to carry high calibre weapons without sacrificing mobility. BMP-2K 'Sarath' This is a command vehicle, like the Soviet/Russian version, with modern weapon systems. It is ideal for fighting night battles with speed, surprise and deadly precision. It is a truly amphibian vehicle which can travel at seven kmph in water and can over-come slopes up to 35 degree and can cross obstacles of 0.7 M. It can be easily transported by air due to its light weight. Armoured Ambulance This is a tracked vehicle from DRDO that has modified the 'Sarath'. Designed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), it is manufactured at the Ordnance Factory at Medak. With in-built medical facilities, it has a continuous ECG monitoring, a ventilator, a suction unit to remove unwanted fluids, a DC refrigerator for preserving drugs and an air- condi t ioner with optional heating facility. Armoured Amphibious Dozer This is a turret-less combat engineer vehicle, fitted with a folding dozer blade at the rear, mine ploughs, a main winch with a capacity of 8,000 kg and a rocket-propelled earth anchor for self-recovery. It is used to facilitate earth moving operations for preparing bridges, sties in difficult terrain, clearing obstacles and debris and fill up craters, the dozer is equipped with bucket, winch, rocket propelled anchor and hydro jets. Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle This version has no gun and is fitted with specialised equipment, including an echosounder, a water current metre, a laser range finder and GPS. On the left rear of the hull, a marking system with 40 rods is fitted. It is a special variant with amphibi-
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ous capability to cross water obstacle. The AERV has Reconnaissance Capability in Hatch Down condition, data integration facility onto control console and can determine the slit load for reservoirs in civil sector to evaluate storage capacity. Armoured Vehicle Tracked Light Repair This is an armoured recovery vehicle, fitted with a light hydraulic crane. NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle This variant is used for detection of nuclear, biological and chemical contamination. The NBCRV was developed by DRDO and VRDE and has been ordered by the Indian army. It is equipped with state-ofthe-art systems designed to meet the user requirements. Carrier Mortar Tracked Vehicle This turret-less version has an 81-mm mortar mounted in the modified troop compartment. The mortar is fired through an opening in the hull roof that has two hinged doors. It has a max. range of 5,000 m and a normal rate of fire of six to eight rounds per minute. There is also a long-range version of the mortar. The vehicle carries 108 mortar rounds and is also fitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun with 2,350 rounds. Crew: 2+4. The first prototype was completed in 1997. NAMICA This Nag Missile Carrier is part of the Nag anti-tank missile system. The Nag missile is launched from a retractable armoured launcher that contains four launch tubes and the guidance package. 'Nag' is a fire-and-forget top-attack ATGM with a tandem-HEAT warhead and a range of at least four km. NAMICA Advanced NAG Variant and Anti-Tank Weapon It is the third-generation Nag 'fire-andforget' anti-tank missile developed in India that is mounted on BMP-2. It is one of five missile systems developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
even second-generation anti-tank guided missiles. In asymmetric warfare, the BMP-2, without modern battlefield awareness sensors like laser warning systems, is a suicidal platform for the crew and Infantry stuck inside, analysts have claimed. Under the proposed upgrade, the BMP-2's current power pack will be upgraded from 285 horsepower to 380 hp. The upgrade also will provide better observation and surveillance, nightfighting capability, fire control system and anti-tank guided missile system. The vehicle will gain a capability of having two missiles loaded in ready-tofire mode, allowing the gunner to fire the missile of his choice as per the operational requirement. The fire control system would have a ballistic control with sensors to monitor wind and temperature, and should have an advance accurate firing capability. A new turret is required to increase firepower and to fire new types of ammunition, and there is a requirement for a comprehensive electro-optic fire control system. It is likely that the 149 BMP-2s ordered in October 2015 too will be upgraded at a later stage. After 1971 Bangladesh Liberation operations, in line with the common battle and training philosophy adopted for Mechanised Warfare, the Mechanised Battalions were raised in 1979. There are approximately 45 Mechanised Battalions, each having 55 ICVs including Reconnaissance and support battalions. The Indian Army carried out extensive trials of several ICVs from different countries and finally selected BMP-1 from the Soviet Union. About 745 BMP-1 were bought over a period of six years between 1976 and 1982. Later, an improved version of the vehicle, BMP2, was decided to be licence-manufactured indigenously in India by OFB. The BMP-2 is a second-generation, amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, an upgrade on the BMP-1 of the 1960s vintage. BMP-2, also known as 'Sarath' in the Indian Army, is licence-produced by the Ordnance Factory at Medak. The first 'Sarath', assembled from components supplied by KBP, was ready in 1987. By 1999, about 90 per cent of the vehicle and its associated systems were being produced in India. India has also developed the various versions of the 'Sarath' by modifying the basic vehicle obtained from the Soviet-era technology. — Geopolitics Bureau
INTERVIEW
‘WE ARE READY TO EXPORT LCA TEJAS IN FUTURE’ T. SUVARNA RAJU, CMD, HAL, in an interview with Geopolitics, talks about exporting LCA Tejas and the progress made on the basic trainer aircraft
There has been talk of interest in LCA among foreign air forces too. Is it a difficult proposition for India and HAL to explore the possibility of export orders for LCA among along with the supply to the Indian Air Force? Wouldn’t the economical benefits of LCA exports also be passed on to the IAF? HAL has exported its products while maintaining supplies to the Indian Defence Forces. HAL is confident that with the ramping up of production of LCA from 8 to 16 aircraft per annum and with increased level of outsourcing and participation of Indian private Industry, HAL will be able to speed up the deliveries of LCA for IAF and also take up export orders, if any, in the future.
You have earlier this year opened a helicopter unit in Karnataka. Could you please explain your helicopter production and maintenance opportunity and what would
be capacity and target for new unit for each of the HAL made helicopters, both present and future? To start with, HAL has planned to manufacture, repair and overhaul of a 3 ton class Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) along with engine and associated systems at the new helicopter facilities at Tumakuru, Karnataka. HAL hopes to manufacture around 500-600 helicopters during the first 15 years of its production. Other programmes may also get added on in the years to come.
IAF is gearing up for HTT-40. Please provide an overview of the progress made on the basic trainer aircraft front and about the finances for the projects? When do you think HTT-40 would be ready for IAF induction and in what numbers, apart from likely order of 68 that was indicated by the DAC in February 2015?
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November 2016
HAL successfully conducted the maiden flight of the first prototype of Basic Trainer Aircraft HTT-40 on May 31, 2016. The indigenous content on HTT-40 is close to 80 per cent with about 75 plus systems out of the total 90 on the aircraft sourced from local players and sister divisions of HAL. Almost 50 per cent of the components on HTT-40 are manufactured by private players of the Indian aerospace eco-system. In this programme, the role of private players and MSMEs has been significant in the production of parts. The project is going on in full throttle as we aim to get the aircraft certified in 2018. Towards this, HAL has planned to manufacture two more prototypes. The design and development of HTT40 aircraft has been funded by HAL. The aircraft has been designed not only to meet the current requirement of the Indian Air Force but also it has provision for role expansion to include weapons. Hence, HAL is hopeful of a larger demand for this aircraft not only from the IAF but from other customers as well.
What is HAL’s plan to tap a growing market for unmanned aerial systems in India that is said to be worth over $2 billion already? HAL has taken-up indigenous development of various Unmanned Aerial Systems. HAL is developing an 8 Kg Class Mini UAV on its own. HAL is also jointly developing Rotary UAV in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and MALE UAV-Rustom II in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).
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SPOTLIGHT
RIFLES AND BODY ARMOUR:
BASIC NEEDS OF SOLDIERS' YET TO BE MET Geopolitics takes a look at the various tenders and procurement cases pertaining to rifles and body armour of the Indian Army
INSAS Rifle with Holographic Sight
HEMANT RAWAT
T
he Indian Army had wanted to junk its nearly five lakh Indiamade infantry rifles and close quarter battle carbines by 2017. But they may now have to wait for another half-a-decade or so before they can do any justice to the "urgent" need of nearly 350 infantry units. Similarly, the Army and the Navy were cumulatively looking for nearly 240,000 bullet proof jackets for the soldiers. But the only progress has been a fast track procurement of about 50,000 body armour for the soldiers from an Indian source for which the government has now identified the vendor. The Indian Army's 5-lakh rifles and carbines requirement was projected nearly a decade ago and the process for procuring the same was initiated in 2012. But after a four-year long process of trial evaluations, the Indian government first
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cancelled the tender, which envisaged procurement of 65,000 rifles initially and 'Make in India' project for another 1.2 lakh rifles, in May last year. That terminated procurement process (or Request for Proposals) was restarted on September 20 when the Indian Army headquarters reissued a Request for Information from global rifles vendors. The project is going to be a mega one, with the Army looking to induct 65,000 rifles in the first go, with another 1.2 lakh rifles to be manufactured in India. This, of course, would be just the beginning for the 12-lakh strong Army, with the overall programme cost slated to ultimately cross the $1 billion-mark. In the RFI (request for information) issued by the defence ministry, it was mentioned that the Army was seeking "a 7.62mm x 51mm assault rifle with lethality to achieve the objective of shoot-to-
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
kill" to replace glitch-prone 5.56mm INSAS (Indian small arms system) rifle. The broad parameters specify the light-weight rifles should have an effective range of 500-metre at the very minimum, with duly-optimised recoil to achieve "accuracy better than 3 minutes of angle up to a minimum range of 500-metre". With multi-option telescopic sights, the rifles should also be capable of being fitted with the 40mm under-barrel grenade launchers manufactured by ordnance factory, Trichy. Compatible with visible laser-target pointers, holographic and other sights, the rifles should be "state-of-art" in terms of design, metallurgy and performance parameters to remain relevant for the next 25-30 years. The RFI states the global tender or RFP (request for proposal) for the formal techno-commercial bids will be floated in April 2017. It is bound to attract com-
SPOTLIGHT
panies like Colt (US), Beretta (Italy), Sig chine guns. The sniper rifles requirement more than 3.6kg. Sauer (Europe), Ceska (Czech) and Israel has not even taken off through a tenderThe rifle will have two inter-changeWeapon Industries (IWI), which had also ing process yet. able barrels of 5.56 mm and 7.62mm. participated in the earlier tender. This, despite India spending nearly While 5.56mm will be the primary barrel The first tender got scrapped last May `7,000 crore annually for defence refor conventional battle use, the 7.62mm, because of the Army's overambitious search and development and the 39 ordwhich is of Kalashnikov calibre, will be experiment to induct rifles with internance factories for producing the weapused only in counter-insurgency and changeable barrels, with a 5.56x45mm ons needed by its 13-lakh strong armed counter-terrorism operation sectors of Jammu and Kashmir and the North East primary barrel for conventional warforces. The gun factories of the Ordnance of India. fare and a 7.62x39mm secondary one Factory Board (OFB) that produce small The two barrels will be issued to the for counter-terrorism. Then, the Army arms for the Indian defence forces have soldier, who would change them in the commanders' conference last April had failed to develop a modern rifle or a carfield according to his peace or operations discussed whether the force required a bine for the troops in two-and-a-half deposting. Otherwise, one of the two barrels 7.62mm rifle that "killed" or a 5.56mm cades now. will be mothballed and kept in the sector rifle that "incapacitated" enemy soldiers. "A weapon in the hand of a soldier is stores for use in times of need. The tender Subsequently, even as the Army rea matter of life and death. A good weapon failed to take off, as not global manjected the 5.56x45mm Excalibur ufacturer had an interchangeable rifle offered by the DRDO-Ordrifles that could accommodate both nance Factory Board combine, 5.56mm/7.62mm ammunition. the decision was taken to go in for The second weapon for which 7.62x51mm rifles with a higher kill tenders were issued in 2012 was the probability. close quarter battle carbines. The Incidentally, other projects to INSAS variant of the carbine, inget new close-quarter battle carducted first in early 1980s, is a 9mm bines, light machine guns, sniper weapon. Initially, the Indian Army rifles and the like for infantry batwas to buy 43,000 of one of the cartalions are also stuck in the longbines offered by Beretta, Colt, Sig winded procurement process. Sauer and IWI at a proposed cost of More details about these require`3,200 crore. Another, 1.2 lakh carment a little later. bines of the chosen company was In December 2012, India had to be license manufactured by the envisaged that it would be spendordnance factories in India. ing about `50,000 crore over the That tender, after all trial evalunext decade in rearming its solations being completed and the sediers with four types of imported lection made based on elimination rifles and carbines, all part of its method, was stuck with the Minambitious 'Future Infantry Soldier istry of Defence for two years. The as a System' programme. Though reason: Should India proceed under that F-INSAS is no more a wholea final stage single vendor situation? some project, the requirement for After much debate and dialogue, modern infantry hardware for the the government had in early Octosoldiers who are waging counterber cancelled the tender finally, afinsurgency and counter-terrorism ter only Israeli Weapons Industries wars against insurgents and miliGalil ACE CQB was left as eligible tants in Kashmir and some northMKU’s body armour on display vendor after rival Beretta's ARX160 eastern states such as Manipur, HEMANT RAWAT model was rejected. Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh The Directorate General of still exists. Quality Assurance (DGQA) reportedly reFor now, one thing is assured. Indian saves her/his life. The soldier needs to jected Beretta because a safety measure Army will throw out of service the indigetake on the enemy before the enemy kills on its laser visible and invisible sight was nous INSAS rifles that were first inducted her/him," an Army officer said, emphafound unsuitable. The 'sight' on offer by in the armed forces in late 1990s. That's sising the importance of the rifles. Beretta, widely used in the US and other nearly 25,000 crore spent by India on The flaw in that tender's general staff armies across the world, was fitted with a equipping its four lakh infantry soldiers requirements was the idea of having an small screw, which needed to be opened over the last two decades going down the interchangeable 5.56mm/7.62mm rifle to before use. This screw added purely as a drain. replace the standard INSAS 5.56mm rifle, safety measure, dropped off during the Instead of these ageing home-made which is the basic weapon of an Indian trials, resulting in the DGQA rejecting the small arms, the Indian Army had in 2012 soldier. The new rifle was to be chosen ARX 160 and leaving only IWI in the reckintended to spend about `50,000 crore out of the six products offered by five foroning. over the next decade in rearming its soleign manufacturers American Colt comThis now cancelled tender would diers with a modern, foreign-made rifles. bat rifle, Italian Beretta ARX-160, Swiss have had a follow-on order for over 1.6 As a first step, India issued tenders for Sig Sauer, Czech Ceska CZ 805 BREN and lakh CQB carbines, to be licence-built by standard rifles and carbines, and later Israeli Weapons Industry (IWI) ACE1. The the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). These followed it up with a tender for light matender required each rifle to weigh not
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November 2016
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SPOTLIGHT
would have cost the exchequer an additional `800 crore to `1,000 crore. Now, the plan is to buy the carbines from global manufacturers in a "fast track" mode and this time, it could well be a government-to-government deal. Even as these tendering processes had got into a spin, there were talks of the Ministry of Defence pushing the armed forces to accept and induct the DRDOdesigned, Ordnance Factory-produced Excalibur 5.56x45mm carbines. But the Excalibur got rejected after its quality was not to the liking of the armed forces. Already, the Excalibur, an upgraded version of the DRDO's INSAS 5.56x45mm rifle, was rejected by the army in 2010 for being "operationally inadequate". Two other weapons – again standard ones issued to the 350 infantry battalion of the Indian Army – is the 5.56mm Light Machine Guns (LMGs) and the sniper rifles. The Indian Army had formulated the qualitative requirements for LMG in 2012 and a tender issued for the LMG too has been stuck for over a year-anda-half now, on circumstances similar to the carbine. This tender too could now go the carbines way. INSAS LMG, used at present, has a range of 700 metres and weighs 6.23 kg. The requirement for the new LMG under the tendering process is a range up to 1,000 metres. The weapon that the Army expects will be light weight and have more lethality. This weapon too was to be imported initially and later manufactured in India through technology transfer. The sniper rifle in use with the Indian Army at present is the 1963-vintage Dragunov. But its ammunition is not manufactured by the OFB in India and needs to be bought from abroad frequently. It has a 800-metre range without a tripod and a fixed sighting system without magnification. The new sniper weapon would have a tripod to provide it stability, have a range of 1,000 metres with a sight variable magnification fitted to provide the sniper better accuracy.
The new Torso and Extremities Protection system, which is slated to roll out in 2019 and has been undergoing field tests at bases across the United States. The lightweight plastic body armor will replace Kevlar-based protective equipment worn by U.S. troops
Body Armour and Helmets
PEOSOLDIER.ARMY.MIL
'made in India' carbines would have been equipped with a 'sight' developed by defence Public Sector Bharat Electron-
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ics Limited (BEL). Fitting the initial lot of 44,618 carbines with imported sights, instead of a BEL-designed equipment,
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If that was the story for the standard weapons for the infantrymen, their protection gear story is no different. Indian military and the police forces have been losing on an average 400 soldiers a year to bullet wounds suffered in operations against terrorists and militants. These casualties of the Indian military and other security forces are clearly avoidable – if only they use proper body armour that is light weight and provides better personal
SPOTLIGHT
protection. Compromising on their personal safety, soldiers generally disregard selfprotection and instead prefer to carry weapons and ammunition that kill the enemy. They discard their heavier and burdensome body armour so they are able to move and perform better. In this day and age, soldiers carry about 40 kg in the form of weapons, ammunition, communication equipment, food and water. These are considered essentials to achieve a soldier's mission. But a body armour? Obviously, body armour is the single heaviest item that an average soldier carries at all times and that is considered a burden impeding movement. As one can imagine, operations involving gun fights are highly stressful, both mentally and physically. The Indian Navy too in September 2015 began the process of buying 3,475 light weight Bullet Proof Jackets (BPJs) to provide its personnel on security duty some form of personal protection while getting into combat operations. The Indian Navy issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on August 5, 2015 in this regard and has informed the vendors that it would need this consignment of BPJs within six months of signing the contract. This sense of urgency among the Indian armed forces to buy BPJs for its personnel has been witnessed just ahead of a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence on August 13, 2015 slamming the government for the inordinate delay in procuring and supplying soldiers and security personnel with the much-required personal protection gear. Earlier this year, after a 10-year wait, the Indian Army finally decided to get 50,000 new bullet-proof vests from Tata Advanced Materials Limited and is now in need of over 3.5 lakh more body armour. This 50,000 vests are to be bought on an emergency basis and a contract worth `140 crore for these jackets were signed. All of these 50,000 jackets are to be delivered by early 2017. The Army's existing bulky bulletproof vests - with poor protection - are near the end of their operational life. Given the huge shortage of such vests in the 1.18-million strong Army, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar approved this "interim emergency acquisition" through the "revenue route" soon after he took over in November 2014. An earlier tender for the "capital procurement" of 1.86 lakh modular jackets was scrapped in October 2015 because the samples offered by six vendors "failed" to clear field trials. The modern light-weight jackets, as
SIG 516
Beretta ARX160
IWI's X95-S SMG 9mm
5.56 mm Excalibur Rifle
per the Army's new technical specifications, were meant to adequately protect the head, neck, chest, groin and sides of foot-soldiers. They would also have allowed soldiers to move with greater agility during counter-insurgency operations in difficult "unfriendly" terrain. However, when the samples failed to meet requirements, the Army vice-chief's existing financial powers were "relaxed as a one-time exception" to ensure the urgent purchase of 50,000 jackets based on older technical specifications. As many as 1.86 lakh jackets were to be supplied to soldiers by 2012 and another 1.67 lakh vests were to be supplied by 2017. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has now come up with a prototype bullet-proof jacket, as per the newer technical specifications, using different "state-of-the-art ballistic materials". This under-development prototype
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aims to protect against AK-47s and selfloading rifle bullets. "The prototype has successfully undergone stage-1 and 2 trials. It will be a contender in the fresh capital procurement case being initiated again for the first lot of 1.86 lakh jackets," said a source. When the acquisition of these 1.86 lakh jackets was first approved by the defence acquisitions council in October 2009, each was estimated to cost around `50,000. Several parliamentary committees have taken a dim view of the "critical shortage" of bullet-proof jackets, slamming the government for "playing with the lives" of soldiers. In its report in August 2015, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence stated in bold letters that it was "NOT AT ALL SATISFIED" with the way the Indian government has been procuring the BPJs. The committee observed in the report that "it is the duty of the government to provide proper gear to their soldiers before sending them to counter-insurgency or war-like situations." Perturbed over the "MORE THAN SIX YEARs" taken by the government to carry out the trials of the BPJs, despite the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approval in October 2009, the committee was flabbergasted over the Defence Ministry taking over a year to do the trials and evaluate the BPJs, "despite knowing the importance of such a crucial life saving item" and the Director General Acquisition approval coming in January 2014. The Indian Army can hold a total of 353,765 BPJs, as per a government letter issued in March 2004. The Army currently holds 122,624 BPJs, and the October 2009 DAC approval was for procuring 186,138 BPJs, which will cater to the 12th Plan period ending in 2017. Interestingly, India has achieved selfsufficiency in BPJ manufacturing with several Indian enterprises engaged in production of these personal protection gears, achieving international standards. Some of these firms include Kanpurbased MKU, Bengaluru-based Tata Advanced Materials and New Delhi-based SM Group. Most of the Indian BPJ-makers have received perfunctory orders for their products, particularly those panic buys in small quantities done under the localised procurement powers of Army Commanders in Jammu and Kashmir or the Northeastern States, two areas where the Indian armed forces are active in counterinsurgency operations. — Geopolitics Bureau
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PERSPECTIVE
INDIA-RUSSIA GETS INTO TIGHT DEFENCE EMBRACE The US may have emerged as the single largest defence supplier to India over the last decade with nearly $17 billion worth of deals in its kitty, but Russia has certainly overtaken at just one summit meeting between Modi and Putin
PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS Summit in Goa (Right) Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin witnessing exchange of agreements PIB
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ndia and Russia are no more drifting apart on their bilateral relations and that was established firmly through high profile defence agreements between the two countries when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin met at the summit level in Goa on October 15 this year, even as the coastal state was host to the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) meet. The US may have emerged as the single largest defence supplier to India over the last decade with nearly $17 billion worth of deals in its kitty, but Russia has certainly overtaken at just one summit meeting between Modi and Putin. The annual India-Russia summit produced several substantive results, effectively dispelling assessments of a drift (or worse) in relations after India's conclusion of Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) with
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US and Russia's joint 'anti-terrorism' military drills in Pakistan, barely a week after the terrorist attack in Uri. Major defence agreements were signed at the Summit: a joint venture shareholders' agreement on the Ka-226T helicopter, which is to be manufactured in India; an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on acquisition of the air defence system S-400; and an IGA on building of four naval frigates (in a modified ‘Make in India’ format). A ministerial-level Military-Industrial Conference has been planned later this year to identify new projects and resolve issues on ongoing ones. An S&T Commission will work on developing and sharing cutting-edge technologies. These decisions match action to the joint declaration that Russia will remain India's principal defence partner. India inked a `39,000-crore (over $5-billion) 'crown jewel' deal with Russia
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for the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile that will bring the air space of both its nuclear neighbours Pakistan and China within its strike range. This was apart from the $4-billion deal signed for four new Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates. The two sides also inked the shareholding agreement for setting up of a joint venture in India for joint manufacturing of the 200 Kamov Ka-226T light utility military helicopters, which was among the total 17 agreements that were concluded in the defence, nuclear, space, oil and gas, and infrastructure sectors. "The agreements on manufacturing of Kamov 226T helicopters; constructions of frigates; and acquisition and building of other defence platforms are in synergy with India’s technology and security priorities. They also help us achieve the objectives of 'Make in India'. We have also agreed to work on an annual military industrial conference that will allow stake-
PERSPECTIVE
holders on both sides to institute and push collaboration," Modi told a joint press conference after the summit meet. "These projects are new chapters in a long history of strong and diverse defence partnership that both sides can take much pride in." Just minutes before the joint media interaction, India and Russia had dedicated the Kudankulum-2 nuclear power plant and laid the foundation concrete of Kudankulum-3 and 4. Modi said these saw the tangible results of IndiaRussia cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy. "And, with proposed construction of another eight reactors, our wide-ranging cooperation in nuclear energy is set to bring rich dividends for both of us. It also fits in with our needs of energy security, access to high technology and greater localisation and manufacturing in India." A joint statement noted "with satisfaction" achievements in the field of joint design, development and production of high-technology military equipment and in this context, positively evaluated the establishment of the joint venture for production of Ka-226T helicopters in India. Both sides welcomed plans to hold the Indo-Russian military industrial conference later in 2016 and create bilateral Science and Technology Committee. The Indo-Russian Military Industrial Conference will address military equipment related issues including spares, repair and maintenance of Russian-supplied equipment and co-production. Private players too would be invited to participate under ‘Make in India’ initiative. The bilateral Science and Technology Committee would focus on matters relating to R&D collaboration in such high-tech areas as IT, communication, cyber security, medical engineering, outer space cooperation, and remote sensing, the joint statement said. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to pursue the immense potential to cooperate in outer space with a view to advance socially useful applications and scientific knowledge. They welcomed signing of a MoU for setting up and utilising ground stations in each other’s territories to enhance the usefulness of their respective navigation satellite constellations of Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) and Navigation with Indian Constellation (NAVIC). They emphasised that the space agencies of India and Russia will engage more actively on space technology applications, launch vehicle, satellite navigation, space science and planetary exploration.
They also confirmed their commitment to elaborate within the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee on Space a consolidated approach to the preparation of the set of guidelines for the longterm sustainability of outer space activities and regulatory provisions on safety of space operations, as the most important component of the said document.
Missiles and Frigates Deals
Under the Inter-Governmental Agreement signed between Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Director Alexander Fomin and India’s Ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran, India’s air force will get five new-generation S-400 missiles that can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, stealth fighters, missiles and drones at ranges up to 400 km. If the cost negotiations are completed in about a year and the commercial deal signed for Triumf missiles, it could get delivered beginning 2020. The Triumf system has three kinds of missiles with different capabilities that can fly at supersonic and hypersonic speeds to intercept all kinds of targets at ranges from 120 km to 400 km. Russian experts even proclaim that the S-400 surface-to-air missile system can “radar lock and shoot down” stealth fifth-generation fighters like the American F-35 jets. Each S-400 system, having eight launchers, a control centre, radar and 16 missiles as reloads can simultaneously engage 36 targets and hit targets at a speed of 17,000 km an hour, faster than any aircraft in the world. In 2015, China had sealed a $3-billion deal with Russia for procuring six S-400 batteries. China is slated to get deliveries of the S-400 batteries, designated as ‘SA-21‘ Growler by NATO and rivals the anti-ballistic missile capabilities of the US Patriot PAC-3 system, from 2017. The Inter-Governmental Agreement to purchase/construct four additional (also known as Krivak-class) though partnership between Russian and Indian shipyard was negotiated in September this year during a high-level India-Russia Military Technical Cooperation Working Group when a techno-commercial proposal” was submitted by the Russian side. The $4-billion deal for the four multi-
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Ka-226T
purpose 4,000-tonne frigates, to be packed with sensors and weapons including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, involved building of two of the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates in Russia, just like the previous six built there, while the rest two would be constructed in India under a technology transfer. The first three Talwar-class frigates were inducted from Russia between 2003 and 2004, while the last three Tegclass were inducted between 2011 and 2013 for which contract was signed in 2006 for $1.15 billion. The Teg-class frigates, which have an operating range of 4,500 nautical miles, can handle threats in all three dimensions – air, surface and underwater. But a major problem with the new upgraded Teg or Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates on offer is that the warships – lying half-constructed at the Yantar Shipyard in Russia due to a cashcrunch – will need Zorya gas-turbine engines from Ukraine. India, of course, has begun to construct its own stealth warships, having inducted three 6,100-tonne Shivalik-class frigates. Another `50,000 crore contract for construction of the seven ‘Project-17A‘ stealth frigates – four at Mazagon Docks at Mumbai and three in GRSE at Kolkata – was inked in February 2015. The Indian Navy currently has around 130 warships as well as 235 aircraft and helicopters. Moreover, the seven P-17A frigates are among the 39 warships and six Scorpene submarines under construction in Indian shipyards for over `300,000 crore. But India is now eyeing the Russian frigates since it plans a 212-warship Navy by 2027 to ensure effective safeguarding of its huge geo-strategic interests from Persian Gulf to Malacca Strait and beyond. In pursuance of their Inter-Governmental Agreement inked in December
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2015 in Moscow when Modi met Putin, the two sides also signed the shareholder agreement for establishing a Joint Venture to manufacture Ka-226T helicopter in India. The agreement was inked between Russia’s Rosoboronexport Director General Anatoly Isaykin and Russian Helicopters Chief Executive Officer Alexander Mikheev on one side and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director T. Suvarna Raju. The Ka-226T deal will be worth $1 billion. HAL is expected to build the Ka226T at its Tumkuru helicopter division plant, for which Modi had laid the foundation stone in January this year. Currently, HAL has just one helicopter manufacturing facility in Bengaluru. The Tumkuru facility, about 100 km from Bengaluru in Karnataka, will be the second helicopter manufacturing unit that will come up at a cost of `5,000 crore. The facility is expected to produce around 600 helicopters over the next 15 years, beginning its production in another two years in 2018. The facility would primarily manufacture the Russian-origin Kamov Ka-226T light utility helicopter. During the summit meeting in Goa between Modi and Putin, a MoU was signed between JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation and the Council for Economic Cooperation of Andhra Pradesh on studying perspectives for cooperation in shipbuilding, implementation of infrastructure projects, transfer of technologies and training foreign specialists. The MoU was inked between United Shipbuilding Corporation President Alexei Rakhmanov and Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board Chief Executive Officer J. Krishna Kishore.
Fresh N-Sub Lease
India is also said to have signed up for leasing a second nuclear-powered submarine from Russia, sending out a message with far-reaching significance on their strategic ties, despite
the coziness that Washington now enjoys with New Delhi in the last 15 years. The cost of the lease is not known yet, but is speculated to be around $2 billion for a 10-year period. The Project 971 Shchuka-B submarine (NATO classification is Akula-class) will add to India’s existing Russian-built submarine of the same class formerly called K-152 Nerpa that was leased for close to $1 billion in 2011 after long negotiations. Indian Navy currently operates this submarine as INS Chakra, commissioning it in April 2012. The newly-leased vessel is expected to join the Indian Naval service only at the end of the lease of the first Akula-class submarime, around 2020 or so. India has a previous experience in operating a nuclear-powered submarine (or called SSN in naval parlance) between 1988 and 1992, when it had leased the Project 670 Skat-class (NATO classification Charlie-class) boat K-43. “According to a source in the Russian defence industry, the long discussed lease to transfer a multipurpose Project 971 nuclear submarine to India from the Russian Navy was signed in Goa,” wrote Russian publication ‘Vedomosti’ columnist Alexei Nikolsky. The Russian Navy will transfer the second submarine after it has been repaired and modernised. The report claimed that India had not wanted a second Akula-class submarine and had instead focused on the more advanced Project 885 Yasen-class boat. But Russia currently has only one of those pricier new submarines called 'K-560 Severodvinsk' in service and the rest seven are still under construction. Hence, India had to settle for a second Akula-class boat, as it wasn’t willing to wait any longer for the Yasen-class vessel. Russia has previously helped India in developing its own nuclear-armed submarine (or SSBN), christened INS Arihant, reportedly commissioned quietly into the Strategic Forces Command on August 25 this year. There is no official announcement on the Arihant commissioning from the Narendra Modi government yet. An earlier report in another Rus-
Admiral Grigorovich Class Frigate
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sian publication had claimed that the Yasen-class submarine leasing would help India in building its own project for building six new SSNs, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security in February 2015, but without saying where it got this information. India now has considerable experience in operating the 8,140-tonne Akula-class submarine. Though not the latest nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, Akula-2 is still considered advanced and of contemporary technology. It can sail at maximum speeds of 35 knots or 65 kilo metre per hour and is said to be among the quietest Russianbuilt vessel. The Akula-class can be armed with torpedoes and cruise missiles that can strike at enemy warships, submarines and coast. Being nuclear-powered with a 190 MW plant, the vessel has an unlimited range of operations, though its compulsion to surface is for replenishments and stocking of supplies for the crew. Similar to INS Chakra, the second Akula-class vessel too would have Visakhapatnam as its home base, where India has facilities for maintenance and construction of an SSNs or an SSBN (which is the naval acronym for a vessel carrying submarine-launched ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads). Meanwhile, the quietly commissioned indigenous nuclear-armed submarine, INS Arihant, completes India's three-decade quest for a credible deterrent against its two nuclear-armed rivals, Pakistan and China. This boat has been built by India with generous help from Russia. The secret induction of INS Arihant (meaning, annihilator of enemies) took place on August 25, as per sources, but the Narendra Modi government wanted to keep it a secret in view of its push to gain membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), where China blocked India’s entry into the 48-member regime that controls the global nuclear trade. — Geopolitics Bureau
FOCUS
SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES
DEVELOPING POTENT TOOLS OF WAR
ARMY.MIL
India's Special Frontier Force
The overall structure of SOF in India is based on theatre specialisation in support of conventional operations of ground forces, writes BRIG NARENDRA KUMAR
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n the decades ahead war will be fundamentally different from the past 25 years. Days of conventional conflicts may be over but the threat of hybrid war is here to stay. The Wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and West Asia has rendered the conventional large armies irrelevant and Special Operation Forces (SOF) are considered most potent to fight such wars with their ability to strike deep and fight from within. The SOF due to their ability to challenge conventions and by being unpredictable has changed the methodology of war fighting in the contemporary period. Conflict in West Asia is an example where SOF are operating incognito as non-state actors and even as the son of the soil with regular and irregular forces with much greater impact. The war is never methodical and
predictable; it needs forces that are audacious, ruthless and highly skilled in conventional and unconventional methods of war fighting. These forces are employed to destroy high value targets, gain information, cause unacceptable damages and shape the environment for use of military power. Role of SOF is more pronounced in future wars where the engagements are likely to be short, localised and lethal. India’s SOF are comparatively young and still evolving. Indian SOF have evolved from Meghdoot Force raised in September 1965 by Major Megh Singh. His idea was that the enemy can be weakened considerably by use of unconventional method of war fighting where small teams could operate behind enemy lines and the result they would achieve by destroying logistics and soft targets would
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be far greater than conventional methods. The idea of SOF put forward by Megh Singh to operate behind enemy lines was not new; Captain Stirling had used unconventional methods to destroy the logistic lines of Rommel’s Army during WW-II. The plan was successful and British Special Forces, the legendary Special Air Service (SAS) was born.The Special Forces of the Indian Army were initially designed on the lines of SAS and even the "Winged Dagger" is borrowed from SAS. The overall structure of SOF in India is based on theatre specialisation in support of conventional operations of ground forces. Similarly Air force Garud Commando Force and Marine Commando (MARCOS) were raised by Navy for tasks related to air and marine warfare. The role of SOF in Indian context is still
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Indian Air Force's Garud commandos
evolving yet SOF have been employed effectively in 1971 war, “Operation Pawan' in Sri Lanka, 'Operation Cactus' in Maldives, 'Operation Khukri' in Sierra Leone, Kargil War, counter insurgency and counter terrorism in J&K and North East. Expansion of SOF has taken place but the modernisation of SOF to undertake special operations across-LOC/IB and third country operation is yet to take place.
Technology, Intelligence and Skill, Imperative for the Success of SOF
The threat from irregular forces is assuming greater significance and it has become norm for some of the states to employ irregular forces since these forces are use and discard with no liability to acknowledge the ownership. Considering the threat that India faces from its inimical neighbours, it is essential to fight irregular by SOF that are capable of operating incognito as irregular forces. However, Indian SOF are not employed by the government in such role. SOF of India are structured to fight as regulars and by and large in support of conventional forces. To develop the capabilities of SOF to execute wide ranging tasks, there are three areas that need to be developed simultaneously. Human resource that has the capability to operate in all types of terrain, knowledge of culture and language to operate in disguise for intelligence collection, close reconnaissance of the target and act as sleeper cell if required. Technological empowerment of SOF to deal with the wide range of targets including con-
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ventional and unconventional forces and strategically important targets. When technology is referred it means weapons system, surveillance system, guidance and monitoring of targets electronically, secured communication, control or autonomous weapons for precision engagement with high degree of lethal impact. Integration of precise human and electronic intelligence is essential to carryout surgical strikes by SOF or precision IAF guided weapon system. US, Russia, Israel and China have achieved integration of all three vital aspects of SOF with high degree of success. US SOF is operating globally including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and even in some of the Central Asian Republic. Author had the opportunity to meet SAS and US SOF operating in Eretria and Ethiopia way back in late 90s and early 2000. They had the terrain, cultural and language expertise to survive incognito as part of NGOs and even as part of various UN missions. At the moment SOF are operating in isolation with no integrated intelligence component and are equipped with regular weapons system a shade better than regular infantry soldiers. Operational achievements, exercises and SOF competitions have proved that Indian SOF are the best as far as mountain warfare is concerned and can be rated at par with US and Russian SOF while evaluating physical attributes. Where they lack in capability is equipment, induction of technology and intelligence. Irony is that even the government is hesitant to employ SOF in disguise in target nations for gaining intelligence and to act as pathfinders if a situation arises for shaping the environment or deployment of SOF. India should consider deployment of SOF representatives in disguise in target countries as part of mission or business associates or NGO. During operation Cactus Lily Indian Army had no knowledge of Maldives and its airbase. Though operation was highly successful with no casualties but induction of troops was literally blind and into
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information vacuum. Under such circumstance, SOF path finders or resident elements can act and facilitate induction, information of target and assessment of military capabilities required to deal with the threat.
SOF undertake tactical operations with strategic impacts
Surgical strikes across the LOC on September 29 have highlighted the significance of employment of SOF. Operations conducted under stealth with utmost surprise could achieve much greater impact physically and psychologically that even a large group would not have been able to achieve. The impact of these surgical strikes is that Pakistan Army and the terror organisations are on the edge and would be living in constant fear of being attacked by surprise strikes by Indian SOF. SOF are employed to cause asymmetry and dislocate enemy combat power. If employed in time with a view to preempt and surprise adversary, it has the potential to cause strategic imbalance in overall force calculus. SOF are employed broadly in two types of operations, direct operations and indirect operations and both forms of operations need high level of skill, precision, timing and effect. Admiral William H. McRaven, former Commander of SOCOM, describes that direct approach is characterised by technologically-enabled small-unit with precision, high lethality, focused intelligence, and interagency cooperation integrated on a digitally-networked battlefield. Such operations are high risk and impact is felt immediately. It requires high precision in execution; it inflicts heavy damage to enemy forces, material and moral. The impact could be lasting. Entebbe and Operation Geronimo were the SOF operations that have created a lasting impact on the inimical forces. Such operations are executed swiftly with lightning speed, extensive planning and support. They rely on use of kinetic weapons for effect with cyber, and electronic support to create information and electronic blackout. He further says that, indirect approach is characterised by long-term commitments of SOF to help enable and aid other nations to improve their own military forces and security. Indirect approach includes empowering host nation forces, providing appropriate assistance to humanitarian agencies, and engaging key populations. These long-term efforts increase partner capabilities to generate sufficient security and rule of law, address local needs, and advance ideas that discredit and defeat the appeal of violent extremism.
focus
SOF Tasks: Tasks of SOF are wide bonding with the team and never say die ranging. Direct Action that are shorteven if they are in crises. duration strikes in hostile, or diplomatiForces are Developed as Part of Perspective Plan and Not as Emergency Recally sensitive environments to destroy, sponse: Such forces are created as part of degrade and disrupt high value targets. proper expansion plan based on the secuStrategic and special reconnaissance in rity requirement or capability building. It a clandestine or covert manner to collect takes time to develop team spirit achieve or verify information of strategic or opskills, competence and a highly motivaterational significances so as to facilitate ed leadership that is capable of mouldapplication of military force during war. SOF could be tasked to eliminate tactical ing them for mission oriented tasks. SOF nuclear weapons and WMD. Countertershould only be employed for missions after they have achieved requisite skills and rorism (CT) and Counterinsurgency opconfidence, because they have to remain erations to eliminate high value targets, in readiness profile for wide ranging miscamps and leaders. Activities in support of internal defence of the country and sions. deter subversion, terrorists and lawlessCoordination and Planning: SOF require coordination, support of non SOF ness. Respond to hostage rescue and reforces during critical operations. Even covery (HRR). SOF should be employed during surgical strikes the non SOF inmaintain and ultimately defeat an insurgency. Disaster relief and humanitarian cluding forces deployed on LOC would assistance is also a vital task that SOF can be assigned. Military Information Support Operations are vital for success of a military plan. Considering the expertise and skill to gain intelligence this is an important task that can be assigned to SOF during peace and war. There are tasks that are nonmilitary that can assist a government to frame policies and strategies especially with regard to cultural invasion, radicalisation, mass relocation of population and the Indian Navy’s Marine commandos (MARCOS) in action reasons thereof and communal flash points. have been put on maximum alert to move in to extricate or support SOF across LOC. Capability Building of SOF is Interagency SOF require inter agency support to execute the assigned tasks. They are required Responsibility Human Resource: SOFs are made by huto be empowered by technology to enmans and they are more important than hance their ability to execute the task and the machines, since they make the critiprevent adversaries to interfere in their cal difference of victory and defeat. SOF mission. requires right aptitude, right physical atSOF Command and Doctrine: Develtributes and equipment is required to be opment of capabilities, flow out of docgiven to them that should be the best in trine and concepts. Doctrine defines the the world. If the men fail machines can’t capabilities, structure, concept of operations and tactics. In the absence of docchange the outcome of the conflict. It trine threat cum capability based forces also brings the fact that SOF can’t be mass cannot be created. In view of the above produced. It needs specialisation, skill, there is a need to have doctrine of SOF aptitude to operate in adverse situation that should act as a principal document and in information vacuum. Small units, for capability building. Similarly SOF small number carefully selected trained Command is essential to coordinate plan and equipped is the hallmark of the SOF. and employ the strategic assets during They achieve extraordinary results by
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peace and war. Without SOF command, development of holistic capability, coordination of operations, standardisation of training and equipping of force can’t take place in a systematic manner. It sans logic that for five units of NSG that has limited mandate of counter terrorism, anti-high jacking and security of VIPs, yet there is a DG from IPS who has never been exposed to SOF, whereas for Army SOF (seven Units), MARCOS and Garud Force, there is no central command structure that can establish interagency coordination of all resources and develop interoperability for employment during peace and war. In addition SOF need cyber, information, space, air support units, UAV units, communication units and even long range vectors that are required to support SOF operations. The impact of the operations of SOF is transnational and political leadership of the country has to clear the critical operations. Importance of SOF command need no emphasis because these operations are required to be monitored at highest level by a dedicated command structure and field commanders cannot be asked to divert their attention from the conventional operations.
Conclusion
SOF operations are high risk and high dividends. Extra ordinary situation need extra ordinary endeavour and those efforts during war and crisis can only come from SOF. These men have the ability to reach where no other weapon system can reach, they can fight the enemy that no other system can fight. SOFs survive and flourish in adverse situation. They develop the team spirit to train together to fight together, sweat together to bleed together. They appear to be humans but the rigours of training make them invincible. Future wars belong to SOF and they are not limited to only Special Forces operating behind enemy lines, they also include cyber warrior, faceless soldiers operating in target country as business executives, NGOs and in missions abroad. The author is an infantry officer & Senior Fellow, Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi
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LIFE OF SOLDIERS IN THE LINE OF DUTY While along the LoC and CI/CT men display ruthless streak, but when they are entrusted the task of military operations other than war, the response changes immediately. The same ruthless and rough men transform into angels of God, writes BRIG NARENDRA KUMAR
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t is faith and moral contract that binds the soldiers together. A small team would risk their lives in the faith that rest of the comrades would rush even if they are in crisis. It is that faith that propels these men to go to extreme limits of human endeavour. The challenges army faces along Line of Control (LoC) and CI/CT gird is a continuous war and any mistake can cause irrecoverable loss to men and to the national security. They are required to remain at optimum operational alert. Alert at zero hour notice means that these men remain in ready to move position during the period of alert. There is another team that should react within 5 to 10 minutes and delay is in wearing boots and picking up weapons and equipment. The only briefing and order is given to these men is place of action and what has happened. These men know what to carry and what actions are expected out of them. The alert is sounded in such a manner that does not give away the surprise or movement of a team for a specific task. It was July 2003 in remote area in Kashmir. As Commanding Officer, I was returning from a visit to remote post. As we were passing through a jungle patch, column came under an ambush placed on both sides of the stream. First reaction team that took off under an officer and the boys who were part of that team were those who were under punishment for either having come late from leave or other soldierly mischiefs. They were in full battle gear at the time of the drill period. The reaction of these men was so sudden and so quick that the terrorists were counter ambushed and eliminated. These men ran for a distance of more than four km in mountainous terrain at an unimaginable speed with entire battle load that is difficult to even believe. What drove these men who were under punishment to react so violently was the moral bond and they knew that their comrades in arm were under threat. This bond is cemented when they “train together to fight together” and “sweat together to bleed together”. These men did not do it to get their punishment drill excused and in spite of the outstand-
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ing job they still went through their share of extra drills. Soldiers always live on the edge on the posts along LoC. The threat to lives of team members come from border action by Pakistan Army on isolated posts along the LoC, fidayeen attacks, fire assault and even sniper fire. Under such circumstances soldiers have to move out of their posts to lay ambushes to prevent infiltration, ensure there is no tempering of the fence by terrorists and routine administrative duties. It all appears near impossible to undertake operational and administrative tasks under fire yet soldiers do not hesitate to risk their lives every day. To maintain unpredictability and surprise,
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soldiers create dummy posts as well as dummy sentries to divert the attention of the adversary. During heavy firing and shelling men feel safe in the posts rather than in their living areas. The games men play to entertain themselves is literally a Russian roulette, toeing with the enemy, harassing him, preventing his movement including daily course. Yet there is human angle to what goes on even during active engagements. Posts raise white flag and that is honoured specially, when there is a fatal casualty, body is allowed to be taken out from the direct line of fire. Evacuation of sick and wounded soldiers is allowed and casualties are moved with white flags. Ambulances are generally not attacked.
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Even in war chivalry is displayed.
Loss of a comrade is a serious emotional trauma
Most difficult part of being soldier is not roughing it out in most hostile environment, but losing a comrade in combat. The anguish, pain, sense of loss, and helplessness of not been able to save the comrade is unbearable. It is most trying
During the Uttarakhand rescue operation, the pilot took risk and brought down the helicopter to drop food and made the boys slither down between trees to organise rescue
One of the tough mountain terrain in which the soldiers operate
period to say adieu to a comrade. There is a resolve on one side to bring perpetrators to justice yet the loss leaves deep wounds. These martyrs are remembered every time there is a small victory or there is a challenge in front of the men. They are reminded by the leaders that this task will be done as homage to the departed comrade. Vijay now a Colonel was guiding a team to a supposed hideout of terrorists in cold winter night in Kashmir through his thermal Imagery (TI) night sight. The operations were led by his senior Vivek. At a critical time the TI sight battery required replacement since it was discharged by prolonged usage. While Vijay was in the process of changing the battery, he heard
the shots of the fire and next he knew was that Ajith a young daredevil was shot by the terrorists as they sensed movement of soldiers outside their hideout. In spite of our best efforts Ajith was martyred. Even after 12 years Vijay still keeps the fast on May 13 as a mark of respect to Ajith on the day of his martyrdom. It is the deep sense of loss that is still fresh in his memory. There is a tradition in the army to have a buddy pair and these buddies are thicker than blood relations. While off duty the buddies eat together, play together and even go on leave together so that they are always together. Change of buddy is a most discomforting thing to men. Venkat was martyred in one of the operations and his buddy a boy from UP was carrying food for two. While he was returning back from the dining hall his section commander asked him why he is carrying food for two people. He replied one for me and another for Venket and there was pin drop silence, because boys around him knew that Venkat is no more. It was later revealed that it was Venkat’s birthday, and this was his birthday gift to his departed comrade. It is difficult to even understand the relationship between men, Venkat was from Tamil Nadu and this boy was from UP. Difference in language, diverse food habit yet so closely bonded. That is what soldiering is all about. The small happiness is shared among the platoon such as boys returning back from leave, engaged, married, or blessed with a child. Small party is organised and everyone including officers sit together, sing songs and play pranks with each other’s. When you look at these boys one is reminded of childhood and as an old man (Commanding Officer) you smile and remember the good old days as young-
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ster in the company. But the same men change over to fearsome fighters when faced with crisis. The transformation is so sudden that is difficult to imagine. A shy looking boy turns into a rough man ready to do violence for safety of his comrades and nation. We had a tradition that officers and men would get new name after eliminating terrorists that would symbolise him as blooded soldier. I often wondered what makes these men change so fast the moment alert use to be sounded to get ready for operations. It is the sense of responsibility and commitment first to the name of unit, comrades and nation. It is difficult for those who have not worn the uniform to imagine how such emotional commitment propels men to become extraordinary humans.
Soldiers are humans first
What is in soldiers that they often deliver when odds are against them? The ancient Spartans believed that battlefield training of soldiers is to subject them to a vigorous regime involving unending physical rigours, exposure to severe weather conditions, depriving them of sleep and constant mental toughness. It remains the benchmark of training even today. Soldiers are required to kill the enemy without remorse, show no fear, and ability to fight battle after battle without fatigue and yet remain humans first. There is no structured training given to men for being chivalrous to show compassion, but it is the ethos and tradition that makes a soldier more human than humans, more compassionate than normal humans. Most memorable lessons we as soldier learn to be humans first is in the battlefield. It was a long night and there was a tactical pause in fighting in Jaffna
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focus
The Buddy System: Training together to fight
hemant rawat
during Operation Pawan, we decided to give some rest to men and prepare fresh food since one was not sure when the next pause will come our way. Few men stood guard and rest took necessary rest. Breakfast of six pooris and cup of tea was being served to men especially those on guard at their place. I saw one of my soldiers exchange few words with a young boy who was looking at this soldier while he was having his tea and poori. Then the soldier called that boy closer and handed over his share of breakfast to the boy and he ran back to his place that was in close proximity. I walked up and asked the soldier what happened? He sheepishly told me, “Sir, boy was hungry and he has nothing to eat at home so I gave him my breakfast.” I was so proud of this boy and he taught me a lesson for life that in war or peace we are humans first.
Soldiers are angels of God
While along the LoC and CI/CT men display ruthless streak, but when they are entrusted the task of military operations other than war, the response changes immediately. The same ruthless and rough men transform into angels of God. An old lady from Gujarat, who had lost all hopes of survival during Uttrakhand disaster in June 2013 after being rescued by soldiers said, “I have not seen God, till I saw soldiers coming down from the sky to rescue us. I kept moving from temple
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to temple in search of God, till I realised that the God is amongst us, in the form of soldiers.” During the same disaster relief operations, 2500 people were stranded at Jungle Chatti with no way to move out and nothing to eat to survive in cold and harsh terrain at 11000 feet. They had resigned to the fate and were waiting for the miracle to happen. It was close to last light on June 20, 2013 when two Cheetah helicopters were hovering above to find a landing place but could not find an open patch on steep slopes to touch down. Finally the officer decided to slither down through the foliage and managed to touch down. Six men landed to extricate 2500 people. They did not know the names, religion and caste of victims, what they knew was that they were fellow humans and there task was to rescue them alive. These men did not carry food and survival ration but carried explosive, digging tools, lifesaving medicines and water bottles. As they were unpacking their bags, few hungry and starving people crawled up thinking that the packets may be containing food but were shocked to notice that these men were making some weird stuff out of it and were busy in doing everything except rescue. The officer asked the people to move away till they call them and within minutes, the Valley was thundering with loud explosions. The explosions were to clear the area of trees and rocks so that these men could create a makeshift heli-
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pad for the evacuation to commence. It was then that the officer sent a buddy pair around the forest and steep slopes to tell the people to hold on till morning when they will get food, water and evacuation will commence. Yes these six men rescued 2500 people and that is what is soldiering is all about. Soldiering in difficult environment brings these men closer and bond is established for life. While in operations officers lead from the front and what makes this relationship strong is commitment to each other. There is no caste, no religion what matter is the brotherhood among the comrades. Unlike other professions, officer-men relationship is like father and son irrespective of the age. Officer’s casualties are always higher because they risk their lives rather than their subordinates. I do remember my buddy Bajishan a devout Muslim would always pray and light oil lamp in my room if I am out in operations. If I returned back late he would remind me that he has already done the prayer on my behalf. Former Army Chief Gen Padmanabhan said, “Jawan as he is affectionately called, India’s soldier represents all of India, he is a microcosmic model of India.” The author is an infantry officer & Senior Fellow, Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi
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ICT AND THE ARMED FORCES: IN SEARCH FOR A NEW PARADIGM ICT certainly has a very great impact on our C4I2SR systems and empowers commanders at all levels, its real value can only be obtained if we utilise these very systems to reorganise our combat forces and our organisational structure, writes BRIG DEEPAK SINHA (RETD)
“Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; whoever is the second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted”. Sun Tzu Art of War
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e live in the information age and the use of the phrase Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is now common place. It has been in usage by the academic community for the past four decades, since the 1980’s, and the abbreviation ICT itself became popular after the term was used in a report by Dennis Stevenson pre-
sented to the British Government on its impact on schools in the United Kingdom in 1997. It has been best defined as an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as video conferencing and distance learning. ICTs are often spoken of in a particular context, such as ICTs in education, health care, or libraries. Experts in this field, such as Prof. Solange Ghernaouti, University of Lausanne, Switzerland, an acknowledged expert on Cyber Security, points out that “ICT al-
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lows huge amounts of information to be stored, processed, accessed, searched, transmitted, exchanged and disseminated, regardless of geographic distance. These unprecedented possibilities lead to new services that can improve economic development and the dissemination of knowledge.” She further points out that ICT cannot be looked at in isolation and its exploitation is only feasible when we look at all aspects of capacity building simultaneously. This includes issues pertaining to infrastructure, services and security. While the importance of data as a source of connectivity, power and profit cannot be underestimated, it is in the evolving technological advances in em-
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has resulted in better utilisation of manpower and capacity leading to a reduction in manpower and training costs.
Impact on the Military
BEL's Mobile Communication Terminal
bedded devices, autonomous interactive communication, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and miniaturisation that will prove to be game changers in the coming years. All of this, what has today euphemistically come to be referred to as “Internet of Everything or IoT”, will result in added machine and human efficiency which will do more than just turn on the coffee-pot or air conditioner while we are on our way home after a tough day in office. However, it is in the field of security, law enforcement and, most importantly, in the military that we will witness far reaching and transformative developments that may change the very nature of warfare. Drones, pilotless air/surface/ sub-surface craft and remotely controlled vehicles are already being introduced for a wide variety of uses, ranging from reconnaissance, detection and surveillance to carrying out command and control tasks and fire assaults.
Impact on Business Processes and Structures
Before examining the impact of ICT on the military it would be worthwhile to see how it has transformed the manner in which corporate entities do business. This impact has been all-encompassing and rapid. It has permitted businesses to automate processes thereby flattening hierarchies and reducing manpower. It has also simultaneously led to improved agility, responsiveness and effectiveness, all of which have had a transformational impact on efficiency and profitability. Companies like Amazon, Flipkart and a host of “Unicorn” Start Ups, like Air Bnb, for example, already valued at Billions of US Dollars, are today competing with businesses that have existed for decades and
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forcing them to adapt to the new realities of the market-place. This transformation has been feasible based on three fundamental pillars. The first is the growing importance of big data analytics which has been immensely helped by the increasing use of embedded technologies, such as Radio-Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) for autonomous tracking of products, thus allowing for better and more focused interventions, especially in inventory control and forecasting. Next, is advanced technologies which include robotics, miniaturization and AI. That permits not just replacing manual labour involved in repetitive tasks in manufacturing with robots but also increasing interventions in the service sector in such fields as medical diagnostics and legal research, in what till now could be considered to be “knowledge workers”. In the United States, for example, Price Waterhouse Cooper in one of their reports suggests over 59 per cent of all manufacturing companies utilise industrial robots of some kind. In India, as per the International Federation of Robotics total number of industrial robots in use is estimated to reach 6000 by 2018 from the 2600 in 2015. Finally, we have the increasing availability of user friendly, cloud based enterprise systems that have transformed management practices by providing all required inputs on a single platform.This has allowed large business corporations to undertake radical downsizing of their hierarchical organisational and management structures. All of this has enabled them to better integrate business vertical sand allowed decision makers to be better informed without the constant need for information from subordinates. This
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It is a well-known historical fact that the internet was first developed by the US Military in the 1950’s with the introduction of electronic computers primarily for data transfer. It has since developed exponentially as we have seen and the US military has continued to be at its cutting edge, especially in its use in the field of cyber warfare. Unfortunately, in our context, our Armed Forces have taken hesitant steps in embracing ICT, primarily due to an overwhelming fear of its impact on information security, given that both hardware and software are not of indigenous origin. Thus, its exploitation has been quite rudimentary, to say the least, especially within the Army. As for the Air Force and Navy, since they are reliant on combat platforms, be they aircraft or ships, for carrying out their primary operational missions, these of necessity must be state-of-the-art, if they are to be dominant over the enemy. Moreover, these systems are increasingly digitised and information dependent and given their high unit cost are available in limited numbers. Thus, this mix of systems characteristics and the necessity to ensure that their operational employment and control be exercised at the highest levels, has forced both these Services to increase their reliance on ICT. Thus in their context, ICT plays an extremely vital role in spheres of Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Intelligence, Information, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems (C4I2SR), navigation, weapon selection & targeting, damage assessment and training. However, despite having a fairly flat hierarchical command and control structure, little emphasis has been given towards the introduction of customised and networked Enterprise Systems that could go a long way in reducing manpower, improving administrative and logistics forecasting and management and reducing costs. Moreover, while some effort has been made to acquire and utilise unmanned semi-autonomous platforms, this aspect needs to be given far greater focus. In the context of the Army, the situation is far more complex, given the diverse and terrain it operates in, the force levels required to be maintained and its reliance on combat manpower, the Infantry, as is its principal war winning asset. While there have been consistent attempts at reducing manpower based on wholly unre-
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alistic doctrinal concepts of war fighting, this has been largely negated due to our difficult terrain profile in which our likely theatres of operations. This dependency on manpower has been clearly validated by the two wars that the United States has fought, in Afghanistan and Iraq. In terms of strategic aims set, these can only be considered as military defeats, primarily due to the limited availability of light infantry resources and their overreliance on technology and networked warfare solutions. Just as in the other Services, the Army too has been concentrating its focus on networked solutions that enable optimum utilisation of the C4I2SR systems in place. While this is certainly an operational necessity and cannot be overlooked, the Army hierarchy needs to look at other aspects of ICT that will have transformative impact on its hierarchy, personnel, equipment and logistics management. For instance, just as in the case of corporates, hierarchical levels can be reduced and a flatter organization put in place as networked systems have greatly enhanced management capabilities, especially the ability to receive and handle vast amounts of data. Reduction of one level of headquarters, for instance, will result in manpower and cost savings and also greatly improve response timings and feedback as one bureaucratic level will be reduced. While the lower levels of command and control from the section to the battalion are necessary given the limited depth within which battalions are deployed, the same is no longer the case at the Brigade, Divison, Corps or Army level. It appears reasonable to suggest there are a number of different options available by which the hierarchy can be reduced by eliminating one of the headquarter levels. One viable option could be to do away with the Divisional Headquarters by ensuring that each Brigade is organised with its full complement of Arms and Services and functions directly under the Corps Headquarters. The Armoured Division, for example, is one such organisation that could be reorganised given the difficulties we face in its operation as a single entity. This would require that the Corps Headquarters is also tailored and staffed to be able to control nine or more brigades directly and has the ability to provide a subordinate Task Force Headquarters in the eventuality some of the combat brigades are required to operate at a distance from the Corps Headquarters. Such an action will lead to quicker responses and reduction in manpower. More im-
The Indian Air force using AFNET, a fully secure communication network
portantly, in terms of organisational architecture, we no longer need to be rigid and if circumstances require there may be theatres where Corps HQs are redundant and a Divisional HQs could directly report to the Command. The permutations and combinations in this regard are endless. In any event in the existing concept of battle, given the transparency that is feasible and the lethality smart weapons provided in the theatre of operations, requires units and formations to be widely dispersed. The Divisional HQ’s with it vast administrative elements located in the vicinity does become a lucrative target. Moreover, as most would be aware, we are now frequently confronted with a situation wherein during an ongoing encounter, the Theatre Commander may directly speak with the Commanding Officer or even the Company Commander conducting the operation either to get inputs first-hand or to convey his thoughts directly. Similarly, there are times when subordinate headquarters are seen only as “Post Offices” or stumbling blocks with little ability to help. However, another aspect where advantage can be accrued is in the use of customised enterprise systems lies in the manner in which they can help HQs in data analysis that allows them to gauge a units’ combat effectiveness, such as casualties and manpower deficiencies, profile and status of weapons, equipment and ammunition and availability of rations. In addition, its impact on logistic forecasting and equipment management would be immense. Such a system utilising RFID and other autonomous technology would preclude the necessity of constantly interacting with subordinate commanders for basic inputs while also reducing man-
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power requirements for non-combat duties at all levels.
Conclusion
ICT has impacted every facet of our lives, both personal and professional and is set to transform the very way we produce goods and do business. Its impact on the military is as overwhelming, though the Indian military has not exploited this capability to the extent it should have. While ICT certainly has a very great impact on our C4I2SR systems and empowers commanders at all levels, its real value can only be obtained if we utilise these very systems to reorganise our combat forces and our organisational structure to ensure that they are not just robust but have inherent flexibility and agility that the modern battlefield requires. Its impact on force management and on all aspects of logistics cannot be understated, if we are to take full advantage of the efficiency, manpower and financial savings that it can help accrue. Most importantly, we need to look at beyond the horizon developments that are occurring in the field of ICT, AI and autonomous platforms. That is the future of warfare whether we like it or not and we will need to give serious thought to how such advances can be used to our best advantage given our terrain configuration and economic capabilities. Finally, all of these developments are only feasible if we ensure that aspects pertaining to security and infrastructure are also tackled simultaneously. The author is a military veteran and consultant with the Observer Research Foundation
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PHOTO FEATURE
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
y parade at the Hindon air Da e rc Fo r Ai th 84 e th g Durin al Delhi, Air Chief Marshal pit ca of ts kir ts ou e th on base s ial salute of the air warrior on m re ce e th ok to ha Ra Ar up aerial display by aircraf t ng isi ra irha an d se es tn wi and from the air force fleet
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PHOTO FEATURE
PHOTOS: DPR MOD
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MTCR MAY HELP INDIA DOUBLE BRAHMOS MISSILE RANGE BrahMos requires a minor change in its software and hardware to extend its range
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hanks to its membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in June 2016, India and Russia are planning to double the range of their joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from its present 290 km to about 600 km. Till the MTCR membership, the BrahMos cruise missile was a prisoner of the range limitation imposed by the technology denial regime in which India joined as the 35th member. An official pointed out that the BrahMos range can be technically and theoretically extended now, as India is a full member of the MTCR and it can freely obtain the technologies required to do so. MTCR membership provides India the opportunities for foreign collaboration on missile technology and to obtain the technologies without any restriction. India and Russia reportedly came to
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an agreement on the extension to the BrahMos cruise missile range at a meeting between their Defence Ministers Manohar Parrikar and General Sergei Shoigu as part of their Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation held in New Delhi on October 26. This increase in the BrahMos strike range will be applicable to practically every platform that uses the weapon system. At present, India uses three types of BrahMos missile - Block I, Block II and Block III. These are available in landbased and warship-launched versions. The aircraft launched version of the missile is currently in testing phase and is likely to be fired and tested by end of 2016 or in early 2017. The extended range will provide BrahMos more flexibility on its deployment. At present, the Indian Army has been forced to deploy BrahMos regi-
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ments much closer to the borders with Pakistan and China due to the 290-km range limitation. At present, only a very minor change in software and hardware of the BrahMos missile is required to extend its range, officials, with knowledge of the agreement, say. BrahMos missile provide the Indian Army with the longest range in terms of an artillery capability, which otherwise is limited to just about 40 km when BrahMos missile is excluded from the artillery weapons inventory. BrahMos is a re-engineered version of the Russian P-800 Oniks/Yakhont antiship missile and no major modification is required to achieve 600-km range. Produced by India-based BrahMos Aerospace, which was set up as a joint venture in 1998 between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia, it was always believed that the 290-km range restriction due to MTCR could be overcome easily. There have been several assertions in the past from unspecific sources that the range is around 600 km. Modifications to the missile would likely be for stability and accuracy improvements and not necessarily to enhance range, experts in the field say. In 1998, India was not yet a member of MTCR and hence the technology transfer from Russia for the BrahMos missile had this restriction to be less than 300 km, limit imposed on members by the technology denial regime. This doubling of the BrahMos range is all set to boost India's firepower and strike capability against its enemies and could play a deterrent role in conventional conflicts. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin talked of the intent to increase BrahMos range, during an interaction with Russian journalists. "We have also agreed to improve the BrahMos missile, which will be land-, air- and sealaunched. We will also work to increase its range," Putin was quoted as saying during his interaction after the annual Russia-India summit on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Goa on October 15. In August, this year, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given the final go-ahead for the Army to induct
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and deploy an advanced version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, with trajectory manoeuvre and steep-dive capabilities for mountain warfare, in the northeast as a conventional deterrent against China. The CCS had cleared the fourth BrahMos regiment at a cost of over `4,300 crore. Soon after this CCS approval for deployment of the BrahMos missile in the Northeastern part of India came about, China's defence ministry said it hoped India could put more efforts into regional peace and stability rather than the opposite. Asked about the missile plans at a monthly news briefing, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said maintaining peace and stability in the border region was an "important consensus" reached by both countries. "We hope that the Indian side can do more to benefit peace and stability along the border and in the region, rather than the opposite," Wu said, without elaborating. The two nuclear-armed neighbours have been moving to gradually ease long-existing tensions between them. China lays claim to more than 90,000 sq km (35,000 sq miles) ruled by New Delhi in the eastern sector of the Himalayas. India says China occupies 38,000 sq km (14,600 sq miles) of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west. The latest `4,300-crore contract takes the overall orders placed for the BrahMos missiles to over `31,000 crore. The Navy has already installed the missile on 10 frontline warships, including the latest stealth destroyers and frigates. The BrahMos regiment consists of around 100 missiles, five mobile autonomous launchers on 12x12 heavyduty trucks and a mobile command post, among other hardware and software. A tactical or non-nuclear missile with "nine times more kinetic energy than sub-sonic missiles" for greater destructive potential, the BrahMos has become the preferred precision-strike weapon for the Indian armed forces. Flying at a velocity almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8, the missiles also have "a combined high-low trajectory" to evade enemy defence systems. Since 2007, the Army has progressively inducted three regiments of BrahMos with largely Block-I and II missiles developed to hit a specific small target with a low radar cross-section in a cluttered environment. In early 2015, the 'steep dive' capable BrahMos with 70-degree strike angle was successfully tested in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by the
Army and over a year later, this approval from CCS for inducting a regiment of the same has come. Now, BrahMos scientists are working on having a 90-degree strike capable BrahMos that can in the future be deployed as an aircraft carrier-killer weapon. In June, this year, BrahMos Aerospace successfully demonstrated the integration of BrahMos, said to be the Sudhir K Mishra world's most formidable supersonic cruise missile system, on the Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI frontline strike fighter. The demonstration flight, carried out at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Nasik ood news for the BrahMos Aerospace division, involved carriage of BrahMos leadership is that its Chief Executive and weapon on the long-range air superiority Managing Director, Sudhir Kumar Mishra, who fighter jet, giving a major fillip to the mistook over as the top official in the joint venture sile's air-launched flight test programme. in 2014, was in October, elevated as DistinWith the successful flight, the Brahguished Scientist in the DRDO. Mishra had Mos air version programme now inches been appointed as DRDO Chief Controller of closer towards actual test firing when Research and Development only a few months a 2.5-ton air-to-ground missile from ago, ahead of the DefExpo in Goa earlier this the Sukhoi-30 in the coming months. year. The Indian Air Force is elated at the enA Master of Technology in Mechanical hanced firepower and range this deadly Engineering from Indian Institute of Technolcombination of Su-30 with BrahMos will ogy-Madras and a Doctoral aspirant from provide them. The powerful missile will National Institute of Technology at Warangal, enable the IAF penetrate deep inside the Mishra has worked in the missile developenemy territory to deliver a deadly blow ment programme of the DRDO for decades to their vital installations from stand-off and has contributed to India's quest to achieve ranges. The integration brings a paraexcellence in missile technologies. An ardent digm shift in the capability of the IAF visdisciple of former President of India APJ Abul à -vis its adversaries. The Su-30 and BrahKalam, called fondly as the missile man of InMos combine will carry out air combat dia, Mishra refers to his mentor often in his operations within and beyond visibility conversations. range and will provide the IAF with the His expertise and knowledge has recapability of attacking targets protected sulted in the realisation of DRDO missile by powerful air defence assets. programmes within scheduled time and reIntegration of BrahMos with the Susources. As CEO and Managing Director of 30MKI will render the weapon a multiBrahMos Aerospace, he is responsible for the platform capability while making the design, development, production and product IAF the only Air Force in the world in support encompassing complete Product Life possession of a supersonic cruise missile Cycle of BrahMos Weapon System. system. The flight trial has been keenly Recently, he had said that BrahMos could observed by several other nations in the become the first major technological breakworld in possession of the Su-30 strike fighter, who are looking towards acquirthrough through its hypersonic technology ing a lethal weapon system for the Ruswork in the immediate future, a dream that sian-made warplanes. had been expressed by Kalam, who had told BrahMos Aerospace plans to begin DRDO scientists to work towards making India fire-testing the missile from Sukhoithe first nation in developing some futuristic 30MKI fighter jets by the end of this year. technology. The air-launched version of BrahMos, at He has successfully guided BrahMos 2.5 tonnes, is lighter than the 3-tonne team in modernising and upgrading BrahMos land and sea variants. The "missile sepamissile to achieve steep dive capability of ration trials" are likely to take place soon. land-to-and flight test for long range. His deHowever, the changes that the Su-30MKI fence diplomatic skills resulted in the culminahad to undergo to integrate the BrahMos tion of many R&D projects with several counmay be a hindrance to convert the entire tries within the framework of foreign policy, Sukhoi fleet of the IAF as BrahMos-capabilateral defence cooperation agreement and ble fighter jets, experts say. international commitments of Government of India. — Geopolitics Bureau
A DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST
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UAC U
G N O R T S E U N I TO CONT TIES WITH
nited Aircraft Corporation (UAC) is a Russian open joint stock company established in February 2006 by the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree. With a majority stake belonging to the Russian Government, it consolidates Russian private and stateowned aircraft design bureaus and plants engaged in design, production and sales of combat, civilian, transport and unmanned aircraft. The Corporation combines Sukhoi, Mikoyan, Irkut, Ilyushin, Tupolev, Beriev and Yakovlev brands. UAC has become one of the national champions, i.e. large companies that not only seek profit but also advance the interests for the nation. On January 16, 2015 the UAC directors’ board elected Yury Slyusar as the Corporation’s new President for a period of 5 years. The election is to mark a new stage in the Corporation develop-
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ment to meet today’s’ requirements on efficiency increase and self-reliance. UAC is keeping the position of one the top world's leaders in military aviation with a share of world combat aircraft market of about 15 per cent. This is due to the wide range of the constantly evolving MiG and Sukhoi combat aircraft families, supported by the best-in-class Yak-130 combat trainer. UAC maintains leadership in the next generation products. According to various experts, Russian combat aircraft, like the Su-35, are the best in their class. It goes without saying that the Russian aircraft have proved themselves in a wide variety of training exercises in which they have taken part together with US and European aircraft. The witnesses have seen enough to allow UAC to claim technological superiority to that of foreign competitors. In recent years a UAC subsidiary - MiG has dramatically increased its
IAF SUKHOI SU-30
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YURI SLYUSAR UAC PRESIDENT
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aircraft production to reach annual sales volume to $1 billion. That includes delivery not just to Russia and India but to third nations as well. A number of MiG aircraft have been upgraded to follow demand of several nations with more contracts being expected. Negotiations with several customers are on the way to be completed shortly. Surely the MiG-29 further development will go towards MiG-35 which means increased capabilities of the onboard equipment, especially the radar. The programme will see further development in the nearest future. As for the 5th generation programme the preliminary tests of the T-50, the Russian 5th generation prototype have been completed. So is the first stage of the joint tests with the Russian Air Force. During these stages an impressive volume of tests have been carried out including aerodynamics characteristics and avionics complex checks to confirm both technical expectations and also meet the requirements specified by the customer. At this stage the aircraft has been already meeting all customer requirements. In latter stages of joint tests the weaponry complex is to be checked. The customer will get the first batch of aircraft for experimental service in 2017. The aviation world is becoming more and more integrated. There are no more pure American or European products. Boeing has production facilities in Japan and in Europe while Airbus enjoys
co-operation with the US-based companies or China. This is why UAC considers some of its products a result of wide international co-operation where there is enough room for international partners to combine with joint ventures or joint products. There are a number of UAC’s joint projects that are to fulfil the new Indian government statement – ‘Make in India’, reflecting on a strategic intention of the country for self-sufficiency in economy and technology. The Corporation followed the same scheme even before it was voiced. One of the facts to prove the truth of ‘Make in India’ slogan happened recently at Nasik where the first Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter plane, overhauled in the country, has been handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, making India the only nation not only to license produce, MiG-29 KUB fighter aircraft take-off from Indian Aircraft Carrier INS Vikramaditya
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but to do MRO for Russian-made aircraft. Yuri Slyusar, UAC President, stated that Su-30MKI has a dramatic potential for upgrade. Among the priorities is the Russian-Indian BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile airborne version integration as the Su-30MKI most powerful striking weapon. The Russian side adjusted the aircraft design to adopt the missile which has been officially handled to the IAF during AeroIndia exhibition in Bengaluru in February 2015. At PAK FA the moment, the first Su-30MKI equipped with BRAHMOS has been passing the flight trials with the first demo flight happened just recently. Test firing start has been scheduled for this year. So, one can say that two most advanced Russian-Indian programmes - Su-30MKI and BRAHMOS, have been successfully merged. Moreover, the aircraft is ripe for upgrades of its other munitions. The plane’s avionics, especially the radar, can also be upgraded to bring the aircraft very close to the 5th generation level. New stealth coatings may bring the aircraft even closer to this level so it can counter modern threats and be the best in the region. Russia and India have completed the Preliminary Design for the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA). According to various experts the FGFA is one of the major joint aircraft projects currently under way between Russia and India. Russian and Indian engineers have worked together to create a special version of the aircraft based on the Sukhoi’s PAK FA in accordance with the requirements of the Indian MoD. Both sides have drawn up documents and understanding of the scope of the next phase of design as well as the scale of future production. While the Russian version of the fifth generation fighter jet is operated by a single pilot it is possible that the Indian Air Force aircraft be operated by two pilots. The project of a fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) is considered priority for cooperation with India. Both reflect the strategy on creating presentday high-tech products in cooperation with our partners. UAC will be leading the Russian aviation industry at the AeroIndia-2017 international exhibition in Bangalore. The Corporation exposition will be open for Indian and international officials and experts as well as to general public.
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‘OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO BECOME ONE OF THE LEADING GLOBAL PLAYERS’
HEMANT RAWAT
ARAVIND MELLIGERI, CEO & Chairman of Aequs, in conversation with Geopolitics, talks about Aequs’ various projects and collaboration with domestic and foreign players How has Aequs transformed itself over the years from a humble beginning to a trusted partner with world's leading Aerospace giants? Aequs SEZ at Belagavi, which took off way back in 2009 has successfully built the well-endowed domestic capability in aerospace manufacturing through JVs and acquisitions of the aerospace majors across the world. Aequs followed the local global approach where in the locally available Indian skill and manufacturing capability were fused to the stateof-the-art technologies being made available by global aerospace players
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through partnerships or acquisitions. Through these steps, Aequs has been able to transform itself and carry out highest manufacturing value addition in India by manufacturing some of the major components for the Aircrafts & Aero Engines. Today it proudly showcases the proven track record in the areas of precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, assembly, closed die forging and special processing for worldwide customers including OEM’s. Aequs houses these interrelated capabilities that were either unavailable in India or were difficult to be at one location, thus, making
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India one of the preferred sourcing and manufacturing destination in the global aerospace arena. Aequs commends high regard in this industry not only due to better manufacturing set-up and ecosystem it possess, but also due to maintaining and confidentially of data and records related to IPR, it receives from global partners. Aequs SEZ has culture of keeping transparency in its business to foster trust among its stakeholders and thereby earn their respect. These core values are helping Aequs to become preferred partner in this sector.
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Who are your major clients and what is the work being done for them both for domestic and international markets?
Either directly or through our joint ventures, Aequs manufactures and supplies parts, components, and sub-assemblies to aerospace majors. Eaton Aerospace became Aequs’ customer in 2008. In 2009, Honeywell, Airbus and United Technologies Aircraft Systems (UTAS) were added as our key customers. Aequs became the first Indian aerospace company in the private sector to expand into North America by acquiring T&K Machine Inc., an aerospace component maker based out of Paris, Texas. This acquisition provides Aequs with the ability to offer the local-global ecosystem of efficiency to Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, UTAS, Triumph and other customers in the North American market. Further, the acquisition of SiRA group based out of France has brought highly complementary capabilities to our Global Aerospace Ecosystem in the areas of precision machining, assembly, landing gear and aircraft actuation components. These developments strengthened our relationship with key customers in Europe such as Dassault, Safran (multiple divisions) and United Technologies Aircraft Systems. In addition to the above, we have approval to work on several of their production programmes.
How is Aequs supporting HAL in their projects?
We have been working with HAL for various platforms, including Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Sukhoi 30MKI, ALH, among others. Today, we serve HAL with more than 250 machined structural parts for various platforms. We are also pursuing other opportunities to partner with the organisation for the supply of large structural forgings from India’s largest Hydraulic Press (10000 ton) located at Aequs SEZ, dedicated to aerospace & defence applications.
Highlight the recent partnership of Aequs with some of the international players?
There are four JV’s operating out of Aequs SEZ at Belagavi. One with Magellan Aerospace for surface treatment facilities, second one with Set Forge and Aubert & Duval of France for forging, third one is our build to print assembly facility with SAAB of Sweden and the last but not the least with Precihole of India. With these global partnerships and acquisitions in place, Aequs is able to bring additional capabilities on a global scale to provide more value added products to
the customers. Aequs continues to invest in developing capabilities and technology upgradation to promote self-reliance and build ecosystems of efficiency.
Share Aequs medium and long term plans in Aerospace, Defence and manufacturing sector?
India’s Aerospace Industry growth indicates that the country is rapidly building capabilities to emerge as a preferred destination to support the global aerospace Value chain. Innovation in manufacturing is becoming critical for India to be a credible player in the global Aerospace industry by 2020. We are gradually moving towards adopting industry 4.0 and with this we are confident to transform the existing facilities into Smart and ultra-modern manufacturing set-up within Aequs SEZ. Aequs’ aim is to realise an integrated and holistic aerospace ecosystem where the customers can source all their requirements from one common place and
L g with HA in k r o w n dbee We have us platforms, inclu KI, M io 0 for var Tejas, Sukhoi 3 y, we ing LCA ong others. Toda 250 ALH, am L with more than for ser ve HAd structural parts machine latforms various p
thereby experience our value propositions in the areas of optimised life cycle cost and time, supply chain and associated ease of doing business. Our medium term objective is to be one of the leading global players in the commercial aerospace sector and realise $300 million/annum sales by 2020 from aerospace business.
As one of the key players in A&D and manufacturing sector, what are the challenges/ policy bottlenecks that you would like to highlight the industry is facing?
At Aequs SEZ, we have been able to establish ourselves with the significant support from the Central Government. SEZ Act2005 stipulates various tax exemptions and incentives to business entities operating from SEZ. This particular provision among several others has helped us to
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build a globally competitive market for ourselves. Central government is continuously working towards making business environment conducive for aerospace sector but still improvements needed in some of the key areas such as Labour laws, infrastructure, Factory Act, approval procedures among others, where we face numerous challenges on regular basis. These laws are quite archaic in nature and need revision from time to time to obtain maximum synergy by engaging direct and indirect stakeholders for a common goal. In the areas of taxations, the companies are facing severe headwinds. MAT (Minimum Alternate Tax) for SEZ’s remains a cause of concern since inception of SEZ Act Unlike any other manufacturing industries this sector operates from entirely different platform. Minor mistakes can cause just an inconvenience in auto and other manufacturing industry but, here in Aerospace and Defence it can be responsible for several precious lives and can take away entire business from the supplier of aerospace components. Therefore, Aerospace and Defence sectors with such a high working capital, low volume, and stringent quality and safety norms cannot sustain unless these taxes are waved off. The biggest challenges that the MSME’s face are the high cost of capital and lack of Transfer of Technology (ToT). Countries like South Korea and Taiwan are now in a position to develop indigenous aircraft only because of ToT which was erstwhile promoted by their respective governments. This sector is basically divided into defence and non-defence segments. Apart from PSUs like HAL, DRDO and NAL several private players are also coming up in this sector. Therefore, it is high time that technology resides with these PSUs spill over to private players to achieve selfreliance. So, the policy changes should create an investment vehicle which can help MSMEs get access to the funds and technology easily. Additionally, ‘Make in India’ needs to look at challenges specific to each of these sectors, broaden the scope and promote them separately. E.g, in a budgeted provision-2016 government has put a Sunset clause till 2020 for SEZ’s, that will pose a challenge for the manufacturing companies especially in aerospace sector which is still at nascent stage and requires nurturing. Looking at the complexity involved to develop such a niche precision industry and long gestation period, central
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Aequs’ facility inside view
Government should revisit these provisions and should keep it open for aerospace industries to make sure that the benefits continue beyond 2020. ‘Make in India’ campaign has been promoted in such a way that it gives a feeling that it focuses only on foreign entity to come and invest. Indian players are often neglected in this camping. In several cases it is found that foreign entity make in India and export to overseas and same product come back to India with an extra cost. If Indian entities are promoted sufficiently this particular phenomenon may be avoided. On the other hand, there is a huge demand for the talent pool to drive manufacturing substantially. In February 2015, I attended a conference with Union Minister of state skill development and entrepreneurship, Rajeev Pratap Ready. Where he highlighted the huge gap between demand and supply of skilled workforce and said that Indian aerospace sector would need at least a million fresh and skilled workers over the next 10 years. In the same conference I also highlighted that several laws of the land related to labour and factories are restricting the companies to make the existing talent to work extra time. Make in India should facilitate collaborative efforts between all stakeholders in the aerospace eco-system, the political will and policy facilitation are ultra-super-critical for long-term indigenous A&D capability build-up in design, development and production.
What is the contribution of Aequs in providing ‘Smart’ City solution in reinventing
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Belagavi as Aerospace and Defence manufacturing business hub.
Belagavi has been transforming to a global centre for sourcing aerospace and precision machining components. Karnataka is among one of those states in the country which have an Aerospace Policy. The Aequs aerospace ecosystem at Belagavi in Karnataka facilitates reduction in production cycle time, savings on supply chain cost and helps to deliver best-in-class products to the global customers at an affordable price. Incidentally, Aequs Aerospace SEZ has the largest aerospace machining capability in the private sector in India. Last year in Sept 2015, it inaugurated one of the country’s largest aerospace machining facility with an area spanning 100k sqft, which has the capacity to house 150 CNC machines. This facility dedicated to manufacture aerospace machined components and sub-assemblies for Airbus Group.
How beneficial is 100 per cent FDI going to be for the defence sector? Does this pose any threat to national security?
Government has been moving progressively with increased FDI to its full potential. But we understand that in Defence FDI is driven more by the market opportunities, specifically in India. Creating market opportunities will facilitate creating opportunities for the foreign companies to come and set up manufacturing base in India and thus, it will amplify our ability to purchase more besides generating other advantages like transfer of technology and creating skilled workforce. This calls for setting up simplified pro-
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curement policies and processes. Reflecting a positive intent of India’s policy makers, the government has opened the floodgates for FDI by easing the norms for emerging sectors of Indian economy. It has removed the conditions of domestic access to state-of-the-art technology for 100 per cent FDI in the defence sector and put in abeyance the fractious 30 per cent local sourcing norms for advanced technology products. This offset requirement may be eased depending upon merit of the project. On the hindsight “modern technology” or “other reasons” as they say can be considered for FDI in excess of 49 per cent. Modern technology has, however, not been defined. Thus it’s too early to comment on it unless there is more clarity on the above. Much more financial & operational freedom needs to be allowed without compromising on some of the non-negotiables like getting the best technology, ensuring that the produce in the country does not fall into wrong hands and without any dilution of the security aspects.
What is Aequs' take on Skill development to bolster manpower needs in Aerospace & Defence and Manufacturing sector?
We would like to see Belagavi as “An Aerospace Knowledge Centre of India”. Aequs would continue bringing in new capabilities in its ecosystem, thereby transforming Belagavi, India into aerospace and manufacturing hub. Aequs would collaborate with technical institutes in the region to train young people and equip them with the new knowledge and capability.
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Defence Minister Inaugurates HE-MRO A JV of HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines This new MRO centre will improve customer satisfaction through improved serviceability and reduced cycle time.” Bruno Even, Safran Helicopter Engines CEO, commented “HE-MRO marks a new step in
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar speaking at the inaugural programme of Helicopter Engines MRO Pvt. Limited (HE-MRO), a Joint Venture of HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines
efence Minister, Manohar Parrikar inauguD rated Helicopter Engines MRO Pvt. Limited (HE-MRO), a Joint Venture of HAL and Safran
Helicopter Engines (SafranHE) at Sattari District in North Goa. The JV will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for Safran TM333 2B2 and HAL Shakti engines installed on HAL-built helicopters operated by the Defence Services. This new centre will provide maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) services for Safran TM333 and HAL Shakti engines installed on HAL-built helicopters. It will start its activities in 2017 with a capacity of 50 repaired engines a year and a full-capacity goal of 150 in the coming years. By then, the initial staff of 30 will also grow to 100. The centre’s capabilities may be enlarged to include other engines as mutually agreed. Safran Helicopter Engines and HAL will provide their customers with a first-class service including optimised engine availability.
the long-lasting and fruitful partnership between Safran and HAL. We are extremely proud of the continued confidence placed in us by HAL. Together we are committed to delivering worldclass support to our customers, both in India and throughout the region.”
“HE-MRO marks a new step in the long-lasting and fruitful partnership between Safran and HAL. We are extremely proud of the continued confidence placed in us by HAL. Together we are committed to delivering world-class support to our customers, both in India and throughout the region.”
BRUNO EVEN, CEO, Safran Helicopter Engines
With a fleet of over 1,000 engines, including 250 TM333 and 250 Shakti, India’s armed forces are one of the largest operators of Safran-designed helicopter engines. Shakti is the Indian designation for the Safran Ardiden 1H1, co-developed with HAL and produced under license. T. Suvarna Raju, HAL Chairman and Managing Director said: “HE-MRO reflects the close relationship established over many years between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines.
“HE-MRO reflects the close relationship established over many years between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines. This new MRO centre will improve customer satisfaction through improved serviceability and reduced cycle time.” T. SUVARNA RAJU, CMD, HAL
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Shakti is fitted to HAL’s ALH/Dhruv and has been selected to power the HAL-designed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). The Ardiden 1U variant powers the new Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), a three-ton single-engine aircraft that made its maiden flight in September 2016. Safran has maintained a presence in India for over 60 years in its three core markets – aerospace, defence and security. With a workforce of 2,500 domestic employees, its activities range from R&D to design, production and maintenance. Safran now powers and/or equips 65% of Indian airplanes and helicopters, and is the chief supplier of key systems and equipment for the Rafale. Besides helicopter engines, Safran has partnered with HAL over decades through local businesses such as Aircraft Engines (180-employee JV in Bengaluru) and Electronics & Defence equipment (Inertial Navigation Systems & Automated Flight Control Systems).
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Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerospace strategic partnership assault Aviation Chairman & CEO Eric D Trappier and Reliance Group Chairman Anil Dhirubhai Ambani announced the
creation of a Joint Venture in India. This new joint venture called ‘Dassault Reliance Aerospace’ will support Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Skill India’ policies and develop major Indian programmes with high levels of technology transfer to benefit the entire aerospace sector. The ‘Dassault Reliance Aerospace’ Joint Venture will be a key player in the execution of offset obligations, as a part of the 36 Rafale fighter Jets purchase agreement at a value of €7.87 billion, or about `59,000 crore signed between France and India on September 23, 2016. The agreement includes a 50 per cent offset obligation which is the largest ever offset contract in the history of India. The proposed strategic partnership between Dassault and Reliance will also focus on promoting Research and development projects under the IDDM programme (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured), a new initiative of India’s Defence Minister Manohar
Parrikar. “The formation of this Joint venture with Reliance Aerospace led by Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group illustrates our strong commitment to establish ourselves in India and to develop strategic industrial partnerships under the ‘Make in India’ policy promoted by the Indian Govern-
ment”, declared Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation Chairman & CEO. “We are delighted to partner a world leader in aviation like Dassault Aviation, and a visionary leader like Eric Trappier. This is a transformational moment for the Indian Aerospace sector and for Reliance Infrastructure’s subsidiary Reliance Aerospace”, said Anil Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Group.
ICGS Aryaman and Atulya commissioned into Indian Coast Guard
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he Indian Coast Guard Ships ‘Aryaman’ and ‘Atulya’, the eighteenth and nineteenth in the series of 20 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, were commissioned at Kochi by Financial Advisor to Defence Services Sunil Kumar Kohli.
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The 50m long indigenous FPVs displace 317 tonnes of water and can achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots with a range of 1500 nautical miles at an economical speed of 13 knots. Equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, advanced communication and navigational equipment, the ships are ideal platform for undertaking multifarious closecoast missions such as surveillance, search and rescue and interdiction. The special features of the ships include an Integrated Bridge Management System (IBMS) and Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS). Aryaman will be based at Kochi under the administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West) and Atulya at Visakhapatnam under the administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East).
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SASMOS delivers first F/A-18 electrical panel assembly to Boeing ASMOS HET Technologies Limited S delivered the first F/A-18 Super Hornet electrical panel assembly on schedule and
within six months from receipt of order to Boeing from its Bengaluru plant. SASMOS is under contract with Boeing to produce mission-critical equipment and cockpit panel assemblies for its F-15 and F/A-18 fighter aircraft, an example of Boeing’s ongoing support of the country’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. “This delivery by SASMOS to the F/A18 fighter programme is testament to our commitment to “Make in India” and demonstrates yet again that Indian suppliers, both big and small are becoming an integral part of Boeing’s global supply chain,” said Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India. “We continue to rapidly increase our efforts to enhance complex aerospace manufacturing in India, at the same time, bringing value to our global customers.”
With the aim of building a world-class aerospace ecosystem in India, Boeing is expanding its collaboration with Indian industrial partners across manufacturing, engineering and IT sectors. The company continues to increase its footprint as direct and indirect suppliers and sourcing activities continue to grow rapidly. “In a relatively short timeframe, we have increased our production rate at SASMOS, conformed to Boeing standards and production processes and exceeded the quality demands of Boeing for its flagship F-15 and F/A-18 programmes,” said HG Chandrasekhar, Managing Director of SASMOS. “It is a matter of pride for the SASMOS team to be part of the global aerospace industry supply chain for the most advanced fighter jets in the world.”
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Indian Navy urges industry to forge strategic partnership ice Admiral GS Pabby, AVSM, VSM, V Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, Indian Navy, while announcing the holding of the International Seminar on ‘Current and Future Challenges in Design and Construction of Underwater Vehicles’ on November 22, 2016, said that this is the right time for India to take a major step towards building submarines indigenously by forging a strategic partnership with the Indian industry. He urged the leading industry houses to grab the opportunity to strengthen Indian Navy and added that there is a plethora of design and develop-
establish in-house submarine design capability and the proposed seminar coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Directorate of Naval Design (Submarine Design Group). Rear Admiral CS Rao, NM, DGND (SDG), Indian Navy, presented the scope of seminar which aims to deliberate on unique challenges and complexities of submarine design and construction; with the aim to achieve national competence in submarine design and construction through industrial partnership. Dr. A. Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI, said that the objective of the interna-
ment opportunities available to the private sector in manufacturing of Navy equipment for the future. He mentioned that the six submarines on offer to the private sector for under P75 (I) programme was yet another opportunity by MoD to integrate the private sector in strategic defence production. The event will be organised by FICCI with active participation of the Indian Navy. Leading design houses are invited and are expected to participate in this niche seminar. Vice Adm GS Pabby said that though India entered the sphere of submarines late but it was able to quickly catch up with the complex technology. Today, Indian Navy is designing and developing many of its equipment indigenously. The Navy has also built need-based operational requirements but is now developing its capabilities and is setting up extensive infrastructure to develop submarines in India. He mentioned that the Indian Navy took a visionary step in 1986 to
tional seminar is to emphasize the design capabilities of Indian Navy and other design agencies and to hand hold Indian industry to make the best of the capabilities and how to focus on the future requirements. He said FICCI is continuously focusing on futuristic technologies and added that in order to fulfil the national aspiration of establishment of strong defence industrial base in country, there is a need to do away with licensed production. India needs to encourage innovations in design to enhance its scientific capabilities which can later be transferred to industries for commercialisation of defence technologies. The Seminar Brochure was jointly released by Vice Admiral GS Pabby, CWP&A, Indian Navy, Rear Admiral CS Rao, NM, DGND (SDG), Dr. A. Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI, Jayant D Patil, Chairman, FICCI Defence and Aerospace Committee, and Vivek Pandit, Senior Director, Defence and Aerospace, FICCI.
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DST-Lockheed Martin IIGP-Bengaluru Tech Expo ore than 20 winners of the India InnoM vation Growth Programme showcased their technologies at the Bengaluru Technology Expo. These included technologies from Bengaluru like SpeedLink, a portable Wi-Fi router that combines upto 8 different cellular networks (2G, 3G, 4G) from any vendor and provides the sum of all the bandwidth capacities as one super-fast Internet connection anda portable, intelligent, non-invasive, non-mydriatic, low cost Fundus camera (eye care device) that helps in pre-screening of five eye diseases namely cataract, diabetic retina, glaucoma, cornea issues as well as refractive index measurements. The Bengaluru Technology Expo was inaugurated byShri PriyankKharge, Hon’ble Minister of IT, BT and Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka. During his keynote address the Minister lauded IIGP has the longest private-public partnership and stressed the need for more such initiatives. Shri Kharge also said that, “Bengaluru remains the number-one innovation eco-system in India.” He added that development was not just about an idea, but making ideas and innovation happen. IIGP enables Indian innovators and startups to get connected to industry partners not only in India but across the globe. 12 innovators were taken to Silicon Valley during September 25-30 this year to provide them an exposure to the global innovation ecosystem and get on an accelerated commercialization path. Subsequently, Swati Tiwari of Arcturus Business solutions, a Noida based startup was connected to Texas based Austin Energy who recently tested the solution developed by Arcturus for inspecting power transmission lines from the air using drones and breakthrough imaging software. Several awarded startups also participated in an Indian innovation led start-ups to Nairobi organized by FICCI earlier this year. As a consequence of the visit, one of the awarded companies under the IIGP viz. Aakar Innovations which has developed low cost biodegradable sanitary napkins has signed MoUs for partnership with Banapads from Uganda; Zana Africa from Kenya and Dreamline Business Centre from Kenya.
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Rafale’s new targeting pod gets airborne
INS Tihayu joins the Indian Navy Indian Navy commissioned the highly Tat thehemanoeuvrable fast attack craft INS Tihayu Eastern Naval Command. The ship was
key sensor update for the Dassault RaTis onhales’ fale’s in-development F3R software standard track to deliver enhanced capability from
mid-2018. Disclosing first details of an ongoing test campaign involving its targeting long-range identification optronic system (TALIOS) pod, Thales says the payload has been successfully flown using a Dassault Mirage 2000 testbed and a single-seat Rafale, as reported by FlightGlobal. Referring to a first test with the Rafale conducted earlier this year, the company says the pod’s electro-optical/infrared sensors “collected high-quality images taken during the ‘day’ channel” on the 2h sortie, which was flown from the DGA defence procurement agency’s Istres test site in the south of France. Thales has so far secured an order for 20 TALIOS pods – previously referred to as the PDL-NG – from an expected 45 to be acquired for the French air force and navy. Series production of the system will begin in 2018, following the completion of performance measurement tests next year.
commissioned into the Indian Navy by Vice Admiral HCS Bisht AVSM, ADC Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Eastern Naval Command at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. INS Tihayu would be based in Visakhapatnam under the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andhra Pradesh) and would be deployed for coastal patrol and surveillance operations along the Eastern Coast.
INS Tihayu is the second ship of the four follow-on Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (FOWJFAC), being built by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE). The
ship is an improved version of WJFAC, earlier constructed by GRSE. Conceived, designed and built indigenously, the commissioning of this ship completes the addition of another chapter to the nation’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and indigenisation efforts in the field of warship design and construction Named after Tihayu island (presently known as Katchal island) in the Nicobar group, the 320-tonne INS Tihayu, measuring 49 meters can achieve speeds in excess of 35 knots. The ship is manned by a team comprising four officers and 41 sailors with Commander Ajay Kashov appointed as her commissioning Commanding Officer. The ship is capable of operating in shallow waters at high speeds and is equipped with enhanced fire power. Built for extended coastal and offshore surveillance and patrol the warship is fitted with advanced MTU engines, water jet propulsion and the latest communication equipment. The ship’s armament consists of a 30 mm CRN 91 gun manufactured by Ordnance Factory Medak. An electronic day-night fire control system namely Stabilised Optronic Pedestal (SOP) manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) controls the gun. The ship is also equipped with two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns (HMG) and multiple medium machine guns, besides shoulder-launched Igla surfaceto-air missiles to combat aerial threats.
Russia- India sign agreement to jointly produce Ka-226T ndia and Russia entered into a Joint Venture IIndia. for the production of Ka-226T helicopter in For Russia, the agreement was
signed by Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev and the head of Roasoboronexport Anatoly Isaikin. Both Russian Helicopters and Rosoboronexport are part of State Corporation Rostec. The Indian side was represented by the Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Suvarna Raju. The signing of the joint venture marks a new stage of cooperation between Russia and India in the helicopter industry, which was first defined by the intergovernmental agreement between Moscow and Delhi in December 2015. In addition, the joint venture will become a pilot project for the Russian-Indian part of the ‘Make in India’ programme, which is implemented by the
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Indian government. “The joint venture is certainly a break-
through project for us, because it fundamentally changes the model of our cooperation within the helicopter industry. India has been
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one of our most important strategic partners. For the first time we are ready to offer our deep localization of helicopters, including the set up for production of various helicopter components and assemblies. I hope that the Ka-226T assembled in India has a great future in the world market,” said Russian Helicopters CEO Alexander Mikheev. “The joint venture for local production of Ka-226T is a profoundly new and substantial step in the development of cooperation between India and Russia. The fleet of Russian-made helicopters in India is over 400 units. But this is the first of such large-scale complex agreements for delivery and production of new helicopters in the amount of 200 units, which is fully in line with the Make in India initiative” - said Sergei Chemezov, Rostec CEO. “In addition, over the next 5 years there will be facilities
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Thales expands towed array sonar family to equip medium-size frigates launched its new compact CAPTAS-4 Twithhales towed array sonar, which provides frigates an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability
to support collaborative combat at sea during the Euronaval 2016. The new product is a compact, modular version of the CAPTAS-4 four-ring sonar. It requires less room on board the vessel, in particular because it incorporates an optimised deployment and recovery system for the towed array. The compact version of CAPTAS-4 delivers the same detection performance as CAPTAS-4 with 20 per cent weight reduction and a 50 per cent smaller footprint. In addition, the compact version can be containerised, making it the only product of its kind that can be moved from ship
to ship to maximize operational effectiveness. By making the world’s most capable sonar
available to surface fleets as a compact, modular, ready-to-deploy system, Thales has once again demonstrated its ability to innovate to meet new the operational requirements of naval forces. The compact version of the CAPTAS-4 provides an ASW capability that creates high operational value at relatively low cost. Any frigates equipped with the new CAPTAS-4 compact will now have the same collaborative anti-submarine warfare capabilities as destroyers. Thales is proposing to supply compact versions of CAPTAS-4 to the French Navy under the FTI (Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire) programme, which was officially unveiled by the defence ministry at Euronaval 2016.
Bangladesh to join the family of C295W operators
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angladesh has become the latest nation to acquire the Airbus C295W medium airlifter with an order for a single aircraft for Bangladesh Army Aviation. The aircraft, in transport configuration, will be delivered in the second half of 2017 under a contract that also includes customer support and training. The C295W is qualified for the transport of troops and bulky/palletized cargo, paratrooping and medical evacuation. It is the first multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft to be operated by Bangladesh Army Aviation.
set up for maintenance and servicing of the produced helicopters. Therefore, the agreement represents not just a contract for production but for full lifecycle support.” “The joint venture agreement signing is the result of long time work with our Indian partners. The production of Ka-226Ts is a Russian-Indian project within the framework of the Make in India programme and is a logical continuation of great collaboration to create high-tech industries in India. We are proud that we were able to agree on all details on time and thus to launch this project, which, I am sure, has good prospects, “- said General Director of Rosoboronexport Anatoly Isaikin. Under the terms of the intergovernmental agreement, the joint RussianIndian enterprise created by Russian Helicopters, JSC Rosoboronexport and India’s HAL Corporation must arrange the localization of production and supply of 200 light multirole Ka-226T for 9 years. The first 60 helicopters will be produced in Russia,
and the production of the remaining 140 helicopters is being planned in India. In addition to the assembly, the agreement provides for maintenance, operation, repairs and technical
support cooperation. The joint venture is set to create facilities for repairs and maintenance of helicopters
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Airbus Defence and Space’s Head of Marketing and Sales, Jean-Pierre Talamoni said: “The C295W will markedly increase the transport capability of Bangladesh Army Aviation. We look forward to working with this new customer to secure a smooth entry into service and to supporting the aircraft for many years to come.” With this new order the number of operators for the C295 rises to 26, reinforcing its position as the market-leading medium transport and patrol aircraft in all kinds of environments.
produced in India in 5 years, and facilities for the overhaul within 7 years after deliveries of the first batch of helicopters. The light multirole helicopter Ka-226T with a coaxial main rotor system has a maximum takeoff weight of 3.6 tons and up to 1 ton payload. The main distinguishing feature of the helicopter is its modular design. A passenger cabin can be easily installed onto the Ka-226T, which allows to transport up to 6 people, or it can be replaced with various special equipment modules. The helicopter is characterized by simplicity of operation, high precision hover, excellent maneuverability and handling, easy maintenance, and also by large power capacity and maximum safety. The Ka-226T’s flight performance characteristics, its reliability and efficiency, as well its advanced technical equipment, such as modern avionics and safety features, have all made it one of the best helicopters in its class.
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Raytheon developing next-generation human/ machine interface for armoured ground vehicles
aytheon is developing new technology to R provide comprehensive situational awareness to troops inside windowless armoured
vehicles, as part of the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Ground X-Vehicle Technologies (GXV-T) programme. The goal of GXV-T is to improve the mobility and survivability of armored vehicles without adding more armor and weight. DARPA is funding advanced technology development in four related areas: mobility enhancement, agility for survivability, crew augmentation and signature management. Raytheon BBN Technologies is developing crew-augmenting technologies.
“Our team is developing a virtual experience that gives the crews of armored military vehicles greater awareness of what’s going on outside the vehicle, while also reducing their vulnerability to attack,” said David Diller, GXV-T programme manager for Raytheon BBN. “We’re creating a three-dimensional model of the environment in real time that gives users views of their outside environment that would not normally be possible from inside the vehicle.” The Raytheon BBN technology uses lidar data to create a 3D model of the environment, employing high-definition video to produce a detailed, natural rendering of the surroundings. Additional sensors provide the precise location of any incoming hostile fire, while blue-force position updates locate friendly forces. Presenting all this sensor data in a natural, intuitive interface improves situational awareness while reducing the workload for the crew and allowing them to focus on the most relevant threats and challenges.
Sikorsky CH-53K meets objectives in key test
CH-53K has met all test objecTbeforehetivesSikorsky in a key evaluation scheduled months a decision on launching low-rate initial
production of the heavy-lift helicopter, according to Lockheed Martin. The operational assessment analyses show the King Stallion performs a range of required missions, including hovering with a 12,200kg (27,000lb) external load and carrying a 5,422kg load up to 110nm. The CH-53K must pass the assessment for the Department of Defence to approve entering a low-rate initial production phase. A follow-up operational evaluation with production aircraft is required before the programme enters full-rate production. As the largest helicopter yet fielded by the US military, the CH-53K has been in development for 12 years. It is powered by the most powerful turboshaft engines in the US military inventory — GE Aviation’s 7,500shp-class T408s, which are also known as GE38s.
Predator B’s new automatic takeoff and landing capability eneral Atomics Aeronautical G Systems, Inc. (GA ASI) announced that the US Department of Homeland
Security (DHS)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released its newest flight software which fields GA-ASI’s proprietary Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) system. The ATLC system is designed to increase safety and efficiency of air crews. This release allows CBP to realise a major capability milestone following the upgrade of its operational Predator® B/ Guardian aircraft fleet with other advanced equipment. In concert with the ATLC upgrade, GA-ASI is equipping CBP’s Predator B aircraft fleet with its heavyweight Trailing Arm Main Landing Gear (TAMLG). The combined upgrade is expected to be completed by December 2016.
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The design of the ATLC system for CBP’s Predator B’s was leveraged directly from the well-proven Automatic Takeoff and Landing System (ATLS) on the Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system, which has logged tens of
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thousands of successful automatic takeoff and landing events with the US Army. The multi-mission Predator B is a long-endurance, medium-high-altitude RPA that can be used for surveillance, military reconnaissance, and targeting missions. The current aircraft configuration features an extensive payload capacity (850 lb/386 kg internally, 3,000 lb/1361 kg externally), a maximum gross takeoff weight of 10,500 lb/4763 kg, a Honeywell turboprop engine, a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet/13716 meters, and flight endurance up to 27 hours. The standard payload configuration includes a high-definition, optical Infrared (IR) video system and a high-resolution ground imaging radar (Synthetic Aperture Radar). The radar also has Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) and Maritime Widearea Search (MWAS) modes.
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Airbus Helicopters and DCNS team to offer rotary UAV
CNS and Airbus Helicopters are joining D forces to design the future tactical component of France’s Naval Aerial Drone (Système de Drones Aériens de la Marine - SDAM) programme. By pooling naval and aerospace skills and expertise, the teaming of DCNS and Airbus Helicopters will be equipped to address all technical challenges arising from
the naval integration of the drones through the creation of a robust system architecture that can evolve and adapt to meet every need. The teaming agreement was signed in mid-October, and the two companies will now offer the VSR700 for the navy’s Système de Drones Aériens de la Marine (SDAM) programme. The first autonomous flight of a Cabri G2 demonstrator aircraft is expected to take place in early 2017 followed by a VSR700 prototype later that year. Military certification of the unmanned air vehicle is planned for mid-2019. DCNS will be responsible for developing vessel-integration technology, as well as the VSR700’s combat management system. Airbus Helicopters, meanwhile, will be in charge of the airframe, payloads and senseand-avoid technology required to operate the aircraft in national airspace.
Israel takes delivery of fourth C-130J srael received its fourth Lockheed Martin Imid-October. C-130J “Samson” tactical transport in It will be followed by another
two examples by the end of this year. The Israeli air force’s “Elephants” squadron, which operates the newgeneration Hercules, has already tested the C-130J during aerial refuelling missions with a Boeing 707 tanker, and is currently testing its low-level flight capabilities using some Israeli-developed systems. As deliveries of the tactical transport continue, the air force’s flight test centre has completed operational testing of special systems that were installed on the US-built type for Israel. Most of these were devel-
oped in Israel, and are aimed at allowing the C-130J to operate as part of the Israel defence forces’ depth command. Israel took delivery of its first C-130J in April 2014.
Textron eyes first customers for Aerosonde HQ aving demonstrated the new vertical takeH off version of its Aerosonde unmanned air vehicle to a number of potential customers, Textron Systems hopes that current operators of the aircraft will opt to upgrade to the new capability. The company carried out the first demonstration, for a number of military and civilian customers, of Aerosonde HQ on October 6 at its unmanned systems support centre in Virginia. The HQ modifications convert the fixed-wing Aerosonde small unmanned air system (SUAS) into a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
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Scorpion jet successfully completes first weapons capability exercise
corpion jet has successfully completS ed its first weapons exercise at White Sands Missile Range, while operating
from Holloman Air Force Base (HAFB) in New Mexico. This exercise effectively demonstrated the Scorpion’s close air support mission capability through the successful deployment of three widely used weapon systems. The weapons system design, integration and flight test coordination for all three weapon types were achieved in an impressive time span of less than three months. The weapons testing programme occurred in coordination with the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) organisation and the 586th Flight Test Squadron from HAFB. All weapon types performed flawlessly and included Hydra-70 unguided 2.75inch rockets, BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) and AGM-114F Hellfire Missiles. The weapons were guided to their targets using first a ground-based laser designator system and then an airborne laser on the Scorpion‘s L-3 WESCAM’s MX-15Di sensor suite. “The success of the first weapons capability exercise is a major milestone for the Scorpion programme as we continue to demonstrate its mission flexibility and multi-role capabilities,” said Tom Hammoor, senior vice president of Defence at Textron Aviation. “We could not be more pleased with the results of this exercise, thanks to the collaboration between our Scorpion team, the NAVSEA organisation and the Holloman Air Force Base.” The first Scorpion prototype continues its robust flight test programme, while the first flight of the first production conforming Scorpion is expected soon.
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Airbus C295W demonstrates air-to-air refuelling capability
First new standard A330 MRTT makes maiden flight
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irbus Defence and Space has successfully completed the maiden flight of the first new standard A330 MRTT Multi Role Tanker Transport. This model incorporates a number of enhancements introduced on the basic A330 as well as upgraded military systems as part of Airbus and Airbus Defence and Space continuous product improvement programme. The three-hour flight took place on 30 September and the
crew reported that the aircraft performed in line with expectations. The new standard A330 MRTT features structural modifications, aerodynamic improvements giving a fuel-burn reduction of up to 1 per cent, upgraded avionics computers and enhanced military systems. First delivery is due in 2018. A total of 51 A330 MRTTs have been ordered by 10 nations of which 28 have been delivered.
irbus Defence and Space has successfully A demonstrated the Airbus C295W medium transport as an airborne tanker. The C295W,
equipped with a palletized air-to-air refuelling unit and associated computer control system, conducted multiple contacts with a standard Spanish Air Force C295 in a test flight on 29 September. Both crews reported extremely smooth operation at various speeds as low as 110kt. The system is intended for refuelling turboprop aircraft, helicopters, and eventually unmanned aerial vehicles. Possible applications include special operations and extending the range of search and rescue aircraft. Further trials with a helicopter receiver are planned before the end of the year.
Safran marks 20th anniversary of Airbus Helicopters’ H135
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afran congratulates Airbus Helicopters on the 20th anniversary of the entry-
into-service of its H135 light twin. The first EC135, powered by Safran engines, was delivered in 1996.
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Bruno Even, Safran Helicopter Engines CEO, said: “I wish Airbus Helicopters a happy anniversary for its H135 family. It is a great aircraft that over the years has demonstrated excellent performance coupled with low operating costs. We are proud to be onboard its latest variant with our Arrius 2B2Plus.” Powered by two Arrius 2B, the EC135 made its maiden flight on February 15, 1994. Certified on May 28, 1996, the 2B was the first engine to enter service on the rotorcraft. For 20 years, Safran has matched the evolution of this aircraft, bringing to its customers more safety, reliability and performance. In 2014
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the Arrius 2B2Plus entered service on the latest evolution of the rotorcraft family. Arrius 2B2Plus delivers increased power at take-off and during hot and high missions compared to the earlier 2B2 version, together with lower direct operating costs. The engine has also one of the highest TBO in its class (4000 hours) and is also certified on the H135 with and without an inlet barrier filter. Over the years, the Arrius 2B2Plus has continuously increased its popularity among operators, especially those dealing with demanding missions like emergency medical services, search and rescue, or military training. In 2015, Norwegian Air Ambulance changed to this engine for its new H135 fleet. DRF Luftrettung also selected the 2B2Plus to power its three new H135. Last July, Safran also won the confidence of the UK MoD, by being selected to power a new H135 military training fleet under the MFTS programme.
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Vice Admiral S N Ghormade, NM takes over as Director General of Naval Operations
Vice Admiral SV Bhokare, YSM, NM assumes office as the Commandant, Indian Naval Academy
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ice Admiral SV Bhokare, YSM, NM took over charge as the Commandant of Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala. Vice Admiral SV Bhokare, YSM, NM, is a specialist in Navigation and Direction and a Graduate of National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu. He attended the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow and holds a Master Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Australian Defence College, Canberra.
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ice Admiral SN Ghormade assumed the charge of Director General Naval Operations on October 21. The Flag Officer was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1984. He is a graduate of National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, Pune, United States Naval Staff College at Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island and the Naval War College, Mumbai. In addition to a specialisation in Navigation and Direction within the Navy, the Admiral holds a M Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Mumbai, MSc Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras and Master Degree in Personnel Management from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (University of Pune).
Indian Army celebrated 70th Infantry Day
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op military officers paid homage to the infantry fraternity who died for the country in Jammu and Kashmir on the 70th Infantry Day celebrations. The celebration started with wreath laying
ceremony at the Infantry War Memorial by the school commandant Lt Gen K H Singh, Army War College commandant Lt Gen Rajeev Tiwari and Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE) commandant Maj Gen Harvijay Singh. It was on October 27 and 70 years ago that the first and finest team of Indian infantry landed in Srinagar and defended Jammu and Kashmir from falling into Pakistani hands. That day, an Infantry Company of the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment was airlifted from Delhi to Srinagar to liberate Jammu and Kashmir from invading tribals supported by the Pakistan Army.
Rockwell Collins to repair UH-60 display units
he US Army has selected Rockwell Collins Tdisplay to service the MFD-268C4 multi-function (MFD) units for its UH-60M Black Hawk
fleet under a five-year firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. This is a
follow-on contract that continues the Army’s relationship with Rockwell Collins for long-term support of the programme. “Whether the displays are in need of an upgrade, repair or modification, this agreement provides Army UH-60M operators peace of mind that we’ll get them operational as soon as possible,” said Thierry Tosi, Vice President and general manager, Service Solutions for Rockwell Collins. Installed on the Army’s UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, the MFD-268C4 displays provide advanced graphic engines, safety critical processing, and Active Matrix LCD technologies, as well as multiple video interfaces. Proven in over 10 years of operational use, MFD units deliver primary flight and mission display functions for the Black Hawk’s demanding multi-mission role. The MFD-268C4 displays are based on
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the proven Open System Architecture design features of the Flight2™ product line. The MFD-268C4 displays will be repaired in Rockwell Collins’ Atlanta Service Center. The Service Centre processes 1,300 customer goods per month, consisting of 450 different equipment types from 550 different customers. The equipment that is repaired, modified and upgraded ranges from displays, flight controls, weather radar and navigation equipment to Flight Management Systems and communications equipment. The Service Centre was established in 1975 and services the Air Transport, Regional, Government and Military markets. The firm-fixed-price contract covers repairs and service bulletins for MFD-268C4 displays in all of the Army’s UH-60M Black Hawks including those used by UH-60M foreign military sales customers.
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DEFBIZ EURONAVAL
Elbit Systems Demonstrates its Seagull USV Platform
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lbit Systems demonstrated during live, real-time control of its Seagull multimission Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) system at Euronaval Exhibition. During the demonstration, the Seagull platform, sailing in the Haifa Bay, Israel, was not only controlled via Satellite Communication (SATCOM) but also performed operational missions, by using control consoles situated in the Elbit booth. Displayed capabilities included commanding vessel sailing using semi-autonomous sailing modes, EO/IR system operation, live display of forward looking sonar imagery and aft deck monitoring camera video display. The live demonstration illustrates Seagull systems capability for beyond line-of-sight control in addition to the line of sight mode.
Thales Shows Off Autonomous Stealth Drone
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hales presented its work on a stealthy, multimission drone dubbed the Autonomous Underwater and Surface System (AUSS), a company-funded “black programme” pitched at the French Navy and other navies. The AUSS drone has a tapered nose, is torpedoshaped with the standard 21-inch diameter, and is designed for anti-submarine missions, mine warfare and civil missions underwater and on the surface. That flush design helps autonomy. The
company is in talks with undisclosed potential clients to design a full solution. Thales spent three years, invested millions of euros, and teamed with 19 small and medium companies to build a prototype, which has undergone five sea trials at Brest, northwest France. The company combined its sonar and systems experience to develop the drone and will talk to more firms to add capabilities. An AUSS drone is designed to carry payloads to collect sonar, visual and electronic data, and link up on satellite communication.
Sigma 40 inertial navigation system update
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afran Electronics & Defense has carried out successful integration tests of the Sigma 40 shipborne navigation system with the alignment system on the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile intended for Krabi corvettes and KDX class frigates deployed by the Royal Thai Navy. This test was carried out within the scope of a contract signed with Korean naval shipyard DSME, which builds warships. Safran also worked with Boeing, prime
contractor for the Harpoon missile system. With the success of this test, Safran’s inertial navigation systems can now be used on all of Thailand’s warships. Safran was selected due to the reliability, quick deployment and high performance of the Sigma 40, along with its easy integration in warships. This system is also used for conventional navigation and stabilization functions on shipborne sensors and weapons.
DCNS unveils SMX®3.0 D
CNS unveiled its new submarine concept-ship SMX®3.0 at Euronaval. The submarine has been tailored to the needs of Generation Z and will be at the control of vessels from 2025. The submarine features on board 3.0 technologies, better power management, unequalled operational performance and system upgradeability facilitating vessel maintenance. With a displacement of 3,000 tonnes, SMX®3.0 integrates the latest digital technologies for strengthened operational efficiency and significant versatility of use. DCNS and Dassault Systèmes are partnering on this project to design a ship tailored to improve the level of comfort for the women and men onboard. The on-board data systems are now completely interconnected, robust, secure, fast and upgradeable. Humans at the centre of the system: Tomorrow, submarine systems will produce many thousands of terabytes per day which will need to be managed and stored. In order to manage this; DCNS is developing digital solutions to enable improved responsiveness and functionality. The combat or
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platform-operation systems have been designed around more efficient, intuitive and fluid MMIs. The data management applications will allow operators to be more focused on their value-added functions. Capable of intervening at all times on the submarines systems, the commanding officer and their crew will be even more informed and in control of their vessel. Unequalled operational performance: Equipped with a versatile vertical launch system which can be used for launching both drones and missiles, SMX®3 extends the scope of its warfare capabilities. Furthermore, SMX®3 has greater capacities for countering cyber-threats. Its hydrodynamic shape and masking coating ensure the submarine has unequalled acoustic discretion. Thanks to its database management systems, SMX®3 enjoys much improved sensor performance. Better power management: Through this concept-ship, DCNS offers the AIP FC2G (Air Independent Propulsion Fuel Cell Second Generation) anaerobic propulsion system. Certified by DCNS, this system, of which the complete shore-
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based system is currently being industrialised, demonstrates all the advantages of a safe and versatile solution. Upgradeability and facilitated maintenance: System maintenance and modernisation have been addressed right from the design phase thanks to the many 3.0 technologies, including a real time diagnosis of ships, big data management and detection of weak signals. This is supported by an onboard computerized infrastructure produced on the same principle as civil data centres with a strengthened resilience. This complete infrastructure guarantees great upgradeability and capacity to adapt to evolution in technology.
EURONAVAL DEFBIZ
Thales introduces NS200 multi-mission radar for naval forces
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hales presents NS200, its latest dual-axis multi-beam radar. NS200 brings advanced multimission capabilities to naval platforms up to destroyers with an unequalled 400 km range performance for this type of radar. Thanks to its unique dual-axis multi-beam design, the AESA1-based sensor system provides high quality weapon sup-
port while maintaining fully automated detection and tracking of all naval threats. Various navies have already expressed their interest in the NS200 radar. NS200 is the larger version of the NS100, which is in full series production. In addition to more transmit and receive modules, NS200 uses newer and more powerful Gallium Nitride
Thales launches Pathmaster
Safran logs 250th order for Vigy Observer optronic system
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afran Electronics & Defense has chalked up a record order volume for its Vigy Observer naval optronic system, now standing at 250 units. The company reached this milestone after a recent export order from a navy that wants to use this technology on several dozen fast attack craft for commando forces. Ten navies worldwide have now ordered the Vigy Observer system. Developed and produced by Safran Electronics & Defense, Vigy Observer is a light, panoramic, multi-sensor shipboard optronic system. It is operated from a touch terminal and includes a cooled infrared imager, video channels and a
laser rangefinder. Employing advanced stabilisation techniques, it provides clear images day or night, including in rough seas and at speeds exceeding 50 knots. There is also a Vigy Engage version, which adds a fire control function for light weapons. The Vigy Observer is recognised worldwide for its robustness, high-quality images, ease of use, compact design, light weight and easy integration. Capable of detecting targets out to a range of 16 km and more, Vigy Observer will provide a decisive advantage in the asymmetrical environments where fast attack craft are deployed.
Skylark™ C- Ship-borne Mini UAS
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lbit Systems showcased its new highly autonomous Mini Unmanned Aircraft System (Mini-UAS) specifically designed and built for the full range of ship-based applications, that can be deployed and retrieved in less than 15 minutes. Mission effective, with highly autonomous flight capability, Skylark C incorporates an electricallypropelled air vehicle with a very low visual and acoustic
signature, making it an ideal solution for covert operations. The aerial vehicle utilizes Elbit Systems’ industry-leading UAS technology and know-how, featuring an advanced inertial navigation system (INS) and a stabilised electro-optical (EO) payload with a high resolution thermal imager and colour daylight camera that enables continuous day/night monitoring in diverse weather conditions.
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(GaN) technology. It answers to the need of a wide range of naval ships and missions, yielding logistics advantages across the fleet. NS200 is Thales’s first radar to be offered with a full lifecycle support programme for carefree operation. This programme covers training, status and obsolescence monitoring, scheduled maintenance and upgrades and smart spare kits. This will give users a better predictability of their yearly maintenance budgets, higher operational availability and functional upgrades throughout the product life-cycle.
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hales launched Pathmaster, the first fully configurable unmanned mine countermeasures system for naval forces seeking to minimise the risk exposure of their crews. Pathmaster draws on the latest imaging technologies and is the most advanced unmanned mine countermeasures system in the world. It can be deployed from the shore, from a mine countermeasures vessel or from any other type of naval platform. In today’s volatile international context; countries are stepping up measures to protect their maritime approaches, commercial ports and naval bases. At the same time, it is crucial to limit the exposure of operational personnel to undersea mines. Pathmaster is flexible enough to adapt to the opera-
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tional requirements of newly emerging naval powers as well as major navies. It is built around an expert system for reliable detection, classification and location of even the stealthiest mines and its fully configurable system can be tailored to the needs of individual navies. Pathmaster is equipped with SAMDIS, Thales’s latestgeneration high-resolution synthetic aperture sonar. With its multi-aspect functionality, the SAMDIS sonar views targets from three different angles. Only Thales’s multi-aspect technology is capable of delivering high detection and classification performance against modern mines. The technology was successfully evaluated by the French defence procurement agency (DGA) in 2016.
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’CONTRIBUTING TO INDIA’S MISSILE & SPACE PROGRAMMES’ What is your contribution in the development of BrahMos missile?
SM VAIDYA, VP, Godrej Aerospace, in an interview with Geopolitics, talks about Godrej’s contribution in the development of BrahMos missile and its critical role in the successful launch of the GSLV and INSAT-3DR Tell us about Special Strategic Manufacturing Skills Council (SMSC) being set up by the CII? Will it help in developing a trained workforce for defence manufacturing in India?
Strategic Manufacturing Skills Council set up by CII is definitely going to address the training requirements for defence. In India, for the last more than 5 decades we have been working on development projects and have never done exports. Productionisation and meeting international norms is comparatively a new area. The skill set required is thus in two areas:
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Technical; which includes the basic processes and the material knowledge along with its automation and full-proofing so that not only quality but even cost targets are met. System orientation and meeting traceability requirements: This will call for extensive digitisation and simplification of the set procedures. Approach towards Industry 4.0 will be an essential requirement.
Thus Aerospace and Defence industry expects a lot from the Strategic Manufacturing Skills Council.
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Godrej’s association with BrahMos project started with the signing of MOU between BrahMos, DRDL & Godrej in August 2000. Initially, Godrej was awarded an order for developing two units of engineering models in equivalent alloy, in January 2001. The scope of supply included the airframe section with combined pneumo‐hydro systems, wing, fin, nose‐cap and nose‐ cap motors. Making these complex precision components robust enough to function at supersonic speeds required Godrej to understand 1200 Russian drawings, 2500 Russian manufacturing standards, 25 various types of metallurgies acquire 25 specialised technologies. Under this programme Godrej Aerospace has designed & developed 5000 process sheets for various manufacturing processes, inspection and quality assurance. More than 2000 tools, jigs and fixtures were developed and qualified for the final desired output. There have been some major milestones in Godrej-BrahMos relationship. We completed the first engineering mock-up in December 2004. In 2007, BrahMos placed an order for 40 sets of airframe assemblies with Godrej. 15 developmental sets of airframe assemblies were completed and supplied to DRDL in March 2009. This was the time when Godrej facility was attested as BrahMos production facility by Russian experts. We started to supply BrahMos in October 2009 and in August 2011 received an additional order of 100 sets. In March 2013, we started the supply of sub-assemblies of the additional 100 sets and by September 2013 completed the first 40 sets. By November 2014 we handed over the first assembly of the next set of 100 missile air-frames.
You were also in discussions with BrahMos Corporation for use of a liquid engine. Tell us more about this venture?
Godrej has a long history of developing liquid engine for Indian Space and Missile Programmes. The Ramjet engine
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sions as a framework. The documentation was backed by software required for validation, simulation and proving the constants.
You are putting up a new manufacturing complex at Khalapur near Khopoli, in Maharashtra. Is it going to be dedicated to defence manufacturing?
BrahMos Mobile Autonomous launcher
BrahMos missile section
used in BrahMos is a miniature version of Aircraft as it is an air-breathing engine. Godrej also has started working in Aircraft engine with world leaders like GE, Snecma, Rolls Royce and Honeywell. Hence among Indian Companies, we can understand the challenges and complexities and can take this up to meet the project requirement. We are sure as and when BrahMos will get approval from Government of India – MOD, we can work together in developing liquid engines for BrahMos.
What is your contribution in the Indian Space Programme?
Godrej has been contributing to India’s space programme led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Since 1985, Godrej Aerospace has increasingly been entrusted with work from ISRO, especially for complex equipment such as liquid propulsion engines for PSLV and GSLV rockets,
thrusters for satellites and antenna systems. Chandrayaan was Godrej’s first successful space project. We have been committed to the cause of indigenous manufacturing for India’s space programmes for about three decades and will continue to do so in the future. Partnering the Indian space programme is a way to push the nation’s technological advancement as far as possible. Our very first project was to make control module component for space. We also made the liquid propulsion engine for satellite launch vehicles and cryogenic engine for satellite launch vehicles. Chandrayaan–1 was one of the most successful projects we worked for ISRO. We were actively involved in all the aspects of the systems used in it. We contributed to the launch vehicle, lunar orbiter, remote sensing antenna and ground system antenna for this mission. ISRO identified PSLV as the launch vehicle to put the satellite into polar/solar orbit for remote sensing purpose. The second stage of the PSLV called Vikas Engine is manufactured by Godrej Aerospace. So far we have delivered 50 such engines. Also, the 50N thruster of the fourth stage reaction control system of the launch vehicle was also supplied by us. Godrej Aerospace played a critical role as India put the Mangalyaan satellite into orbit around Mars. The team built several of the components that were critical for the mission such as the liquid fuel engine used in the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), precision components for the orbiter thruster as well as the ground system and onboard antennae. In the design and planning phase, the scientists relied heavily on data documented during previous mis-
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A new manufacturing facility coming up at Khalapur is a multi discipline manufacturing unit and will also focus on defence. We intend to expand on the ground system for defence projects, which will have totally integrated requirements of electro-mechanical systems and will require a large area for its Assembly & Testing. We are in the process of firming up our plans and the unit may start in couple of years.
What has been Godrej’s contribution towards recent launch of India’s Weather Satellite INSAT-3DR?
Godrej Aerospace played a critical role in the successful launch of the GSLV and INSAT-3DR. The country’s heaviest weather satellite, the INSAT-3DR, was successfully launched using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Godrej Aerospace’s contribution has been critical to getting the GSLV and the weather satellite into space. Our contribution to GSLV includes: •
Strap-on Vikas Liquid Propulsion Conical Engine: It is used in the first stage and is supplied by a consortium of two companies — Godrej Aerospace and MTAR. • Vikas Liquid Propulsion Contour Engine: This is needed in the second stage and ISRO receives it from the Godrej-MTAR consortium. • Cryogenic upper stage (CUS): Godrej Aerospace manufactures the thrust chambers (where fuel is burnt) for the main engine and two steering engines. For INSAT-3DR satellite, Godrej manufactured critical injectors for the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engine. These are used to inject fuel to the satellite’s main engine. The LAM engine takes the satellite to the designated orbit after it is launched into the elliptical. Orbit control thrusters, these small engines are used for orbit correction during the operational life of the satellite. All the critical parts of the thrusters have been manufactured by Godrej. We also manufactured the moulds for the satellite antenna composite reflector.
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F
or three decades, the Pakistan army and the ISI — known as the ‘deep state’ — have been waging a proxy war against India as part of their strategy of ‘bleeding India through a thousand cuts’. Neither after the attack on Parliament in December 2001 nor after the multiple terrorist strikes at Mumbai in November 2008 did India choose to inflict punishment on the perpetrators of terrorism in Pakistan and PoK. Till recently, India had conducted its counter-proxy war campaign within its borders and on its own side of the LoC through sustained counter-insurgency operations that helped to stabilise the situation and create a reasonably secure environment for political negotiations. While the strategic restraint shown by India despite grave provocation enabled the country to keep the level of conflict low and sustain a high rate of economic growth, it failed to create any disincentives for Pakistan’s deep state. The terrorist attack on the air force base at Pathankot on New Year’s Day could be deemed to have once again crossed India’s red lines. Despite that, the Indian government gave Pakistan yet another opportunity to make amends by inviting an investigation team to come to Pathankot to evaluate the evidence of Pakistani involvement that India had provided. The attack at Uri on September 18 was the last straw and the rules of the game have now changed.
CONTOURS OF INDIA’S
PRO-ACTIVE COUNTER-PROXY
WAR STRATEGY
Surgical Strikes across the LoC
On the night of September 28, 2016, several teams of the Special Forces of the Indian army crossed the Line of Control (LoC) through gaps in the forward defences of the Pakistan army. The highly-trained commandos walked quietly over several kilometres across some of the most difficult terrain in the Himalayan Mountains under the very nose of the Pakistan army. Their targets were terrorist training camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). They struck with deadly effect and, as quietly as they had come in, they exfiltrated back across the LoC. In his briefing after the attack at Uri, the DGMO had said that the army “reserves the right to respond” to the terrorist strike at Uri at a time and place of its choosing. It took ten days to plan the operation, which was based on accurate intelligence. In carefully measured words the DGMO said during a press briefing on September 29 that India’s Special Forces had “inflicted significant casualties” on the terrorists and their infrastructure in
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India’s counter-proxy war strategy should be based on a realistic assessment of the threat and carefully formulated to achieve related national security objectives, writes GURMEET KANWAL surgical strikes the previous night. The operations were meticulously planned and brilliantly executed. According to media reports, surgical strikes were launched at six to eight terrorist camps across the LoC and about forty Pakistan army personnel and terrorists were killed. In an operation that was conducted with the utmost professionalism, the personnel of the Special Forces did not suffer any casualties. While the credit for the success of
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these complex operations goes to the officers and jawans of the Special Forces of the Indian army, the Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet Committee on Security and the NSA deserve to be complimented for giving the go ahead to the army to launch trans-LoC raids on terrorist training camps. For the first time since the 1971 war with Pakistan the political leadership of the country has exhibited firm national resolve.
OPINION
Pakistan’s Reaction: Nuclear Sabre-rattling
The surgical strikes came as a huge surprise to the Pakistan army and the ISI. In keeping with the national psyche, the Pakistan army has opted to deny that the surgical strikes took place. However, the blame game has begun in Pakistan. In a television interview, Imran Khan was severely critical of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's leadership. He said he 'will show Sharif how to respond to Modi.'
on its forces, India will execute its doctrine of massive retaliation and Pakistan will cease to exist as a functional nation state. Surely, that is not the end state that the Pakistan army is prepared to accept. As had probably been anticipated, since these trans-LoC raids, the Pakistan army has not reacted except to launch isolated terrorist attacks on civilian and military targets, all of which have been successfully foiled. However, the Pakistan army will wait for a suitable opportunity to avenge the losses that it has suffered. In all probability, it will launch its SSG to destroy what it considers a soft and vulnerable target. It could possibly be a Border Outpost (BOP) on the Jammu-Pathankot sector of the international boundary (IB), which Pakistan calls a ‘working boundary’ and where the army is not deployed. Despite its internal instability, failing economy, international isolation and vitiated civil-military relations, Pakistan will continue to profess that Kashmir is the ‘unfinished agenda of the Partition’. Its advocacy of the need to wrest Kashmir from India at all costs will become shriller though the strategy to achieve that aim may be fine-tuned to avoid culpability. Nor will Pakistan give up its quest to control the destiny of Afghanistan and dictate its strategic choices. Pakistan’s deep state is unlikely to back down from its strategy of bleeding India through a thousand cuts and waging a proxy war through terrorist organisations like the LeT, the JeM and the HuM. The army will continue to raise the bogey of an existentialist threat from India as hostility with India is necessary to justify its disproportionately large strength and the funds necessary to equip and maintain the war machine.
New Rules of the Game
Pakistan's leaders find their country diplomatically isolated both in the region and beyond. True to form, they have once again begun to indulge in their favourite pastime of nuclear sabre-rattling. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has once again held out a nuclear threat to India. 'Islamabad,' he said, 'is open to using tactical (nuclear) devices against India if it feels its safety is threatened.' It is a patently flawed approach as, in response to a nuclear attack
India’s response to individual incidents of terrorism had so far been predictable; blame Pakistan, but avoid reacting overtly. Now, by launching surgical strikes and taking other pro-active actions, India has introduced an element of unpredictability. Pakistan can no longer be sure about India’s likely response. The rules of the game have changed. As this writer had noted over a year ago (“India will talk to Pakistan, but only about terrorism”, The Quint, August 27, 2015), “Early contours of the emerging Modi doctrine can be discerned… aggressiveness on the LoC will meet with a firm response.” Clearly, here onwards, India will be pro-active in framing its responses to terrorist incidents with their origin on Pakistani soil. India’s counter-proxy war strategy
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should be based on a realistic assessment of the threat and carefully formulated to achieve related national security objectives. It should be a national priority to reach out to the people of Kashmir and stabilise the situation. If instability in Kashmir continues till the next summer, Pakistan will exploit it to the hilt. The army should be prepared to confront an Operation Gibraltar-like influx of Mujahideen a la 1965, but on a reduced scale. By launching trans-LoC strikes on terrorist training camps with its Special Forces India has sent several messages to Pakistan. Firstly, the present Indian government will not tolerate the wanton killing of innocent Indian civilians or soldiers by state sponsored terrorists from Pakistan. Secondly, the surgical strikes are a warning to the Pakistan army that if it does not put an end to cross-border terrorism, it may expect an even more vigorous Indian response.
Counter-proxy War Strategy
The remaining roots of the proxy war are now in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The only way India can ensure that Pakistan’s proxy war is brought to a quick end is by dismembering Pakistan. This is neither desirable, as India will have to suffer the consequences and deal with the fallout; nor is it militarily achievable as a large-scale war simultaneously on two fronts is not winnable. Hence, India’s objective should be to gradually raise Pakistan’s cost for waging a proxy war against India with a view to eventually making it prohibitive. It should also be a national security and foreign policy objective to work towards reducing the salience of the Pakistan army in the country’s polity. With these limited aims in view, it should be possible to synergise the political, diplomatic and military aims and formulate appropriate strategies.
Political-diplomatic Measures
India has exercised a range of political, diplomatic, economic, military options in response to the terrorist attack on Uri. The aim of Indian diplomacy should be to isolate Pakistan in the international community and work towards having the country branded as a terrorist state by the UN Security Council. Economic measures should be designed to hurt Pakistan’s economy. By boycotting the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit that was to be held in Islamabad and through deft diplomatic manoeuvres, India has succeeded in isolating Pakistan in South Asia as well as internationally.
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Indian Army jawan stands guard at a forward post near LoC HEMANT RAWAT
The shift in emphasis from SAARC to The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will also provide handsome dividends in the long term. In this age of realpolitik, on the politico-diplomatic front, India has many other cards that it can play. The expression of overt support for the long-oppressed people of Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan has galvanised their movements and caused acute embarrassment to Pakistan. Before approaching the United Nations Security Council to declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, India should do so unilaterally after the next major incident of terrorism. India should also call upon its neighbours in South Asia to do so. One more arrow in the quiver is for India to express its support for the Afghan position that the Durand Line is no longer relevant and the boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan needs to be demarcated afresh. This move will give a major boost to the nascent movement for Pakhtoonkhwa and completely unsettle a sensitive province of Pakistan. It will also further boost India’s image with the Afghan people. Before holding out a threat to opt out of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, India must first make arrangements to fully utilise India’s quota of water part of which is flowing unharnessed into Pakistan. This action will have a major impact on the availability of water in Pakistan.
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Afghanistan is also not able to fully utilise its share of the water of Kabul River and its tributary Kunar River. Now that India has successfully completed and handed over the Salma Dam, we should offer to build dams on both these rivers the water of which flows into Indus River.
Imposing Economic and Military Costs
The aim of imposing economic costs should be to choke Pakistan’s economy. India should withdraw the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status accorded to Pakistan in 1996, which Pakistan has failed to reciprocate. Later, if necessary, India could consider banning over flights for Pakistani aircraft, but this is an option that hurts both. Military measures should be designed to inflict punishment on the Pakistan army and its organs to systematically degrade their war waging potential. The aim should be to inflict punishment on the Pakistan army deployed on the LoC for every act of terrorism on Indian soil for which there is credible evidence of its involvement or the involvement of its organs such as the ISI. For each subsequent act of terrorism the scale and the intensity of the dose should be increased by an order of magnitude. However, military operations should be carefully calibrated to reduce the risk of escalation. The surgical strikes conducted across the LoC were the lowest rung on the escalatory ladder. It will take much harsher
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military measures to make it prohibitive for the deep state to wage a proxy war. Military operations designed to inflict punishment should include artillery strikes with guns firing in the ‘pistol gun’ mode to destroy bunkers on forward posts with minimum collateral damage; standoff PGM strikes on brigade and battalion HQ, communications centres, logistics infrastructure, ammunition dumps and key bridges; and, raids by Special Forces and border action teams (BATs). Every Pakistan post through which infiltration takes place should be reduced to rubble by artillery fire. Counter-proxy war operations should be supplemented by covert operations. Since Pakistan is not inclined to bring to justice the leaders of terrorist organisations like the LeT and the JeM, terrorists whom they call ‘strategic assets’, they must be neutralised through covert operations. When the Pakistan army begins to hurt and bleed, gradually the deep state will realise the futility of its nefarious designs on India. While Pakistan may not give up its claims on Jammu and Kashmir, it will be forced to come to the negotiating table to discuss a long-term solution to the dispute through peaceful means. The writer is Distinguished Fellow, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi
OPINION
CHINESE CHECKERS China and Pakistan call their relationship as ‘Iron Brothers’. There are possibilities of that iron rusting if all does not go well with the CPEC, argues S L NARASIMHAN
Map 1 – Western Highway passing through Aksai Chin
C
hina conveyed her displeasure over the visit of US Ambassador Richard Varma’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, India. China’s spokesperson Lu Kang said, “What the US did, which runs counter to the hard work by China and India, will only complicate the issue, sabotage the hard-won peace and tranquillity in the China-India border areas and disrupt peace and stability of the region. We urge the US to stop meddling in the territorial disputes between China and India and do more to enhance regional peace and stability.” If one takes
into consideration China’s stance on India–Pakistan issues, the statement of China’s spokesman will amount to double standards. China’s involvement in J&K started when she built the Western Highway in the early 1950s without prior consultation with India. The existence of that highway was noticed by Indian patrols visited that area in 1957. (See Map 1) The next instance of her involvement in J&K was when Pakistan handed over Shaksgam Valley (See Map 2) comprising of approximately 5000 Sq Km to China as a prelude to the latter constructing the
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Karakoram Highway (See Map 3). The Shaksgam Valley is part of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), and is a disputed territory claimed by India but controlled by Pakistan. It borders Xinjiang Province of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the North, the Northern Areas of PoK to the South and West and the Siachen Glacier region to the East. The Shaksgam Valley was ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963 when both countries signed a boundary agreement to settle their border differences. However, Article 6 of that agreement clearly stated that “the two Parties have agreed that after the settlement of the Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India, the sovereign authority concerned will reopen negotiations with the Government of the People's Republic of China, on the boundary as described in Article Two of the present Agreement, so as to sign a formal Boundary Treaty to replace the present agreement.” The agreement laid the foundation of Karakoram highway which was built jointly by the Chinese and Pakistani engineers in 1970s. The Shaksgam Valley was handed over to China to give Karakoram Highway and Western Highway enough depth from interference to these highways from India. China’s role in the 1965 India – Pakistan War is clear from Late Y B Chavan’s statement. In his book titled “1965 War: The Inside Story” he says, “Politically, so that it does not get weak to accept ceasefire proposal under pressure from US and Russia and militarily to ease pressure on Pakistan and give it military support on the Kashmir Line of Control,” China gave an 'ultimatum' to India to dismantle within three days the 'construction on Chinese territory', near Sikkim border – a ploy to trouble India in the North-East in
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support of Pakistan. However, she stayed away from acting on that ultimatum after renewing it once as the cease fire negotiations had started. In the 1971 War between India and Pakistan, USA recommended that China activate their troops on the Indian border so that India stops the war with Pakistan as India will not be in a position to face the threat from three fronts, East, West and North. However, China restrained herself from doing so due to the India-Russia Defence Treaty. Brig Surinder Singh, then Commander of the Kargil Brigade said that "Before and during Kargil war, the Chinese had inducted and manned heavy artillery guns in the K2 gun position in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK), close to Kargil, and provided fire support to Pakistani Army during the war." He said this in 2001 when he filed an affidavit in the Armed Forces Tribunal. However, Chinese asked Pakistan to resolve the issue with India bilaterally when Pakistan leaders approached her for help. On a number of occasions, China has come out in support of Pakistan on the issue of terrorism. While a number of countries to include Australia, Canada, India, UAE, UK and US have banned Jaish-eMohammed (JeM), China applied her veto when India wanted to ban its Chief Masood Azhar in 2009. The JeM was also accused of attacking India’s Parliament in 2001. In 2010, China refused to issue visa for an official visit by Lieutenant General B S Jaswal, the then Northern Army Commander, saying that she was unwilling to "welcome" him because he "controlled" a disputed area, Jammu and Kashmir. To add fuel to the fire, she also started issuing stapled visas to citizens of J&K for their visit to China. In February 2010, Pakistan officially invited China to help her in handling the crisis that occurred through a massive landslide that blocked the Hunza River at Attabad in Gilgit Baltistan. This brought in approximately 11,000 personnel of China’s Construction Corps into that region. Reports started emerging that Pakistan has handed over the control of Gilgit Baltistan area to China. China officially stated that her personnel are there only to help Pakistan tide over the problem of Attabad Lake.
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Map 2 – Shaksgam Valley
China placed a “technical hold” on India’s request to list Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) chief and head of the ‘United Jihad Council’, Syed Salahuddin in April 2014. In July 2015, China again blocked a move by India to seek a clarification on the release of Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi by Pakistan. When Pathankot airbase was attacked, China’s spokesperson Hua Chu-
Map 3 – Karakoram Highway
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nying said, “We condemn this attack... At this juncture, this attack might have been launched intentionally to disrupt this momentum [in Indo-Pak ties]… We believe that India and Pakistan should work together to maintain positive momentum. We condemn all forms of terrorism and we believe all sides should enhance dialogue and cooperation to combat all forms of terrorism.” Knowing the attack was launched from Pakistani soil, she did not condemn Pakistan but chose to advise that both the countries should enter into a dialogue to resolve the issues. On September 19, 2016, in an attack on a base of an Indian Army Brigade by terrorists, India lost 20 soldiers in Uri Sector of J&K. In response to that attack, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman said, "We hope relevant parties will have dialogue and consultation to resolve their differences and enhance counter terrorism cooperation." On the turmoil that J&K faced in the aftermath of militant leader Burhan Wani’s killing in the summer of
OPINION
this year, where in approximately 100 there are doubts being raised regarding people have been killed, China expressed the success of this corridor. The Western concern over the casualties due to the alignment of the road network passes unrest and called for a proper settlement through troubled Baluchistan. The Atof the Kashmiri issue through peaceful tabad lake incident mentioned above means. stalled the movement on the Karakoram All these incidents indicate that she Highway, on which CPEC relies upon, for follows a dual approach in her bilateral almost six months. The cost of transporrelationship with India. On the conventional scenario, she does not provide much support to Pakistan. However, on the issue of J&K she is willing to support Pakistan. This may be because of three reasons. Firstly, a conventional conflict with India will put China behind by at least a decade in achieving her first centennial goal of achieving moderately prosperous society in an all-round way called Xiao Kang. Secondly, China has a stake in J&K both in the East and West. In the East, it has claims on Aksai Chin as explained before and in the West, it has interests in Gilgit Baltistan through which China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is planned to be constructed (Refer Map 4). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is also projected as an entry into Indian Ocean through Arabian Sea to overcome the Malacca Dilemma that China is worried about. Malacca Dilemma was enunciated by Hu Jintao, the then President of China, in 2004. It implied that there is a threat to China’s merchandise passing through Malacca Straits during times of conflict. The third reason could be that it is a cost and Map 4 – China-Pakistan Economic Corridor resources effective method to keep India tied down to Pakistan by suptation of goods from Gwadar is expected porting Pakistan on J&K. to be far higher than its transportation Xi Jinping, during his visit to Pakistan through sea to the Eastern Sea Board of in April 2015, announced an investment China. Even Global Times, which is supof $ 46 Billion for the construction of the portive of Pakistan China ties gave the economic corridor. This corridor passes caution on September 13, 2016 that, through Gilgit Baltistan area that is in In“unwise to put all its eggs in one basket" dia’s claimed area. This corridor forms a when it comes to Pakistan. While it was segment of China’s ambitious ‘One Belt “unlikely that China will change its supOne Road’ project. Therefore, it is more portive attitude on the CPEC in the short in China’s interest than in Pakistan’s that term,” the article said “the increasing cost this project succeeds. of security is becoming a big problem in CPEC comprises of a network of efficiently pushing forward the projects.” roads, thermal power stations and deIn a puzzling development on Octovelopment of the Gwadar Port. Already, ber 17, 2016, when Indian security forces
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carried out a search in Baramulla in Kashmir, Chinese flags were also recovered in addition to Pakistan flags. Even the people of J&K were surprised by this. China seems to be supporting Pakistan on terrorism knowing that it is part of the “Ivy League of Terrorism” and is the “mothership of terrorism”. Some analysts propagate the reason for this as China’s requirement of Pakistan to deal with her restive Xinjiang province. To support this argument they say that Abdul Haq, an East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) leader also called Memetiming Mementi, who China says took over the leadership of ETIM in 2003, was killed in a joint operation by Chinese and Pakistan forces. China granted Pakistan a $180 million loan to purchase police equipment, including armoured personnel carriers and bullet-proof jackets for counter terrorism operations. Interestingly, Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World Uyghur Congress, said they did not have any detail of the person killed. There have been some doubts about China’s involvement in the recent incidents in J&K. There is no proof that is available in the open sources to support the same. China and Pakistan call their relationship as ‘Iron Brothers’. There are possibilities of that iron rusting if all does not go well with the CPEC. China and Pakistan will do well to realise the implication of the statement by Hillary Clinton in October 2011 that, “It's like that old story – you can't keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbours. Eventually those snakes are going to turn on whoever has them in the backyard”. Taking the readers’ mind back to the first para of this article, China’s actions on issues related to J&K substantiates the statement that China has double standards. While she is sensitive to any incident that runs counter to her interest in her relations with India, she does not mind her actions that may interfere in India Pakistan relations. The author retired as Commandant of Army War College, India and had previously served as Defence Attache in China
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DIPLOMACY
Though there was no major outcome of the summit except the ratification of Paris Agreement by the US and China but one cannot discount the achievements for China’s diplomacy, writes DR. TESHU SINGH
G20 2016: ACHIEVEMENTS
T
he 11th Group of 20 (G20) summit was held in Hangzhou, China from September 4-5, 2016. Leaders from 19 countries and the European Union representatives attended the meeting. The theme of this year’s conference was “Towards an innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy.” This was the first summit hosted by China and second to be held in Asia. The main purpose of forming this grouping in 2008 was to hold dialogue on key world economic issue. It was formed amidst the global financial crisis. Essentially, it was formed as an alternative to the exclusive G7; it was designed as a way to create conversation at the top levels of international governments and try to ensure disasters, like the financial crisis, were avoided in future. The member state of G20 represent two-third of the world’s population and account for around 85 per cent of global GDP and around 75 per cent of trade. It focuses mostly on reforming the global financial system to increase global economic growth.
Achievements
This year’s summit was held at a critical time when the World economy is going through host of problems. Notably, the Joint Communique spread over 48 articles covering themes on Strengthening Policy Coordination; Breaking a New Path for Growth; More Effective Global Economic and Financial Governance; Robust International Trade and Investment; Inclusive and Interconnected Development and Further Significant Global Challenges Affecting the World Economy. The plan of action was more comprehensive as compared to the previous years. The major achievement of this year’s summit was seen in the widening of the range of plan
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World leaders at G20 Summit 2016, in China
of action. As compared to the previous years, this year’s communique has the maximum number of article; in 2015 (Antalya) it had 27 articles and the 2014 (Brisbane) it had 21 articles. The most outstanding achievement of this year’s summit is the ratification of the Paris Agreement by the US and China. This was also reflected in the communique where the leaders reiterated “commitment to sustainable development and strong and effective support and actions to address climate change”. Seemingly, both the countries are the biggest greenhouse gas emitters. The G20 members announced financial contribution for “green investment”. However, the deadline was not finalised and not all countries have ratified the treaty. Until now, 180, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) members have signed the Paris Agreement. Nevertheless, the actual implementation will take place only if at least 55 parties that account for at least 55 per cent of the global greenhouse gas emissions ratify the treaty. Notably, India did not ratify the agreement; it wants to use this agreement as a bargaining chip to enter the Nuclear Supplier
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Group (NSG). Indian officials are justifying the move by saying the country cannot meet its Paris commitments without using nuclear power. (Later after the summit, Indian PM on October 2, 2016 said that India would ratify the treaty.) Essentially, being an economic institution, the G20 leaders agreed “excess volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates can have adverse implications for economic stability” and relevant authorities will consult closely on exchange market.” The issue of currency exchange rates were also discussed. The member countries assured to refrain from competing on currency exchange rates. They agreed “fiscal strategies are equally important [as structural ones] to support our common growth objectives.” Further, on the fiscal policy, more “growth friendly” policies were adopted. The G20 leaders also announced their willingness to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and to continue changes to international financial institutions (including the IMF) to enhance the significance of emerging economies. It was also pointed out that the emerging market should have bigger voice in the IMF and
DIPLOMACY
world stage. China had tried to display its soft power during the two day summit in all possible manners. Even before the meeting, China tried to keep away any confrontationist issue. It tried hard not to discuss the South China Sea issue and concentrate more on the economic issue. It used the summit as a platform to promote its “One Belt, One Road” initiative and Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB) on the world stage.
AND PITFALLS
Pitfalls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with other world leaders in a family photograph, at G20 Summit 2016, in China
World Bank. On the issue of overcapacity of steel, it was agreed to form a “global forum” on the matter, with support from the organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Without naming China’s “One Belt, One Road” strategy, the communique did point out need to improve infrastructure. For the first time, there was also mention of the less-developed countries, including those in Africa, with industrialisation as well as green energy and finance to bridge the gaps in global development. Against this background, the G20 “Blueprint in Innovative Growth” and G20 “2016 Innovation Action Plan” were adopted. Further, the People’s Daily has summarised the ten major achievements of the summit. It has divided the achievement under ten headings: Innovative Growth, Development, Structural reform, Investment, Financial reform, Anti-corruption, Trade, Industrialisation in Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Entrepreneurship and employment and Climate change. Besides the communiqué, the summit provided an opportunity for the leaders to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines.
Such kind of meetings are important to solve critical issues in bilateral relations. The most import bilateral talks were held between the US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin wherein they discussed the Syrian issue and other issues. The BRICS leaders also got an opportunity to hold an informal meeting ahead of the G20 summit. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met UK’s PM, Theresa May, leaders from Australia and Saudi Arabia. He also got an opportunity to discuss Sino-Indian relations with the Chinese President. He also used the summit to raise important issues related to Indian security vis-à-vis China; on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the terrorism, he said, “our response to terrorism should not be motivated by political consideration.” Apart from above mentioned achievement, the summit provided China an opportunity to showcase its development and the developmental process. The venue itself was symbolic. Hangzhou marks China’s transition from a low–cost manufacturer to high-tech economy. The summit has been another “milestone” for China that is trying to project itself on the
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At the Hangzhou meeting it was acknowledged that more work remains to strengthen growth, expand opportunity and ensure the benefits of trade and open markets as widely felt. The last eight years have already laid the strong foundation. Since its inception, the G20 has included a focus on the trade agenda. In the 2009 G20 Summit declaration, leaders recognised that reinvigorating world trade and investment was an essential element of restoring global growth and that a protectionist response to the crisis would exacerbate the sharp decline in demand in crisis-hit countries. At the first summit, in Toronto focussed on the need of fiscal consolidation, with agreement that advanced G20 deficit economies would at least half fiscal deficit by 2013 and stabilise or reduce sovereign debt ratios by 2016 complemented by ongoing structural reform across all G20 members to rebalance and strengthen global growth. No assessment on this point was made during the summit. Multilateral organisation like G20 should focus on the deliberations of addressing international policy spill over. This was not very evident in the communique. The basics about investments promotion policies were not discussed. It appears as if the focus of G20 deliberations is moving away from addressing international policy spillovers which is the basic function of this organisation. Over a period of time, the world has gone through severe socio-economic changes such as increasing income inequality, youth unemployment and gender inequality. Therefore, making economic growth more inclusive should be on the top of the G20 agenda. Though there was no major outcome of the summit except the ratification of Paris Agreement by the US and China but one cannot discount the achievements for China’s diplomacy. It is definitely a feather in China’s cap. The next G20 will be hosted by Germany in 2017. The author is Senior Research Associate, Vivekananda International Foundation
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BOOK EXCERPTS
MANAGING THE RISE OF CHINA
AND ITS COLLUSION WITH PAKISTAN China is vigorously pursuing its strategic encirclement of India by making inroads into each of India’s land neighbours and through the acquisition of port facilities for the PLA navy to operate, as part of its string of pearls strategy in the northern Indian Ocean. Excerpts from the concluding chapter of The New Arthashastra: A Security Strategy for India edited by GURMEET KANWAL Many other nations, unlike India that has fought five wars, have their own articulated National Security Strategy. We all know what it means to have a well published national Security Doctrine. Such published documents spell out their national interests, identify their threats—political, economic, diplomatic or with regard to security—and draw up policies to deal with them. It also provides guidance for policies related to national security and lastly, it makes citizen feel assure that the government will safeguard national interest. The absence of a similar doctrine makes India’s defence policy look ad hoc and creates the impression that the country is unprepared to realise its global ambitions. The New Arthashastra: A Security Strategy for India is an attempt to bring
eminent policymakers together to recommend a national security strategy for the nation. This book is a collection of essays penned down by these experts/ authors that covers wide range of topics. All these authors are well-known practitioners and analysts and have a masterly grasp over their subjects. The book begins with a chapter on the conceptual underpinnings of national security strategy and covers India’s defence policy, threats and challenges, national interests and national security objectives, defence cooperation and strategies to counter external and internal threats. It also includes the role of intelligence in national security, nuclear deterrence and maritime security strategy.The book also touches the more important aspect of China’s continued military build-up and its relentless support of Pakistan.
* * * * * THE NEW ARTHASHASTRA: A SECURITY STRATEGY FOR INDIA Edited by: Gurmeet Kanwal Publisher: HarperCollins Pages: 436 Price: `799
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he foremost challenge for India to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific will be to manage the rise of a militarily assertive China that is seeking to achieve a ‘favourable strategic posture’. Having come close to completing its four modernisations, China has discarded Deng Xiaoping’s 24-character strategy to ‘hide our capacity and bide our time’ and has begun to flex its military muscle. China senses the emergence of a security vacuum in the Indo-pacific and is rushing to fill it. India must join the US and other strategic partners, such as Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam, to establish a cooperative security framework for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, for the security of the global commons and to deal with
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
contingencies like those described below. If China is willing to join this security architecture it should be welcomed. With its proclivity for solving territorial disputes by using military force and its growing military power, China may behave irresponsibly somewhere in the Indo-Pacific, including against India. China could decide to intervene militarily in the South China Sea, or to occupy one or more of the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands or decide to resolve the remaining territorial disputes, like that with India, by using military force. Also, China has deep internal faultlines. Its rapid economic growth, now slowing, has been fairly uneven and non-inclusive. There is a deep sense of resentment against the leadership of the
BOOK EXCERPTS
Communist Party for the denial of basic freedoms. The discontentment simmering below the surface could boil over and lead to a spontaneous implosion that may be uncontrollable. The recent crash of Chinese stock markets and continuing volatility also point to the possibility of a meltdown. Both the contingencies – implosion and military adventurism – have a low probability of occurrence, but will be high-impact events with widespread ramifications around the Indo-Pacific should either of them come to pass. Both contingencies will shake up the markets, result in millions of refugees and lead to a blood bath. India and its strategic partners will need to cooperate closely to deal with the fallout and to manage the disastrous consequences as either of these contingencies unfolds. In this context, the India-US strategic partnership makes eminent sense as a hedging strategy for both countries. In more senses than one, it is India’s ‘principal’ strategic partnership, as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had described it. His predecessor, Prime Minister Vajpayee, had gone further and had said that India and the US were ‘natural allies’. Whichever term is used to describe the relationship, clearly, the US cannot be expected to pull India’s chestnuts out of the fire, and vice versa. Only when the vital national interests of both are threatened, will the two countries come together and act in concert. Defence cooperation, a key component of the strategic partnership, must be enhanced to take it to the next higher trajectory to enable the two countries to undertake joint threat assessment; contingency planning for joint operations; sharing of intelligence; simulations and table-top exercises – besides training exercises with troops; coordination of command, control and communications; and, planning for operational deployment and logistics support. All of these activities must be undertaken in concert with India’s other strategic partners in Asia. The growing China-Pakistan nuclear warhead-ballistic missile-military hardware nexus is a matter of concern. China is now engaged in developing the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to link Xinjiang with Gwadar on the Makran coast as part of its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative to counter US influence in the Indo-Pacific. China has vetoed several resolutions in the UN sanctions committee aimed at censuring Pakistan and designating Pakistani extremist leaders as terrorists. China tends to forget that it is
itself a victim of terrorist activity that has its roots on Pakistani soil. Elsewhere in Southern Asia, China is vigorously pursuing its strategic encirclement of India by making inroads into each of India’s land neighbours and through the acquisition of port facilities for the PLA navy to operate, as part of its string of pearls strategy in the northern Indian Ocean. While China is too large to be effectively contained, India can and must raise the cost for China. India should do this through political and diplomatic means and through pro-active defence cooperation with its strategic partners. Because of its claims over the South China Sea, China has been objecting to India’s ONGC prospecting for oil and gas within Vietnam’s territorial waters. Future ONGC operations should be backed up with support from the Indian navy by way of providing point defence to offshore oil installations and conducting maritime patrolling in the South China Sea jointly with the US and other strategic partners. Vietnam has often expressed an interest in Indian weapons systems. These must be provided on soft loans, including ballistic missiles that do not violate MTCR guidelines such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, Prithvi I and II and Prahar SSMs. The indigenously-designed and manufactured Pinaka MBRL should also be provided. Initial batches of these weapons systems could be gifted and training teams sent to provide in situ training assistance. Notably, the US recently lifted its 50-year old embargo on the sale of arms to Vietnam. Afghanistan has given India a wish list of weapons and equipment in accordance with the provisions of its strategic partnership with India. So far India has given only non-lethal defence equipment, including a few utility helicopters. The other items required by the ANSF in order to improve combat capability should also be provided. The training assistance being provided to the ANSF should be stepped up by an order of magnitude. If invited to do so by the Afghan government, India should be prepared to train ANSF personnel inside Afghanistan. The Indian training teams should be self-sufficient and capable of organising their own local security, including limited counter-terrorism measures. The trilateral agreement with Iran and Afghanistan for India to develop the Chabahar port and link it with the Zaranj-Delaram highway, built by India in Afghanistan, to gain access to the Central Asian Republics and
www.geopolitics.in
November 2016
beyond to the CIS countries is a positive development. It will also provide a suitable route for logistics support should India be called upon to send an infantry division to Afghanistan to support operations of the ANSF if it becomes necessary. Similarly, India should reach out to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka and the countries on the Indian Ocean littoral in order to minimise the negative impact of the overtures being made by China to them. As for hard power, India must maintain continuous vigil over the frontiers and carefully note Chinese and Pakistani activities across the disputed boundaries. Surveillance technology should be exploited to add to human vigilance. From the efforts being put in to develop infrastructure along the land borders, including the refurbishment of advance landing grounds (ALGs) in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, and the raising of new forces, it is clear that army and the air force are gradually pivoting to the mountains. The raising of potent forces like 17 Corps, popularly called the Mountain Strike Corps, will help to upgrade the quality of India’s deterrence. Two additional divisions (56 and 71 Mountain Divisions) have been raised recently for defensive operations in Arunachal Pradesh. Similarly, one Strike Corps out of three in the plains and one additional infantry division with high altitude air assault capability need to be placed on high alert to counter aggression. The addition of new combat capability in the mountains, particularly the ability to launch and sustain offensive operations across the LAC, will send an appropriate signal to China. The ability to launch offensive operations into Chinese territory will upgrade India’s military strategy against China from dissuasion to deterrence. Deterrence in the maritime domain should also be enhanced so as to be prepared to confront Chinese and Pakistani navies and, if necessary, even their merchant shipping as a counter strategy to exploit the weaknesses of the adversaries in the maritime domain should a war break out on the LAC or the LoC. The essence of India’s military strategy should be to deter war, but if war is thrust on India, to fight synergised tri-Service operations and ensure that conflict termination takes place on favourable terms. The military aim in a future conflict, if it cannot be avoided, should be to cause maximum damage to the adversary’s war waging capability by kinetic means and to capture limited amount of territory as a bargaining counter.
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OPTIQUE
GIVE THE FORCES THEIR DUE!
B
efore he became Prime Minister of India and immediately after he was named as the prime ministerial candidate in September 2013, Narendra Modi had addressed a well-attended rally of ex-servicemen at Rewari in Haryana. The mood among the defence community then was that if Modi emerged as the Prime Minister of the nation, the government would provide the armed forces a free hand to deal with security situations as they deemed fit, accord them the primacy of place when it came to their status in the government and ensured the best pay and pensions. As the Modi government completes half of its five-year tenure in November 2016, let us look at how it has performed on the three impressions left by the then Prime-Minister-to-be at the Rewari rally. The first challenge before Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the armed forces and ex-servicemen came just after his government had completed one year in office. Impatient over the delays in implementing the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme for the nearly 2.5 million retired armed forces personnel, a section for the veterans hit the streets demanding that this promise be fulfilled forthwith. Three months after the veterans launched their agitation, the Modi government announced in September last that it would provide pensions to ex-servicemen by bringing it close to the OROP demand. The government was spending nearly `56,000 crore on pensions to the armed forces till then. That OROP announcement resulted in the government spending at least another `20,000 crore in arrears for retired personnel, all disbursed in two instalments in 2015 and 2016. But not all the ex-servicemen are happy with the “near” OROP announced by the government. They are particularly unhappy with the rule of revision of the pensions every five years instead of every year. A section of the ex-servicemen unhappy over their demands on annual revision, base year for calculating the arrears, etc., are still protesting in New Delhi. But the government is in no mood to accede to their request, as most of the veterans’ population have been satisfied with what has been provided. The one-man judicial committee on OROP, set up by the government, has submitted its report to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in New Delhi on October 26. The Central Government had appointed a committee under the Chairmanship of Justice L Narasimha Reddy, retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court, to look at the anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP. The judicial committee had held hearings at around 20 cities/towns across the country and interacted with a cross-section of ex-servicemen as well as their associations. The committee also received 704 representations from individuals and various ex-servicemen associations and held extensive interaction with all stakeholders before submitting its report. A decision on the report and its contents are still not out. The next trouble on the armed forces’ front broke out on September 29 this year when the Indian special forces carried out a surgical strike on terror camps inside what’s now called Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
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That day, the Ministry of Defence notified a draft resolution on the government accepting the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission. This was obviously a contentious issue, because the armed forces have been unhappy over certain recommendations of the pay commission that had clearly meant introduction of new disparities or extension of the past disparities between the armed forces personnel and their equivalent in the civilian, police and paramilitary services. A couple of months ago, the Armed Forces chiefs had issued circulars to their troopers stating that the pay commission recommendations regarding their salaries would not be implemented till the disparities were addressed. But on an assurance from the highest political leadership of the country, the forces’ chiefs agreed to ease their stand. This led to the setting up of a government panel to look at the disparities. Many of the issues on pensions and pay that are being raised now are being referred to that panel. Then came another bombshell: this government has issued orders on rank parity of armed forces officers and the Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services staff members. In this order, the armed forces officers were allegedly downgraded by a rank lower than what they held till recently. For example, a Colonel in the Army and their equivalent were regarded as Director or equivalent from the Civil Services. But this latest order downgraded the Colonels to the post of Joint Directors. Such reports forced the government to clarify that the Ministry of Defence letter dated October 16 was only a reiteration of orders previously issued in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2005. However, the armed forces personnel aren’t too convinced with the government clarification. These controversies aren’t good for the Modi government when it comes to keeping the morale of the armed forces high at a time when it is raising the pitch against archrival and troublemaker Pakistan in the fight against terror. What makes it worse is that there is an impression that these orders, seen clearly as going against the interests of the armed forces personnel, are being issued with the knowledge of the top political leadership including Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, and sometime Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Prime Minister Modi. This is one warning that Modi and his trusted ministers need to keep in mind. They should give what is truly due to the armed forces. There has been a history of bureaucrats craftily lowering the status of the armed forces. The Modi government should clearly watch out for any mischief that the bureaucracy, which the Prime Minister seems to trust so blindly, may create for him on this front. Geopolitics usually doesn’t indulge in patting its own back. But this one is an exception and not a general rule. Geopolitics, in its September issue article on the Indian Ocean Region, was the first to mention about the importance of BIMSTEC to India and how India should focus on promoting this regional forum to isolate Pakistan. And that’s what the Modi government did when it invited BIMSTEC leaders alongside the BRICS summit held in Goa in October 2016.
November 2016 www.geopolitics.in
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