Raksha Anirveda, Defence Magazine, October - December 2020

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Vol 3, Issue 11, Oct-Dec 2020

88TH ANNIVERSARY

IAF’S GROWTH ON INDIGENISATION? HAL’s Tejas MkII is emerging as a choice, however, can IAF completely rely on domestic procurement

India’s Space-based Strategic Assets

Situational Awareness at Battlefield

Communicating the Quantum Way

Need to sharpen against threats from geopolitical sphere

The single-most important factor in the 21st century air warfare

Providing important breakthrough in modern-day war

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Editor & Business Director Ajit Kumar Thakur Editorial Director PK Ghosh Consulting Editor Vinay Shukla Sri Krishna Advisory Board Amb Smita Purushottam, IFS (Retd) Amb Vishnu Prakash, IFS (Retd) Air Marshal M Matheswaran (Retd) Lt Gen PC Katoch (Retd) Lt Gen PR Shankar (Retd) Lt Gen AB Shivane (Retd) Maj Gen JS Kataria (Retd) Cmde Ranjit B Rai (Retd) Cmde Anil Jai Singh (Retd) Cdr KP Sanjeev Kumar (Retd) Dr Mathew Simon Amit Cowshish Sameer Joshi Dr Punit Saurabh International Roving Correspondent Arie Egozi Legal Advisor Ramesh Sharma Creative Director Md Moeen Aijaz Design & Layout Design Cubicle For Advertisement contact us: ajitk.thakur@gmail.com ajit@raksha-anirveda.com rakshaanirveda@gmail.com For any complaint and query contact us: info@raksha-anirveda.com ajitk.thakur@gmail.com Raksha Anirveda is printed and published by PBG Media Ventures Published, Edited & Printed by Ajit Kumar Thakur on behalf of ‘PBG Media Ventures’ 649/4, Konark Residency, Nambardar Colony, Burari, Delhi -110084 Printed at: Star Print-O-Bind, Star House, F-31, Okhla Industrial Area Phase-I, New Delhi-110020 Editor: Ajit Kumar Thakur All disputes are subjected to the jurisdiction of Delhi Mobile: +91-9910252485 Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of individual authors and do not represent any policy of this publication.

-Editor

RESPONSE ‘Raksha Anirveda’ editorial team looks forward to receive comments and views from the readers on the content of the magazine.

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Editorial ACHIEVING INDIA’S DECADAL GROWTH WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL SECURITY Adieu 2020! After few months, the year 2020 will be a thing of past.

Yet, it will still remain engraved in memoirs for long…as a year full of agony and pain, multiple challenges and resilience test. And in 2021, there will be no new normal as nations including India will find itself experiencing a series of extraordinary situations / opportune times. The gravity of the problems will remain, cropping up now and then and one can’t absolve them in a whisker. Thus, the world will have to live with it and keep navigating through it with continuous relentless efforts with a plan.

Is India well prepared to embark on its new journey this decade? Expect a mixed response. The rapid pace of economic development aligned with national security objective will act as a springboard to ensure India’s decadal growth is achieved. The government’s renewed focus and purpose of Atmanirbhar Bharat is bigger, somewhat beyond one’s thought and hence its path is more difficult but not impossible. The irony is, it somewhere lacks the deeper clarity and sincerity of motive in planning. It lacks greater courage and earnestness in action. The biggest dilemma being, all that we hear and see are mere opinion and perspective.

Sadly, this clearly shows that India’s quest for self-reliance in defence is far away from facts and truth.

India for long has been under the spell of futile and fatal experiences. Since Independence, the experience has been of doing lots of planning but backed with less action. And many a times, efforts were made through proactive action that lacked planning. India’s indifferent approach to go in for a momentary pause, make a deep inner dive for self-reflection and steer ahead with course correction has its own cascading effect. The earlier

practice of looking at challenges, thinking about it and doing nothing has to change.

All it needs to bring in the dynamic equilibrium in its defence sector in order to overcome the stresslaxing attitude of the government and get away from its prolonged statist phase.

The rapidly turning wheels of geopolitics and emerging new world order, provides India with an opportunity to play a more assertive role as a global leader and checkmate the expansionist China’s sinister design. India has shown to the world that despite having a wide asymmetrical economic and military strength gap vis-à-vis China, it can and will confront the Chinese territorial aggression with its uncomplicated gesture of personal sacrifice and faith, without hesitation and with morality, led by its brave and professional armed forces. The Himalayan impasse is a result of Chinese faulty conviction that they are unique and superior. India has made China realise to an extent the hardest lesson of all, that the latter is really not that much different from others on this planet.

The 11th edition of Raksha Anirveda showcases the frenzied development that took place in last three months both on the domestic and global fronts and also attempts to crystal gaze into the future trends. In this edition, Raksha Anirveda expanding its reach introduces a new section on civil aviation which is on the road to recovery and includes an interview with Minister of Civil Aviation. A special feature on Indian Air Force’s 88th foundation day saluting air warriors for their people first - mission ready approach is the highlight of current edition.

Hope the readers will find the current edition a worthwhile and enjoyable read and will also spare some time to share their feedback.

Jai Hind!!.

Ajit Kumar Thakur Editor & Business Director

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Contents

VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 11 | OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

RAKSHA ANIRVEDA

Disruptive Technologies in the Indian Military Matrix p28 QUAD - From Life Support to Shaky Adolescence p42 Indian Navy Must Add Platforms to Fend Off China-Pakistan Nexus p46 Corporatisation of OFB: A Significant Step towards ‘Atmanirbharta’ p48 Raising of FDI Cap in Defence Entails Complications p70 IAF Has Major Role to Play for India’s Atmanirbharta p74 ‘Boeing has been a Strong Partner in Mission Readiness and Modernization of India’s Defence Forces’ p76 IAF @ 88: Adversaries Envy, Nation’s Pride p80 India and Its Unstable Neighbourhood p84 Indian Defence: Trends and Trajectory p88 ‘BBB’s Collaboration With Varsities to Reduce Cost, and a Focus on Defence Paves Way to Win Multiple Projects’ p92 Water Replaces Oil as Strategic Resource in 21st Century p96 Eitan AFV Advanced Version Production Begins p99 Advanced Acumen into Novelty Driven Business Model p100 India’s Special Frontier Force: A Force to Reckon with p106 Israel Counters Iran’s Surge in Ballistic Missile Arsenal p20

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COVER STORY

MARKING 88TH BIRTHDAY WITH RAFALE IN ITS ARSENAL Indian Air Force is celebrating its 88th birthday with the official induction of French fighter jet Rafale into the service providing much needed leverage in countering the adversaries

P109 CIVIL AVIATION SECTION p118 Russian Helicopters’ Multipurpose Choppers on Display at HeliRussia 2020 p120 Appointment p122 Small News p126 In News

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AL TARIQ, an EDGE Group entity and regional leader in aerial weaponry and a manufacturer of PGMs has been engaged with Indian defence companies for future Make in India programmes

With the contactless war becoming reality, focus now is on role play of the next-generation unmanned drones and armed helicopters that are currently under development

Andrey Boginsky, the CEO of Russian Helicopters JSC, part of defence industry conglomerate Rostec, reveals that his company has done its part, and waiting for a go ahead from India on Ka-226T

As Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit India in October this year, the two countries are assured to take their defence and strategic relations to a new high with the signing of major defence deals

With the announcement of Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Kalyani Group CMD seems more confident and committed and says the initiative has renewed his faith in indigenisation

‘Engaging Indian Def Dawn of a Dialectical Cos for Future Make in Evolution in Warfare Contactless War India Programmes’

‘Waiting for Commercial With Putin’s upcoming ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Negotiations to visit; India, Russia Poised Renewing Faith in Continue on Ka-226T’ to Upgrade Defence Ties Indigenisation’

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LEAD STORY

INDIA’S SPACE BASED, OTHER STRATEGIC ASSETS:

A LYNCHPIN FOR NATIONAL SECURITY

India has made significant advancements in space and allied strategic territories, yet a lot more efforts are needed given the threat perceptions emanating from various geographical and geopolitical features, agencies, individuals, single or grouped states and non-state actors

By PUNIT SAURABH, NITYESH BHATT, BALAKRISHNAN UNNY R.

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he History of Space based Strategic Applications: The relevance of space assets which include satellite communication technology for civilian and defence applications cannot be discounted. Currently, Space based strategic assets add the sixth dimension to the already existing land, sea, air, cyberspace and EM-based warfare. Cyberspace dimension is also impacted by the strategic space based assets. Cyber war is relatively a new method to engage with the adversaries. It ranges from the subtle targeted misinformation and propaganda to the obvious disruption to physical infrastructure. The technological advancement in satellite communications is both a defensive and offensive capability. The United States, China, Russia, Israel and the United Kingdom are the countries which are believed to have advanced cyber warfare capabilities along with Iran and North Korea who have developed their capabilities in response to the attacks.

On the other hand, Space assets are well suited to provide support for the vital strategic activity of aerial reconnaissance by replacing spy planes like U2 with permanent “eye in the sky”. During the days of cold war under President Ronald Reagan, the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) was set up in 1984 within the US Department of Defense (DOD).

Its objective was to oversee the development of a wide array of advanced weapon concepts as a response to threats emanating from their cold war adversary, the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), especially with the InterContinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) threat. The list also included lasers,

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particle beam weapons, and to cap it all, space-based missile systems based on the transformational satellite capabilities.

SDIO planned for an array of various sensors, command and control, high-performance computer operating systems, semiconductors, critical hardware and software that would be needed to control a system consisting of hundreds of combat centres and satellites spanning the entire globe for tracking and interception. The programme was reformatted in the shape of ‘Brilliant Pebbles’ which was a non-nuclear system of satellite-based interceptors designed to use high-velocity, watermelon-sized, teardrop-

shaped projectiles made of tungsten as kinetic warheads.

With the assumption of office by President Bill Clinton, things changed drastically as the breakup of USSR was complete by then. SDIO officially ended in 1993, when the Bill Clinton administration redirected the efforts towards theatre ballistic missiles defences in the form of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and renamed the agency as the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO).

Ever since, the emphasis of satellites as a strategic instrument for national security remained not just a topmost priority for the US, thanks to the advancements already made by USSR (now Russia), rather invigorated with funding support.

Even though the V2 rockets were initially developed for the adversaries by the Nazis during the second world war, yet the US soon after the ending of the war ensured to relocate a couple of top notch scientists for the development of rockets and launcher systems for the US defense forces. It was an undeniable fact that USSR with its launch of R-7 rocket in 1957 had taken a decisive lead in making ballistic missile systems for military use over 10/12/2020 7:34:26 AM

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the US which was able to do it only by next year with the launch of Atlas rocket. The ICBMs – MIRV (A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) programme and the ABM (AntiBallistic Missile System) under development by USSR in the 1960s was point worth pondering, even when the US had already begun brainstorming about long range ballistic missile development, satellite based surveillance system development as well nuclear second strike capability.

US project developments escalated as a counter response to the USSR’s ballistic missile development mated with Satellite Systems Development. The hysteria in the US rose in the back of rising cold war tensions and reached a climax with the development and launch of the Sputnik. There was a growing demand from citizens to challenge Soviet Technological superiority. As things evolved, US clearly was in no mood to play second fiddle. The Cold war and the ensuing competition saw US going full throttle to compete with USSR in every way including the planned ‘Starwars’.

The ensuing Cold war rivalry and cut throat competition led to the launch of Apollo -11 Mission to the Moon which gave a clear boost to US technological capabilities and its space aspirations. It might be noted that, the United States Space Surveillance Network (SSN), a division of the United States Strategic Command, had been tracking objects in Earth’s orbit ever since 1957 when the Soviet Union unveiled the Space Age with the launch of Sputnik, the satellite which would change the course of history in space launches. SSN was tasked with tracking of incoming missiles launched by the enemy but did not have the capability to counter them.

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THAAD missile launcher system

THE CHINESE CHALLENGES IN THE STRATEGIC FRONT With NASA taking big leaps in satellite development followed by increasingly proactive measures towards militarisation of space, several nations took the mission to develop their own space-based assets for military application.

After the fall of USSR, the space race was rekindled with new entrants who heated up the space race.

China, India, UK, Japan, France and an assorted group of nations other than the newly emerged Russia, set up their own missions to augment their surveillance capability, space mining etc., if not active assets setup in the space for military purpose. Much during the same time, the European Space Agency (ESA) came to prominence as a result of collaborative efforts from 22 European nations. But the one which saw the most spectacular rise was the Chinese Space programme.

Prominently, Chinese Space Programme named as ‘China National Space Administration’ (CNSA) saw a meteoric rise in the recent times taking the American defence establishment by surprise, even though US dominance in space capabilities was at an indomitable level which could not be challenged, at least till the beginning of the new century.

Russia had not lost its edge but

was short of funding required to boost up its space capability.

China as a dark horse was comparatively at a much better position at the back of its growing economy which assisted it to pump substantial money for its defence preparedness. Initially, it was only focussed for defensive and reconnaissance purpose but with growing competition emanating from the US, at the back of tacit support from Russia, China set up to challenge the domination of US in its pursuit for space defence and security including Anti-satellite System (ASAT).

The success of the manned mission to space by China was not lost in oblivion. Its launch of Baidu network to counter the GPS system was also an important milestone as it had strategic implications.

The launch of ASAT in 2007 by China was another red letter day but which also got the alarm bells ringing across the Western territories as well as Asia from a security point of view. China’s growing ambitions also made its neighbors wary; several nations including India have begun to increasingly look at Space from a strategic perspective.

Experts like Lt General Prakash Katoch (Retd.), DG (Information Systems), Indian Army, in one of his opinion piece with SP (http://www.spsmai.com/expertsspeak/?id=904&q=Gearing-Up-ForStar-Wars) highlighted the great

ISRO’S AMBITIONS HAVE GROWN RAPIDLY FROM SMALL PAYLOAD DEPLOYMENTS IN SPACE TO MEGA-TONNES SATELLITES LAUNCHED FROM ITS OWN SPACE VEHICLES LIKE SLV, PSLV AND GSLV SPACE HORSES. INDIA HAS SHOWN TO THE WORLD THAT ITS SPACE CAPABILITIES ARE HERE FOR THE LONG RUN

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LEAD STORY

ISRO’s GSAT-7 blasts off to put the satellite into orbit

INDIA’S POLICY FOR USAGE OF SPACE FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES PREVENTS IT FROM GOING ALL OUT IN EXPLOITING IT FOR MILITARY PURPOSES UNLESS THE SCENARIO FORCES INDIA TO DO SO. THE RECENT SUCCESSFUL TESTING OF HSTDB HYPERSONIC LAUNCH VEHICLE ADDS CREDENCE TO THE EXISTING CAPABILITIES IMPROVING INDIA’S DETERRENCE CAPABILITY AS WELL

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strides made by China compared to India in various dimensions of warfare specially in Aero-Space and cyber warfare……“Past years China has been developing Directed Energy Weapons Systems (DEWS) like lasers, High Power Microwave (HPM) systems and Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) generating weapons and has clear and competitive military advantage over India in all dimensions of battle space, more pronounced asymmetries being in strategic weapons, stealth maritime capability, force multipliers, cyber space, outer space, information space and asymmetric warfare” ….The important point to be noted here was the advancements made

by China in outer Space systems and Cyber space.

The recent news emanating in the strategic corridors about China’s past actions against India wherein Times of India recently quoted US-based China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) (https:// www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ china-targeted-indian-satellitecommunications-in-2017report-1724561-2020-09-23) which suggested that China carried out multiple cyber-attacks against India between 2007 and 2018, including a cyber-attack against

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Indian satellite communications in 2017. The 142-page report also noted that between 2012 and 2018, China carried out multiple cyber-attacks against India, but focuses on one specific case. This is worrying news for India as tensions on the Indo-Tibet border mounts with fear of a two pronged or a multiple pronged war thrust on us by China unless situation improves. Clearly, Outer Space is now a battle zone with nations vying to take an upper edge.

INDIA’S SPACE AGE AMBITIONS AND NATIONAL SECURITY NEEDS

From the launch of a sounding rocket at Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram in the year 1963, after getting assembled in a local village church and carried forward in a bicycle, Indian space research has achieved several milestones. ISRO’s ambitions have grown rapidly from small payload deployments in space to megatonnes satellites launched from its own space vehicles like SLV, PSLV and GSLV space horses.

India has shown to the world that its space capabilities are here for the long run. India’s Constellation

of Communication satellites i.e. the Indian Satellite System (INSAT) and its home grown GPS Constellation (IRNSS-GAGAN) have also played a pivotal role in making the country self-reliant on various critical technologies and ensuring India does not lag behind the contemporary telecom revolution.

But beyond the civilian applications, Indian space research is also quietly positioned for strategic purposes. Going a step further, India has tested an AntiSatellite System as part of Mission Shakti to not just defend its satellite from enemy killer satellites but to neutralize incoming threats. India’s advancement in Kinetic Energy Weapons (KEWs), Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs), and space-based weapons is shrouded in secrecy.

Yet some of the news from sources (Katoch. P 2020) suggest that DRDO has developed two anti-drone DEW systems, which will now be manufactured in large numbers with the help of the domestic industry; one is a trailer-mounted DEW, with a 10-kilowatt laser to engage aerial targets at a two-km range while the other is a compact tripod-mounted one, with a twokilowatt laser for a one-km range.

Both these systems can take down micro drones by either jamming their command and control links or damaging their electronics through laser-based DEWS. The Technology Perspective Capability roadmap by MOD talked off development Unmanned Aerial Platforms (both Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Mini Air Vehicle (MAVs), High Capacity Radio Relay (HCRR) and Laser Based Communication System along with electromagnetic pulse weapon (microwave weapon) for countering missiles fired at ships, tanks and aircraft. Interestingly DEW was not mentioned either because it is already working on it or because it does not fall in the government’s radar.

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Little is known about the status of development of Kilo Ampere Linear Injector (KALI) weapon system in the public domain.

India’s policy for usage of space for peaceful purposes prevents it from going all out in exploiting it for military purposes unless the scenario forces India to do so.

The recent successful testing of HSTDB hypersonic launch vehicle adds credence to the existing capabilities improving India’s deterrence capability as well. But the question is, are these efforts sufficient to address the gap with China? Absolutely not! A lot needs to be done by India given the advancements being made by adversary countries and it has to be done fast.

To add to what the future network centric warfare will look like, Lt Prakash Katoch opined…..“Future conflicts will be five dimensional; aero-space, land, sea, cyber and electromagnetic. Information Warfare will include NCW, C4I2 warfare, electronic warfare, cyber warfare and other forms of operationalised cyberspace. Information superiority will be as important as land, sea and aero-space superiority. Space Combat, Cyber Space Combat, Radiation Combat, Robotic Combat, Nanotechnology Combat will add to forms of combat. Operations will be increasingly inter-agency involving greater application of all elements of national power”….

Advancements in space based strategic technologies mated with cyber warfare will be at the heart of the future strategic projections.

INDIA’S CURRENT AND FUTURE LIST OF STRATEGIC SATELLITES

ISRO’s journey towards making India self-reliant has been remarkable to say the least despite the challenges faced. It would be prudent to mention that India has RA_Oct-Dec20.indb 7

ICBM integrated with launcher system

made its name in High Technology mainly due to advancements made by ISRO at a fraction of the cost of its western counterparts.

India’s current military satellites are an assortment of technology demonstration, from hardcore reconnaissance to complementing the network centric warfare capabilities. It is also aimed to ensure that India’s nuclear triad is supported by a well-established fail safe hack free and exclusively India operated and controlled systems.

Currently, India boasts of a range of satellites which are jam-packed with Command, Control, Computers Communications, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities.

• Technology Experiment Satellite (TES) is an experimental satellite which acts as a test rig or bed for testing and analysing technologies while also fulfilling its functions by providing the requisite monitoring and surveillance.

• RISAT-2 or Radar Imaging Satellite 2 is India’s first satellite with synthetic aperture radar with a day-night, all-weather monitoring capability and a resolution of one meter providing vital strategic data

SM-135 ASAT missile

required by the defence forces, duly supported by its synthetic aperture radar from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

• C A R T O S A T - 2 i s a n o t h e r important satellite in the stable of the armed forces which carries a state-of-the-art panchromatic (PAN) camera. The swath covered by these high resolution PAN cameras is 9.6 km and their spatial resolution is 80 centimeters and duly supported

by CARTOSAT-2A, CARTOSAT2B which have been launched with similar mission objectives.

• The next rung of Cartosat-2E also called as “eye in the sky” satellite with surveillance capabilities was launched on June 23, 2017.

The advanced Cartosat-2E can

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RAKSHA ANIRVEDA

LEAD STORY named GISAT-1 and GISAT-2, followed by advanced versions like GSAT-7C, GSAT-20, GSAT-30, GSAT-32 and INSAT-3D S with military and civilian usage dual purposes by the end of this year or the beginning of 2021.

CONCLUSION

India’s ASAT missile system

INDIA HAS MADE ITS NAME IN HIGH TECHNOLOGY MAINLY DUE TO ADVANCEMENTS MADE BY ISRO AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF ITS WESTERN COUNTERPARTS. INDIA’S CURRENT MILITARY SATELLITES ARE AN ASSORTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION, FROM HARDCORE RECONNAISSANCE TO COMPLEMENTING THE NETWORK CENTRIC WARFARE CAPABILITIES

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accurately spot objects within a square of 0.6 metre.

• GSAT-7 or Rukmini, which was launched way back in 2013, for the exclusive use of the Indian Navy to monitor the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has been providing yeoman services to the armed forces. Its successor GSAT-7A was launched in December 2018 for the exclusive military use for the Indian Air Force, much similar to Indian Navy’s GSAT-7 with an intent to enhance Network-centric warfare capabilities.

• During the launch of GSAT– 7, another dual use satellite named HySIS was also launched in November 2013, which is used by the Indian Navy.

• The emphasis of the Indian policymakers has gradually been shifting to lean and effective small-scale micro satellites which provide fail proof, difficult to track and kill, hack-proof and compact satellites, given the current capabilities being developed to hack enemy satellites. Microsat-R satellite launched on January 24 last year was the first satellite in that

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direction to address the sensorrelated requirements while contributing to a multi-layered and distributed capability for the Indian armed services. It was also used as a target for testing India’s ASAT capability in 2019.

• In 2019, India’s ISRO also launched the DRDO-EMISAT which has been designed to pick up electromagnetic signals from radars and currently being used for communication interception and detection of enemy assets.

• Another satellite GSAT 7R was launched in 2019 as a replacement of GSAT 7.

• RISAT-2 B was also launched last year to boost surveillance capability of the armed forces along with CARTOSAT 3 with a resolution of 0.2 metre. RISAT line of satellites with X band Synthetic aperture camera and resolution of a metre consisting of RISAT 2 BR1, RISAT 2 BR2 are light weight but optimised for strategic operations.

In fact, at least six new observation satellites are lined up to be launched for strategic purposes which will be including a new series of imaging satellites

Though, India has made significant advancements in space and allied strategic territories, yet a lot more efforts are needed given the threat perceptions emanating from various geographical and geopolitical features, agencies, individuals, single or grouped states and non-state actors. In the current perspective the major sources of worry emanates from the Sino-Pak equations which may provide chronic pain in the short term or long term if adequate steps are not taken.

Indian policymakers require a strategic vision to support any futuristic plans with adequate budgetary measures. The defence establishment and decisionmakers in the government have to hasten their process in order to prevent the creation of perennial handicaps for our defence forces facing adversaries who are armed to the tooth. In view of the same it is prudent for Indian defence industry and the government policymakers to raise their vision to addressing the gap urgently with respect to India’s space posturing.

Existing and enhanced need for collaboration efforts with other countries like US, Russia, France, Israel etc. is the need of the hour which may also be looked into.

–The author is an Assistant Professor in the area of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, who takes keen interest in geopolitical events shaping the world. The co-authors Prof Nityesh Bhatt and Prof Balakrishnan Unny are from Information Systems Management department having interest in Space Sciences and their intermingling with information Systems and Technology.

The authors are Professors at Institute of Management, Nirma University.

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RAKSHA ANIRVEDA

ABSOLUTE POWER

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: GOD’S EYE VIEW OF THE BATTLEFIELD Situational Awareness of the battlefield is the single most important factor in 21st century air warfare, and could be the difference between getting that first shot and getting shot down. The Indian Air Force must ramp up its capabilities in this sector

By RAKESH KRISHNAN SIMHA ecause of its inherent mobility, the Indian Air Force is generally the first to respond when war breaks out. However, during hostilities India cannot commit all its aircraft against one enemy as the prospect of a two-front war will always be present. In this backdrop, having a composite picture of the aerial battlefield – known as Situational Awareness – will allow the IAF to deploy its aircraft effectively based on where the enemy forces are located and to kick in the door where needed.

B

Situational Awareness, which is provided by a variety of sensors, also allows attack aircraft to fly to their target via gaps in enemy radars and through routes with the least anti-aircraft defences. Situational Awareness is now considered a bigger force multiplier in military aviation than super manoeuvrability, speed or

Lockheed Martin’s C4ISR Situational Awareness tools

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range as it gives you a ‘God’s Eye View’ of the aerial battlefield, allowing you to observe friends and foes at all times.

Due to the noise and confusion of military operations, military personnel may have a degraded understanding of what’s happening in their surroundings.

To support their decision making, integrated digital systems collect contextual information which is then visually represented to the soldier in a way that does not distract him from the battlefield.

This translates to a focus on better sensors (visual, signals, infrared etc) from different sources (unmanned vehicles, aircraft, satellites, land forces and ships) in order to develop an accurate fused picture of the battlespace. This is known as Sensor Fusion or Multi Sensor Data Fusion. By removing all blind spots and knowing exactly where one’s forces are placed with respect to the enemy and friendly forces, it enhances the military’s war fighting capability while minimising fratricide.

Air Marshal TM Asthana (Retd), former Commander-inChief, Strategic Forces Command, writes in a paper titled Building Air Dominance: “Total Situational Awareness is a prerequisite for air dominance. While air dominance enables the aerospace forces to operate at will, it also provides freedom and unhindered operations to surface forces, that is, air dominance possesses the ability to dictate non-usage of enemy air to counter our Army and Navy.”

IAF GOES NETWORK CENTRIC

While all three services are engaged in large-scale automation and computer-based networking, the IAF is the first to complete the project of interlinking major installations throughout the

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country on a high bandwidth network. In September 2010, the IAF launched the Air Force Network (AFNet), a Optical Fibre Cablebased network which replaces the IAF’s old communication complex that was set up using the troposcatter technology of the 1950s.

The project is part of the overall mission to network all three defence services. The AFNet is also capable of transmitting video from UAVs, pictures from airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) to decision makers on the ground and providing intelligence inputs from remote areas.

AFNet provides real-time transfer of information between sensors, command and control centres and shooters. It incorporates the latest traffic transportation technology in the form of IP (internet protocol) packets over the network using Multi Protocol Label Switching. A large voice over internet protocol (VoIP) layer with stringent quality of service enforcement will facilitate robust, high quality voice, video and conferencing solutions.

In July 2018, the government

cleared the proposal for a nearly Rs 8,000 crore project for the IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) which rides on AFNet. An indigenous project developed by Bharat Electronic Ltd (BEL), it aims at integrating all ground and air sensors. Once the system is fully operational, Air Headquarters will get a composite air situation picture since it integrates air force, army, naval, AWACS/AEW and civilian radars plus inputs from mobile observation posts and even intelligence inputs.

Any intrusion by airborne object such as hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones, microlight planes and balloons can be detected and tackled. All major formations and static establishments have been linked on the network. IACCS also incorporates encryption technologies and intrusion prevention systems to ensure the resistance of the system against hacking and eavesdropping by hostile forces. Together, AFNeT and IACCS are aimed at being an effective force multiplier for

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IS NOW CONSIDERED A BIGGER FORCE MULTIPLIER IN MILITARY AVIATION THAN SUPER MANOEUVRABILITY, SPEED OR RANGE AS IT GIVES YOU A ‘GOD’S EYE VIEW’ OF THE AERIAL BATTLEFIELD, ALLOWING YOU TO OBSERVE FRIENDS AND FOES AT ALL TIMES

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ABSOLUTE POWER “TOTAL SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IS A PREREQUISITE FOR AIR DOMINANCE. WHILE AIR DOMINANCE ENABLES THE AEROSPACE FORCES TO OPERATE AT WILL, IT ALSO PROVIDES FREEDOM AND UNHINDERED OPERATIONS TO SURFACE FORCES, THAT IS, AIR DOMINANCE POSSESSES THE ABILITY TO DICTATE NONUSAGE OF ENEMY AIR TO COUNTER OUR ARMY AND NAVY” Air Marshal TM Asthana (Retd), former Commanderin-Chief, Strategic Forces Command

intelligence analysis, mission planning and control, postmission feedback and related activities like maintenance, logistics and administration.

AWACS ADVANTAGE

As well as ground based radars, the lynchpins of Situational Awareness will be AWACS aircraft and military satellites.

India has opted for the Israeli Phalcon system mated on the Russian Il-76 heavy lift aircraft.

The operational altitude of the Phalcon AWACS is roughly 30,000 feet, with the capability to monitor low-level activity in the air space for ranges up to 500 km. The system can track 100 targets, pass real time to Indian combat fighters and even perform electronic intelligence (ELINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT) operations up to 1,000 km, automatically data linking this intelligence to ground stations. AWACS provide the IAF a high degree of Situational Awareness, enabling it to dominate the air space and graduate to the next stage of

network-centric warfare.

According to Defence Industry Daily, the Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Phalcon is built around an ELTA EL/M-2075 AESA L-band radar, then adds ELINT and COMINT gathering capabilities. “The system can receive transmissions from other air and ground stations to round out its surveillance picture, and uses sensor fusion to provide a complete picture of the battlespace out to several hundred kilometres.

Onboard communications allow these AWACS planes to direct communications-compatible forces and allies based on the bigger picture, which is why AWACS planes are so valuable.”

Due to the Il-76 Phalcon’s cost escalation, India is complementing these large AWACS with the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) smaller and cheaper airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft based on the Embraer ERJ 145 platform. The system has experienced teething issues but according to DRDO, its Rs 2,200

IAF Phalcon AWACS on ground

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crore Netra system is more capable than those available to countries in India’s neighbourhood.

Netra has AESA radar with electronic support and communications support measures, secure data links and a comprehensive self-defence suite.

The ERJ 145 has an endurance of nine hours with in-flight refuelling.

However, Netra’s surveillance zone is only 240 degrees and its range is limited to 250 km. In order to overcome this limitation, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared the AWACSIndia project aimed at developing two systems for Rs 5,113 crore.

AWACS-India will have AESA radar with 360-degree coverage and up to 300 km range. Mounted on an Airbus A-330-200 commercial jet, it will have an endurance of nine hours. According to experts, considering India’s massive geographical area, there is a need for 20 AWACS but funding constraints mean not more eight of these will be built.

MILITARY SATELLITES

A completely new dimension in future wars will be the employment of space based assets for reconnaissance, surveillance and communication. According to DRDO’s defence technology expert, Ravi Gupta, “The time of face-to-face warfare is nearly gone.

Technologies are making modern warfare more or less contactless and more and more dependent on surveillance and remote sensing, real-time Situational Awareness, information processing and communication. Satellites have, therefore, emerged as strategic assets playing a critical role in the outcome of war, making the spatial technological abilities not just important but a game changer.”

The Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) system is the largest constellation

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of remote sensing satellites for civilian use in operation today in the world. Significantly, IRS also offers dual military use, with 14 operational satellites currently.

On December 17, 2018, India launched a 2,250 kg military satellite into orbit for the IAF. The communications satellite, named GSAT-7A, enhances the IAF’s network-centric warfare capabilities by interlinking different ground radar stations, ground airbase and AWACS aircraft such as the Il-76 Phalcon and Netra. It is also available to the Indian Army’s Aviation Corps for helicopter and UAV operations.

GSAT-7A is India’s second dedicated military satellite, following the 2013 launch of GSAT-7 for the Indian Navy.

With a nearly 2,000 nautical mile ‘footprint’ over the Indian Ocean Region, GSAT-7 covers all maritime activities from the Malacca Straits in the east to the Hormuz Strait in the west. It provides networking capabilities to various Indian Naval assets, providing live inputs to be used

by Indian Navy ships, submarines and aircraft. The Indian Army, too, will get vital inputs about overthe-land movements.

As space has become more congested and with China possessing weapons that can kill Indian satellites, the IAF must change its posture regarding outer space and consider it a domain of warfare, like air, sea or land. Space Domain Awareness will require the integration of intelligence and environmental monitoring to execute space battle management in support of military plans and operations.

Former IAF veteran Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam writes in The Hindu that in the area of surveillance, China possesses a large complement of the Yaogan series of low earth

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Indian Air Force Netra AEWC Aircraft

orbit surveillance satellites that offer it an almost persistent stare capability over areas of interest.

“To counter this India must leverage its existing space-based surveillance assets and airborne surveillance platforms to support wide-spectrum operations and provide better situational awareness,” he says.

HOW CRITICAL IS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS?

Fifth generation aircraft are equipped with advanced avionics and sensors that tap into dedicated networks which provide a real-time, 360-degree view of the battlespace. This capability aids pilots in detecting long-range targets, jamming enemy signals and performing countermeasure options.

In May 2013, during hearings of Australia’s Parliamentary Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Air Marshal Geoff Brown of the Australian air force explained how in air combat exercises, aircraft which had a composite picture of the air battlespace always shot down aircraft without that technology.

Military satellite in the making

For instance, in a mock dogfight between an F-22 with sensor fusion and a US Air Force F-15D, the latter’s radar was rendered useless. According to Brown, “The ability to actually have that data fusion that the aeroplane (F-22) has, makes an incredible difference to how you perform in combat...In five engagements we never knew who had hit us and we never even saw the other aeroplane…. After that particular mission I went back and had a look at the tapes on the F22, and the difference in the Situational Awareness in our two cockpits was just so fundamentally different.”

Brown says that “it is not only stealth; it is the combination of the electro-optical simulation and the radar to be able to build a comprehensive picture.

TOGETHER, AFNET AND IACCS ARE AIMED AT BEING AN EFFECTIVE FORCE MULTIPLIER FOR INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS, MISSION PLANNING AND CONTROL, POST-MISSION FEEDBACK AND RELATED ACTIVITIES LIKE MAINTENANCE, LOGISTICS AND ADMINISTRATION

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ABSOLUTE POWER

IAF aircraft during Op Gaganshakti

LIKE ANY NETWORK CENTRIC PLATFORM, THE AREA OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IS WITNESSING RAPID CHANGES. THE US AIR FORCE, WHICH HAS BEEN A LEADER IN ITS DEVELOPMENT SINCE THE DESERT STORM DAYS, IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THE GLOBAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (GIMS), DESCRIBED AS A “PERVASIVE NETWORK” OF INFORMATION AND DATA COLLECTORS, PROCESSORS AND ANALYSERS

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The ability to be in a cockpit with a God’s-eye view of what is going on in the world was such an advantage over a fourthgeneration fighter – and arguably one of the best fourth-generation fighters in existence, the F-15”.

Situational Awareness of the battlefield is clearly the single most important factor in 21st century air warfare. For air force pilots, it could be the difference between getting that first shot or getting shot first.

AIRCRAFT COMPATIBILITY

On April 9, 2018, a day after it launched Operation Gaganshakti, the mega combat exercise that lasted an entire fortnight and involved hundreds of aircraft, the Indian Air Force tweeted: “During the exercise, info grid of AFNet (Largest WAN) and the IACCS will enable all Air and Land Ops. IACCS will enhance Situational Awareness and enable real time data transfer between the Weapon Systems, Satellite and Ground Based Systems.”

Currently, frontline IAF aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and MiG-29 have been equipped with sensors that allow pilots to have

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better Situational Awareness of the air battlefield. The Rafale too will come with the latest sensors configured to tap into this network. However, fourth generation aircraft will never really be able to make optimum use of the gigabytes of data streaming in 24/7 via AFNet and IACCS. For, there’s a world of difference between fourth and fifth generation fighters. In a dogfight, according to Air Marshal Brown of the Australian air force, as soon as you enter a turning fight, your Situational Awareness actually shrinks because the only thing you can be operating with is the aeroplane you are turning with. “The person who has the advantage is the person who can stand off, watch the engagement and just pick you off at the time,” he says. For complete Situational Awareness, the IAF must acquire fifth generation aircraft by stepping up development of its AMCA stealth fighter.

FUTURE DIRECTION

Like any network centric platform, the area of Situational Awareness is witnessing rapid changes. The

US Air Force, which has been a leader in its development since the Desert Storm days, is currently looking at the Global Information Management System (GIMS), described as a “pervasive network” of information and data collectors, processors and analysers.

It is being designed to be “smart” in the sense that it “sees all and knows all” but at the same time it would also be smart enough to tailor the information at its disposal to a particular user, giving them the data they most need, and at an appropriate level of detail.

GIMS could also provide a threedimensional “holographic war room”, summarising instantly and in real time what it could take hours to figure out from numbers, reports or even flatpanel images.

Another item on the wish list of leading air forces is a Global Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Targeting System – a space-based sensor and data distribution system that could create and relay a real-time, three-dimensional image of a target or other area of interest to a ready room or gathering of decision makers. It would be useful for commandand-control and situational awareness at all levels.

As former Air Marshal Asthana says, it takes a large number of technological assets operating efficiently from the air and space to merge into a composite “air picture”, which provides the much required Situational Awareness. In order to maintain air dominance in India’s neighbourhood and dominate the air space beyond it, the IAF must keep in step with this constantly evolving technology.

– The writer is a New Zealand based defence analyst. His work has been quoted extensively by leading Think Tanks, Universities and Publications world-wide.

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INSIGHT

SECURING SUBMARINE COMMUNICATIONS THE QUANTUM WAY Quantum technologies across the spectrum of military operations will provide an important breakthrough, of which underwater quantum communications will be significant. While operationalisation of these is still some distance away, their impact on modern warfare will be considerable

By COMMODORE ANIL JAI SINGH (RETD)

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ffective communication with a dived submarine operating hundreds of miles away at sea without compromising its position has been a challenge that navies are constantly grappling with. Until almost the end of World War 2, submarines had to come to the surface to communicate thus exposing themselves to detection and attack by the enemy. This was a serious limitation but since the submarines of that era could stay dived only for limited periods and had to surface frequently to provide fresh air for running their diesel generators to charge the electric batteries, they were anyway vulnerable to detection.

However, the major reason for the defeat of the German U-boats in World War 2 was the allied success in intercepting their communications and deciphering the Enigma code which the Germans had considered unbreakable. This enabled them to monitor the movements and intentions of the U-boats thus rendering them ineffective and subject to counter attack.

The introduction of the snorkel towards the end of the

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war reduced this vulnerability as submarines could now take in fresh air for their diesel generators through the snorkel mast and did not need to surface. Incoming messages could be received while the submarine was ‘snorting’.

Submarine communications could be received by raising a communication antenna which penetrated the surface while the submarine continued at snorkelling depth. However,

the vulnerability of detection of the ‘periscope feather’ (the wake created by the masts cutting through water and easily visible from the sky on a clear day and a calm sea) and susceptibility to ship and aircraft radar detecting the visible masts remained a threat.

The improvements in battery technology and the introduction of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) has considerably reduced the time for battery charging but diesel-electric (conventional) submarines are still required to plane to periscope depth to receive their messages at predetermined timings. Even though this requires only a few minutes, the vulnerability remains. To mitigate this, Very Low Frequency (VLF) became the preferred frequency band for communicating with dived submarines as waves in this frequency band could travel underwater though up to a limited depth. This eliminated the need for submarines to expose

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themselves above the water for communication purposes. Most of the larger navies including the Indian Navy established VLF stations ashore which required a large infrastructure and huge transmission antennae.

VLF has now given way to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) and major navies are using this frequency band to communicate with their submarines as ELF waves can travel farther and deeper than VLF. This was more suitable for communicating with nuclear submarines including the nuclear armed ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) as these submarines, once on patrol remain dived for months on end. However, both VLF and ELF present challenges of transmission and the possibility of interception by the enemy. Receiving ELF transmissions also has limitations of low bandwidth which, though sufficient for short messages is nevertheless a constraint. It also limits the submarine’s speed and manoeuvrability for that duration and consequently a submarine’s flexibility of operation.

SSBNs are a country’s most effective second strike platform and therefore the most effective deterrent against a first strike in the nuclear triad. Operating thousands of miles away in the depths of the oceans, a SSBN needs a fool-proof and secure communication link with the command and control organisation ashore to execute a nuclear strike in a precise time on a precise target. There is absolutely no room for any error either in executing this strike or on the communications between the submarine and the ashore to either get intercepted or hacked.

As understood, the existing protocol requires the submarine to disregard all communication from ashore for a specific duration prior to the time of launch to prevent any

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A Chinese SSBN submarine

interference by an external agency.

However, despite the robustness of this command and control communication organisation, the vulnerability remains.

Recent research in quantum technologies has thrown up interesting possibilities, one of which is the use of quantum communications with submarines and particularly SSBNs as these are secure and cannot be intercepted.

Although experiments have shown that quantum communications are influenced by the quality of water and turbulence and may lack adequate bandwidth, but it still has the basic advantage of ensuring the safety of the encrypted communication. Contrary to popular perception that it cannot be hacked, it actually disintegrates if an intercept is attempted and

the sender also gets an indication of this attempt at interception.

Most of the nuclear submarine operating navies are researching and adopting quantum communications. China and the United States are expectedly in the lead as they compete for global military superiority. In fact, most of the leading countries are researching quantum technologies for a wider range of military applications including quantum research in the maritime domain which also includes quantum radar detection and quantum cryptology among others. There is however little information available in the open domain except for the occasional article highlighting the possibilities.

One of the methods for ensuring the security of communication

WITH THE ADVANCEMENT, VLF HAS NOW GIVEN WAY TO ELF AND MAJOR NAVIES ARE USING THIS FREQUENCY BAND TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR SUBMARINES AS ELF WAVES CAN TRAVEL FARTHER AND DEEPER THAN VLF

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INSIGHT

RECENT RESEARCH IN QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIES HAS THROWN UP INTERESTING POSSIBILITIES, ONE OF WHICH IS THE USE OF QUANTUM COMMUNICATIONS WITH SUBMARINES AND PARTICULARLY SSBNS AS THESE ARE SECURE AND CANNOT BE INTERCEPTED

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with submarines is the use of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology which uses quantum information to generate a secure key arrangement. This already exists in commercial use over optical fibre cable (OFC) but has not yet been operationalised through the photons travelling freely through air or water.

However, experiments are being done to enable this movement through free space with satisfactory outcomes. The next stage of experimentation will be to see how a photon’s quantum state can be preserved when travelling through water with the intention being to devise a system which can effectively communicate with a submarine without compromising its depth, speed or operational manoeuvrability and offering a much wider band-width than

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presently available with the existing VLF and ELF systems to even enable a video feed.

In QKD, messages are encoded as regular bits of information whereas cryptographic keys required to decode these are sent as quantum bits or qubits, which is the quantum state of the photon across fibre-optic networks and recent research has indicated that these can also travel freely through air. Any attempt at interception of the qubit will destroy the quantum state, thereby destroying the information being carried and also wiping out the information. This will also warn the sender.

From an Indian security perspective, China’s investment in harnessing quantum technologies for military applications will create a further asymmetry than already exists. India has operationalised its submarine launched strategic deterrent and the aim should now be to make the launch protocol impregnable to enemy interception. Hence, for an effective second strike capability, the deterrent will have to be supported by quantum communications. Hopefully, India is undertaking this research with a well-defined timeline for operationalisation.

Quantum technology can be used in two ways to communicate

with a submarine. In the first option, the existing ELF network can continue to be utilised. The regular transmission would be encrypted with a key (QKD) which would be transmitted via a quantum channel. Thus ensuring safe transmission of the signal with the quantum encryption ensuring that any attempt at interference will cause it to self-destruct.

Hence, as stated above, while not necessarily ‘unhackable, it will be impossible to read even if intercepted. However, this will still be subject to the limitations associated with ELF communication in terms of sea conditions, depth, salinity etc.

The second option is to use a full quantum channel but it is understood that research on this has not yet matured. Therefore, the QKD technology seems the logical next step to the present ELF/VLF networks. Quantum technologies across the spectrum of military operations will provide an important breakthrough, of which underwater quantum communications will be significant.

While operationalisation of these is still some distance away, their impact on modern warfare will be considerable.

Use of quantum technologies to communicate with submarines is still at an experimental stage and its success will depend on the efficacy of its application. The ability to communicate securely with its submarines, and more specifically SSBNs without fear of interception or interference of the enemy with the launch protocol would be a powerful motivation for countries to invest in operationalising this disruptive technology.

–The writer is a veteran submariner with over three decades of service in the Indian Navy. He is now the Vice President of the Indian Maritime Foundation.

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ANALYSIS This comes at a time when New Delhi’s strategic vulnerabilities have not only evolved but its technological gaps have also threateningly widened. Encountering both state and non-state actors, disruptive technological advancements have the potential to revolutionise India’s war-fighting capabilities. With the strengthening of a ChinaPakistan axis coupled with the prospect of an intentional leakage of disruptive technology

by Pakistan to its non-state proxies, it is imperative for Indian defence planners to think out of the box.

New Delhi’s concerns for a potential trickle down of this technology to non-state

DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE INDIAN MILITARY MATRIX With the strengthening of a China-Pakistan axis coupled with the prospect of an intentional leakage of disruptive technology

by Pakistan to its non-state proxies, it is imperative for Indian defence planners to think out of the box in terms of the use of such technology

By HARSH V PANT AND ANANT SINGH MANN

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n a timely intervention, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane encouraged the nation’s armed forces “to pay adequate emphasis on the available disruptive technologies that have dual use and are being driven by commercial entities and innovations” and emphasised the need for their adapted incorporation into the “Indian context.” Accordingly, as an extension of this effort, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India’s premier defence technology supplier, is reported to have setup a panel charged with enhancing its efficiency by reappraising its 57 laboratories and reducing their technological overlapping.

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actors is well-founded against the backdrop of the Houthi rebels in Yemen claiming the responsibility for the successful attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities through a coordinated swarm drone strike in September 2019. Other examples of nonstate actors exploiting freely available technology include the bombing of Ukrainian state ammunition dumps by alleged Ukrainian Separatists using thermite grenades delivered by drones causing great devastation between 2015 and 2017.

Closer to home, there have been several reports of Pakistan supported non-state actors using drones to deliver weapons to create internal instability through terror attacks in Punjab

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and in the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. With the advancement of additive layer manufacturing (3D-printing) and its potential to significantly reduce the costs to produce devices like drones, the accessibility of such technology to non-state actors will only continue to widen.

Although analysts have warned that these disruptive technologies ought not be considered the magic ingredient in military preparedness, it remains undeniable that their acquisition could potentially provide the state with a relative competitive advantage in the field. Over the last decade there have been several leaps in technologies and their projected trajectories which have provided militaries across the globe with a wide range of options and areas to enhance their capabilities.

At the vanguard of these advancements there are several key technologies which represent a significant disruption in contemporary military capabilities. Perhaps the most known and developing

area with extensive capabilities o f d i s ru p t i o n i s A r t i f i c i a l Intelligence (AI).

AI technology can be deployed in warfare using a combination of surveying, machine learning, searching and planning to ultimately analyse big data and automate decision-making.

Through its unique and evolving algorithms, AI can provide a platform for the military which can streamline rapid responses to cyber-attacks, conventional onslaughts and other types of electronic barrages. AI’s wide range of applications has been in military use ever since its incorporation into the DART logistics and battle management system by the US during the First Gulf War in 1991.

Consequently, Russia and China, among other leading militaries have made an active effort to expand its usage. India has also followed suit by setting up a multi stakeholder task force in 2018 to formulate strategy to enhance the deployment of AI in its military functions, followed by the establishment of the Defence AI Council in 2019.

One of the most talked about extensions of AI has been its application in robotics to create smarter autonomous Unmanned (Aerial/Ground/Underwater) Vehicles. Their application in warfare is wide ranging from reducing casualties, to providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) collection in the harshest of weather conditions. Leaders in this field have gone one step further by creating ‘drone swarms’ under which a large group of drones can act in unison carrying out a variety of complex military manoeuvres. The US in this pursuit, has created its Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Swarm Technology (LOCUST).

China has also greatly honed its drone capabilities with analysts speculating that each drone can be equipped with mortars, grenades, and machine guns in a networked and coordinated attack. India has a long way to go with its primary UAVs being the Israeli Searchers and Herons, while its few indigenously developed UAVs continue to lag behind in

AI ALSO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CONTORT AND MOULD INFORMATION ENABLING THE CREATION OF FORGERIES, ERODE PUBLIC TRUST, SPREAD FALSE NEWS AMONG OTHER THINGS. THIS NEW ‘DEEP FAKE AND DISINFORMATION’ CAPABILITY CAN INDEED BE USED DURING PEACE AND WAR TO WEAKEN THE ADVERSARY’S STATE MACHINERY AND CREATE DOMESTIC CHAOS

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ANALYSIS

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relative capabilities. However, in 2019 the US and India announced under their Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) that they would jointly pursue development of swarm drones and anti-drone systems. Such technology can be of great utility to the Indian military, especially in patrolling inhospitable areas like the Aksai Chin.

AI also has the potential to contort and mould information enabling the creation of forgeries, of both photos and videos, enabling adversaries to control public discourse, erode public trust, spread false news, among other things. This new

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‘deep fake and disinformation’ capability can indeed be used during peace and war to weaken the adversary’s state machinery and create domestic chaos. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in order to combat this has a Media Forensics project designed specifically to detect such warfare. While India too has been attacked by deep fakes at various points, it lacks a coherent policy or strategy to counter this disruptive technology.

Hypersonic weapons appear to be in vogue presently with their disruptive impact, in both their cruise (capable of altitudes

up to 100,000 feet) and glide (capable of altitudes above 100,000 feet) variants with the contemporary ‘hypersonic arms race’ being led by the Chinese DF-17, Russian Sarmat and the US Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon.

The utility of these weapons is stored in their speed which is around five times the speed of sound (Mach 5) and consequently give them the ability to strike targets with high speed and precision virtually leaving little chance for their detection by the enemy. India also joined this race in 2019 with its indigenously developed Hypersonic

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Technol ogy Demonst ra t or Vehicle (HSTDV) which can travel up to a speed of Mach 6.

A step up from the hypersonic weapons has been the development of ‘directed energy weapons’ (DEW) which essentially use millimeter waves, microwaves and electromagnetic pulses to perform a range of functions from crowd control and destruction of electronic systems in given radiuses to precise and quick destruction of objects in space.

Following the US, China has deployed several types of DEWs ranging from antiSatellite lasers, to other high-

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powered microwave, railgun, radiofrequency and particle beam munitions. The DRDO has set up the Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences and the Laser Science and Technology Centre for solely the development of DEWs, but production of a deployable weapon is awaited.

A step further into the future and at the cutting edge of technological disruption would perhaps be the harnessing of Quantum Technology and its application into the military sphere. China is at the helm of this innovation which promises numerous prospects once achieved.

Its military applications under the quantum key distribution, quantum cryptanalysis, and quantum sensing threaten to completely transform the military arena. It has been speculated that once achieved, this technology could provide the military with hack-resistant communications network, and unmat ched comput at ional superiority on the battle field.

In the light of these significant technological advancements, the DRDO still remains caught up in the development of more traditional forms of technology even as it continues to face a variety of issues like delays, under-budgeting and superannuated technology.

While in the past the Indian programmes of missile, cyber and space have seen considerable development, a shift of gears is perhaps imperative to proactively respond to the challenges being posed by new and emerging disruptive technologies.

It is clear that indigenous production of such technologies remains a crucial factor in their realistic military incorporation.

It is therefore vital for the

government to create an environment conducive to such innovation, because a majority of these technologies grow out of commercial pursuits and then due to its dual-use nature can be transferred and applied to the evolving military needs.

Consequently, a civil-military synergy is critical for indigenous innovation and realistic technological enhancement.

While recent steps by the Indian government to focus on incorporating these disruptive technologies is a welcome move, the only realisable and affordable route to achieve these innovations lie in government’s careful nurturing of a sustainable commercial domestic ecosystem.

In this direction, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent address where he reiterated his emphasis on making the Indian defence sector selfreliant through policy reforms such as banning the import of 101 weapon systems and permitting 74 per cent Foreign Direct Investment through the automatic route for defence manufacturing sends out a positive signal that New Delhi remains committed to boosting domestic innovation and production. Given India’s strategic environment, the incorporation of such avantgarde innovations will not only help it to catch up with its adversaries but also ensure military preparedness against non-conventional threats.

WHILE IN THE PAST THE INDIAN PROGRAMMES OF MISSILE, CYBER AND SPACE HAVE SEEN CONSIDERABLE DEVELOPMENT, A SHIFT OF GEARS IS PERHAPS IMPERATIVE TO PROACTIVELY RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGES BEING POSED

BY NEW AND EMERGING DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES

The article was earlier published (https://www.orfonline.org/expertspeak/disruptive-technologies-in-theindian-military-matrix-72494/?amp) on Observer Research Foundation portal.

- The author is Director of Studies and Head of Strategic Studies Programme at ORF and the co-author is a Research Intern at this Public Policy Think Tank.

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BUSINESS INITIATIVE

THREATENED BY DRONES? BUT WHO DEFENDS THESE THREATS? XPELLER – WE BRING IT DOWN

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onitoring the airspace is an important task. Even more so when dangers are becoming smaller and smaller: The use and circulation of small drones has increased substantially over recent years and months. While some regulatory frameworks exist, their implementation has proven difficult in practice. Airports especially are highrisk areas, as a collision between drones and airplanes – whether intentional or not – may result in accidents and even deadly crashes. Added to that the risk of drones employed as weapons by dropping explosives, biological or chemical substances, it becomes clear that airports and other critical infrastructures must be continuously monitored, secured and have access to means of intervention in cases where drones may enter their airspace.

Andleeb Shadman, Managing Director of Hensoldt Pvt. Ltd in an interesting conversation with Markus Wolf, Director Sales & Business Development of Xpeller Counter UAV Solution at Hensoldt Ventures.

Could you describe global threat perceptions for which global customers buy Counter UAV Systems and what are the key criteria that influence their choice in selecting the System?

Hostile UAVs are becoming one of the biggest threats is recent years. They are cheap, easy to operate, available everywhere, almost invisible and usable for a variety of attacks. Several 24

Shadman Andleeb, Managing Director, HENSOLDT India

Markus Wolf, Head of Sales & Business Development at HENSOLDT Ventures, responsible for the Xpeller CUAV System

incidents within the last few years have revealed that there is a rapidly emerging threat caused by small, cheap and commercially available drones. In 2016 alone there were 70 reported near misses at Heathrow. Recent incidents like the lethal drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s largest petroleum company and arms dropping by UAVs in Punjab, India from across the India-Pakistan border has alerted Indian security and intelligence agencies. It is estimated that India has over 6 lakh rogue or unregulated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and security agencies are looking for pragmatic solutions.

Whether they are used for trafficking, industrial espionage, sabotage, terrorist acts or even unintentional this phenomenon is an emerging threat that must be countered. To do so, it is key to detect and identify the drone and assess its threat potential at ranges from a few hundred meters up to several kilometres of distance from the sensitive area.

Practical Counter UAV solution (CUS) should maximize true positives and minimize false negatives. We have observed globally that key customer criteria for choosing a Counter UAV solution is influenced by local threat

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3. Man portable, Vehicle mounted and Fixed installations 4. Catalogue of sensors and effectors to pick and chose 5. Very high probability of intercept and very low false alarm rate 6. Limited Interference with friendly use of air-space and spectrum.

7. Complete solution available based on inhouse-products with no third-party interdependency.

How Mature is the solution? Are there success stories?

In 2018, HENSOLDT demonstrated its perceptions, i.e. type and mission of UAV, legal, regulatory or practical constraints in installing radar and/or selection of counter measures and contentment of collateral damages etc.

Could you please describe Xpeller system?

The Xpeller approach towards countering the UAV threat is based on a multi sensor/ effector layer and a three step workflow: 1. Detect the potential threat with the best possible probability of detection.

2. Identify the potential threat as an actual threat with the least possible false alarm rate.

3. Act on the threat by raising alarms, or engaging the threat with a counter measure.

Xpeller is highly efficient, modular and scalable counter UAV system designed for civil and military domains.

The system allows combination of radar, electro-optical and RF signals, all integrated in operational software for an optimized detection of unauthorized drone threats. The resulting signal domination allows an optimized usage of countermeasures such as intercepting signals to defeat the drone threat successfully.

rising incidences of security breaches by unidentified drones.

There are been numerous players in the market acting locally and globally offering variety of solutions.

The key differentiating factors for HENSOLDT solution are: 1. Mature and already in-service 2. Scalable and modular solution framework catering to different needs of customers

What is the USP of HENSOLDT Solution?

The Counter UAV solution market has been consistently growing with increasing in threats due to terrorism and illicit activities across the world and RAKSHA ANIRVEDA OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2020

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RAKSHA ANIRVEDA

BUSINESS INITIATIVE Our proposed approach is to offer complete Xpeller solution framework to Indian customers. Through a Joint development we could realize an Indigenous Counter UAV solution in the most practical and incremental way, for example in supporting Indian capabilities like Sensors or 3rd Party Hard Kill effectors with selected Xpeller modules.

“Hensoldt’s Xpeller system securing Remembrance Day in Amsterdam”

Xpeller counter-UAV system at the Airbus airfield in Hamburg. During the demonstration, Xpeller detected UAVs approaching from a number of locations and was able to identify a variety of UAVs, including small recreational models, from a distance of several miles away.

Among our most recent successes is supporting the German Armed Forces in the protection of their forward operating bases in their operational areas.

The Xpeller modules are used as part of container-based drone defence systems within the GUARDION overall system of ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH and its partners for a total of five drone defence systems. “The Spexer2000 3D radar is characterized by outstanding detection capabilities, especially against asymmetric threats.

The Z:NightOwl M camera was specially developed for high ranges. With it, we support drone defence against so-called Class I drones, that is, unmanned aircraft weighing up to 25 kg.

In addition to permanent deployment, customers also use the system for temporary protection of major events.

A recent example was the deployment of Xpeller during the Dutch Day of Remembrance in Amsterdam in May 26

We offer following three variants of Xpeller for Armed forces and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) like Airports, Govt Establishments, Power Stations, International Borders: • Xpeller Gear is a wearable and light weight configuration allowing highly mobile operations of patrol forces.

• Xpeller Rapid is a mobile system configuration that is easily transferable

VADR catching drone in action

2020, marking the successful introduction of Xpeller as a service.

How do you see Indian market for counter drone solution? What are your plans to offer this solution to Indian customers?

India is the vast country with challenging security situations. There have been several instances related to drone threats in civil and military areas.

We are also cognizant about India’s uncompromising focus on Military selfReliance through “Make in India” policy.

and rapidly deployable.

• Xpeller Guard is a fixed site system configuration that is installed for continuous operations in complex and wide surveillance Xpeller with its inherent modularity of design, Multi-pronged Evolutionary approach involving technology and capability enhancement across the system in all components – sensors and effectors, feasibility of integration of parallel systems or add on Sensors and effectors in its architecture fits in well with this approach.

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RAKSHA ANIRVEDA

OPINION

QUAD is more than a mechanism to restrain Chinese adventurism (even if parties are bashful of acknowledging it) and has the potential of impacting geopolitics, once it comes of age

QUAD - FROM LIFE SUPPORT TO SHAKY ADOLESCENCE

By AMB VISHNU PRAKASH (IFS, RETD)

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t is nothing short of a miracle that QUAD has lived to turn 13. It was born of a reluctant union, mired in self doubt and absence of fanfare. It was not loving parental care but unintended external sustenance that kept its oxygen flowing. Former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon was scathing – “QUAD comprises three islands and a peninsula with a hole in the middle.”

Since I may have piqued your curiosity, let me elaborate.

Speaking at the Indian Parliament in August 2007 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe eloquently outlined the vision of a “BROADER ASIA” made possible by the “dynamic coupling” of the Pacific and the Indian Oceans or “Confluence of the Two Seas” to further freedom and prosperity.

Hailing the democratic credentials of both maritime nations, noting their vital interests in the security of sea lanes and underlining their common intent to form a “Strategic Global Partnership” he

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mooted the idea of like-minded nations such as Japan, India, the US and Australia joining forces to form an “Arc of Freedom and Prosperity.” It would be an “open and transparent network…. (to)… allow people, goods, capital, and knowledge to flow freely.” He called upon both sides to come up with a framework of security cooperation over the following years.

However, Indian leaders were hesitant to buy into the idea. It spoke volumes of Mr. Abe’s tenacity and persuasive powers that the said nations came on board. That is how the Quadrilateral Security

Dialogue’ or QUAD came into being, even though the seeds got planted in December 2004 when Australia, India, Japan and the US, actively collaborated in rushing disaster relief to the tsunami hit nations. The speed of India’s response came as a pleasant surprise to her partners.

The first meeting at the level of officials (Additional Secretaries) was discreetly held in Manila on May 25, 2007, on the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) event. Ironically almost immediately thereafter all participants, excepting Japan, sought to downplay its significance.

PM Manmohan Singh reportedly assured President Hu Jintao that there was “no question of ganging up” against China. Defence Minister Brendan Nelson stated that Australia favoured limiting the initiative to trade, culture and other issues outside the domain of defence and security (The Japan Times).

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China, which is given to shrill protestations even on matters remotely impacting its interests issued demarches to the concerned capitals, insinuating that QUAD was directed against them, even though all participants tried to dispel that notion. As luck would have it, Australian Prime Minister John Howard was replaced by Kevin Rudd a mandarin speaking Sinophile, who promptly disassociated Canberra with the nascent dialogue. A relieved India gladly followed suit. Meanwhile, Japanese PM Abe resigned on health grounds. That effectively spelled the end of QUAD. Ten years, which used to be a mere blip in human history, appears to have become a lifetime in the 21st century. The global scenario changed dramatically between 2008 and 2017. Donald Trump, an iconoclast, became the new occupant of the White House and was getting increasingly restive at the wilful disregard of the rules of engagement by

China. Shinzo Abe was back as the Prime Minister of Japan since 2012. Sino-Japanese were getting increasingly fraught.

Despite US$115 billion worth of exports to China in 2017, Australian sentiment was noticeably turning negative due to allegations of extensive and covert interference in Australian society and polity, by the Chinese

government. Notwithstanding a perception of being soft on China and having a Chinese daughterin-law, PM Malcolm Turnbull refused to join Border and Road Initiative (BRI).

What riled China the most was Australia’s ‘2017 Foreign Policy White Paper’ which stated “Australia is particularly concerned by the unprecedented

IT SPOKE VOLUMES OF MR. ABE’S TENACITY AND PERSUASIVE POWERS THAT THE SAID NATIONS CAME ON BOARD. THAT IS HOW THE QUADRILATERAL SECURITY DIALOGUE’ OR QUAD CAME INTO BEING, EVEN THOUGH THE SEEDS GOT PLANTED IN DECEMBER 2004 WHEN AUSTRALIA, INDIA, JAPAN AND THE US, ACTIVELY COLLABORATED IN RUSHING DISASTER RELIEF TO THE TSUNAMI HIT NATIONS

The then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Indian Parliament (File photo)

Malabar Exercise (File photo)

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OPINION

PM Narendra Modi with his ex-Japan counterpart Abe

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pace and scale of China’s activities.

Australia opposes the use of disputed features and artificial structures in the South China Sea (SCS) for military purposes.”

In India, Narendra Modi, a decisive leader had become the Prime Minister and Xi Jinping, an overly ambitious princeling, the President of China. Despite regular meetings between them, bilateral ties were getting more complicated. Incursions across the Line of actual control (LAC) were degenerating into standoffs. A 73day tense standoff had taken place near the India China Bhutan tri-

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junction of the Doklam plateau in June / August 2017.

Xi Jinping was quick to concentrate power in his hands and stamp out internal dissidence.

He discarded the frayed mask of “peaceful rise of China” and pledged to erase the so-called “Century of humiliation.” He spoke of the “Chinese dream of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” and set about rapid military modernisation including naval build up, acquisition of ports in Asia and beyond for setting up military bases (with the help of BRI), elbowing out the US as the premier infotech power and imposing a China-centric regional order.

Such were among the considerations that led to resurrection of QUAD in 2017.

Former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran notes that PM Abe again persuaded - “India to agree, because he was convinced of India’s critical role as a security partner.”

Senior officials of the four democracies, sat down for consultations as QUAD in Manila on November 12, 2017 on the margins of the ASEAN summit, after a hiatus of 10 years. They

exchanged notes on promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific Region (IPR) and “agreed that a free, open, prosperous and inclusive IPR serves the long-term interests of all countries in the region and of the world at large.” (Indian Ministry of External Affairs statement).

Australia let it be known that the need for a “rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific and respect for international law, freedom of navigation and overflight” was also discussed.

India continued to emphasise that QUAD was not directed at any country, but was no longer diffident about the grouping. Her partners were not so certain.

“But the fate of the QUAD is still fragile--- Today, following a burst of concern about Chinese influence, Australia is all in. So are the United States and Japan. That leaves India, where New Delhi may be getting cold feet.” (Foreign Affairs magazine in July 2018).

It soon became evident that scepticism about India was unfounded. In September 2019 the QUAD dialogue was elevated to the level of foreign ministers,

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who met in New York during the UN General Assembly session.

Although no joint statement was issued yet the meeting underlined that QUAD was there to stay. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on September 27 last year - @SecPompeo “ Positive meeting with @MarisePayne, @ DrSJaishankar, and @moteging.

We discussed our shared interest in building a free and open #IndoPacific, denuclearisation of #NorthKorea, and joint efforts to promote regional stability.”

Efforts are currently underway to expand the base of QUAD by inducting more like-minded nations. QUAD partners and most

Indo-Pacific (IP) states recognise the need for a strengthened Asian security architecture, preferably led by the US. That is precisely what China does not want, but its aggression, territorial ambition and disregard for a rule-based international order, has left the IP countries without much choice.

Earlier in May, partly in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Secretary Pompeo convened a virtual QUAD plus meeting to which South Korea, Israel and Brazil were invited.

Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, France and Sri Lanka have also been associated with other QUAD

plus interactions. It is moot if the invitees, other than France, have the requisite political will and heft to contribute meaningfully to the QUAD process. The fact remains that most nations have adopted a hedging strategy till there is more clarity about the evolving geostrategic landscape.

Meanwhile, QUAD consultations are picking up pace. India hosted a virtual meet of senior officials on September 25 when “regional and global issues of common interest” including counter-terrorism, cyber and maritime security in IPR were discussed. New Delhi is also planning to convene a foreign minister level meet which would be significant in itself. However, the next in-person QUAD foreign ministers’ consultation is likely to take place in Tokyo possibly in October itself. It would underline continuity of Abe’s policy under his successor Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

QUAD is more than a mechanism to restrain Chinese adventurism (even if parties are bashful of acknowledging it) and has the potential of impacting geopolitics, once it comes of age.

Yet there are imponderables.

The interplay of Sino-American equations, both bilateral and external, would have a huge bearing on the grouping. The dramatic swing in Washington’s foreign policy orientation under the Trump administration has made all capitals cautious about being in lockstep with the US, especially when it comes to staking out a position on China.

All the same, QUAD nations would have take that risk, as they take measured steps towards enhancing collaboration.

SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE FOUR DEMOCRACIES, SAT DOWN FOR CONSULTATIONS AS QUAD IN MANILA ON NOVEMBER 12, 2017 ON THE MARGINS OF THE ASEAN SUMMIT, AFTER A HIATUS OF 10 YEARS. THEY EXCHANGED NOTES ON PROMOTING PEACE, STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN THE INDOPACIFIC REGION (IPR) AND “AGREED THAT A FREE, OPEN, PROSPEROUS AND INCLUSIVE IPR SERVES THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF ALL COUNTRIES IN THE REGION AND OF THE WORLD AT LARGE”

–Former Indian Ambassador to Canada and South Korea, the writer is a foreign affairs specialist and columnist. He also held the positions of MEA Spokesperson and Consul General, Shanghai, China.

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IN CONVERSATION

‘WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH INDIAN DEFENCE COMPANIES TO ADDRESS FUTURE MAKE IN INDIA PROGRAMMES’ heunis Christoffel Botha is CEO of AL TARIQ. AL TARIQ is an EDGE Group entity and regional leader in aerial weaponry and a manufacturer of precision-guided munitions (PGMs). With over 35 years of experience, he served as Business Unit Manager of Stand-Off Weapons group in Denel Dynamics (previously known as Kentron) in South Africa in his previous role.

Besides various performance awards in his kitty, Theunis Botha holds a National Diploma from Pretoria Technikon in South Africa, and has completed several courses in Project Management and engineering related disciplines. In an interview to Ajit K Thakur, Editor, Raksha Anirveda, Mr Botha describes about the company’s journey in becoming a world class manufacturer of PGMs, and weaponry systems. Edited Excerpts:

T

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Tell us about AL TARIQ being a part of EDGE Group? Are you able to leverage your presence within the Group and receive support from the other companies to provide cutting-edge products and services to customers?

EDGE is a UAE-headquartered advanced technology group for defence and beyond, consolidating over 25 entities and employing 12,000 brilliant minds across five core clusters – Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Cyber Defence, Electronic Warfare & Intelligence, and Mission Support. The entities under EDGE are grouped according to their specialised domains, all of which are complementary to each other.

This enables the respective Entity Leaders and Cluster Presidents to be better synergised enabling us to leverage the group’s advanced technology capabilities and accelerate growth with efficiency.

AL TARIQ is part of the Missiles & Weapons cluster within EDGE. The consolidation of existing defence entities has enabled us to further accelerate and leverage what has already been established, build productive collaborations, while tapping into the capabilities of the other entities across the group. With EDGE now having enough critical mass to act as the anchor player in the UAE, we

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have the prospect of developing complete systems and our own parts locally, while also having the opportunity to further enhance our manufacturing capabilities.

We have strengthened our capabilities by working very closely with several companies across EDGE Group.

AL TARIQ, a world-class manufacturer of Precisionguided Munitions (PGMs), partnered with Denel Dynamics, South Africa. What benefits has your company reaped out of this partnership, namely in terms of technology, innovation and production?

AL TARIQ had a Joint Venture with Denel Dynamics, South Africa’s largest government-owned defence manufacturer, in 2012. Following the establishment of such partnership, AL TARIQ launched its ‘Al Tariq’ modular kits to mark the milestone. As of today, these remain our flagship products, and we are proud to say that the ‘Al Tariq’ family was jointly developed with Denel Dynamics, and based upon Denel’s Umbani weapon.

Since then, we have leveraged our partnership with Denel Dynamics to enhance our engineering capabilities and have implemented a range of operational features through cutting-edge technology and continuous innovation into the Block II version of Al Tariq.

We have also enhanced our production capacity through cost saving measures and continuous improvement in our operations.

Please elaborate on the range of products AL TARIQ has in its current portfolio detailing the categories and subcategories of products.

We design and produce the ‘Al Tariq’ range – a modular family of precisionguided munitions designed for the Mark 81 and Mark 82 aerial bombs. We use a range of guidance and propulsion technologies to convert unguided aerial weapons into high-precision, longer-range focused munitions. The family consists of the ‘Al Tariq-S’ (Standard Range) and ‘Al TariqLR’ (Long Range) with a range of different seekers, providing operational mission flexibility to the user. The long range includes a wing-kit that increases the range from 45 kilometres to 120 kilometres.

The ‘Al Tariq’ family will be expanded in the future to include other versions. We are in the process of integrating these onto more platforms to increase the number of applications.

The pandemic impact globally has been severe in many business sectors including the defence industry.

AL TARIQ IS PART OF THE MISSILES & WEAPONS CLUSTER WITHIN EDGE. THE CONSOLIDATION OF EXISTING DEFENCE ENTITIES HAS ENABLED US TO FURTHER ACCELERATE AND LEVERAGE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED, BUILD PRODUCTIVE COLLABORATIONS, WHILE TAPPING INTO THE CAPABILITIES OF THE OTHER ENTITIES ACROSS THE GROUP Do you think that the recovery path in near terms for the defence industry will be sluggish or moderate? How has AL TARIQ coped with the pandemic? Is it on track with its growth trajectory?

The pandemic has definitely forced us to adapt and alter the way we work and operate. We are continuing to enhance our ‘Al Tariq’ range of precision-guided munitions (PGMs) and are currently in the process of starting our planned production for the Block II version towards the end of 2020. We are also expanding the range to include the Mk 83 and Mk 84 in the next

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IN CONVERSATION AL TARIQ-LR LR system includes a wing kit that increases range to 120km.

Single modular kit for Mk 81 and Mk 82 munitions Fire and forget, high accuracy LOBL & LOAL capability Range up to 120 km Dual-mode seekers GNSS/INS only GNSS/INS/SAL GNSS/INS/IIR Programmable attack profiles Moving target and off-axis attack capability Wireless or MIL-STD-1760 integration Simplified user logistics ITAR-free solution Integrated on various fighter aircraft while maintaining business continuity.

All operations and business functions are continuing as normal despite the unprecedented pressures.

An AL TARIQ employee at its assembly unit

12-18 months. The Block II version features a number of new upgrades.

In terms of coping with the pandemic challenges, like any other company, we have been ensuring that our employees have the means to perform their duties safely and efficiently,

Very recently, the Government of India has liberalised its policy to promote private defence industry along with DPSUs. It has also raised FDI in defence under the automatic route from 49 per cent to 74 per cent. How is it going to benefit global defence industry? Do you have any plan to invest in India in the near future? Does AL TARIQ have any collaboration in India for its products? If yes, with which company? Do you have any future plans to collaborate with Indian

WE ARE CONTINUING TO ENHANCE OUR ‘AL TARIQ’ RANGE OF PRECISIONGUIDED MUNITIONS (PGMS) AND ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING OUR PLANNED PRODUCTION FOR THE BLOCK II VERSION TOWARDS THE END OF 2020. WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING THE RANGE TO INCLUDE THE MK 83 AND MK 84 IN THE NEXT 12-18 MONTHS 34

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companies to co-develop and co-partner for product innovations?

The Indian defence sector has huge potential to attract foreign direct investment.

The proposed increase in the FDI limit from 49 per cent to 74 per cent is a welcome step which will see many key players investing in the sector.

It will also encourage multinationals to set up manufacturing bases in India or acquire local companies.

AL TARIQ recognises the rapidly growing Indian market, and we are involved to address the future requirements of the Indian Armed Forces. We have engaged with Indian defence companies to address the future “Make in India” programmes for the Indian Ministry of Defence. This will entail the production and future co-development of high technology systems as required by the Indian Defence Forces.

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BUSINESS INITIATIVE

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GHASL – A STRATEGIC GROWTH PARTNER FOR AEROSPACE BUSINESSES

G

MR Hyderabad Aviation SEZ Limited (GHASL) is a 100% subsidiary of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL). GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park is the key product offering of GHASL, which is housed in GMR Hyderabad Airport City operated by GMR Airport Land Development (ALD).

Aman Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer

GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park, is a modern, state-of-the-art Airportbased multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ), also consisting Airport based Free Trade Zone - GIFTZ (GMR International Free Trade Zone). The Park offers Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for units with predominantly export oriented business as well as Non SEZ land for customers who wish to deal in the Domestic Tariff Area within India.

GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park provides ‘ready-to-use’ industrial infrastructure allowing companies to

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focus on their core business. By virtue of the Park being housed within RGIA, the Aerospace & Industrial Park enjoys greater security. Supply of utilities like power and water are highly reliable.

The Park also enjoys the complete airport ecosystem like proximity to Air Cargo Terminal, availability of Hotel, reliable and affordable Transport, Emergency Services, Security, etc.

To foster and boost exports, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited as a company and developer of the RGIA campus, established airport based multi-product SEZ. The SEZ includes

land area of ~20 acres notified as Free Trade Warehousing Zone to complement supply chain distribution, warehousing, storage, value addition and packaging. This is the only Airport-based FTWZ in India.

The fact that the FTWZ is inside the Airport makes it unique which will bring down the transportation costs and reduce the turnaround time for movement of man and material.

Currently, GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park has several global clients viz. CFM Aircraft Engine Support South Asia Private Limited (CFMAESSA) providing training on CFM and LEAP engines; SAFRAN Electrical & Power India Private Limited (SEPIPL) for assembling of Cable Harnesses to be used in SAFRAN Engines; SAFRAN Aircraft Engine; United Technologies Corporation India Private Limited (UTCIPL) for providing training on Pratt & Whitney engines; Turbo Aviation, GMR Aero Technic; SpiceXpress; Global AeroTech India Pvt. Ltd.; SAS Applied Research and Lab Materials Pvt. Ltd.; Analinear Imaging Systems Pvt. Ltd.; Casper Pharma Private Limited; Cronus Pharma Specialities India Pvt. Ltd; Multisorb Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. (MTIPL); among others.

The site location of GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park has been strategically chosen with emphasis on connectivity. The Park is well connected by air, road and rail, including robust connectivity to ports. This strategic location offers businesses an easy access to suppliers, enabling efficient supply chain management. These linkages present the benefits of faster turn-around time and maximization of Productivity for the esteemed clients..

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FUTURE WARFARE

DAWN OF A DIALECTICAL EVOLUTION IN WARFARE CONTACTLESS WAR With the focus shifting to next-generation drones, which are essentially unmanned fighter jets and armed helicopters that are currently under development, the dawn of contactless warfare is now a reality

By MAJ GEN G SHANKARNARAYANAN (RETD)

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onflict Spectrum: The days of the blitzkrieg is slowly setting into the twilight of military doctrine while a new dawn of contactless battle is surely but steadily visible on the horizon. This is attributable to the growing doctrinal shift is achieving the end state by means other than war albeit under a nuclear umbrella which limits the threshold of conflicts. This paradigm of contextualisation of war / conflict itself warrants a closer examination. The last known conventional mechanised operation was seen during the Gulf war codenamed Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

Movement of Indian Army vehicles in Galwan Valley

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From a classical military perspective it was a war waged by an array of nations forming a coalition forces from 35 nations led by the United States against Iraq in response to Iraq’s invasion and annexation of Kuwait arising from oil pricing and production disputes. The contours of the operation conformed to the traditional concepts of relentless airstrike exhorting shock and awe, mobilisation of multinational troops and build designed to hold the adversary followed by a predetermined combined arms outflanking mechanised offensive and finally consolidation leading to complete annihilation of the Iraqi forces.

The next decade saw the proliferation of sub conventional conflict across the globe. Warring nations or radical groups resorted to a low cost option of engaging non state actors to pursue their political agenda hoping to achieve defined conflict termination, which seldom has been the case. While the cost has been disproportionately low in keeping the pot boiling, the incalculable sufferings and loss of human lives defies logic. Nonetheless

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Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil field, which faced drone attacks recently

determined governments have resorted to brute force and brought this menace under control. Sri Lanka, Bosnia and Herzegovina are examples. However closer home, cross border terrorism has found no tangible answer despite multiple strategies including a localised limited offensive and a cross border surgical strike. In fact the activation of the LAC by the eastern adversary using a combination of LAC transgression backed by conventional buildup marks a strategic shift in the conflict continuum.

The compulsions of ensuring territorial integrity while restraining conflict escalation matrix is indeed a complex border management challenge. Therefore our response has also been equally measured yet aggressive and determined albeit limited in scope and depth just enough to facilitate strategic messaging.

On the contrary China’s action resonates its policy of whittling the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) grand strategy to realising

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its national objective of achieving the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Stemming from this ideology is the Chinese military strategy that ordains the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity even if it at the cost of an expansionist protocol.

In so doing China has mastered the art of informationalised, irregular warfare that largely conforms to the western concept of hybrid warfare where soft power and covert operations play a predominant role.

CONTACTLESS WAR

Informationalised warfare or loosely coined hybrid warfare is being termed as sixth generation warfare. This dialectical development occurs sequentially and in parallel at the political, strategic, operational and tactical levels. It deals with long-range, high-precision engagements that can be launched from weapon platforms on land, sea, air and

space intimately intertwined with information, psychological and irregular warfare. It is designed to undermine the adversary’s gross national power (GNP) while simultaneously eroding the military potential, made possible by revolution in military affairs (RMA) fuelled by rapid and intense technological breakthrough. This type of warfare is being called ‘contactless war’ besides the soft power. Sixth generation warfare has three main objectives: a) Defeating an opponent’s armed forces (in his own territory), b) Destroying an opponent’s economic activity and potential – and c) Subverting or changing an opponent’s political system. The growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) shall soon usher in the seventh generation where orchestration of the battle will be remote while precision engagement at the physical level will be by robotic unmanned entities - a replica of Star wars.

INFORMATIONALISED WARFARE OR LOOSELY COINED HYBRID WARFARE IS BEING TERMED AS SIXTH GENERATION WARFARE. THIS DIALECTICAL DEVELOPMENT OCCURS SEQUENTIALLY AND IN PARALLEL AT THE POLITICAL, STRATEGIC, OPERATIONAL AND TACTICAL LEVELS

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FUTURE WARFARE

General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper

THE GROWING INFLUENCE OF AI AND MACHINE LEARNING ML SHALL SOON USHER IN THE SEVENTH GENERATION WHERE ORCHESTRATION OF THE BATTLE WILL BE REMOTE WHILE PRECISION ENGAGEMENT AT THE PHYSICAL LEVEL WILL BE

BY ROBOTIC UNMANNED ENTITIES - A REPLICA OF STAR WARS

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ARMED UAVS – THE MAIN STAY OF CONTACTLESS WAR It is in this context that unmanned aerial system (UAS) or drones have emerged as an undisputable champion of contactless warfare, be it traditional reconnaissance, target acquisition and tracking or precision engagement. If fact drones are unequivocally changing the character of warfare in strategy, action, and perception across the continuum of conflict. The drone attack by Houti Rebels on Saudi Aramco oilfield on September 14, 2019 and the precision engagement by the United States on Bagdad International Airport eliminating Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani of Iran on January 3 this year are examples of future combat engagements. Thus the era of armed drone is here to stay and find effective use in prosecution of the contactless warfare. On the contrary its rapid proliferation among states and non state actors and militant groups alike poses a new global challenge. Further miniaturisation and affordability make these as excellent tools in

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their hands to execute destructive intent in a contactless manner.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

More than 10 countries have conducted unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) or armed drone strikes: the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). But many other countries, including Saudi Arabia and China among others maintain armed drones in their arsenals. India is a prospective entrant to this elite club. Therefore as per America’s World of Drones database, countries are sorted into three groups: those that use drones in combat, those that possess armed drones but have not used them in combat, and those that are developing armed drones.

In the American parlance, drone capabilities are classified according to the US Air Force tier system.

Tier I includes low altitude, low endurance drones like the Orbiter; Tier II is comprised of medium altitude, long endurance drones like the Reaper or the retired Predator; and Tier III applies to

high altitude, long endurance drones like the Global Hawk. Mini and micro drones are not classified in the tier system.

The United States and Israel are the biggest producers of drones followed by China. America’s leading combat drones are the MQ-9 Reaper and the Global Hawk.

MQ-9 Reaper Drone was used in the drone strike at Bagdad. Harop (or IAI Harpy 2) an Israeli drone is a loitering munition developed by the MBT division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is an anti-radiation drone that can autonomously home in on radio emissions and strike the target by itself, being self destructive. If a target is not engaged, the drone will return and land itself back at the base.

China is also a major drone manufacturer and specialises in developing the Cai Hong family of CH 4, CH 5 and CH 7 armed drones.

The CH-7 is a stealth flying fixed wing UCAV similar to the X-47B, with a 22m wingspan and 10m length. It can fly at 920 km/h and at an altitude of 13,000m.

Endurance is about 15 hours and its operational radius is 2000 kilometres. It can carry antiradiation missiles and standoff weapons. It can intercept radar signals, and simultaneously detect, verify and monitor high-value targets, such as hostile command stations, missile launch sites and naval vessels and carry out strikes.

India on the other hand is one of the largest importers of drones internationally. According to a Business Insider report based on Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) data, India accounts for approximately 22.5 per cent of drone imports from 1985-2017. In addition to its imports, India also has an indigenous UCAV Rustom-II, a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) drone, in its drone arsenal.

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INDIA’S PERSPECTIVE India’s UAV inventory in the armed forces consists of Searchers Mark I and II followed by Heron, all from Israel. These are mere surveillance UAVs with an operating ceiling of 15,000ft. However being susceptible to radar interception it warranted a higher ceiling.

Accordingly the Indian Army acquired the Heron which could operate at an altitude ceiling of 30,000ft. These acquisitions by the Army were followed suit by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy each with a service specific mandate and operational autonomy. However the clamer is now on for acquiring Harop armed UCAV from Israel.

While acquisitions have been the order of the day, indigenous development and manufacture have also been given the right impetus. DRDO has developed a series of drones in the MALE category but their operational viability is yet to be established.

Hence under the present eastern Ladakh imbroglio, it is but natural to look towards foreign vendors.

That notwithstanding, there are a few collaborative initiatives with ELBIT Systems and Rafael Defense, both exponents in Israeli defence and aerospace. It is in this light that the government’s “Atmanirbharta” drive is a welcome step in placing some category of drones in the negative list to boost home grown production. It is to be seen if the Indian drone manufacturing fraternity can rise up to the challenge to meet the desired expectations.

operational spectrum all along the international border (IB), Line of Control (LoC), Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL).

Their operational efficacies in high altitude regions have been remarkable. In a conventional engagement these UAVs will provide target inputs for artillery and missiles engagement followed

by Post Strike Damage Assessment.

In addition, the concept of swarm drone attack against mechanised elements in the contact battle as well as seek and destroy missions against command and control centres in near real time will be a game changer. All this is possible due to the very high resolution optics carried on board for precision engagements. Under these operational necessities the next logical step should be to weaponise these platforms for effective target destruction.

Although a literal action of modifying the existing drone fleet is desirable but may not be technically feasible due to the change in payload configurations.

Hence acquisition of Harop shall soon fill this void. The employment envisages surveillance and destruction of selected targets by loitering missiles and PSDA. Harop a self destructive Killer drone is in fact a loitering missile

capable of seeking targets and destroying them with pin point accuracy having an operational range of 1,000 km and flight endurance of six hours. It can be launched against land and sea based targets from ground, sea and air. It will be an excellent counter to China’s Cia Hong-4 and Cia Hong -5 and Cia Hong 7 UCAV platforms. Undoubtedly armed drones shall form the main stay of contactless war.

TACTICAL UAV CAPABILITY

UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM OR DRONES HAVE EMERGED AS AN UNDISPUTABLE CHAMPION OF CONTACTLESS WARFARE, BE IT TRADITIONAL RECONNAISSANCE, TARGET ACQUISITION AND TRACKING OR PRECISION ENGAGEMENT

UAVs are now an integral part of all operations across the spectrum of conflict. An organisational issue that needs immediate attention is the development of tactical UAV capability. As of now all the UAV capability rests at the directional level. Whereas there is an urgent need for mini UAVs to exploit fleeting opportunities at the tactical level. It is here that our indigenous commercial drone manufacturers have the requisite wherewithal in terms of range, endurance, thermal imaging, real time video transmission and autonomous capabilities.

In fact, a fully autonomous drone only requires the way points to be assigned within a predetermined geo-fence. The drone can take off on its own,

EMPLOYMENT IN OUR ENVIRONMENT

UAVs are great force multipliers and are being effectively used in surveillance missions across our

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HAL to build Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles in collaboration with Israel

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FUTURE WARFARE

DRDO Rustom-II

THE GOVERNMENT’S “ATMANIRBHARTA” DRIVE IS A WELCOME STEP IN PLACING SOME CATEGORY OF DRONES IN THE NEGATIVE LIST TO BOOST HOME GROWN PRODUCTION. IT IS TO BE SEEN IF THE INDIAN DRONE MANUFACTURING FRATERNITY CAN RISE UP TO THE CHALLENGE TO MEET THE DESIRED EXPECTATIONS

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fly along the assigned waypoint besides simultaneously track the way with real time transmission of video to the ground control station (GCS) and complete the given mission with very little manual intervention. It also has failsafe modes as well an auto return mode due to break in communication or low battery power, built into it.

DRONES IN THE CURRENT FACEOFF

The situation along the LAC is extremely volatile. Over the past 30 years, the PLA have nibbled into the LAC with impunity while the Indian Army have merely resorted only to patrolling up to the patrolling points as defined by the China Study Group which falls well short of Indian perception line.

However the recent conflagration has witnessed a paradigm shift in border management. The resolve to undo status quo and protect every inch of ground backed by a

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strong political will and effective diplomatic machinery has prompted the military to undertake bold actions as a quid pro quo in areas that can be exploited by the Chinese. The dilemma therefore is the trustworthiness or otherwise of the Chinese to undertake disengagement and de-escalation as decided by both sides and remain committed to it.

Therefore in the absence of any Chinese guarantee that the PLA will not reoccupy those positions in the event of its vacation by the Indian troops, the situation calls for a firm deployment almost permanent in nature. In fact just as PLA is holding dominant positions up to Finger 4 on the north bank, the Indian Army is now holding Rezang La-Rechin La ridgeline right up to its perception of the LAC south of Pangong Tso. In situations like these, drones have a very significant role to play for all the obvious reasons. It necessitates the use of drones in areas all along the LAC with continuous high precision observation and contact surveillance of the strategic depth in tandem with quick response armed drones addressing key vital war sustaining installations. Such operations can be undertaken by drones flying well within our own territory. This should be

followed by operational level visibility of avenues of approach in the immediate depth to thwart Chinese unforeseen build up of local reserves and finally resorting to tactical level observation and reconnaissance of the immediate vicinity. It is a task that will have to be undertaken 24x7 and therefore necessitates fast track drone procurement.

It can be stated with reasonable alacrity that armed drones are no more a force multiplier but a decisive combat influencer that facilitates low cost conflict management. It is a conflict changer, faster than anticipated, and can enable countries to make highly credible threats against states and groups. The moot question is, could the mere threat of using an armed drone ever coerce an enemy to change their behaviour – without attacking them? Given the recent outcomes from drone attacks, the answer is yes. Armed drones are likely to offer coercion ‘windows of opportunity’ in a state of military intransigence. While the effect shall be more pronounced between states that have armed drones vis a vis that don’t, the same is perceived to be equally true for states that possess them.

In fact as confrontations grow longer and less conclusive, armed drones can enable states to sustain combat operations, making threats to remain relevant i.e. ‘stay the course’ believable.

The efficacy of this hypothesis is now gaining momentum by shifting focus on to nextgeneration drones, which are essentially unmanned fighter jets and armed helicopters that are currently under development.

Thus the dawn of contactless warfare is now a reality.

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–The writer is a former GOC-Indian Army and presently a Strategic Consultant & Principal Advisor.

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RAKSHA ANIRVEDA

SPOTLIGHT

INDIAN NAVY MUST ADD PLATFORMS TO FEND OFF CHINA-PAKISTAN NEXUS, FOR A STABLE INDO-PACIFIC Indian Navy needs to think out of the box and plan and acquire more platforms in the coming decade to maintain stability in India’s Oceanic Region as India and China-Pakistan relations are at its nadir

INS Arihant

By CMDE RANJIT B RAI (RETD) n this 21st Century India has risen as a global power after it blasted its way into the nuclear club in 1998 as a non non-proliferation treaty (NPT) member, much to China’s chagrin. India also commissioned a homemade nuclear armed submarine INS Arihant with K-15/ B-05 missiles by 2016 after operating two SSNs on lease from Russia. Maritime power is an essential asset for any aspiring global power and China increased the percentage of its defence budget for the PLA (Navy) when it saw the Indian Navy rising in quantity and quality and to take on the US maritime power in the decades ahead.

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However the Indian Navy has seen brakes to its expansion with insufficient budgets after the PLA surprised Indian Army and a 73-day standoff took place in the Doklam region bordering Sikkim.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) attention shifted to beef up the Army and the Air Force. The message of this article is that the Indian Navy needs to think out of the box and plan and acquire more platforms in the coming decade to maintain stability in India’s Oceanic Region as India and China-Pakistan relations are at its nadir.

In the last few months with Covid raging, China muddied its relations with India by moving PLA troops into areas considered no man’s land, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

Chinese military follows Zhuge Liang (181-234) who wrote 36 Stratagems of war. He preceded Sun Tzu (Fifth century). Zhuge’s quote, ‘The wise win (area?) before the fight, while the ignorant fight to win’ is highlighted in External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s book, ‘The India Way’ in his chapter Managing China’s Rise.

The Chinese claim Sun Tzu’s Art of War is more about philosophy

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of war and teach Zhuge Liang in Staff Colleges as the Principles of War. PLA surprised both the Indian Army and ITBP that guard the LAC. Prime Minister bolstered the morale of the 14th Corps troops and addressed them at Nimu near Leh on July 3. MoD issued fresh rules of engagement and orders of Rs 38,000 cr worth of weapons and aircraft for the Army, Air Force and ITBP forces to be beefed up with weapons, equipment, manpower and road infrastructure to ward off the Chinese threat. Indian Air Force assets were forward deployed in land air battle operations, along with Navy’s MiG-29Ks and P-8Is. Establishment 22s hitherto classified Tibetan Special Frontier Forces (SFF) trained at Chakrata, operated with Indian commandos to take the commanding heights in a riposte in South Pangong Tso lake area in early September. The Army is prepared to be locked in a harsh winter confrontational mode, with China’s PLA.

THE MARITIME SCENE

Indian Navy’s ships were put on alert from May as the faceoff continued in Ladakh.

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On September 17, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed Indian Parliament that both countries needed to keep peace and tranquility and said, “We can start a war, but its end is not in our hands,” as a message to China that India was ready for any eventuality. This was a call to the Indian Navy not to be surprised by the PLA (Navy) if China makes similar sudden aggressive moves into the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),

MiG-29

and Navy has a responsibility to Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS) in the Indo-Pacific for peace and stability, and trade. Navy is also tasked to be the Net Security Provider and support PM Narendra Modi’s maritime policy of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) in IOR for economic prosperity through cooperation.

Harking back post taking over the reign in 2014, on December 15, 2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the need for a strong Navy and said during the Commander’s conference on board INS Vikramaditya, “India’s history has been influenced by the seas.

And, the passage to our future prosperity and security also lies on this ocean. It also holds the key to the fortunes of the world.” However after China’s incursion into Doklam and the 73-day standoff in 2017 the Navy’s budget was cut and four LPDs and third aircraft carrier plans were shelved.

INDIAN NAVY OPERATES 114 SHIPS INCLUDING THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER INS VIKRAMADITYA WITH MIG-29K AIRCRAFT, 13 OLD CONVENTIONAL AND TWO NEW SCORPENE SUBMARINES (KALVARI AND KHANDERI) AND TWO NUCLEAR SUBMARINES THE SSN INS CHAKRA AND SSBN INS ARIHANT, AND 200 AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS

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SPOTLIGHT

INS Vikramaditya

“INDIA’S HISTORY HAS BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE SEAS. AND, THE PASSAGE TO OUR FUTURE PROSPERITY AND SECURITY ALSO LIES ON THIS OCEAN. IT ALSO HOLDS THE KEY TO THE FORTUNES OF THE WORLD” Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Commander’s conference on board INS Vikramaditya

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INS Chakra

The lock downs in Covid and cost escalations have slowed warships under construction in PSU shipyards, putting brakes on Navy’s target of 200 ships and 400 aircraft by 2027.

Indian Navy operates 114 ships including the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya with MiG-29K aircraft, 13 old conventional and two new Scorpene submarines (Kalvari and Khanderi) and two nuclear submarines the SSN INS Chakra and SSBN INS Arihant, and 200

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aircraft and helicopters. Only one order was confirmed during President Trump’s visit in February 2020 for 24 direly needed MH-60R Seahawk Hellfire missile firing helicopters for US$2.6 billion from Lockheed Martin.

They will replace 40 year old aging ASW Seaking MK42Bs for Navy’s front line ships.

PLA (N) on the other hand is adding around 15 platforms a year.

Navy’s current budget allocation for 2020-21 is

merely Rs 61,890 crore which is 13 per cent down from 18 per cent that CNS Admiral Karambir Singh has publicly lamented. The Navy’s budget barely covers the annual payments for the second indigenous 38,500 tonne aircraft carrier Vikrant at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) undergoing harbour trials, four Type 7,600 tonne 15B BrahMos-Barak destroyers and four Scorpene submarines at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MSDL) with Exocet missiles and seven 4,000 tonne Type 17A Shivaliks (four at MSDL and three at GRSE) in stages of building.

Two Krivacks are ordered from Yantar at Kallingrad in Russia and two are being built

by Goa Shipyard (CSL) with Russian help. Four Survey ships have just begun construction at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) and eight each shallow waster ASW craft ordered at CSL and Visakhapatnam Shipyard Ltd (HSL). Four P-8I MR planes from Boeing will be delivered in 2021.

Indian Navy’s expansion is critical as nearly two dozen platforms (eight Kilo and four Shishumar class submarines, four Khukri, six Sukanya and two Rajput class warships) will be more than thirty years old and will have to be decommissioned in the coming decade. India’s economy which has slowed may not spare large funds to the Navy for the time being. India has to think out of the box and look to ideas to add platforms. Fortunately India possesses an advantageous geographic locale to contain China’s maritime truck with Pakistan with PLA (N) bases in Gwadar and Djibouti.

India is allergic to sign

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alliances but US and the QUAD plus nations are in support to help maritime India. One idea gaining traction is for India to sign an Indo-US Charter for the IOR and Indo-Pacific for co-operation and lend lease of platforms from US Navy and also acquire moth balled ships from Foreign Military Sales (FMS), just as Prime Minister Churchill had signed the Atlantic Charter in August 1941 with President Roosevelt to lend and lease equipment to meet Hitler’s aggressiveness before US entered World War II. India alone cannot contain China’s aggressiveness as

Indian Ocean and Indo Pacific are large. A precedent was set when Indira Gandhi signed a Peace Treaty with the Soviet Union in 1971 as insurance against US’ support to Pakistan which paid dividends in the war for Bangladesh.

Indian Navy’s expansion is inescapable in the coming decade. Navy is making its mark, employing and upgrading older ships and even using OPVs as training ships. The message needs to go out that Indian Navy is three dimensional with the ability to deter, induce or coerce a foe to submission,

and in the last resort, defeat an enemy in war at sea or even starve a nation with a blockade. Indian Navy has achieved that ability in a limited way, as the fifth largest Navy in the world and will be critical for the security of the Indo Pacific security but will need bigger budgets and as Rabindra Nath Tagore said, ‘You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.’

–The author is former DNI and DNO. His latest Novel ‘An Underhand Affair’ (Addhyan ISBN 9789388644167 Variety Books) includes intrigues in the world of Naval Intelligence

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RAKSHA ANIRVEDA

IN FOCUS

CORPORATISATION OF THE OFB: A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS ‘ATMANIRBHARTA’ With the government’s announcement that the OFB will be corporatised, there is a need to ensure that functional and oversight mechanisms are not so overbearing as to revert it to a department with a ‘corporate’ avatar

By R CHANDRASHEKHAR

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n follow-up to the Prime Minister’s call for ‘Atmanirbharta’, the Finance Minister mentioned eight sectors for structural reforms which included defence production. In regard to defence sector, the Finance Minister mentioned some major areas of reform. These are: (a) the notification of a list of weapons and platforms not to be imported after a specific date, (b) introduction of time-bound procurement processes, (c) raising of FDI limit for foreign firms to participate in manufacture of defence stores and importantly, (d) corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

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This article seeks to analyse the functioning of the OFB and the expectations from corporatisation of the OFB towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

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INDIA’S ORDNANCE FACTORIES

The Indian Ordnance Factories (OFs) trace their origin back to 1787 when a gun powder factory was established at Ishapore. A Gun Carriage Agency established at Cossipore in 1801 exists today as the Gun & Shell Factory. The family of 16 OFs at the time of India’s Independence are now 41 in number and supported by nine Training Institutes, three Regional Marketing Centres and four Regional Controllers of Safety. The OFs take pride, and rightfully so, in their broad and versatile production base, multitechnology capabilities, and

their large reservoir of skilled and professionally qualified work force.

EXISTING COMMAND STRUCTURE

The OFB, the apex command and control organisation for the OFs, was constituted in 1979.

Based in Kolkata, it is headed by the Director General Ordnance Factories (DGOF) as Chairman with nine members in the rank of Additional DGOF. The OFs are grouped into five ‘Operating Divisions’ based on the type of products and technologies.

These are the Ammunition and Explosives (A&E); Weapons, Vehicles & Equipment (WV&E); Materials and Components (M&C); Armoured Vehicle (AV) and the Ordnance Equipment Group of Factories (OEF) Divisions.

OFB PRODUCT RANGE

A list of OFB products for which OFB has indigenous industrial capability to produce are as tabulated below:

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Weapons

Artillery guns (105/155 mm, Tank guns 120/125 mm, Small Arms from 5.56 to 20 mm including Assault Rifles, Protective Carbine, Pistol, Revolver etc, Mortars 51/81/120 mm, Rocket launcher 84 mm, Under Barrel Grenade Launcher 40 mm and Multi Shell Launcher.

Military vehicles

Mine Protected Vehicles, Military Vehicles

Ammunition, explosives & propellants

Around 150 types of ammunition including state of the art Pinaka Rockets, Bi-modular charge system for 155 mm ammunition, Artillery ammunition, cannon gun ammunition, Signalling and Related stores, Rockets, Bombs, Fuzes, Explosives and Propellants, Detonators and Igniters.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV)

Tank T-90, MBT Arjun, Variants of T-72, ICV BMP-II and its variants, AFV engines, NVDs, Sensors and Fire control system.

Equipment stores

Brake parachutes, man dropping and supply dropping parachutes, combat uniform, ECC clothing.

The criticality of each of these products for execution of battle needs no emphasis.

OFB ORDER BOOK

The OFB receives orders through five-year roll-on indents from the Indian Army for ammunition items to meet WWR and annual training requirements. It also receives fixed quantity indents in respect of armoured vehicles and their spares. Roll-on indent/ indents are placed by the Defence Services for supply of items with indicated delivery schedules. However, the Services finalise year-wise targets based on budgetary allocations.

The present capacity created at the OFB to supply equipment is around Rs 17,000 crores to all indents subject to availability of orders. While capacities are adequate to meet requirements as projected through indents, but indents placed are themselves limited by budgetary constraints and do not reflect operational requirements. Importantly, they do not cover ‘surge capacities’ that become imminent during operations requiring the Services to maintain large quantities of War Wastage Reserves (WWR) with consequent security and storage issues.

In fairness to OFB, it needs

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An Ordnance Factory assembly line

to emphasise that OFs have consistently sought to keep pace with contemporary technologies.

It has drawn up a Modernisation Plan focussing on renewal and replacement of Plant and Machinery (P&M), augment capacities through acquisition of P&M and develop civil works infrastructure. The Technical and Administrative Cadres that provide managerial leadership to OFs have a spirit of ownership.

There have been delays in executing the Modernisation Plan, which are attributed to delays in procurement as the machinery to be installed requires customised

special purpose solutions and attract few offers. Also, these plans have not been supported by adequate fiscal allocations – circumstances beyond the scope of the OFB to resolve, leaving it a victim of systemic encumbrances.

TENACIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEFENCE SERVICES

In spite of the inevitable long and mutual dependence, there exist low trust and some oft-mentioned fault lines in OFB’s relations with the Defence Services. The major issues being:

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IN FOCUS there is a Service representation through Principal Staff Officer level official at the OFB Board level, there is minimum direct interface between the User (Line Dte in the Services HQ) and the OFs through the product development or manufacturing stages. (v) ‘Protected’ employment guarantee of a government job: OFB employees enjoy the ‘safe and secure’ status of being government employees. They are unwilling to transit to an environment of ‘competitive production’. (Reports of protest by employees post the announcement to corporatisation the OFB, and efforts to assuage them are self-speaking).

EXPECTED FRUITS OF OFB CORPORATISATION

Indian Army’s MBT Arjun in action

(i) Advantage of Monopoly.

OFB’s advantage of being a monopolist supplier has resulted in minimal innovation and technology development leading to resulting in low productivity as evidenced in the low value of Issue (VOI).

Zero penalty for delayed delivery and lack of a structured, dynamic feedback mechanism have only added to the Services’ frustration and woes. VOI for the past five years is as below:

(ii) Poor quality of weapons: Most quoted instances being the INSAS Rifle and cases of qualitative deficiencies in ammunition. (iii) High cost of products: OFs being monopolistic suppliers, ipso facto, the pricing of their products is not based on market dynamics. A high proportion of budgetary allocations to OFs go towards salaries and wages to their approximately 85,000 employees. (iv) Lack of user interface: While

Year

Target (in Rs crores)

Value of Issue (in Rs crores)

% Achievement

2014-15 RE

12120

11391

94%

2015–16 RE

13552

13111

96.7%

2016–17 RE

15393

14825

96.3%

2017–18 RE

14115

14127

100.1%

2018–19 MA

13249

12801

96.6%

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Developing a Viable Ecosystem: As ‘Systems Integrators’, OFs directly manufacture critical components / sub-assemblies, sourcing non-critical items from private vendors through annual or ‘as required’ competitive bidding. The uncertainty of assured supply orders leaves little incentive for vendors to invest into product development and quality enhancement. OFB would now be enabled to draw up long term supply arrangements with vendors thereby creating an ecosystem primitive to efficiency and high quality.

Joint Ventures with Private Sector: OFB would be enabled, where required, to associate private industry into the production process exposing OF personnel to imbibe best practices of private sector performance.

Fiscal Autonomy: OFB would be unencumbered from limitations of budget allocations and can

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raise funds for expansion and modernisation projects.

Empowering Factory Management: Contrary to apprehensions, the OF management would be better endowed with requisite discretionary powers to address shop floor issues and production delays.

Market Development and Exports: A corporatised OFB with facility to export its products to

friendly foreign countries would provide leverage to form strategic alliances.

CONCLUSION

While OFB corporatisation is pragmatic and merits applause, there is need to also applaud its dedicated management and personnel who have assiduously worked with commitment and

deep sense of ownership. That their full potential could not be exploited to national good is more due to systemic constraints than any shortcomings on their side. Their retention and upskilling is imperative. In the enthusiasm of reform, a precious baby with honed skills should not inadvertently be thrown out with the bath water.

OFB products strengthen OFB Pinaka rocket launcher (File photo)

Indian Army artillery gun built by OFB

OFB’S ADVANTAGE OF BEING A MONOPOLIST SUPPLIER HAS RESULTED IN MINIMAL INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LEADING TO RESULT IN LOW PRODUCTIVITY AS EVIDENCED IN THE LOW VALUE OF ISSUE (VOI).

NOT ONLY THIS, ZERO PENALTY FOR DELAYED DELIVERY AND LACK OF A STRUCTURED, DYNAMIC FEEDBACK MECHANISM HAVE ONLY ADDED TO THE SERVICES’ FRUSTRATION AND WOES

the most vital sinews of the nation’s security apparatus.

Government’s interest in OFB matters will therefore be abiding, and rightfully so. There is a need to ensure that functional and oversight mechanisms are not so overbearing as to revert OFB to a Department with a ‘corporate’ avatar. Likewise, there is need to infuse some ‘real’ dynamism into R&D, innovation and product improvement.

The challenge lies in achieving that balance.

–The writer is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS).

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CANDID CONVERSATION

‘AFTER DELIVERING EVERYTHING FROM OUR SIDE WE ARE WAITING FOR COMMERCIAL NEGOTIATIONS TO CONTINUE ON KA-226T’

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ndrey Boginsky, being in mid-40s, belongs to the new generation of post-Soviet industry executives.

After getting a degree in financial management he worked in several private banks and did a post-graduate course in Economics from Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy. He later worked as Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, in-charge of the aviation industry. In 2017 he was appointed CEO of Russian Helicopters JSC, part of defence industry conglomerate Rostec.

In a candid conversation with Vinay Shukla, Consulting Editor, Raksha Anirveda, the Russian Helicopters CEO threw light on why India-Russia deal on Ka-226T utility helicopters couldn’t yet taken off besides discussing the progress status on 10 Ka-31 choppers for Indian Navy. Edited excerpts: The big ticket order for Ka226T utility helicopters hasn’t taken off yet. What are the reasons that have stalled it and when do you expect that the issues will get resolved to get started? Any progress made during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s Moscow talks in June and September?

Nothing has moved. This is what we have done for our part: we have been running a joint

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venture in India for three years now between Russian Helicopters, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Rosoboronexport. We are still financing this enterprise, but sadly we are not seeing concrete decisions from our Indian colleagues to proceed with the

negotiations. I think we have done everything possible for our part.

Russia and India concluded an intergovernmental agreement for this in 2015. The Make in India program entails certain commitments considering technology transfer and

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localization. Technology transfer has been confirmed and Indian partners have done lots of work in this topic. We reviewed several companies and selected the ones most suitable from our position and as confirmed by the Indian side.

We concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with these companies. Over several rounds of negotiations, we explained the localization procedure to our Indian colleagues from HAL and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), defined necessary financial resources and required deadlines, pointed out how we need to proceed. We have delivered everything needed from our side to the project. So now, we are just waiting for the commercial negotiations to continue.

The Government of India has banned import of 101 defence items including equipment and platforms and recently announced stimulus package under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. Do you think these initiatives are going to impact the Russian defence suppliers?

It is hard to discuss the prospects of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, second part of the ‘Make in India’ program, as we are yet to experience the benefits of the first one, although we have already invested a lot of money.

What I mean is that Make in India principle “invest, produce and we’ll buy from you” is not working for our company at this moment, as no one has bought anything from us. We have already made serious investments, for example, in Ulan-Ude (Helicopter Plant) we specifically invested in assembly lines for fulfilling Indian orders, made major changes to the helicopter itself in order to meet the customer’s requirements,

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increased its capacities, for our part we have done a lot.

We found Indian partners figured out with them, which are already producing components in Republic of India, we could already have begun producing new Ka-226Ts. Despite this delay, we hope that our partners have a firm intention to implement this project. Therefore, before moving on to the second part of the Make in India – Atmanirbhar Bharat, let’s see how the first one goes.

Anyway we will not write off these investments as losses, considering that there is demand for the assembly of helicopters in other countries, so we want to move forward.

We will naturally act based on commercial considerations and return the investments in one form or another.

Don’t you blame your potential rivals for the delay of Ka-226T project after

WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING A JOINT VENTURE IN INDIA FOR THREE YEARS NOW BETWEEN RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS, HAL AND ROSOBORONEXPORT. WE ARE STILL FINANCING THIS ENTERPRISE, BUT SADLY WE ARE NOT SEEING CONCRETE DECISIONS FROM OUR INDIAN COLLEAGUES TO PROCEED WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS you proposed to combine Indian Navy’s requirement of 100 utility helicopters with the 200 utility helicopters to be produced by your JV with HAL? I don’t see a point for speculating about the reasons for these delays from the business side of things. Of course we need to do our job.

And since we can do it efficiently, it is disappointing to see the project delayed, as we are a commercial organization and cannot drag out the process indefinitely. Our shareholders keep asking whether they will receive their money or not. Our French colleagues from Safran

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CANDID CONVERSATION

WE WANT ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ PROGRAM TO WORK OUT DESPITE IT IS A LONG PROCESS REQUIRING INVESTMENTS AND SERIOUS INVOLVEMENT. YES, IT IS DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE, BUT IT IS WORTH THE EFFORT

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also have a project delayed, so we are not the only ones waiting.

Safran has a joint venture with HAL and they supply engines for HAL Dhruv. If Dhruv is meant to replace Ka226T, so be it, but we need to have certainty, since we’re currently bearing expenses for the project. However, we want ‘Make in India’ program to work out despite it is a long process requiring investments and serious involvement. Yes, it is difficult and expensive, but it is worth the effort.

How is the deal for 10 Kamov Ka-31 for the Indian Navy is progressing?

Kindly provide some details?

I am unable to say anything as the negotiations are being conducted by main arms exporter Rosoboronexport (ROE).

What about global market presence of Russian Helicopters?

It is noteworthy that besides India, Russian

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Ka-52M combat helicopter which made its maiden flight in August.

The helicopter manufacturer had started the experimental design work on the Ka-52’s upgrade began last year, taking into account its combat deployment.

The Ka-52M’s missile armament has been standardized with the armament of another latest Mi-28NM helicopter, which has made it possible to considerably increase the range of striking targets.

(According to the Trade and Industry Ministry statement issued after maiden flight, the new Ka-52M helicopter features upgraded longer-range optoelectronic target detection and identification system, a

rotorcraft are in service in more than 70 countries in the West Asia, Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, Africa, CIS and Europe.

Despite the current global difficulties (COVID-19), the projections for export of Russian rotary-wing aircraft for the coming years are good. The world market isn’t saturated yet; quite the opposite, this niche is expanding.

On the orders of the Russian Defence Ministry, Russian Helicopters are upgrading Kamov

new digital drive that will help increase the aiming accuracy of the air gun. The upgraded helicopter also carries active phased array radar and a longerrange missile. The upgraded helicopter can operate in any temperatures, including in Arctic conditions. Its running gear is outfitted with wheels with a higher load-bearing capacity and wear resistance and the LED-based lighting equipment while the pilots’ cabin features a new interior.

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MUSINGS FROM RUSSIA

INDIA, RUSSIA POISED TO UPGRADE DEFENCE TIES

oscow. Delhi that it was committed to ensure India’s defence and keep its sensitivities in mind. These signals were first given to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in June, when he was in Moscow to attend the Victory Day Parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the Second World War in Europe.

Putting aside the established protocol Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov with his entire team called on Singh in his hotel to discuss bilateral defence cooperation and assure India that its military requirements will be promptly met. Besides this, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar had detailed parleys with Russian Deputy Defence Minister Col-Gen. Alexander Fomin on concrete issues of military supplies to India.

and not against any nation. Besides Russia-India-China (RIC) triangle, which also created conditions for talks between Indian and Chinese defence and foreign ministers to resolve LAC confrontation in larger global interests, New Delhi has also proposed an IndiaJapan-Russia triangle as the three nations share similar or common interests and concerns. The idea is that New Delhi joining Quad of US, Australia, Japan and India should be seen in a similar spirit and not as a challenge for Russia.

In his recently published book ‘The India Way’ EAM Jaishankar has specifically mentioned the need to “reassure” Russia besides engaging America and managing China. He has conceded: “refreshing India’s ties with Russia has required dedicated efforts.”

In this case we can say that these efforts were not in vain. Against the backdrop of Sino-Indian spat on LAC, Russia acted in the spirit of “special and privileged” strategic partnership with India. Russia, as the host, did not make any fuss over India’s withdrawal from Kavkaz-2020 military drills due to involvement of Chinese and Pakistani troops. On the contrary they quickly agreed to conduct joint naval drill on September 4-5 when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart were here for SCO defence ministers’ meet.

Due to COVID-19 pandemic the two friendly navies conducted the 11th edition of INDRA Navy-2020, in non-contact-sea only PASSEX drill in the area close to strategic Malacca Straits near Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

During his second Moscow visit in September to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting, Russian Defence Minister General Sergei Shoigu assured Rajnath

Apart from the proposed Reciprocal Logistics Support Agreement, providing seamless

As Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting India in October this year, the two countries are assured to take their defence and strategic relations to a new high with the signing of major defence agreements apart from marking the 20th anniversary of Strategic Partnership Declaration signed in October 2000

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inspecting Guard of Honour during his visit to Moscow recently

By VINAY SHUKLA

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Singh that Russia will not sell arms to Pakistan. On his part during talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Dr Jaishankar reassured Moscow that India’s vision of Indo-Pacific is inclusive

MAJOR DEFENCE DEALS EXPECTED

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Clockwise top: Mr Singh along with his SCO counterparts in a group photograph; S-400 Air Defence System; IAF’s Su-30MKI inflight

sailing and aviation support for the two countries’ navies and military aircraft at each other’s bases would be a major pact adding a new dimension to Indo-Russian defence cooperation. This acquires special importance in view of opening of northern shipping route passing through Russia’s mineral resources rich Arctic region. According to officials of the Federal Service for MilitaryTechnical Cooperation (FSMTC) with foreign lands the deal for the 21 MiG-29 along with upgradation of existing 59 MiG-29 aircraft and procurement of additional 12 Su30 MKI aircraft will be finalised this year. Earlier in July amid tension with China on LAC in Ladakh, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had approved the MiG-29 procurement and upgradation from Russia is estimated to cost Rs. 7,418 crore, the Su-30 MKI assembled from the Russian kits will be procured from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) at an estimated cost of Rs. 10,730 crore.

“We know that due to objective reasons, the Indian leadership decided to accelerate the allocation of funds for the purchase of the

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specified aircraft. Negotiations are already underway. We count on signing contracts, including for six Kamov Ka-31 naval helicopters, by the end of 2020,” FSMTC spokesperson Maria Vorobyova was quoted as saying by the local media.

Meanwhile, the two sides have agreed to operationalise joint venture (JV) at Korwa near Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, India for the production of advanced AK-203 automatic rifles to manufacture 700 thousand rifles for the Indian Army. The Indian team headed by the Secretary of Defence Production Raj Kumar had series of meetings with key defence industry officials to clinch deals for the production of spares and critical components for the Russian origin platforms under Make in India programme.

However, another big ticket deal for the 200 multi-role utility Ka226T helicopters offered in 2014 under Make in India policy still hangs in balance and the recent talks have failed to make any headway although Russian Helicopters have set up a JV with HAL. Russia has reconfirmed its commitment to deliver first batch of S-400 Triumf

advanced air defence system in 2021 and speed up the remaining deliveries ahead of schedule.

GULF MONARCHIES EYEING BRAHMOS

As India and Russia have agreed to allow the export of BrahMos antiship cruise missiles to “mutually friendly” countries, there are reports of some Gulf Monarchies taking interest in the product of BrahMos Aerospace JV – the crown jewel of Indo-Russian defence cooperation.

It is understood that BrahMos export decision was taken after fulfilling the orders of the Indian Armed Forces and work satisfactorily proceeding for the BrahMos NG – next generation missiles with speed over Mach 6 and extended range. According to local media reports, a version of BrahMos capable of destroying Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft is under development for indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter.

- The author is a Moscow-based independent analyst.

“YOU CAN EXPECT THE SIGNING OF MAJOR DEFENCE DEALS AND AGREEMENTS DURING PRESIDENT PUTIN’S INDIA VISIT IN OCTOBER” Indian Ambassador to Russia DB Venkatesh Varma on the sidelines of “Army-2020

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RAKSHA ANIRVEDA

GUEST COLUMN

RAISING OF FDI CAP IN DEFENCE ENTAILS COMPLICATIONS AMIT COWSHISH

S

even years after the Ministry of Commerce and Industry proposed raising of the cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) in defence to 74 per cent, this has become a reality. Following the Union Cabinet’s approval, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued a formal notification on September 17 raising the cap through the automatic route from 49 per cent to 74 per cent.

But this comes with a rider: the foreign investment will be subject to scrutiny on grounds of national security and the government reserves the right to review any foreign investment that affects national security. The way the clause is worded seems to imply that there would be a pre-investment scrutiny on grounds of national security and, in addition, the government may review the investment at any stage after it has been made on the same grounds. This seems to apply to all foreign investments in the defence sector.

The raising of the FDI cap

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Government’s objective should be to harmonise the imperatives to make the process easy and positively attracting foreign investors to invest their money under the increased FDI cap of 74 per cent in defence, however, it is not to say that there is no case for raising the FDI cap or the national security concerns are not important does not come as a surprise.

While announcing the fourth tranche of the fiscal package for rejuvenating the economy, savaged by the Covid-19 pandemic, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had indicated on May 16 that the FDI limit in the defence manufacturing sector under the automatic route will be so raised. What does come as a surprise, however, is the national security clause.

The FDI policy so far permitted FDI up to 49 per cent in the defence sector where the industry is subject to industrial licensing under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951, and for manufacturing of small arms and ammunition under the Arms Act, 1959.

Investment up to this limit was permitted through the automatic route, but any investment beyond it could be made only with the prior approval of the designated government agency wherever it was likely to result in access to ‘modern technology’ or for other reasons

THE WAY THE CLAUSE IS WORDED SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT THERE WOULD BE A PREINVESTMENT SCRUTINY ON GROUNDS OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND, IN ADDITION, THE GOVT MAY REVIEW THE INVESTMENT AT ANY STAGE AFTER IT HAS BEEN MADE ON THE SAME GROUNDS

considered justified by the agency to permit it.

These conditions have been retained for investments exceeding 74 per cent, which will now also be subject to the national security clause.

This is not as problematic as the fact that all investments below 74 per cent will also apparently be subject to the national security clause which, as mentioned earlier, could be applied before and after the investment is made. This creates a barrier which was not there earlier as these tasks cannot be left to be carried out by the investors on their own, not least because, besides being dynamic, the concept of national security is too difficult to define in specific terms.

These conditions attached to foreign investment may consequently end up introducing an element of uncertainty for the investors. As it is, the government has never clarified what constitutes ‘modern technology’ or what are the other grounds on which the government

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would be inclined to approve a proposal for, say 100 per cent FDI and now the investors will also have contend with the ambiguity surrounding the parameters of national security which may be applied for pre-investment scrutiny and post-investment review by the designated government agency.

The focus on FDI policy reforms, which anyway do not seem to make things easier for the prospective investors, distracts from the fact that even under the best of the policy regimes, the foreign investors may refrain from investing in the Indian defence sector unless there is a business case for it.

The signals coming from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) are confusing, even discouraging.

The emphasis on self-reliance is unexceptional but, in the absence of any categoric assurance from the MoD that all companies registered in India will be treated at par irrespective of the extent of foreign investment in them, this policy also narrows down the window of opportunity for the foreign companies considering investment in India.

The Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2016 that governs capital acquisitions for the armed forces and the Coast Guard virtually prohibits companies with FDI exceeding 49 per cent to participate in the projects under the Strategic Partnership Model (SPM) which, it may be recalled, has been designed by the MoD for mega projects involving manufacturing of aircraft, helicopters, submarines,

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armoured fighting vehicles, and the main battle tanks. Such companies are also ineligible to participate in the projects under the Make-I category.

There has to be a THE NATIONAL reasonable assurance for SECURITY CLAUSE, the foreign investor that the investee company WHICH COULD BE will be able to sell its APPLIED BEFORE products to the MoD, AND AFTER THE which is the only buyer INVESTMENT IS in the defence sector.

MADE, CREATES A But, given the frustrating BARRIER WHICH procedural complexities WAS NOT THERE and the persistent EARLIER AS THESE resource crunch faced TASKS CANNOT by the MoD, there can be BE LEFT TO BE no such assurance. True, CARRIED OUT BY the foreign companies THE INVESTORS can still invest for taking up smaller projects in ON THEIR OWN, which their participation NOT LEAST as prime vendors is not BECAUSE, BESIDES barred, but it remains to BEING DYNAMIC, be seen if this can bring THE CONCEPT in substantial investment.

OF NATIONAL It also remains to SECURITY IS TOO be seen if the foreign DIFFICULT TO companies would find DEFINE IN SPECIFIC it attractive enough to TERMS make heavy investments

in export-oriented ventures in the face of uncertain prospects of finding new markets for export. This would be evident from the current list of the largest importers of arms: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Australia, China, Algeria, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Qatar, and Pakistan. Some of these countries we cannot export to, even if they evince interest, whereas the others may prefer to buy from the already established sources of supply. It is not going to be easy to break into the established defence markets.

It is not to say that there is no case for raising the FDI cap or the national security concerns are not important, but these need to be harmonised with the imperatives of not only making it easy, but positively attractive, for the prospective foreign investors to consider India as a favoured destination for putting in their money, if indeed that is the government’s objective.

– The author is Ex-Financial Advisor (Acquisition), Ministry of Defence

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RAKSHA ANIRVEDA

BUSINESS INTERVIEW

‘PM’S VISION OF ‘ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT’ HAS RENEWED OUR FAITH IN INDIGENISATION AND WILL STEER THE FUTURE GROWTH’

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ecipient of Padma Bhushan award for contributions to Trade and Industry, Baba N. Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director – Bharat Forge Limited (Kalyani Group) is also known for his contribution in furthering trade and business cooperation between Sweden and India. He was made Commander First Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star by the Swedish government.

He attended BITS Pilani and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for his BE (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and MS respectively.

In an interview to PK Ghosh of Raksha Anirveda, he detailed out the Group’s diversification strategy to become a big electronics and embedded business systems leader over the years from a mechanical company.

Edited excerpts:

Kalyani Group is a diversified group. Tell us about the important growth drivers you foresee in your defence business despite the pandemic adverse impact. Do you see your group to be on course to position itself as a major defence player globally by year 2025?

If you see world over, most defence companies have a history in metal and metallurgy. We have followed the same route, and defence for us has been the most natural diversification. I see our defence business growing tremendously in near future. We have conceptualised ourselves as a partner of the Indian Armed Forces to produce systems and components that India needs, and using the same capability to supply similar products to certain global markets. The company continues on its growth 58

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trajectory in the defence segment by diversifying into additional business opportunities, while maintaining Artillery systems and Protected Vehicles as its mainstay. The pandemic may have been a dampener for some time, but it has also been a major learning curve making the country realise the importance of self-reliance. The recent slew of positive policy changes announced by MoD is a reflection of same and has given us tremendous hope. The preference which the recently released draft DAP 2020 lays on indigenisation and indigenous products has the potential to change the face of defence production competency in this country.

The minimum indigenous content required across procurement categories is a promising 50 per cent. The government is also targeting over US$5

billion exports in defence production by 2025. The import embargo list is another milestone done right. All of these present huge opportunities for domestic companies including ours. Above call, our PM’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ has renewed our faith in indigenisation and will steer the future growth.

Diversification is the key component in today’s business, and Bharat Forge too has transformed itself with time. How has been your experience with regards to transforming your business from mechanical to electronics and embedded business systems?

The company has meticulously derisked its business model by diversifying into multiple industries such as Automotive, Defence, Aerospace, Oil

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and Gas, Mining and Construction, Power, E-mobility, etc. Apart from industrial diversification, the company has also diversified geographically with a global presence in five countries. We continue to evaluate and add new geographies and new customers to our portfolio.

Diversification across industries has helped us in creating resilience during downturns. A wider global footprint ensures that the impact of countryspecific shocks becomes minimal. Over the last decade, we have worked towards revenue diversification, investing for the future and capability enhancement while simultaneously strengthening the balance sheet. As we transform our business from mechanical into electronics and embedded system business, we are bringing entire capabilities of our group at a place to make it interactive, where we get knowledge from a domain and replicate in the other to create extraordinary solutions.

Kalyani Group is following Three-horizon strategy. What is it all about? Please elaborate?

Technology and innovation have been the cornerstones of the Kalyani Group story, and the three horizon strategy is a consolidation in that direction. In horizon1, we focus on existing products and capabilities which can be supplied to existing and new customers. In horizon2, the strategy is to supply newly developed products.

We have made investments towards these developments so that in the next three to four years when these technologies or products come in mainstream, we can localise and supply unique and proprietary solutions to our Indian and global customers. In horizon3, we work towards advance technology development – combining electronics and mechanical capabilities internally and other domain specific knowledge, and innovate.

The government has taken many proactive steps and policy measures to realize the long

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Bharat Forge Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS)

cherished dream of self-reliance (atmanirbharta) in defence. In realistic terms, the result so far has been below par. What are the major pain points that still act as barrier?

Do you think that by next decade India will be able to achieve its selfreliance goal? Your views?

I say this with much confidence that yes India will be able to achieve its self-reliance goal by the next decade. See, defence industry is highly technology driven arena. Here you will find the most advanced technologies having huge learning curve and which need niche expertise and skills. There is a whole ecosystem which needs to be created with various stake holders comprising of government, research institutes, academia, production units, etc. World over, the developed countries have become self-reliant in defence technologies and production after decades of research and work.

Comparatively, Indian private industry has been exposed to defence production very recently. The good thing is that we have realised the importance of self-reliance and have

started working towards its realisation.

Look at all these recent announcements – they are making up for all the time lost and shaking off the long set inertia from the system. The private sector adapts itself better to rapidly changing technology - and with continued government support, it will help India realise its dream of becoming Atmanirbhar.

According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Atmanirbhar Bharat does not mean that India has to be self-reliant in the manufacturing sector on its own rather it paves the way for codevelopment and co-partnership with global companies to achieve self-reliance, particularly in aerospace and defence sector. Your opinion?

You are right. The idea is to move away from being a mere manufacturing hub to a technology holding, IP owning country. But, it will be foolhardy to say that we will not indulge in global technology collaborations and investments. Given the capital and technology intensive

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BUSINESS INTERVIEW nature of defence industry and the present maturity level of our defence ecosystem, global partnerships for R&D, codevelopment and innovation will play a substantial role in helping us achieve Atmanirbharta.

You have invested a lot in defence business and have joint ventures with Rafael Israel and others.

Earlier this year, you partnered with JSC Arsenal and Paramount Group.

Additionally, you have invested in start-ups like Aeron Systems and HoloSuit.

How well this multi-faceted investments have worked and do you plan to invest more in near future?

Over a period of about eight to nine years we Mine Protected Vehicle -MPV have created a very large portfolio, which spans across Artillery Bharat Forge is developing four Guns, Protected Vehicles, Air Defence platforms of artillery gun, all Systems, Ammunition, Small Arms and 100 per cent indigenous. Last month, Defence Electronics. We are now well one platform of the artillery gun poised to venture into additional fields underwent final user trials. Can you of Marine products, small Jet Engines, elaborate on the progressive Product improvements/upgrades, etc. development outcome of this artillery To deliver these solutions, we are gun and other platforms that are continuously enhancing our under various stages of trials? What engineering expertise, integration are your expectations and future advantage, and innovation capabilities. outlook with regards to defence Accordingly, investments have been orders pipeline including exports made by the group to develop and order?

Yes, ATAGS is inching towards the manufacture next-generation weapons final stages of user trials. It has and defence systems. The aim of investments in defence startups is to performed extremely well in all its trials imbibe technologies and build and has demonstrated its superior competencies in Augmented Reality consistency, accuracy and range. We are (AR), RF Systems, INS, Artificial very satisfied with its trials performance.

Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics, Even in the latest trials held at Pokhran etc. Similarly, all our partnerships with in early September, BFL version fired global majors offer us complementing beautifully and without any glitch capabilities which further our purpose whatsoever. DRDO has done some of creating world class defence fantastic work with its design, and the products. These acquisitions and quality of the manufacturing is parpartnerships are our capability excellence. Look at some of its enhancing tools and we continue to parameters - it far outweighs its competition. It offers higher range, is invest in them.

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fully automated and can shoot and scoot. A robust battlefield solution, which I am sure will become the backbone of Indian Artillery in future.

Other than ATAGS, we have developed a series of 155mm/52/45/39 cal and 105/37 cal guns which include ultra-light howitzers and mounted platforms.

More importantly, we have acquired and developed all kinds of soft skills and hard skills when it comes to Artillery technologies.

We have all the knowledge about the metal, the metallurgy, the ballistics, the pressure curves in the barrels, the structural force, the recoil pressure that comes on the gun and the system architecture. We know the nuts and bolts of how a gun works. So we have both technology and technology understanding. That I feel is our biggest achievement. This gives us a clear edge and made us the pioneers of Artillery in the country. All our gun systems are under various stages of extensive trials, even during this COVID times.

We hope that once all these trials are done the orders will be placed. Defence procurements are a long-drawn process and it has to follow its own cycle. We are also looking at the global markets for our products.

Kalyani M4

What are your plans for Aero India 2021? Kindly provide insights into the product offerings you would be showcasing at the event?

Our technology centre at Bengaluru has been doing some very exciting work in jet engines and have ab-initio developed a series of 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg thrust jet engines.

These will be on display during the aero show along with some key products from KRAS and new offerings from our aerospace vertical.

10/12/2020 7:35:30 AM

BUSINESS INITIATIVE

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ASR-NG DEPLOYABLE COMBINES SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE WITH AIR TRANSPORTABILITY

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SR-NG Deployable from HENSOLDT, the leading independent sensor house, is a rapidly deployable ATC radar complying to ICAO, Eurocontrol and safety standards for civil and military ATC. It capitalizes on the superior detection performance and accuracy of the stationary ASR-NG variant. It is contained within two 20 foot ISO containers, and is easily transportable by rail or road, or in one C-130 type aircraft. The radar delivers an air picture to controllers within 6 hours of deployment. The ASR-NG Deployable is in full-scale production.

“The versatility of our new product combined with ASR-NG’s superior performance makes it ideally suited for ATC purposes in joint and combined missions of expeditionary units”, explains HENSOLDT-CEO Thomas Müller. “Thus, it improves the efficiency of combined air, ground and naval forces while contributing to safe operations and avoidance of friendly fire.”

ASR-NG consists of an integrated primary and secondary radar system. The primary radar helps to detect non-cooperative objects such as small aircraft that do not have transponders or hostile aircraft.

It is based on a semiconductor transmitter and includes special signal processing techniques for wide-area surveillance and windfarm mitigation. The secondary radar, MSSR 2000 ID, ensures the automatic identification of cooperative aircraft. This secondary radar meets the new “Mode S/ Mode 5” air traffic control standard, which greatly improves aircraft identification queries and is currently being introduced in all NATO and allied forces.

HENSOLDT supplies customers from all over the world with air

traffic control and identification systems for military and civilian applications.

ABOUT HENSOLDT

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electronics. Based in Taufkirchen near Munich, the company is a German Champion with strategic leadership positions in the field of sensor solutions for defence and non-defence applications.

HENSOLDT develops new products to combat a wide range of threats based on innovative approaches to data management, robotics and cyber security. With approximately 5,500 employees, HENSOLDT generated revenues of 1.11 billion euros in 2019.

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COVER STORY: IAF DAY SPECIAL

IAF CELEBRATES 88TH BIRTHDAY WITH LATEST INDUCTION OF RAFALE IN ITS ARSENAL Indian Air Force is celebrating its 88th birthday with the induction of French fighter jet Rafale into the service which provides much needed leverage to counter the adversaries on the borders

By SRI KRISHNA

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s the Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrates its 88th year of birth on October 8, 2020, it has indeed been a watershed year for the world’s fourth largest Air Force with a strength of about 1,500 aircraft and 1,70,000 personnel or air warriors who have covered themselves with glory and continue to play a critical role in both civilian and defence sector guarding the nation. The force took a major stride this year in the midst of raging COVID 19 as it inducted the French fighter aircraft Rafale with five of them touching down at the Ambala Air Force base on July 27 amid a rousing welcome and comes at a time when the borders with both the neighbours – China and Pakistan – remain tense.

Indian Ambassador to France Arun K. Singh (C) in the Rafale cockpit during a delivery ceremony with Dassault Aviation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Eric Trappier (R) and Thales Executive Vice President, Defence Mission Systems, Pierre Eric Pommellet

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Mrs Florence Parly as Chief Guest formally inducted the aircraft in a ceremony held at Ambala Air Force Station to mark the Rafales’ induction into the service of IAF on September 10.

So far, India has bought 36 twin-engine fighter planes from Dassault Rafale for an estimated cost of Rs 58,000 crore, through an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) signed in 2016.

The air warriors have through the five wars that the country fought since Independence lived up to their motto “Touch the sky with the glory.”

The first IAF Day was observed in 1932. It has been celebrated with incredible energy and intensity nationwide at different air stations.

The enactment of the IAF Act 1932 marked the auxiliary status and enforced the adoption of the Royal Air Force uniforms, badges, and brevets. On April 1, 1933, the IAF commissioned its first

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IAF’S JOURNEY FROM BIPLANES TO MMRCA

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rom biplanes to the long awaited French Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) Rafale which joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) rated as the fourth largest air force in the world, it has indeed been a long 88 year old journey. The force has during this period and specially since Independence seen action in four wars and covered itself with glory. Though it is still short of its full strength of 42 squadron, the exercise to boost it to this level is on and the focus has been on acquiring as many of the aircraft from indigenous industry and it is the force which has truly lived up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan of Atmanirbhar Bharat and continues to make strides in this direction.

In the prevailing scenario with tension along both the Sino-Indian border in the northern region of Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as also Line of Control (LOC) with Pakistan which continues to push in terrorists into the Union Territory

squadron, No 1 Squadron, with four Westland Wapiti biplanes and five Indian pilots. The Indian pilots were led by British Royal Air Force (RAF) Commanding Officer Flight Lieutenant (later Air Vice Marshal) Cecil Bouchier.

After Independence in 1947, the name Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) served in the name of Dominion of India. In 1950, with the government’s transition to a Republic, the prefix Royal was removed.

The IAF has not only played the

IAF’s Su-30MKI

of Jammu and Kashmir and colluding with China, the role of the IAF does gain prominence.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, exudes confidence that the air warriors can face any type of situation including a twofront war which has been much talked about.

He has been a strong votary of indigenisation in platforms for the Air Force and also recently test-flew the prototype Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) giving a clear signal of a new, positive attitude in the IAF. Bhadauria who took over as the 26th Chief of Air Staff (COAS) on September 30, 2019, it has been challenging times on the borders and the IAF has been on the alert 24X7 and it was under his command that the Rafale aircraft joined the IAF amid heated debate in the political arena.

role of defending the nation but also in times of natural disasters given a major helping hand to the civil authorities and captured the hearts of the civilian population who would be ever grateful.

Among the major operations undertaken by the IAF include Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactus, and Operation Poomalai.

The air warriors have indeed played an exemplary role in UN operations worldwide, the annexation of Goa from Portugal,

It is to the credit of the Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria that he gave a clear signal of a new, positive attitude in the IAF towards indigenous aircraft, when he test-flew the prototype HTT-40 at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in Bengaluru.

and various wars with Pakistan and also as the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat, the IAF too has been taking major strides towards having its weaponry made indigenously though of course the first Indian developed fighter aircraft is HAL’s HF-24 Marut. It is the first in Asia to go beyond the test phase.

Ever since Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria took over as the 26th Chief of Air Staff (COAS) on September 30, 2019, it has been challenging times on the borders and the IAF has been on the alert 24X7 and it was under his command that the Rafale aircraft joined the IAF amid heated debate in the political arena.

It is to the credit of the Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria that he gave a clear signal of a new, positive attitude in the Indian Air Force (IAF) towards indigenous aircraft, when he test-flew the prototype Hindustan Turbo Trainer – 40 (HTT40) at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in Bengaluru.

Bhadauria became the

THE IAF HAS NOT ONLY PLAYED THE ROLE OF DEFENDING THE NATION BUT ALSO IN TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTERS GIVEN A MAJOR HELPING HAND TO THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES AND CAPTURED THE HEARTS OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION WHO WOULD BE EVER GRATEFUL

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COVER STORY: IAF DAY SPECIAL IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria inside HTT-40 cockpit

HAL’s LCA Tejas

BHADAURIA BECAME THE FIRST SERVING IAF CHIEF TO FLY AN HALDEVELOPED AIRCRAFT AT THE PROTOTYPE STAGE. AN ACCOMPLISHED TEST PILOT WHO HAS TEST-FLOWN THE TEJAS FIGHTER, WAS TAKEN THROUGH THE GRUELLING “SIX-SPIN ROUTINE” IN WHICH THE HTT-40 PROTOTYPE WAS ALLOWED TO SPIN SIX TIMES BEFORE THE PILOT RECOVERED IT INTO LEVEL FLIGHT

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first serving IAF chief to fly an HAL-developed aircraft at the prototype stage. An accomplished test pilot who has test-flown the Tejas fighter, was taken through the gruelling “six-spin routine” in which the HTT-40 prototype was allowed to spin six times before the pilot recovered it into level flight.

Among the various types of aircraft currently in the inventory of the IAF include MiG series, Sukhoi Su-30, HAL Tejas, SEPECAT Jaguar, Boeing 707, Ilyushin series, Helicopters like HAL Dhruv, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance and surveillance and missiles with the latest induction being the French fighter Rafale.

Even though women being inducted into the armed forces is not a new concept, but their employment in the Indian Armed Forces is a practice that has been adopted in the last just over two and a half decades.

The IAF started inducting women as Transport and Helicopter pilots in 1994. These officers have also performed well irrespective of job content, including in missions related to disaster management.

In 2015 a decision was taken

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HAL Dhruv Advance Light Helicopters

to induct women as fighter pilots and they are currently under training. Modern air combat involves management of aircraft systems and in this digital age, one may not even see the enemy in the air before shooting him or her down with beyond visual range missiles. Fighter pilots need to be physically and mentally fit to withstand high ‘G’ forces while manoeuvring and be skillful enough to get into a position of advantage to shoot down the enemy in the event of a situation of close combat.

There was another feather in the cap of the IAF as Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh is set to become the first woman fighter pilot of India to fly the Rafale combat aircraft.

Shivangi Singh, who hails from Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the year 2017 as part of the second batch of women fighter pilots In the final analysis, it is really not a contest of skills between male and female fighter jockeys as female pilots flying transport and helicopters in the IAF have adequately proved their mettle and in no way are they less competent than their male counterparts.

The induction of women into the IAF has enabled to double the base from which the officer cadre of the IAF is selected. Gradually the number of women officers is increasing.

– The writer is a senior journalist and media consultant.

10/12/2020 7:35:41 AM

DEFENCE PRODUCTION

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DAC ACCORDS PROCUREMENT PROPOSAL WORTH OVER `11,000 CRORE IN TWO TRANCHE IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER

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ew Delhi. In a boost to domestic defence production as well as for fulfilling the Indian Armed Forces requirement from foreign players, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting held under the Chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on September 28 approved proposals for Capital acquisitions of various equipment at an approximate cost of Rs 2,290 crore. These procurements will be completed from domestic

industry as well as Foreign vendors.

Under the Buy Indian (IDDM) category, the DAC approved procurement of Static HF Tans-receiver sets and Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW). The HF radio sets will enable seamless communication for the field units of Indian Army and Indian Air Force and are being procured at an approximate cost of Rs 540 crore.

The Smart Anti Airfield Weapon being procured at an approximate cost of Rs 970 crore will add to the fire power of Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

Further, to equip the Frontline Troops of the Army, the DAC also accorded approval for procurement of SIG SAUER Assault Rifles at an approximate cost of Rs 780 crore. Earlier on August 11, to strengthen the Armed Forces by relying on indigenous capability to take forward

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the initiative on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the DAC had accorded approval for capital acquisitions of various platforms and equipment worth Rs 8,722.38 crore.

With Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) having successfully developed Basic Trainer Aircraft (HTT-40) Prototypes and certification process underway, the DAC approved procurement of 106 Basic Trainer Aircraft to address the basic training requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Post Certification 70 Basic Trainer Aircraft will be initially procured from HAL and balance 36 after the operationalisation of HTT-40 fleet in IAF. As far as the Indian Navy is concerned, to improve its fire power,

the DAC approved procurement of an upgraded version of Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM), which is fitted as the main gun onboard the Navy and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) warships, from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The upgraded version of SRGM has enhanced capability to perform against fast manoeuvring targets like missiles and Fast Attack Crafts (FACs), and increase the maximum engagement range.

In view of the availability of requisite capability for indigenous development of the ammunition, both in terms of ‘Manufacturing’ and ‘Technology’, the DAC approved procurement of 125 mm APFSDS (Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot) ammunition for Indian Army as a ‘Design and Development Case’. The ammunition being procured will have a 70 per cent indigenous content. The Defence Acquisition Council also gave approvals that are likely to speed up the procurement of AK-203 assault rifles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) upgrades..

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DEEP DIVE

CAN IAF GROW ON INDIGENISATION? The MKII version of twin-engine aircraft Tejas could be a choice, and become the mainstay of the IAF to meet its dire need of fighter squadrons with the depleting number of serviceability aircraft, but can HAL deliver the numbers and in time? Can IAF Grow on Indigenisation? Such questions need concrete answers

By AIR MARSHAL DHIRAJ KUKREJA (RETD) The serious eyeball-to-eyeball face-off between the armies of India and China in Aksai Chin, Ladakh, has forced a substantial mobilisation of other two Services from both sides. Defence analysts the world over, arm-chair strategists mainly in India, and propaganda media in China - are closely comparing the strengths and weaknesses of the militaries of the two sides across the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Under these circumstances there is a need to examine the state and growth plan of Indian Air Force (IAF) through indigenisation.

Indian Air Force Rafale on ground

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There are two reasons for why only the IAF is being examined here – one, that the IAF has recently taken delivery of five Rafale aircraft on July 29, which have now been officially inducted into service in September. The second reason is that since the IAF’s 88th anniversary falls on October 8, it is hence but natural that the IAF would be in the limelight and its capabilities examined threadbare.

There is actually a third reason too: having been a ‘man in blue’ for almost 40 years, the IAF is close to my heart, and my heart bleeds for the IAF! Before proceeding any further, it is imperative to understand the need for building up the combat aircraft strength. It needs to be kept in mind that the IAF is at an all-time low squadron strength; as against the authorised 42 squadrons, the IAF is at 30 (may be even 29) with every possibility of the numbers going down further if some more squadrons are allowed to phase out because of low availability of serviceable aircraft.

With China breathing down our neck in Ladakh with surreptitious moves in other sectors all along the LAC, and its protégé, Pakistan, ever keen to needle India on the Western border, the IAF has to be prepared to simultaneously face two adversaries. Hence, the need to grow in numbers!

How is it that the IAF landed up in such a critical situation? It was two decades ago, in 2001, that the government was first apprised by the IAF of the need to acquire additional fighters. IAF at that stage was content to have been offered an upgraded version of the Mirage 2000; the option finally got foreclosed in 2006, when Dassault closed the Mirage 2000 production-line after repeatedly checking with India and receiving no firm commitment. The process to acquire 126 Medium Multi-Role

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Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) was then initiated in 2007; the French Dassault Rafale was announced as the decisive choice in 2011, after an aggressive competition among the world’s top available aircraft manufacturers, years of lobbying by foreign governments, and extensive trials by the test pilots of IAF to check on the advertised capabilities of each aircraft that was on offer.

Whether the aircraft was to be manufactured by the private sector, or by HAL, almost placed the entire scheme in a limbo once again. Finally, the IAF, in a do-or-die bid to acquire new aircraft, placed its report to the Government of India (GoI) of the dire straits that it was in, leading to 36 Rafale aircraft being contracted for in 2016 in a direct governmentto-government sale; five aircraft, as aforementioned, have been delivered, with subsequent deliveries of similar numbers every quarter or so, completing the delivery by 2022.

Meanwhile the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), christened as ‘Tejas’, and having a very chequered history, appeared on the scene. The programme, which commenced in the 1980s with an aim to replace the ageing MiG-21 aircraft, had its first flight in 2001. The delayed Design and Development (D&D) programme, and the aircraft’s first flight after nearly 20 years, have been the main reasons for only around 20 aircraft to be delivered to the IAF thus far. The first squadron was formed in 2016, and the second LCA squadron has just been formed in May this year.

Delayed acquisition in sufficient numbers of fourth generationplus fighters and slow induction of the LCA are the main cause of the depleted state that IAF fight fleet is in today. By 2022, IAF will at best have a third LCA squadron,

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IAF’s MiG-21

HAL’s LCA Tejas

and two of Rafale aircraft, while waiting to phase out are at least five squadrons. The numbers could, therefore, deplete further, if the IAF is unable to meet the serviceability requirements of its old fleets. The induction of C-130J, and the C-17 aircraft in the transport fleet in the recent past, and the Apache and Chinook helicopters in the last two months have placed these two fleets in a comfortable position.

As the IAF goes in for subdued celebrations of its 88th anniversary, due to the ongoing pandemic, the Prime Minister (PM) has exhorted the entire country to go in for products “Made in India”.

This has been his pet project since

2014, specially for manufacturing in the defence sector, but never really took root. Now, during the pandemic, his ‘war cry’ for “Go Vocal for Local” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, has invigorated the people’s thinking, and from simple gaming-apps on mobile phones to big-ticket manufacturing is being looked into and has also taken-off in some sectors.

While addressing a seminar on self-reliance organised by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the PM urged the Armed Forces to reduce imports and purchase Indian products with confidence. He also dwelt on the need to make the country a defence-manufacturing hub with active involvement of

PM MODI HAS EXHORTED THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO GO IN FOR PRODUCTS “MADE IN INDIA”. NOW, DURING THE PANDEMIC, HIS ‘WAR CRY’ FOR “GO VOCAL FOR LOCAL” AND “ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT” HAS INVIGORATED THE PEOPLE’S THINKING, AND FROM SIMPLE GAMING-APPS ON MOBILE PHONES TO BIG-TICKET MANUFACTURING IS BEING LOOKED INTO AND HAS ALSO TAKENOFF IN SOME SECTORS

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DEEP DIVE

Indian Air Force Chinook

HAL’s Light Combat Helicopter

MANUFACTURING OF THE TEJAS MKII BE ACCELERATED, AND IF POSSIBLE, UNDER THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP POLICY BETWEEN HAL AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND THIS WILL BE A BOOST TO INDIGENISATION

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the private sector in Research and Development (R&D) too. While the private sector was permitted into the much-restricted area of defence manufacturing, as far back as 2003, results have not been very encouraging. Off-therecord, main reason aired for not encouraging the private sector into defence manufacturing is national security; it is ironical, that while the Indian private sector is not egged on, foreign private vendors can sell their goods to the Indian Armed Forces and police forces, from aircraft to rifles!

Whither national security?

Much euphoria and hype has been generated with the induction of Rafale aircraft. One needs to understand that IAF’s acquisitions are an ongoing process for modernising and growth of its fleets, which are

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diminishing in quality and quantity due to obsolescence and attrition. There is a definite urgency to replace the old MiG21, MiG-23, and MiG-27 fleets by a high-technology aircraft in the immediate foreseeable future.

While the IAF would prefer a twin-engine aircraft the MKII version of the Tejas could be a choice, and could also become the mainstay of the IAF, but can HAL deliver the numbers and in time?

The present under-developed version, the time needed to develop the newer MKII version, and the HAL output, will keep the IAF in a state of anxiety, as new aircraft from foreign vendors will not be encouraged. It is, therefore, imperative that manufacture of the Tejas MKII be accelerated, and if possible, under the strategic partnership policy between HAL and the private sector.

It is not just an aircraft that the IAF desires; aero-engines are also in great demand. The technology is one of the closely-held secrets and to get an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to part with it through technical collaboration is an extremely difficult task, almost next to impossible.

Development of high-performance alloys and materials has been done for a very successful Indian space programme, but sadly, has

been lacking in the aero-engine manufacturing programme.

The Kaveri aero-engine project of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has failed to take-off.

French collaboration to upgrade this engine also seems to have lost steam. Home-grown talent or Indian talent searched from abroad, with development of highperformance alloys and materials, could lead to a breakthrough in this another ‘hot’ project.

Only a few countries dominate the world aerospace manufacturing domain. Aerospace technologies are state-of-the-art, involving high manufacturing accuracies and large investments.

Notwithstanding the optimism created by Atmanirbhar push, India’s success in space programmes, and huge military aviation demands, the defence aerospace sector, however, continues to be ‘work-in-extremely-slowprogress’(Emphasis intentional).

Notwithstanding the recent increase in FDI, and the permission to the private sector to enter the defence manufacturing since long, the MoD seems to be throttling itself with self-denial by constantly shifting goal-posts for the private sector; a sector which has been acclaimed globally into aero-space manufacturing.

Is the reader aware that the ‘Marine One’, the Sikorsky-92 helicopter that the US president flies, has its cabin manufactured in Hyderabad by a Tata company – or the Chinooks and Apache helicopters have their cabins also made by the Indian private sector? The best aircraft manufacturing companies in the world have acknowledged the capacity and capabilities of the Indian private sector.

When will we wake up?

–The writer is an Air Force veteran.

10/12/2020 7:35:44 AM

NEWS ROUND UP WITH GOVT’S FOCUS ON ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT DPSU BHARAT ELECTRONICS UPBEAT ON DEFENCE BUSINESS Bengaluru: With the government’s focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat, defence public sector undertaking (DPSU) Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is upbeat about its business prospects in the defence sector though it’s facing the prospect of short-term adverse impact out of COVID-19. In fact, the Bangalorebased defence PSU was sitting on an order book of Rs 51,973 crore as on April 1 this year, according to company officials. Defence contributed 82 per cent of sales revenue of BEL in 2019-20, up from 68 per cent in the previous fiscal.

The remaining 18 per cent revenue came from the non-defence sector.

BAE SYSTEMS CONTINUES MISSION-CRITICAL F-35 EW SYSTEM PRODUCTION New Delhi. BAE Systems has been awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin for the production and delivery of additional electronic warfare (EW) systems for Lot 15, Lot 16 long lead, sustainment spares and retro fit kits for the 5th Generation F-35 Lightning II, providing advanced situational awareness and threat response capabilities that support critical missions in contested airspace. The contract follows BAE Systems’ production and delivery of more than 500 EW systems for the F-35 as a key system partner, matching Lockheed Martin’s airframe production.

BAE Systems supports all stages of the product’s lifecycle, from development and production to sustainment. The company is actively designing and developing new capabilities to enhance the system’s offensive and defensive capabilities, and maintains its readiness for warfighters under a performance-based logistics sustainability contract.

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DEFENCE MINISTER RAJNATH SINGH ANNOUNCES IMPORT BAN ON 101 DEFENCE ITEMS New Delhi. In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on self reliance or Atmanirbar Bharat Initiative, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a major step in the defence sector to boost indigenous weapons over expensive foreign ones, by announcing import embargo on 101 items.

This move is part of the government’s efforts to boost domestic defence equipment manufacturers and the Prime Minister’s “vocal for local” and place Indian goods in the world market.

It is estimated that contracts worth almost Rs four lakh crore will be placed upon the domestic industry within the next six to seven years. Of these, items worth almost Rs 1,30,000 crore each are anticipated for the Army and the Air Force while items worth almost Rs 1,40,000 crore are anticipated by the Navy over the same period. Almost 260 schemes of such items were contracted by the Tri-Services at an approximate cost of Rs 3.5 lakh crore between April 2015 and August 2020, said the Defence Minister.

“This strategic step will accelerate the Atmanirbhar Bharat narrative and bolster Indian defence equipment manufacturing industry. The growth of the domestic industry, especially the MSME sector, will lead to self-reliance, reduced expenditure on imports, saving of foreign currency, creating job opportunities, revival of consumption and ultimately getting us closer to the common goal of US$5 trillion economy. We are committed and will support the Indian Government achieve the goal,” The list includes, wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) with indicative import embargo date of December 2021, of which the Indian Army is expected to contract almost 200 items at an approximate cost of over Rs 5,000 crore.

Similarly, the Navy is likely to place demands for submarines with indicative import embargo date of December 2021, of which it expects to contract about six at an approximate cost of almost

Rs 42,000 crore. For the Air Force, it is decided to enlist the light combat aircraft LCA MK 1A with an indicative embargo date of December 2020. Of these, 123 are anticipated at an approximate cost of over Rs 85,000 crore.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the list will be expanded or updated periodically, without compromising on the operational requirements of the armed forces, to allow lead-time to the domestic industry to prepare itself for any such procurement orders likely to come up subsequent to the indicated embargo.

The list of 101 embargoed items range from some types of ammunition, sonars and radars to artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, transport aircraft and light combat helicopters, among others.

Welcoming the move by the government, Baba Kalyani, CMD, Bharat Forge, said: “This strategic step will accelerate the Atmanirbhar Bharat narrative and bolster Indian defence equipment manufacturing industry. The growth of the domestic industry especially the MSME sector, will lead to self-reliance, reduced expenditure on imports, saving of foreign currency, creating job opportunities, revival of consumption and ultimately getting us closer to the common goal of US$5 trillion economy. We are committed and will support the Indian Government achieve the goal.”

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MISSION ATMANIRBHARTA Indian Air Force Apache AH-64E

WITH 88TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY, IAF HAS MAJOR ROLE TO PLAY FOR INDIA’S ATMANIRBHARTA The IAF has major role to play in making an Atmanirbhar Bharat with the help of indigenous industry’s production of AMCA, Tejas Mk 2, and the Mk 1 A and strengthen India’s strategic autonomy

By AIR MARSHAL M MATHESWARAN (RETD)

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he Indian Air Force, as it celebrates its 89th Founding Day on October 8 this year, is one of the oldest and powerful Air Forces of the world.

Given the current situation in Ladakh where Indian and Chinese forces, deployed in significant strengths, face each other with considerable potential for conflict escalation, the IAF has its task cut out. Despite the continuing depletion in fighter squadron strength, the IAF has significant capability to ensure a favourable local balance of power.

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The induction of the first set of Rafale aircraft has served to boost the fighter power and projection. Over the last decade, the IAF has transformed its airlift and expeditionary capabilities.

The recent operationalisation of Chinooks, Apaches, armed ALHs, and the latest induction of LCH gives it a significant boost to its helicopter operations and heli-combat capabilities.

Its networking capabilities and armed UAVs add a major dimension to its operations in the current scenario against China.

CONCERN ON IAF’S FORCE STRUCTURE

Considering the heightened tensions on the Sino-Indian border, current gaps in IAF’s force structure is of concern, notwithstanding the Rafale induction. In a way, heightened tensions can be seen from a positive angle. It has revealed the

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ruthless geopolitical environment around us, unreliability of China, and highlighted the need for strong military power and the need to transform our approach to an aggressive military strategy to deter China and Pakistan. It is time India adopt an airpower intensive and active-defence strategy. The need to accelerate the recovery of IAF’s combat squadron strength to its full complement of 42 squadrons is vital and never more urgent.

This is easier said than done given the fact that the country is going through its worst health crisis from the COVID pandemic, significant economic downturn, an unemployment crisis, all these converging to make funding prioritisation a difficult and challenging exercise for the government. Both the Air Force and the Navy are characterised by capital-intensive equipment and in most cases, they are importdependent. Hence, modernisation plans tend to get derailed for want of adequate capital allocation.

For too long, our self-reliance and indigenisation strategies have failed to bear fruit for want of coherent strategies with continuity and accountability. The IAF can lead the way in addressing this perennial problem with a radically different approach.

India’s 5th-Gen fighter jet ‘AMCA’ to get 6th-Gen tech

ACHIEVING THE ESSENTIALS OF ATMANIRBHAR Quite simply ‘Atmanirbhar’ is self-reliance. But in the past ‘self-reliance’ was seen as being able to make everything within the country, which was neither economically viable nor did it make any sense. Atmanirbhar should be rooted in the strength of economic viability and the importance of control over critical technologies. ‘Make in India’ has driven home the importance of defence exports.

Combining the two, India’s investments in research and development should be directed

THE RECENT OPERATIONALISATION OF CHINOOKS, APACHES, ARMED ALHS, AND THE LATEST INDUCTION OF LCH GIVES IAF A SIGNIFICANT BOOST TO ITS HELICOPTER OPERATIONS AND HELI-COMBAT CAPABILITIES. ITS NETWORKING CAPABILITIES AND ARMED UAVS ADD A MAJOR DIMENSION TO ITS OPERATIONS IN THE CURRENT SCENARIO AGAINST CHINA towards those identified critical technologies on which India should not be import-dependent, while products with noncritical technologies could be manufactured in partnership with foreign OEMs for Indian and global markets. A well-crafted long-term strategy can translate India into a net exporter of weapon systems.

IAF CAN BECOME THE MOST IMPORTANT DRIVER FOR ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT

Boeing’s Chinook inflight

IAF should be looking to induct between 300 and 400 aircraft over the next 20 years. One of the biggest failures of Indian defence development and

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MISSION ATMANIRBHARTA THE IAF SHOULD ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF THE MK 2, AND THE DECISION ON THE URGENTLY NEEDED 114 MRCA (WHICH PROBABLY SHOULD BE 200+)

production has been the problem of an excessively long time of development compounded by inadequate data from operational utilisation of the equipment, which is necessary for improving and developing successive variants. This must be addressed if ‘Atmanirbhar’ does not go the way of past such exercises.

Let us look at the fighter aircraft alone. The LCA ‘Tejas Mk 1’ has just entered the service. By 2022 the batch of 40 Tejas Mk 1s should have been produced and supplied. Operational upgrade from IOC to FOC of the first 20 aircraft should also be in place by 2022. Additionally, a reasonable level of user feedback data should be driving the finetuning and improvements in the 83 Tejas Mk 1As that will

IAF Advanced Light Helicopter

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follow. Although HAL is inducting private industry partners to accelerate production, it will not be before 2030 for the last Tejas to be delivered.

The Tejas, as of today is import-dependent to the tune of 60 per cent. This decade must be used to reduce this import dependency down to 30 per cent by way of incorporating our sensors, radar, EW, communications, avionics and some weapons.

This period should also be used to develop and operationalise the Tejas Mk2, which should be a twin-engine platform for both the IAF and the Indian Navy.

Effectively, the twin-engine Tejas Mk2 should become the backbone of the IAF in the decades from 2030.

IAF’s Light Combat Helicopter

REVIVING THE AUXILIARY AIR FORCE SYSTEM Much like the Territorial Army, it is time India revives the now-defunct auxiliary air force system and should be modelled on the US’ Air National Guard. This would result in multiple major benefits. First, it would boost the IAF’s strength as it would have sufficient active reserve capability in terms of trained airmen and aircraft. Second, it would enhance the government’s options in addressing peacetime activities in terms of internal and coastal security as well as aid to civil authorities.

Third, the auxiliary air force can also augment government resources for peace-keeping missions and HADR. Fourth, it provides an avenue for a larger number of citizens to participate in military service. Fifth and most important is its importance in the context of Atmanirbhar and Indian aerospace industry.

Combining smaller states with bigger states and dividing it into effective air guard regions, the air national guard could consist of 14 squadrons to be deployed in these regions. This could mean 200 to 250 Tejas Mk 1As. By adopting a plan of creating a 14 Squadron force of Air National Guards over 15 years, we would create a production run of 350 to 400 aircraft for the Tejas Mk 1As over 20 years.

This would stabilise the industry, create a robust aerospace eco-system, allow continuous indigenisation of components thus reducing import-dependency altogether, establish a cycle of continuous improvements in maintenance, reliability and performance, and make exports a distinct possibility. More importantly, it would create a constant flow of enormous user data that would

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contribute immensely to the development efforts of Mk 2 and further series as well as other projects such as the AMCA. Parallelly, the IAF should accelerate the development and production of the Mk 2, and the decision on the urgently needed 114 MRCA (which probably should be 200+).

The MRCA selection should be linked to TOT and manufacture in India with a risk-sharing responsibility on the OEM for the global supply chain. Such a selection and partnership should be intimately tied to the development of the AMCA. IAF’s centenary year is just 12 years away. It is possible to celebrate IAF’s centenary in 2032 as a force in complete strength and looking to be dominated by indigenous fighters such as

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LCA Tejas

AMCA, Tejas Mk 2, and the Mk 1 A. IAF’s Air National Guard would provide it with a lot more options and flexibility in its strategies.

– An Air Force Veteran, the writer is a former Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff and is the President of The Peninsula Foundation, Chennai.

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IN CONVERSATION

‘BOEING HAS BEEN A STRONG PARTNER IN MISSION READINESS AND MODERNIZATION OF INDIA’S DEFENCE FORCES’

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urendra Ahuja is the Managing Director of Boeing Defence India (BDI).

A retired Rear Admiral, Ahuja is in charge of delivering on Boeing’s commitments to its Indian defence customers while positioning it for new business opportunities. In an interview to Raksha Anirveda, he dwelt upon Boeing’s commitment towards India’s defense programs.

Edited excerpts.

Please provide an update on Boeing Defence activities in India including sourcing activities and partnerships with Indian firms?

India is at the front and center of significant opportunities for Boeing. Boeing has been a strong partner in the mission readiness and modernization of the country’s defence forces. Our proven portfolio of products and services offer unmatched operational capabilities across the entire mission spectrum.

Today, India has 11 C-17 Globemaster IIIs, eight P-8Is (with four more on order), 22 AH-64E Apaches (with six more on order) and 15 CH-47F(I) Chinooks, all Boeing platforms.

Our sourcing from India stands at US$1 billion a year from more than 225 suppliers who are manufacturing critical systems and components for some of Boeing’s most advanced products. We are working closely with our suppliers in India to support supply chain health, identify new ways to drive innovation, and deliver greater value to our customers. Boeing continues to grow a globally competitive supplier base in India, with strong partnerships that are aligned with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

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is manufacturing Apache fuselages for customers around the globe. Dynamatic Technologies manufactures the ramp and complex aft pylon for the Chinook heavylift helicopters. Similarly, Rossell Techsys manufactures wire harness and electrical panel for the AH-64 Apache, and the harness for V-22 Osprey. SASMOS HET Technologies manufactures electrical panel assemblies and wire harness for the F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-15 Strike Eagle. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) manufactures F/A-18 gun bay doors and

wire harnesses, and P-8I weapons bay doors and identification friend-or-foe transponders. These are just a few examples of the work done by our Indian suppliers.

What is the update on deliveries of Apache, Chinook and P-8I for the Indian armed forces?

Boeing completed the deliveries of all AH-64E Apache and CH-47F (I) Chinook military helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF) this year. The final five of the 22 Apache attack helicopters were handed over to the IAF in July. Earlier in March, Boeing handed over the last five of 15 CH-47F (I) Chinook heavylift helicopters to the IAF. The Indian Navy (IN) currently operates a fleet of eight P-8Is with four more on order. The first of the four aircraft will be delivered this year, and the remaining three in 2021.

Now that there are a large number of P-8Is and C-17s in India, how is Boeing looking to involve local Indian personnel and companies in their maintenance?

We are working with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy (IN) to provide operational capability and readiness for the P-8Is, the C-17s and the Head of State aircraft through sustenance contracts and for the Chinook and Apache fleets through warranty support. Ensuring mission readiness of our customers and providing them seamless services and support on our platforms is an imperative for Boeing.

Boeing’s local sustainment support footprint is enhancing responsiveness on sustainment and training contracts.

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the multi-billion dollar investments that have gone into infusing new technologies in the aircraft by the US Navy and by several international customers.

Boeing’s plan is to offer ‘By India, For India’ sustainment program that will build on other successful sustainment programs that Boeing is executing for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy today, to sustain the F/A-18 Super Hornets from India.

Boeing has responded to the Indian Navy’s RFI and we continue to work with the Navy through the process.

Boeing AH-64E Apache

Boeing F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet

Boeing supports the IAF C-17 fleet under the Globemaster Integrated Support Program (GISP) that maintains high mission capability rates by providing them access to an extensive support network for parts availability and economies of scale.

India’s P-8I fleet is also supported through Boeing’s services business by providing spares, ground support equipment and field service representative support. Boeing’s integrated logistics support has enabled the highest state of fleet readiness at the lowest possible costs. Since induction, the Indian Navy P-8I fleet has surpassed 29,000 flight hours.

Boeing’s training and support package for the P-8I promises to increase proficiency in a shorter time, while reducing the onaircraft training time resulting in increased aircraft availability for mission tasking. A 60,000 sq. ft. Training Support and Data Handling Centre is being set up at INS Rajali, Arakkonam (the base for P-8I fleet), with a secondary centre at Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology (NIAT), Kochi.

We are also working with Indian companies to develop capabilities in the country so that they can perform maintenance locally, including heavy checks and supply of indigenous equipment. Airworks Pvt. Ltd., in partnership with Boeing, successfully completed the first heavy maintenance check for the first P-8I in 2019. We plan

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to continue working with Air Works for similar checks on the remaining aircraft. Further capability development planning is in the works to support the growing P-8I fleet, improving the local aviation ecosystem while ensuring quicker turnaround for the Indian Navy.

What are the opportunities you’re seeing in the Indian space sector?

We’re proud of India’s recent strides in space exploration and ambitions towards human space flights before August 2022. It is a testimony to the country’s innovation, determination and full embrace of the challenges of space. Notwithstanding our six decades of space experience, Boeing is inspired by what India has achieved and it’s aspirations for the future. We look forward to partnering with ISRO in their endeavours.

Please elaborate on Boeing’s response to the IN fighter RFI and further steps?

Boeing’s F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet offers unique and differentiated advantages to the Indian Navy. The F/A-18 is the most advanced, combat proven, multi-role naval frontline fighter and will augment the collaboration between the US Navy and Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean region.

The Indian Navy stands to benefit from

What is the reason for Boeing’s offer of the F-15 EX to the IAF for its requirement for 114 aircraft?

The Indian Navy and Indian Air Force have distinct operational needs for fighters. While awaiting further definition on the Indian Air Force’s requirements, we have requested a license for the F-15EX so that we’re ready to share the full spectrum of potential solutions across our fighter portfolio when appropriate.

What is the status of global P-8 orders and deliveries and aircraft delivery rate?

In September 2020, Boeing delivered the 99th full production P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the US Navy, with six additional jets used as Engineering Manufacturing Development test aircraft.

There is a robust demand for P-8 aircraft.

Boeing has delivered 12 jets to the Royal Australian Air Force, and is under nine aircraft in contract to the UK’s Royal Air Force with two delivered. Also, as you know eight P-8Is have already been delivered to the Indian Navy, with four more on order.

Further, Norway has five under contract, New Zealand has four under contract and the Republic of Korea has six under contract.

The P-8 is a proven long-range multimission maritime patrol aircraft capable of maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. A military derivative of the Boeing 737 Next-Generation airplane, the P-8 combines superior performance and reliability with an advanced mission system that ensures maximum interoperability in the battle space.

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PHOTO FEATURE

88TH ANNIVERSARY

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IAF @ 88: ADVERSARIES ENVY, NATION’S PRIDE

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) ranks fourth among the air forces of the world.

Currently, IAF enjoys a unique position of having the most diversified range of aircraft in its inventory. It is to the credit of IAF’s innovative technical skill that most of the assets are fully operational till date. The journey of IAF since its official establishment on October 8, 1932 has been eventful and has evolved itself as a mature and modern force to efficiently and effectively meet the challenges of the future.

In 1932, the IAF’s aircraft inventory comprised of four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes. As Indian Air Force celebrates its 88th Foundation Day on October 8 this year the wide range and numbers of aircraft inventory displays the vibrant strength of the Force to defend Indian airspace. Today,

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PHOTO FEATURE IAF has 33 squadrons of fighter aircraft along with adequate number of trainers, transport aircraft and attack helicopters.

The coming decade will add more teeth to IAF’s overall combat and operational strength with indigenous efforts and technological prowess.

Raksha Anirveda through its photo feature comprising its diversified assets attempts to capture the major milestones and combat preparedness of IAF….

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GEOPOLITICS: NEIGHBOURHOOD DIVERSITIES IN THOUGHT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping

INDIA AND ITS UNSTABLE NEIGHBOURHOOD

There is a need to pragmatically envision the future threats and challenges emanating from the instability of this India-ChinaPakistan strategic triangle, and it is sure that India would do well to engage with its neighbours for lasting peace, yet be fully prepared for a turbulent present and an even more turbulent future

By MAJ GEN CP SINGH (RETD)

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he India-China-Pakistan strategic triangle in South Asia is the most unstable region in the world. Thanks to the Britishers, who gave us unsettled borders as a parting gift? In the last 70 years of Independence, we have not been able to finalise hundreds of km of disputed borders, which are presently depicted by various lines like LC, LOC, LAC and AGPL etc. This triangle of three neighbours houses half the world’s population and has the largest warring militaries armed with nuclear weapons, disputed ambiguous borders resulting in periodic confrontations and conflicts. All this underlines the strategic instability and fragility of this region.

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There is so much of diversity in political foundation of the three countries. In the first - Pakistan, the military calls the shot, while in the second - India, democratic government and close core group led leadership rules, and in the third country - China, a central communist party leadership is all-powerful and all-pervasive.

Even the Chinese Army (PLA) is controlled by the Party and not the government. Thus strategic instability is inherent. This has led to mistrust, collusions and interplay of relations between a revisionist Islamic republic struggling for survival, a stable democracy with high growth trajectory and an expansionist communist state challenging status quo at own terms and therefore the unstable triangle of relationships.

India was historically a strong nation, with a strong economy and a glorious culture with the power and strength of knowledge and character till corrupted and exploited by foreign invaders.

Indian strategic culture thus focuses on peace, stability and development, engrained on its secular and democratic character.

Unlike China and Pakistan, India’s strategic culture does not have a bias for expansionist territorial aspirations, beyond those illegally occupied by the neighbourhood.

Thus India stands distinct from the conflicting revisionist ideology and expansionist culture of its two neighbours. Neighbours can’t be changed but have to be managed for peaceful co-existence resulting in prosperity and growth.

INDIA

India’s strategic culture is complex, yet composite, coherent and distinct by itself. The secular

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threads and unity of the nation stands firm and deeply engrained, in spite of repeated challenges to its survival. The world’s second most populous country, which sees itself as one of humankind’s great civilization-states, propagates peaceful coexistence and prosperity. India has emerged as a critical player in a new era of great power competition. The contest between a US-led alliance on one side and Russia and China on the other is reshaping India’s grand strategy to becoming a pivotal world power.

PAKISTAN

Pakistan’s strategic ideology is based on three basic themes.

Firstly, the insecurity of being an incomplete state due to the unfair partition and inheritance.

Secondly, perceiving India’s rise as a regional bully aimed to disintegrate Pakistan. Thirdly, self appointed leader to propagate the Islamic ideology. Thus Pakistan’s strategic culture is deeply rooted in its insecurity and revisionist ideology with the predominance of the military and mullah, as a state, within a state.

CHINA

Chinese grand strategy and ideology, on the other hand, has distinctive character and perceives itself not as a nation-state but rather a “state of civilization”. China’s belligerence thus reflects its Confucian strategic culture deriving from complex and multiple historic narratives affecting its foreign policy.

As a nation, strategically it aims at regional and global dominance by expansionist doctrine of foreign policy. China focuses on building military power for strategic coercion,

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while economically creating global dependencies. Thus, contemporary China reflects offensive, coercionist and expansionist designs all at the same time while professing peaceful rise.

INTERPLAY DYNAMICS

India-China: In the India-China context, China presents a multifaceted primary challenge to India which is manifesting now.

China not settling the boundary dispute with India leaves no doubt about its aggressive designs. China sees India as not only a regional competitor but a major geostrategic player in the Indo-Pacific and a global anchor meant to contain its rise. Thus, dealing with China’s coercion and expansionism has always remained one of India’s biggest foreign policy challenges with comparative asymmetry in economic and military capabilities between the two. This uneasy Sino-Indian relationship at times flares up into a confrontation, as seen in the recent years.

Countries and populations from around the world are tired of China’s high-handedness, but there is little they can do about it because of its economic and, in the case of its neighbours, military might. No neighbouring country has might and will to challenge China due to fears of a bloody conflict. India is the only neighbour of China that cannot easily be bullied into accepting China’s terms because of its size and potential economic prowess. Therefore, underlying Chinese strategic imperative is to weaken India because India is the only country in Asia that could conceivably challenge China.

Indo-Pak: In the context of

THERE IS SO MUCH OF DIVERSITY IN POLITICAL FOUNDATION OF THE THREE COUNTRIES. IN THE FIRST - PAKISTAN, THE MILITARY CALLS THE SHOT, WHILE IN THE SECOND - INDIA, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AND CLOSE CORE GROUP LED LEADERSHIP RULES, AND IN THE THIRD COUNTRY - CHINA, A CENTRAL COMMUNIST PARTY LEADERSHIP IS ALL-POWERFUL AND ALL-PERVASIVE, AND THUS THE STRATEGIC INSTABILITY IS INHERENT

QUAD Foreign Ministers meeting on the move

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GEOPOLITICS: NEIGHBOURHOOD Indo-Pak relations, clash of cultures, turbulent disputed borders and Kashmir obsession with Pakistan fuels its proxy war under the solace of a nuclear umbrella. Kashmir remains a central agenda to Pakistan’s narrative and survival of the politicians and military. However, the insecurity rising from its perception of India as a Hindu hegemon against Islam, resultants in fueling its Islamic passions and strongly perceived compulsion to inflict thousand cuts on India by abetting terrorism.

The Indo-Pak relationship is

INDIA IS THE ONLY NEIGHBOUR OF CHINA THAT CANNOT EASILY BE BULLIED INTO ACCEPTING CHINA’S TERMS BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE AND POTENTIAL ECONOMIC PROWESS. THEREFORE, UNDERLYING CHINESE STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE IS TO WEAKEN INDIA BECAUSE INDIA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN ASIA THAT COULD CONCEIVABLY CHALLENGE CHINA

less dangerous yet more fragile with Pakistan’s instability, mutual distrust and revisionist culture. Thus uneasy calm is likely to remain with an active LoC and changing flavors of proxy war. China is very shrewd in cashing on this mutual distrust and Pakistan’s anti – India obsession. They have almost outsourced the Indian problem to Pakistan. They provide all support to Pakistan and in return expect Pakistan to keep India embroiled with it in proxy war because peaceful growth of India will be detrimental to super power aspirations of China.

China-Pak: The only stability in this triangle is the Pakistan – China relationship. PakistanChina bonhomie is here to stay and likely to be strengthened with Pakistan becoming more and more dependent on China, after being shunned by rest of the world, for promoting terrorism.

The relationship is more vital for China for its strategic interests while it’s essential for Pakistan to survive. Pakistan draws its strength from this relationship to address its vulnerabilities and economic fragility. The common agenda remains to check the growth of India.

WAY AHEAD FOR INDIA

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

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India is unfortunately saddled with troubled neighbourhood with no solutions in sight. Every nation has to fight its own battle and India has no choice to counter the two unstable neighbours and yet continue its peaceful growth and rise. India has to build up deterrence capabilities based on not only comprehensive national power but comprehensive “Atmanirbhar” national capacity.

Strategic autonomy must be the rightful destination.

For dealing with Pakistan,

India needs to take a cue from the Israeli strategy of “mowing the lawn” with periodic assured kinetic retribution, as part of punitive deterrence, to ensure the cost of waging proxy war for Pakistan is made prohibitive. The asymmetric conventional edge must continue to add teeth to the punitive deterrence.

Dealing with China is more complex. China is ahead of India in Economic Development, Military Might and World Dominance.

On the other hand, however, India is unique among China’s neighbours in having at least some capacity to stand up to its hegemony. India needs to take on China on three fronts- economic, military and diplomatic. Let’s focus on these as under:• Economy. India can only truly counter China and take its rightful place on the world stage when it has the economic strengths to match its ambitions. India should up its economic growth by slashing red tape, improving its infrastructure, wooing foreign investment, and embracing multilateral trade agreements that force its firms to become more competitive.

• Defence. Military Parity with China is essential, keeping the disputed borders in mind. India needs to develop a modern, swift and agile defence capability on ground, air and water to deter any evil designs by China alone or in cohort with Pakistan.

A synergised modernisation drive of defence forces is long overdue and certainly the need of the 21st Century.

• Diplomacy. Diplomatically, the triangular relationship between the United States, China and India remains one of the three most important triads in contemporary

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Asian geopolitics India is today, in the midst of a major geopolitical repositioning, as it discards its old non-aligned movement image, pursues a hard headed national interest based policy. It’s also very important to take the lead in forming a quad alliance of neighbouring countries like Japan, Australia, South Korea and ASEAN countries under the stewardship of USA to jointly challenge the bullying of China.

• Image. Play the Tibet card well along with Hong Kong autonomy to create tensions for China. Portray China as not a reliable country to do business and the spread of Corona originates from China.

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There is a need to pragmatically envision the future threats and challenges emanating from the instability of this India-China-Pakistan strategic triangle Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity will define their state, with all-season ChinaP a k n e x u s i n h e re n t i n i t .

However, contradictions, regional hegemony and potential confrontations must be solved through a formula of optimistic realism, finding space for cooperative mechanisms based on mutual trust, peace and tranquility and mutual growth.

This remains a challenge for the region, more so for India.

India would do well to engage with its neighbours for lasting peace, yet be fully prepared for

a turbulent present and an even more turbulent future.

“This is a time for us to engage America, manage China, cultivate Europe, reassure Russia, bring Japan into play, draw neighbours in, extend the neighbourhood and expand traditional constituencies of support,” opines External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his book ‘The India Way’, released recently.

Well said, Mr Foreign Minister!!

The path ahead is arduous and challenging but good wishes of 130 crore Indians are with you.

JAI HIND!!!.

–The writer is a scholar soldier and has widely travelled in India and abroad.

He is an avid reader, prolific writer, social activist, career consultant and a motivational speaker in demand.

He can be contacted at www.majgencpsingh.com.

INDIA IS UNFORTUNATELY SADDLED WITH TROUBLED NEIGHBOURHOOD WITH NO SOLUTIONS IN SIGHT. EVERY NATION HAS TO FIGHT ITS OWN BATTLE AND INDIA HAS NO CHOICE TO COUNTER THE TWO UNSTABLE NEIGHBOURS AND YET CONTINUE ITS PEACEFUL GROWTH AND RISE

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MARKET WATCH

INDIAN DEFENCE: TRENDS AND TRAJECTORY

By DR SURABHI AGARWAL

With a rapid change in geopolitical scenario, Indian defence sector though with constraint budget playing a balancing act as the government is constantly striving to formulate policies to empower the sector including MSMEs in order to develop a robust ecosystem for indigenous defence production Indian Army jawans laced with technological equipment (File photo)

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oday’s direct defence and critical security challenges in operating environment face tremendous and multifarious challenges related to security, henceforth it contests the dotted lines of integrated capabilities haloed with entrenched assumptions in ordinary citizens minds. War fighting capabilities highlights the increasing new meaning of the defence future, where procurement reflects a negative wave but will uphold large market for survivors only.

Enablement of generating a million new vistas of defence jobs can be sorted through procurement models exclusively as traditional defence and military capabilities require to now pose

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as acclimatised troops equipped with transformed military warfare maps. The use of term ‘surgical strikes’ here is both thrilling as well as live example which would be required more

in military dealings. The adoption process of 360-degree aggressive ways of combatants in terms of strategic sourcing, surveillance, unmanned vehicles, automation intelligence, and reconnaissance spend analysis would introduce the phenomenal situational awareness in defence front.

Though devastating disruptions in production-consumption cycle adversely affected GDP of our economy by confiscating 6.3 per cent pull-off still the second half of the fiscal year would see rebounding

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effects – as sourced from IHS Markit forecast. The GDP growth estimates are terrible after India entered the lockdown phase ranging between 2.1 per cent to 3.5 per cent.

Till July this year foreign direct Investment already witnessed US$17 billion by some huge names of global technology firm like Google, Amazon, Facebook and Foxconn which need no introduction. Next 10 years would witness a brilliant increment from US$1.6 trillion to US$3.2 trillion by urban middleclass huge power of consumption and expenditure backed by increased per capita income.

Defence is currently the “most fertile ground’’ as the phrase is self-explanatory.

Government has invested on all fronts – manufacturing, procurement which can drive the key element of indigenisation thereby realising the dream of ‘Átmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) in its true sense.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Our aim is to make India selfreliant and a global manufacturing hub. The government is constantly striving to formulate policies to empower the private industry including MSMEs in order to develop the eco-system for indigenous defence production.

The defence industry of India is a strategically important sector having huge potential for growth. It needs to be the catalyst for India’s economic growth and realisation of our global ambitions.”

PHENOMENAL SITUATIONAL COGNIZANCE

In this direction a whole list of embargoed defence items which were imported from outside until now were brainstormed, and inhouse available technologies/ capabilities can now be used to produce indigenously is a wakeup call to meet the next generation

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threats and vastly altered homeland and defence security ecosystem.

A turnover amounting to Rs 1.75 lakh crore has been perceived in defence manufacturing opening the new horizons in this niche field.

Turnaround strategy adopted by Ministry of Defence (MOD) imparts powers to armed forces to process the need of equipment and weapons for meeting urgent operational requirements. By the year 2025, India aims to achieve a target goal in terms of turnover grabbing a whopping amount of US$25 billion and this include a portion of around US$5 billion of export in defence and aerospace goods.

Like Information Technology, now India too will emerge as a hub of defence manufacturing as impetus on ‘indigenisation’ as this will be boosting the ecosystem of extensive ‘Defence Mission’ with a stipulated timeframe of 10 years.

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CIVILIANS AND ARMY

As a nation, generations should be made aware of the ‘Earned Freedom and its importance’.

Trend of ‘only’ celebrating on the glorious days of Independence and Republic Days can be scrapped by introducing defence-based topics in school and college curriculums.

Promotion of developing technologies related to defence applications, production and research ecology modules can be drafted and included more in curriculum, this will also be leading to open more job vistas in both direct and indirect fields of defence and aerospace manufacturing.

Premium institutes of engineering and management across the country like IITs and IIMs present the best examples of how manufacturing development programmes ensuring required skill development can too be taught for capability building.

Experienced and outstanding novels retiring every year can be involved in designing/ imparting the defence education curriculum.

DEFENCE IS CURRENTLY THE “MOST FERTILE GROUND’’ AS THE PHRASE IS SELFEXPLANATORY. GOVERNMENT HAS INVESTED ON ALL FRONTS – MANUFACTURING, PROCUREMENT WHICH CAN DRIVE THE KEY ELEMENT OF INDIGENISATION THEREBY REALISING THE DREAM OF ‘ÁTMANIRBHAR BHARAT’ (SELFRELIANT INDIA) IN ITS TRUE SENSE

FISCAL CHALLENGES IN DEFENCE-NOMICS

Our Country is undoubtedly struggling with worst economic

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MARKET WATCH

Indian Army tanks during Republic Day parade (File photo)

slowdown of the decade. Studies and analysis conducted by Moody’s understate that raising incomes and delivering on the terms of fiscal consolidation will be extremely tough and challenging. The revenue shortfall “INDIAN MILITARY ALSO by June 2020 was Rs 6.62 lakh NEEDS TO crore, fiscal deficit touched 83.2 CHANGE ITS per cent of the annual budget MINDSET FROM target in April-June quarter.

A FRONTIER Current financial year according DEFENCE to RBI will be a year of negative FORCE TO AN growth in terms of GDP. EXPEDITIOIndian defence industries NARY ONE though is now under strict focus CAPABLE OF which include liberalisation of PROJECTING Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) POWER policy as one of the most important BEYOND THE SUBCONfeatures which raised the approval TINENT” percentage to 74 from 49. This is surely going to streamline the Ashley J. Tellis, Senior Fellow, domestic defence manufacturing Carnegie in league with the prospective Endowment for International Peace demands of our armed forces.

The recent ban on import of 101 items categorically listed

by Ministry of Defence is a boosting and vibrant example where high technology weapon systems like light combat helicopters, transport aircraft, assault rifles, corvettes, artillery 86

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guns, sonar systems and radars as well as few other items will be indigenously produced.

DEFENCE-SMART GOVERNMENT

Regulatory defence policy restructuring is posing a huge challenge in the present scenario where a ratio of military spending and readiness can be in congruency with each other.

Broadly worldwide a projection of around five per cent GDP contraction is estimated in the current year courtesy – steep decline in tax-revenues, staggering economies and indefinite negotiations in budgets.

Microeconomics of Defence Industry Needs Adoption of the Following Strategies: • Sustainability and adoption of acquisition strategies focussing actionable orientation is an important factor.

Understanding the intricate production buyer-supplier figure with predictable datadriven market sources is essential. Total cost reduction target paving strategies should be concentrated instead of

conquering profit margins.

• Agility to the address market challenges would comprehend on adaptability, insight, and vision for the (breakthrough) output or final product, targeting customer focus and of course super empowered teams.

• Completion of full product cycles.

• Survival to volatility of demand cycles thereby articulating exquisite challenges and face market pressures.

• Provision of cost-effective modularity always turns as a sure - shot striker.

• Maintaining concentration on future technology like managing signature-strategic and Tactical Bespoke Systems.

• Challenging contested environments.

India is growing as a power hub in defence capacity and a scholar named Ashley Tellis explicitly said, ‘’Indian military also needs to change its mindset from a frontier defence force to an expeditionary one capable of projecting power beyond the subcontinent”.

Pulwama and Balakot strikes manifested turning points bringing marvellous changes in the ways our defence used to work.

Restructured strategies for frontier technologies and intervention for modernisation as well as preparation for future warfare have made a bright conjunction.

No wonder, termed as a hot cake, soaring defence budget indicates shift to a robust vision with allotted parameters both in terms of long -term defence planning as well as military procurement, which will definitely be able to prove its credibility, capacity and capability.

–The writer is a senior consultant having worked with IT and services industry. She is currently associated with Eirene Systems.

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NEWS ROUND UP BEML EXPECTS TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL ORDER WORTH RS 3,000 CRORE IN FY2020-21 New Delhi. Defence PSU BEML Ltd expects to get additional orders valued at about Rs 3,000 crore by this financial year-end, its Chairman and Managing Director Deepak Kumar Hota said on October 1. The company has set an ambitious revenue target of Rs 4,000 crore in the current fiscal, up from the previous year’s figure of Rs 3,029 crore, despite the shortfall in the first quarter due to adverse impact of COVID-19 and lockdown. “We have orders on hand over Rs 10,000 crore and further orders of around Rs 3,000 crore are expected by FY 20 -21,” Hota said.

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IN A BIG TICKET ORDER, DEFENCE AND SECURITY SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OSHOCORP GLOBAL COMPLETES CBRN IPE SUPPLY TO BEL

US AWARDS $1.2 BILLION CONTRACT TO GENERAL DYNAMICS FOR 144 ARMY ANTI-AIRCRAFT STRIKERS

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Washington. US Government on September 30 officially awarded General Dynamics a highly-anticipated contract to mass-produce the Interim Maneuver SHORAD vehicle. This variant of the 8×8 armored Stryker boasts an anti-aircraft radar, a 30mm auto cannon, and a missile launcher capable of launching Stingers and Hellfires. (A laser-armed Stryker variant is also in development). IM-SHORAD will replace the aging, unarmored, and undergunned Avenger, a Stinger-shooting variant of the Humvee, which has filled the Short-Range Air Defence role since the Cold War. Its Hellfires also give it significant capability to kill tanks.

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ew Delhi. Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) are components of unconventional warfare and are also known as weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Defensive and Protective measures taken to mitigate CBRN warfare hazards need specially designed clothing & equipments.

In this backdrop, New Delhibased defence and security solutions provider OshoCorp Global Pvt Ltd has successfully completed one of its largest supply orders of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Individual Protection Equipments (IPE) sets to Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) during the ongoing Covid-19 period.

Company Director Ashutosh Khate, speaking on the development, said

OshoCorp’s CBRN IPE set consists of six major protection components giving security to our soldiers from head to toe. OshoCorp in the past also had successfully won and completed CBRN IPE sets and detection sensors orders from BEL and the other government agencies in the country, against the competition from domestic and global suppliers.

OshoCorp Global Pvt Ltd is an ISO 9001:2015 certified premier Indian defence company with NCAGE No. 1691Y (NATO) and is in receipt of multiple Defence Industrial License (DIL) from Government of India for manufacturing various restricted and sensitive defence systems.

OshoCorp as a reliable partner supports its client base with pioneering conceptual defence solutions to improve sustainability and self-reliance of the Indian Armed Forces.

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INTERVIEW: START-UP FOCUS

‘BBB’s COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITIES TO REDUCE COST, LEAD TIME IN RESEARCH AND A LASER FOCUS ON DEFENCE PAVES WAY TO WIN MULTIPLE PROJECTS’

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ig Bang Boom Solutions (BBBS) is one of the youngest startups in defence based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A deep-tech defence solutions integrator, the company has allied interests in manufacturing and development of indigenous technologies. BBBS was founded in 2018 by Dr. R. Shivaraman, Co-Founder and CTO and Praveen Dwarakanath, Co-Founder and CEO. BBBS won two iDex challenges hosted by the Defence Innovation Organization (DIO) and also won several prestigious awards for its technology development. It has also entered into a co-development partnership with the Accord Aerospace and Defence (now Jasan Infra Pvt Ltd), and is co-developing a Personal Safety Drone along with a Security On-Demand logistics solutions for the Indian market.

In an interview to Raksha Anirveda Editor Ajit K Thakur, BBB Solutions’ Dr R Shivaraman delves into the details of the company’s extraordinary achievement in the short span of two years. Edited excerpts:

Big Bang Boom has won the iDEX Defence India start-up challenge twice. What innovative solutions on indigenous technology development BBB presented that led to its winning streak? Kindly elaborate.

It is a well-known fact that India is the second largest arms importer in the world and only in the last few years we have realised that our adversaries are increasingly harnessing new technologies.

In order to realise our dream of becoming a self-sufficient nation in the defence sector, we must minimise our dependency on defence imports, and the key to reducing this “Defence Deficit” is Indigenous Technology Development and IP Ownership, the bread and butter of Big Bang Boom Solutions.

Our success can be directly attributed to the fact that we are a lean company, and we specialise in frugal, deep tech innovations. Coming from an academic background, our team works aggressively with a number of Universities to reduce the cost, lead time in research while enabling us remain technology agnostic.

This along with financial prudence, a solution architecture approach and a laser focus on defence allowed us to 88

win multiple projects, and we hope to continue the same. Our approach and ethos are best captured as “Big Bang Boom is the Flipkart of Defence Innovation.”- a statement made by a member of Evaluation Committee, which monitors the progress of our projects.

What are the on-going projects you are working on for the Indian Armed Forces? How has been the progress so far and by when your products or services solutions will be ready for market launch?

We typically take up projects directly for the armed forces, but in some case we work on adhoc projects that have defence use cases. Our defence ministry funded projects include the flagship See through Armour and the Anti-Drone Defence System which aim at providing a highly dependable and globally acceptable military grade tech solution. Apart from this, we are also working on a number of projects such as new generation body armour, autonomous drones and healthcare solutions for use by the armed forces which are funded by internal resources.

All the projects are on track and we are confident of meeting the promised product delivery schedules despite delays due to COVID. The trials for the aforementioned products are expected in the first half of 2021 and we are already in talks with several potential buyers in both India and Abroad.

BBB is a deep-tech defence solutions integrator, and has interests in manufacturing and development of indigenous technologies. Tell us about your first successful development partnership

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with the Accord Aerospace and Defense and co-development of a Personal Safety Drone along with Security OnDemand logistics solutions for the Indian market. Also shed light on your co-development partnership with AmPRO and T&T, US and association with Airfence Solutions, Israel.

Our work with Accord Aerospace and Defense (now Jasan Infra Pvt Ltd) focuses on development and manufacturing of indigenous arms and ammunition. We are working with them on setting up a manufacturing unit in association with an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) based in US for production of 5.56, 7.62 calibre rounds and specialised ammunition such as armour piercing and armour piercing incendiary rounds. Apart from this, we are also setting up a research centre for design and development of indigenous pistols and rifles.

Apart from this we also have many inhouse projects such as • Hybrid Personal Combat Armour • Spray Based Wound Dressing System • Personal Safety Drone • Exoskeleton for Enhanced Physical Abilities • Smart Fencing System • Flying Warden • COVID Ventilator and many more, of which the Hybrid Personal Combat Armour has won the prestigious SKOCH Award-2020 in Defence, and the COVID ventilator won the MEITY’s Hack the Crisis India Challenge 2020. We have also been recently awarded the prestigious BIRAC Biotechnology Ignition Grant for building of an exoskeleton for both patients and military use.

In order to build these products to be relevant on the global stage, a lot of skill and technical expertise is required for which we have partnerships with companies like AmPRO, Apollo Shield (Airfence), Thanos Tech., XR Labs, Lexx Technologies, etc.

Apart from iDEX grant, Big Bang Boom recently raised funds through Angel Networks. Your company has pioneered the concept of

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Hybrid Personal Combat Armour won the prestigious SKOCH Award-2020

THE CRITICAL ASPECTS OF BIG BANG BOOM SOLUTIONS ARE THAT WE ARE A LEAN COMPANY, AND WE SPECIALISE IN FRUGAL AND DEEP TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS ‘Runway Infinity’. What the concept is all about? How is it going to assist your company move on a highly accelerated growth trajectory? Kindly explain.

Availability of funds is a major concern for R&D start-ups. Many promising ideas don’t see the light of the day because the right funds are not available at the right time. While there are many VCs and Investors willing to fund marketing and revenue cycles, product development cycles are usually bootstrapped.

To circumvent this, company has pioneered the concept of ‘Runway Infinity’ where we have been able to build a business model which uses cash only for acceleration of projects with a clear path to monetisation; as opposed to a classical burn rate dedicated for R&D by most startups, which gives us an infinite runway. In simpler terms, our cash flows are structured in a way that we will never run out of cash, allowing us to significant

time and flexibility to achieve profitability in the defence sector.

We have raised a Rs 11 crore round led largely by Mumbai Angels, and other Angel Networks including Keiretsu Forum, Udtara Ventures, Pitchright Ventures and other High Networth Individuals (HNIs). This comes on the back of a five crore raise (including a convertible note) a short while back and has put the company on a highly accelerated growth trajectory and is expected to bolster the company’s efforts towards setting up a high technology software vertical, and its presence internationally.

The startup accelerated the fundraise at the announcement of the COVID lockdown and closed the entire round with oversubscription by the end of it.

This strategy is best explained with a metaphor – “If we are not allowed to chop wood due to a blizzard, we will spend the time sharpening our axe.”

The fundraise is not just the cash addition to our balance sheet, strategically “the addition of over 70 private investors means that we now have a set of highly intellectual, and wellplaced individuals whose combined contribution to the journey in kind, far outweighs the cash raised.”

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INTERVIEW: START-UP FOCUS

Make in India hasn’t delivered as per expectations and we are still lagging behind as far Self-reliance in defence is concerned. What are the reasons that have blocked the result oriented development? What scope do you see in defence and aerospace sector in general, and for your company in particular in the field concerned?

Your views.

India is a vast country in terms of both area and population, so for any policy or scheme announced by the government, it will undoubtedly consume a lot of effort, time and infrastructure to start bearing fruits. It 90

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OUR DEFENCE MINISTRY FUNDED PROJECTS INCLUDE THE FLAGSHIP SEE THROUGH ARMOUR AND THE ANTI-DRONE DEFENCE SYSTEM WHICH AIM AT PROVIDING A HIGHLY DEPENDABLE AND GLOBALLY ACCEPTABLE MILITARY TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION is important to note that self-reliance in defence is a marathon, not a sprint. It is not as simple as using the Infinity Gauntlet and wishing all of the problems

to disappear by just a snap of one’s fingers. This is a legacy problem, something we have created for ourselves in the 70 years since Independence, and the only way forward is that the entire age-old defence machinery needs to adapt and embrace the new approach.

Over the last few years, the defence ministry has taken several steps including the super transparent, forward looking iDEX programme which allows startups to supply critical defence technologies to the Armed Forces. Leaders such as Dr Ajay Kumar and Mr Sanjay Jaju at the helm of the DIO ensure that the organisation has a close watch on the development and also the needs of the startups.

One common challenge we face is the benchmarking with products build established international defence corporations. Product development is an iterative process and unless the defence startups are able to convert their research into small procurement orders, the technology development will stop. It is important for decision makers to remember that if the US Navy had not funded the re-design and production of the 10-seater, twin-engine F-1 flying boat designed by Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company meant for aerial sightseeing into a defence product, the Lockheed Martin’s F-35s of today would not exist. Being cognizant of this and the limitations of the technology supply chain in India will play a critical role in the success and failure of SelfReliance in Defence Initiative.

The recent announcements by the government setting an arms export target of US$5 billion in the next five years, towards increasing FDI in the defence sector, import ban on key technologies and local procurement of all governmental tenders under 200 crores would aid in the growth of the fledging defence product development sector in India. As a defence start-up such announcements coming from the government are surely a healthy sign for growth and we are super excited for the future.

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NEWS ROUND UP

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RAFALES FORMAL INDUCTION A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN PROTECTING COUNTRY’S AIRSPACE

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mbala: It was a major step forward for the country’s defence specially in protecting its airspace as the five Rafale aircraft which arrived at Ambala Air Force Station on July 27 were inducted to the Indian Air Force’s 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ on September 10.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh presented an induction scroll to Group Captain Harkeerat Singh, the Commanding Officer of the 17 Squadron of the ‘Golden Arrows’ of the Indian Air Force thus formally completing the induction of the five Rafale fighter jets into the squadron.

Speaking during the induction ceremony, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said, “The Rafale aircraft along with the skills of the 17 Squadron of the ‘Golden Arrows’ will form a lethal combination and will challenge our adversaries.”

The Air Chief Marshal also lauded the government for

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strengthening the Indian Air Force fleet with the Rafale jets.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh said, “The induction of Rafale jets into the IAF has also strengthened the Indo-French relations. We are facing new geo-strategic challenges and our two democracies are working together to resolve these challenges.”

Singh said that the induction of the jets will ensure that India is able to maintain peace in the region and ensure stability. He said that the Indian Air Force’s deliberate and swift action near the LAC displays their commitment towards national security.

INDIA TO START BIDDING PROCESS

BY OCTOBER TO PROCURE 6 SUBMARINES COSTING `55,000 CR New Delhi. In a move aimed at boosting maritime power with increasing tension with China, India is all set to launch the bidding process by next month for Rs 55,000-crore mega project to build six conventional submarines for the Indian Navy to narrow the gap with China’s growing naval prowess, government sources said. The submarines will be built in India under the much-talked-about strategic partnership model that allows domestic companies to join hands with leading foreign defence majors to produce high-end military platforms in the country and reduce import dependence. The sources said the groundwork like specifications of the submarines and other critical requirements for issuance of the RFP (request for proposal) for the mega project, named as P-75 I, has been completed by separate teams of the defence ministry and the Indian Navy.

The RFP will be issued by October, they added.

INDIAN AIR FORCE LAUNCHES MOBILE APPLICATION ‘MY IAF’ New Delhi: Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, launched a mobile application ‘MY IAF’ at Air Headquarters in New Delhi on August 24 as part of Digital India initiative.

The application developed in association with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) provides career related information and details for those desirous of joining the Indian Air Force (IAF).

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THOUGHT POT

WATER REPLACES OIL AS STRATEGIC RESOURCE IN 21ST CENTURY Water is fast replacing oil as strategic resource, and competition over limited water resources is one of the main concerns for the 21st century. Water is a central element in global affairs and the development agenda, with wide implications for international peace and security “Conflicts over water arise from the fact that under conditions of increasing scarcity, competition levels also increase.”

–Anthony Turton, Trained Scientist specialising in water resource management as a strategic issue

By PRACHITA SINGH SAXENA

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ater is a precious natural resource and it has the potential to be one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. According to the United Nations estimates, more than half the global population will live in water-stressed or water-scarce countries by 2025. Studies point out that India, along with China, France and the US, will have no drinking water by 2040 if consumption of water continues at the current pace.

Changes result from continued economic growth and modernisation in these countries, including an increase in irrigated farming, rising industrial production, expanding consumption by the growing middle class and particularly in China, raising animals for a more meat-centric diet—will place even greater pressure on water supplies. Macro challenges such as climate change and pollution will further strain freshwater resources.

Limited availability and increasing demand always results in conflicts to control the resource. Growing pressure on global water resources is having major impacts on our social, economic, and environmental well-being. Future wars could be fought to control water or water could be the new weapon for war among nation states, in this century.

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WATER – THE ELIXIR OF LIFE Absolute water scarcity is already affecting more than 500 million people in more than 30 countries. The role of water scarcity in creating preconditions of discontent and desperation— precursors to violent conflicts— are widely acknowledged. Global water use almost tripled in the second half of the 20th century,

increasing much faster than the world’s population in the same time period. Demand for water is projected to grow by over 40 per cent by 2050. An estimated 1.8 billion people will soon live in countries or regions with water scarcity.

An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, a UN Body) special report on climate change adaptation states that there has been a three-fold population increase in the past century and a six-fold increase in water consumption globally. If trends in population and energy use continue, it could leave a 40 per cent gap between water supply and demand by the year 2030. The effects of climate change coupled with population growth are expected to drive competition for water, potentially exacerbating political tensions in parts of the globe. The reports says nuclear power and coal—the most “thirsty” power sources— should be eventually replaced with more efficient methods, especially renewable sources like wind and solar.

WATER – THE NEW OIL

The oil crisis confronting the world today is much like the looming crisis in water, with depleting supplies, unequal distribution and access, and the inevitable spectre of rising costs and increasing conflict around the sharing of this vital natural resource. As with oil, water exploitation raises an inter-

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China-built Hydropower project on River Brahmaputra

generational debt that will be hard to repay. The uncontrolled and rapacious exploitation of oil has led to unintended consequences and we are continuing on a similar trajectory with water. Ironically, our unmindful use of oil fuels the crisis in water. Burning of fossil fuels has led to global warming, the melting of glaciers and ice caps, and the early snowmelts that will cause the climate to fluctuate in a way that brings too much rain in some places and too little in others.

In addition, the move to replace oil with biomass-based fuels will intensify water use, not so much for sustaining our life and this planet but to sustain our lifestyles.

The above mentioned offers an insight into what oil once ‘was’ and how water has now become a most sought after commodity. Countries across the globe have displayed a renewed interest in water and that too with an increasing amount of threat-of-force. Whether the frictions over oil will continue at the current rate is a moot point and does not need defining further here, as what is of importance, in contemporary times, is how

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Aerial view of Mekong River

water has incrementally begun to override oil as a commodity. Water has replaced oil as the resource that nation-states must have, if they have to prosper. Fresh water has now come to the fore as a vital component for internal political security, extramural expansion and geo-political stability. Water is soon replacing oil as a precious commodity and positioned itself in a manner that water wars in future have transformed into a probability, rather than a possibility.

INTERNATIONAL WATER GOVERNANCE Understanding water in a strategic context depends firstly on understanding the norms and realities of international river use and governance.

The right to use the water of a border-crossing river involves a combination of control–infact and control-in-law. From a real-politik perspective, the

ABSOLUTE WATER SCARCITY IS ALREADY AFFECTING MORE THAN 500 MILLION PEOPLE IN MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES. THE ROLE OF WATER SCARCITY IN CREATING PRECONDITIONS OF DISCONTENT AND DESPERATION— PRECURSORS TO VIOLENT CONFLICTS— ARE WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED

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THOUGHT POT WHETHER THE FRICTIONS OVER OIL WILL CONTINUE AT THE CURRENT RATE IS A MOOT POINT AND DOES NOT NEED DEFINING FURTHER HERE, AS WHAT IS OF IMPORTANCE, IN CONTEMPORARY TIMES, IS HOW WATER HAS INCREMENTALLY BEGUN TO OVERRIDE OIL AS A COMMODITY

most important control is de facto, which depends entirely on geography. Simply put, it is better to be upstream than downstream. But even if possession is nine-tenths of the law, international water law still has a role to play. Though, there is no formal UN Convention on water sharing, customary international water laws set forth an allowable water usage framework, taking into effect multiple factors including historic use, volume of water contributed by each country’s territorial rivers, population size and future needs. Of particular significance here is the legal preference given to the first state to “use” water by building dams, diversion projects, irrigation or other engineered infrastructure works. The treaties of water sharing between nation states provide it the legal structure. There are more than 400 freshwatersharing agreements and treaties inked since the nineteenth century.

However, the inconvenient truth is that participation in watersharing agreement remains almost optional.

CHINA’S AGGRESSIVE CONTROL OF WATER RESOURCES China is the only country in the world today that has territorial ambitions. It follows the SUN ZU principle of expanding the frontiers by coercive economic and military power. Towards that grand strategy, it first controls the natural resources, then builds infrastructure to control these resources and exploit them.

Thereafter, it sends traders to do the trade followed by security for its traders. Then, it coolly amends the maps showing that area as its own, citing some historic reasons or weird logic. Thereafter, forces are sent to safeguard the territory so claimed by china.

Trying to present as superpower, nobody has the guts to challenge its hegemony. It has done that with Pakistan and now doing it with Nepal.

China is the start point of 11 rivers that flow into 18 countries.

It is the only country to have such control of water resources that serve other countries. China is building large number of dams all

Jordan River falling on disputed territory of Israel-Syria border

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across the country to control the water resources. Mekong River flows from China to South East Asia. Approx 11 dams are built on this river to control the fate of 60 million people. Similarly, four dams are constructed on Brahmaputra River which flows into China for a brief period and is lifeline of India and Bangladesh.

With this network of dams, it can create floods and droughts in these countries, at will. It can starve countries to death and damage the ecosystem beyond repair. That clearly indicates the importance of water as a weapon in 21st century.

We all know that China does not hesitate to use all the weapons in its armory and water is the latest in its arsenal. China is battle ready for water wars in 21st century and world should take a note of it.

WATER WARS IN 21ST CENTURY

Increasing instances of use of water as a weapon of war in ongoing conflicts is now a new worry for the United Nations and other agencies which till now had been working to provide better water and sanitation facilities to these countries. Conflicts often arise when there is unequal distribution of resources and people are deprived of basic human needs, resulting in demands for improved services or opportunities, including security, recognition, acceptance, fair access to political institutions, and economic participation.

There has been much speculation over what causes conflicts over water. The conflicts arise over who has the power to control water and therefore, control the economy and population. Conflicts can be caused by water use which includes military, industrial, agricultural, domestic and political uses.

Through the military and political uses, conflicts can be accelerated

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by the use of water systems as a weapon and as a political goal.

Conflicts can further be a result of pollution affecting the quality of the water supply. Not having water evenly distributed among people and countries creates an imbalance among those who share supplies, particularly in developing countries.

In the four-year Syrian civil war that has claimed 150,000 lives and displaced almost nine million people, water has been used as weapon by all the parties to conflict, including Assad government. Using water as a weapon to weaken people is a tactics used not only in Syria, but also in the West Asia and Africa, including Iraq, Egypt, Israel and Botswana. A US report, released in 2012, had said that beyond 2022, the use of water as a weapon of war or a tool of terrorism will become more likely, particularly in South Asia, West Asia and North Africa. The report had also warned that the upstream nations—more powerful than their downstream neighbours due to geography — will limit access to water for political reasons and those upstream countries will regulate internal supplies to suppress separatist movements and dissident populations.

WAY AHEAD

Competition over limited water resources is one of the main concerns for the 21st century.

Water is a central element in global affairs and the development agenda, with wide implications for international peace and security.

Nations are now moving to geostrategically and geo-politically assert themselves and hold what they perceive as ‘their’ water supply. Complete ownership of this trans-boundary resource is causing intra-regional tensions,

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Yarmuk River

which have the potential of outright hostilities. In the absence of clearly defined international rules and treaties, the situation is often interpreted by dominant nation states to their advantage.

Therefore, there is a need to improve legal validity of regulations to control water and have better water resource governance, at global level so that water does not become a weapon in the hands of high and mighty nations.

CONCLUSION

Water as a resource is very comparable to oil. It is essential for all daily human activities. Water is becoming a very valuable commodity, yet freshwater resources are unevenly distributed among developing countries. This scarcity in water has triggered panic in countries that already have little access to water, let alone reliable water supplies.

This desperation usually cannot be resolved by negotiations. If governments or rebels want

water badly enough, they will resort to force to obtain it.

For centuries, war and conflict has been tied to the protection of water resources. With the risk of water shortages around the world becoming more and more of an issue, water has become the weapon, in certain conflicts in many regions around the world.

“Water Wars” are becoming inevitable in the world’s future, among countries, that share the same water source. International law has proven itself inadequate in defending the equal use of shared water supplies. The civilised world under UN stewardship should take note of this rising possibility of Water Wars in near future and make regulations to legalise legitimate and fair usage of this natural resource by all the living beings, sans frontiers, otherwise this ecosystem will take a self destructive course.

THE CIVILISED WORLD UNDER UN STEWARDSHIP SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF THIS RISING POSSIBILITY OF WATER WARS IN NEAR FUTURE AND MAKE REGULATIONS TO LEGALISE LEGITIMATE AND FAIR USAGE OF THIS NATURAL RESOURCE BY ALL THE LIVING BEINGS, SANS FRONTIERS, OTHERWISE THIS ECOSYSTEM WILL TAKE A SELF DESTRUCTIVE COURSE

–The writer is a scholar of Strategic Affairs, having Masters in International Relations from Christ University and has been associated with United Service Institution of India (USI), New Delhi-based strategic think tank.

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DEFENCE PLATFORM: ISRAEL

PRODUCTION OF EITAN AFV ADVANCED VERSION BEGINS, TO BE OPERATIONAL BY 2021 END According to the IDF, the Eitan can travel at a speed of 55 miles/h and that gives it a major advantage when forces have to be transferred from one battle area to the other

By ARIE EGOZI

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EL AVIV. Series production of the new very advanced Eitan 8x8 APC has begun but upgrade programs are already being evaluated. “This armored personnel carriers (APC) will perform some very important missions in combat,” an Israeli official told Raksha Anirveda.

According to Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Eitan is the most advanced 8X8 APC currently operational. Some prototypes have been in use in different combat formations of the IDF. “The Eitan has improved fire power by carrying the Rafael Spike LR anti-tank missiles, and improved protection by carrying the Elbit Systems Iron Fist active protection system,” Brig. Gen. Guy Paglin, head of the Merkava tank and the Eitan APC says.

The operational need for an 8x8 APC was realized especially after the Protective Edge operation in 2014. During this operation, the IDF used the little inventory of the Israeli made tracked NAMER and old M-113. To increase the protection level of the old M-113, they were loaded with sand sacks.

Eitan is expected to become operational at the end of 2021, replacing the half-century-old M-113 APC. Eitan is Israel’s late entry into

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the wheeled APC type of combat vehicles. The wheeled type has become a favourite in many armed forces. This is due to speed and flexibility.

The Eitan will be built in three variants – an APC, a command vehicle and an infantry combat vehicle, equipped with an unmanned turret mounting a 30mm cannon and Spike missiles.

Other configurations are expected to follow.

The displayed IMoD vehicles show different armor configurations, with an ‘Iron Fist’ active protection system installed on the variant with the unmanned turret. The vehicle is powered by a 750 hp engine and has a maximum road speed of 90 km/h. Operated by three crew members Eitan

can carry a squad of nine fullyequipped soldiers in its fighting compartment. The vehicle has rear ramp access and roof hatches.

According to the IDF, the Eitan can travel at a speed of 55 miles/h and that gives it a major advantage when forces have to be transferred from one battle area to the other.

The Eitan is 26 feet long and 10 feet wide. It weighs 30 tons and this weight includes the ballistic armor and the active armor systems. The prototypes carried different sensors that give the three men crew, a real time situational awareness.

The basic turreted Eitan platform is likely to be used for moving infantry in the battle field, command and scout roles, while the turret less variant will be used to support specific configurations including weapon carriers (mortars etc.), combat engineering, recovery and casualty evacuation.

The IMoD is the main contractor of the Merkava 4, Namer and now of the Eitan. The directorate uses some 200 Israeli and American subcontractors.

Eitan will be equipped with an unmanned turret developed by the IMoD to the specific missions of this advanced APC. The turret will carry 12.7mm heavy machine gun and an ATK 30mm automatic cannon.

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It will also be equipped with smoke dischargers and integral 60mm mortar, providing indirect fire capability, that includes high explosives, illumination, and smoke effects.

The IDF is evaluating equipping the Eitan with anti-tank missiles like the Spike LR made by Rafael that has a range of 2.5 miles.

The prototypes carried different sensors that gives the three men crew a real time situational awareness. These were tested in a long series of field tests.

Brig. Gen. Paglin said: “The 30 mm gun placed on the special turret has an elevation of 70 degrees which gives it a lot of advantages while the Eitan is used in urban warfare. This elevation allows the gunner to deal with high placed targets like enemy soldiers using all types of anti-tank weapons, which are very popular among terror organizations.”

As mentioned, the turret is designed to carry the 30 mm gun and some auxiliary systems, but according to Brig. Gen Paglin, after the Eitan is fielded in great numbers “other systems may be attached to the turret. It always happens after a combat platform is introduced into service; new operational demands are being met with new systems.”

The Ministry looks at the export option very seriously. After the IDF ground forces are equipped with enough Eitans, the export option will be on the table “there is an export potential,” said the high ranking officer.

As mentioned, the Eitan will carry the Elbit Systems Iron Fist active protection system against anti-tank rockets and missiles.

This system was selected in a competition against the Rafael Trophy.

The Iron Fist uses independent optical sensors, tracking radar, launchers and countermeasure

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Eitan 8x8 APC

EITAN IS ISRAEL’S LATE ENTRY INTO THE WHEELED APC TYPE OF COMBAT VEHICLES. THE WHEELED TYPE HAS BECOME A FAVORITE IN MANY ARMED FORCES. THIS IS DUE TO SPEED AND FLEXIBILITY Israeli Spike ATGM in action with German Army

munitions to defeat threats at a safe distance from the defended combat vehicles.

The system provides 360-degree protection coverage for closerange scenarios in both open terrain and urban environments.

Its low size and weight, versatile high-performance, negligible residual penetration and ease of integration position IFLD as an optimal active protection solution for any fighting vehicle.

The Israel Defense Forces are getting ready for two main types of war – the one with Iran which is far away from Israel, and the other

in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.

The second type, which is sometimes called low intensity warfare, is now the most imminent.

This fighting will involve great numbers of infantry soldiers that will have to move fast and safe from one area to the other, while protecting themselves and inflicting casualties to the enemy.

To get ready for the future, the IDF decided to build a multidimensional unit – the aim to produce heavy and very accurate fire power to defeat the enemy as fast as possible.

At the beginning of 2019,

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Israel’s Merkava tank in battle-ready mode

“THE EITAN HAS IMPROVED FIRE POWER BY CARRYING THE RAFAEL SPIKE LR ANTI-TANK MISSILES, AND IMPROVED PROTECTION BY CARRYING THE ELBIT SYSTEMS IRON FIST ACTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEM” Brig. Gen. Guy Paglin, Head of the Merkava tank and the Eitan APC

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the task to build the unit was assigned to the commander of the 98th Division, Brigadier General Finkelman, one of the elite commanders in the IDF who also specializes in combat methods.

Lt. Col. E with extensive operational experience and a deep understanding of target hunting and ground maneuvering in builtup areas was elected to command the unit, along with another Lt. Col. from the Air Force’s Shaldag unit, which specializes in air-toland liaison forces and special commando operations.

As part of the establishment process, outstanding fighters and officers were carefully selected from among the air crew members with knowledge and experience in operations with ground forces.

Among the goals set by Finkelman when the unit set out:

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writing an advanced and evolving concept in response to ground threats, rapid organisation to meet the goals and schedules set by the Chief of Staff, advanced and effective capabilities against the enemy, combat methods to streamline combat and shorten deadly cultural damage schedules, and Operation based on accurate real-time intelligence.

According to an IDF source, the unit’s commanders were able to prove that command and control systems and data transfer could be combined between fighter pilots, intelligence and ground forces in a way that would detect terrorists and a rapid and accurate attack on an unprecedented scale.

“The unit has been able to develop methods that will help the IDF to locate targets in enemy territory and attack them almost immediately with a variety of

weapons systems to get the ultimate target- take this target out and I mean out completely,” the source said.

The very close cooperation between the unit and the air force has been demonstrated recently in a joint exercise the air force is a full partner in the multidimensional unit and is an integral part of the force building and the competence building.

The unit combines air crews, UAV operators, and special air force fighters along with the leading squadrons representing the range of aircraft in the Air Force’s possession, head of the participation division, Brig Gen Noam Riff said after the exercise.

How will the new APC fit into the new unit and the new type of warfare? Is the wheeled APC the right platform for such “fast and strong” offensive? The IDF is currently studying these issues and the result may bring to the installation of more advanced systems on the new Eitan.

-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist.

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VIEWPOINT

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ADVANCED ACUMEN INTO NOVELTY DRIVEN BUSINESS MODEL Novel strategy envisages business in a way that others did not see or think as possible or probable

By PRIYAM MOHANTY

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ovelty in process, novelty in product and novelty in planning are three basic elements of any distinctive and successful business model that leads to exceptional business growth and strong financial performance. Novelty is an integral constituent of any business core strategy which is built in line with the organization’s offerings and its value proposition.

Priyam Mohanty Founder & CEO of Tzar Aerospace Research Labs

The novelty or the original idea is not only being consistent with the emerging market trend, but also accomplish the commercialisation aspect of its product portfolio. The business model should differentiate itself from the competition, defines its market fit with purpose and creates customer expectation. It also creates value to the customer, generates welfare for the society and addresses the challenges of the growing world.

Recent advances in communication and technology, taking into account the emergence of the Internet, introduction of Artificial Intelligence enabling organizations to rapidly decline their operating costs and overheads, big data driven decision making etc. have given rise to disrupted entrepreneurship and accentuated possibilities for designing differentiated business models.

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Each business model defines a specific ecosystem, which is assimilated within the business plan to create a sustainable business model. This ecosystem comprises of skill development, technology development, product development, after market support and engineering services.

The true power of a business model is harnessed by inculcating a working culture which drives problem solving skills, develops process models, innovative products and systems, provides orientation towards market gap or creates a new market, demonstrates interpersonal skills such as self driven abilities with exploring quotient mind set, learn and unlearn attitude coupled with critical thinking, and scientific research abilities.

German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer was quoted as saying,

“Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see.” Novel strategy envisages business in a way that others did not see or think as possible or probable. In today’s Cambrian explosion of new business models and organisational forms it is this imaginative genius that leads to success. Leadership needs the courage and perspective to look for novelty beyond the “known” strategy.

Startups are more focused on a differentiated business approach with a competitive edge to it and are driven by novelty while incumbents strategise as per the historical data and experience.

Firms should avoid immunisation to novelty and continuously refurbish the existing strategy tools to gain a competitive advantage.

Some of the most effective and efficient tactics and techniques followed by highly performing organisations include technology mapping coupled with research direction, location mapping, business mapping along with calculative risk while raising funds in later stages etc.

-The writer is Founder and CEO of a Bhubaneswar-based aerospace technology start-up Tzar Aerospace Research Labs.

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IN FOCUS

INDIA’S SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE: A FORCE TO RECKON WITH Special Frontier Force has played an important role in multiple military operations, starting from 1971 India-Pakistan war to the 1999 Kargil battle largely functioned under the shadows. Now is the time the government should give the SFF a lead as it has already drawn first blood from the PLA

By SRI KRISHNA

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t is the mine blast killing a Tibetan in the ongoing India China standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, which has brought the Special Frontier Force (SFF) created almost 58 years ago after the SinoIndian War in 1962 to the limelight once again. Among the major reasons for the creation of this Force on November 14, 1962 was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in the event of another Sino-Indian War. The Force known as ‘Establishment 22’ or just ‘22’ due to its first Inspector General, Maj. Gen. Sujan Singh Uban, who commanded the 22nd Mountain

Division as an artillery officer in Europe during World War II is based in the Uttarakhand hill station of Chakrata and put under the direct supervision of

Then Prime Minister Jawarlal Nehru meeting Army jawans during 1962 India-China war (File photo)

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the Intelligence Bureau (IB), and later, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s external intelligence agency and is not part of the Indian Army but functions under their operational control with its own rank structure, charter and training infrastructure.

It falls under the authority of Directorate General on Security in Cabinet Secretariat headed by an Inspector General (IG), who is selected from the Major General rank of the Indian Army that reports directly to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The need for such a force was suggested by General KS Thimayya, who was the Army chief between May 1957 and May 1961, but was not initially accepted by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon.

By the end of 1962, after immense lobbying by the Intelligence Bureau Chief Bhola Nath Mullick and World War II veteran Biju Patnaik, Nehru government finally ordered the raising of this elite commando unit and specialised mountain divisions called Vikas Battalion later renamed Special Frontier

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Force which primarily composed of Tibetan resistance fighters from Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and are followers of Dalai Lama.

The primary task of SFF is defence against People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Ground Force as well as conducting clandestine intelligence gathering and commando operations along the Chinese Theatre. Chushi Gangdruk leaders were contacted for recruitment of Khampas into this new unit. An initial strength of 5000 men, mostly Khampas were recruited at its new Mountain Training Facility at Chakrata.

The SFF has played an important role in multiple military operations — from the 1971 India-Pakistan war to the 1999 Kargil battle — but has largely functioned under the shadows.

Such is the secrecy around the SFF that a member of Tibet’s Parliament-in-exile reportedly said after Nyima’s death that it was about time India acknowledges the role they play.

Not much is known about the force, but military experts say it comprises men as well as women, and receive the same training offered to elite commandos.

According to those having knowledge of this force said both men and women soldiers in the SFF are “highly motivated and trained special forces personnel”. Their training is akin to that imparted to commandos and Special Forces.

“They are trained extensively in various aspects of mountain warfare and are mostly deployed as part of India’s defence against China, but details of most of their operations are classified,” they said.

The SFF personnel are elite forces known to be trained in highaltitude warfare and are excellent mountain warriors.

Lt Gen. Satish Dua (Retd), former head of the Integrated

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Nehru taking stock of situation in border area of northeast during 1962 war (File photo)

Lt Gen Niazi and Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora during 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War (File photo)

Defence Staff, said the Indian Army follows a concept of deploying scouts regiments comprising local residents for mountainous and border areas.

“This is because local residents are most suited to work and operate in high altitude and rugged terrain with harsh climate,” he added.

“They also have knowledge of ground and customs and language.

We have Arunachal scouts, Dogra scouts, among others. Similarly, in the Ladakh region, because they know the terrain well. The SFF also has a substantial percentage of Tibetan refugees who want to

serve voluntarily and are gainfully employed in the terrain that they are suited for,” he said.

Asked about the dual control of the SFF, he said, “We have different forces under different verticals. The central armed police forces involved in borderguarding duties don’t come under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) but under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The SFF has a separate control because it also has Tibetan refugees and involves another country. However, when they operate, they all work in synergy with each other.”

According to information, China

THE PRIMARY TASK OF SFF IS DEFENCE AGAINST PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY (PLA) GROUND FORCE AS WELL AS CONDUCTING CLANDESTINE INTELLIGENCE GATHERING AND COMMANDO OPERATIONS ALONG THE CHINESE THEATRE

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IN FOCUS protested over the Indian Army’s predominantly ethnic Tibetan SFF securing tactical heights in late August along the southern bank of the Pangong Tso lake, along the disputed LAC in eastern Ladakh.

From various statements by Chinese officials in Beijing and

ACCORDING TO INFORMATION, CHINA PROTESTED OVER THE INDIAN ARMY’S PREDOMINANTLY ETHNIC TIBETAN SFF SECURING TACTICAL HEIGHTS IN LATE AUGUST ALONG THE SOUTHERN BANK OF THE PANGONG TSO LAKE, ALONG THE DISPUTED LAC IN EASTERN LADAKH

associated Communist Party networks like the Global Times following the daring SFF operation in the critical Chushul sector, it seems that Beijing’s irritation and frustration over it stems only partially from being militarily out-manoeuvred in the ongoing see-saw face-off between the rival armies since early May. Senior Indian security and military analysts believe that a major proportion of Chinese ire and frustration emanates more from being outflanked by a force comprising mainly Buddhist Tibetans, a community

Indian Army Chief Gen MM Naravane in a recent visit to Ladakh

Army jawans celebrating Kargil war victory (File photo)

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China has ruthlessly oppressed and dominated for 70 years, and continues to subjugate after taking over their homeland in 1950.

But what is even more intrinsically galling for the seemingly redoubtable PLA, is that they were effortlessly bested by soldiers owning enduring fealty to the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, whose authority and standing Beijing has spent years denigrating and vilifying, but without total vindication.

“The essentially Tibetan SFF’s success in the military action along the Pangong Tso lake on the night of August 29-30 has heightened nervousness among senior Chinese leaders who remain intrinsically nervous about Tibet, Buddhism and the Dalai Lama,” said former head of RAW and a Chinese specialist Jaiyadeva Ranade. The Chinese leadership fears this could provide some fillip or incentive to Tibetans to unite and resist the PLA in their oppressed homeland, added Ranade, who currently heads the Centre for China Analysis in New Delhi.

The Amsterdam-based European Foundation for South Asian Studies, or EFSAS, concurs.

In its September 4 newsletter, it declared that China was wary of a “peaceful uprising being encouraged within Tibet…and if India continues to be repeatedly provoked by China at the LAC, it may be forced to reconsider the reticence it has historically had to rake up the Tibet issue”.

The Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece, Global Times, reacted hysterically to the SFF, by calling its personnel the Indian Army’s ‘cannon fodder’. Apropos of no provocation, Qian Feng, director of the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University in Beijing, stated that “if India openly supported Tibet secessionism” on

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Pangong Tso lake at LAC in Ladakh sector

border issues, does it mean China can also “support insurgencies in the northeast”. Unconsciously, Qian also frenziedly derided Tenzin’s death as an indicator that the SFF was not ‘special’ and far from being elite.

At the time of its raising in the early 1960s, Communism was anathema to the US and President John Kennedy seized upon the SFF as potential fifth columnists to undermine Chairman Mao Zedong’s suzerainty over newly occupied Tibet. The Chinese were yet to launch their ‘Sinicization’ to ethnically, culturally, societally and linguistically dominate Tibet and the world naively believed the Plateau could be liberated.

Consequently, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) joined hands with the IB earlier, and the RAW later, to instruct SFF personnel as a lightly equipped and armed guerilla force in mountain craft, rock climbing, infiltration, sabotage and irregular warfare.

In 1964, the SFF began their airborne training at Agra, later transferring to their own

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SFF Himalayan Expedition leader Captain Manmohan Singh Kohli of Indian Navy

‘dedicated’ facility at Sarsawa near Saharanpur which still operates.

The CIA equipped the SFF with M-1/2/3 sub-machine guns and continued to work alongside the RAW, training the Tibetans till the early 1970s, when Delhi’s relations with Washington soured under President Richard Nixon who began cosying up to China after his first visit to Beijing in 1972. The CIA association thus ended.

But before it eventually concluded, the CIA joined hands with the IB in 1965 to lead an expedition of largely SFF personnel to the 23,640 feet high Nanda Devi peak in the Garhwal Himalaya, a year after China had successfully conducted its first nuclear test in Xinjiang province.

Their classified electronic intelligence (ELINT) mission: the installation of a nuclear-powered

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IN FOCUS Indian Army troops movement in Galwan Valley on India-China border

“INDIAN ARMY FOLLOWS A CONCEPT OF DEPLOYING SCOUTS REGIMENTS COMPRISING LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR MOUNTAINOUS AND BORDER AREAS. THIS IS BECAUSE LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE MOST SUITED TO WORK AND OPERATE IN HIGH ALTITUDE AND RUGGED TERRAIN WITH HARSH CLIMATE” -Lt Gen Satish Dua (Retd), former head, Integrated Defence Staff (IDF), Ministry of Defence, Government of India

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sensing device to monitor future Chinese nuclear activity.

Just short of the summit the climbing party, carrying the monitoring device weighing some 56 kg, including a 10-feethigh antenna, was hit by a blizzard. Expedition leader Captain Manmohan Singh Kohli of the Indian Navy opted to save his team and hid the device that included a generator and its fuel comprising seven plutonium capsules in a special container, in an unmarked cave.

When Captain Kohli returned with another expedition, also comprising SFF personnel, the following year in May 1966,

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to try and recover the device, including the plutonium capsules that were purportedly half the size of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and with longevity of over 100 years, nothing was found. Varied accounts claim that the entire equipment was buried in snow following an avalanche, but thereafter the entire Nanda Devi area has virtually been closed for decades, supposedly for environmental reasons.

Another expedition on a similar mission was launched in 1967 that successfully placed an analogous device on the nearby 22,500 feet high Nanda Kot peak, but due to recurring snow storms it was rendered blind and an SFF team, led again by Kohli retrieved it a short while later.

In the intervening decades, the SFF participated successfully in the Chittagong Hill Tracts during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War with Pakistan and thereafter in numerous

clandestine counter insurgency operations including Bluestar in Punjab in 1984 and several in Kashmir, acting primarily as an IB and RAW ‘hit-squad’.

For several decades its recruitment was from among Tibetan refugees scattered across India in some 40 formal settlements and dozens of informal communities. In recent years, many Tibetan exiles are unwilling to join the SFF so the shortfall has been made up by recruiting Gurkhas.

Interestingly, in 1975 instructions allegedly proscribed the SFF from being deployed within 10 km of the LAC, unless under specific instructions. These reportedly emanated after the Force was allegedly conducting ‘unsanctioned’ cross-border raids and localised guerrilla operations.

Perhaps, it is time now to give the SFF its lead, since its already drawn first blood from the PLA. –The author is a senior journalist and media consultant.

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NEWS ROUND UP DEFENCE STARTUP ECOSYSTEM A DECISIVE STEP TOWARDS ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT: DEFMIN

New Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC 4) during the iDEX event, featuring the initiatives aimed at expanding the horizons of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) ecosystem in New Delhi on September 29. Speaking on the occasion, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the iDEX initiative stands out as one of the most effective and well-executed defence startup ecosystem created in our country and it would be a decisive step towards achieving self-reliance in the spirit of the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign. iDEX4Fauji initiative and Product Management Approach (PMA) guidelines were also launched by the Defence Minister during the event. Each of these initiatives is expected to facilitate iDEX-DIO to scale up the programme qualitatively and quantitatively. iDEX4Fauji is a first-of-its-kind initiative, launched to support innovations identified by members of the Indian Armed Forces and will bolster frugal innovation ideas from soldiers/ field formations.

INDIAN NAVY LAYS KEEL FOR THIRD STEALTH FRIGATE OF PROJECT 17A New Delhi. Vice Admiral S R Sarma, Chief of Materiel (COM) and Controller Warship Production and Acquisition (CWP&A) of the Indian Navy and V L Kantha Rao, Additional Secretary (Defence Production) laid the keel for the third ship (Yard- 12653) of the prestigious P17A class stealth frigates on September 10. The keel laying ceremony was conducted through an e-platform in the presence of Vice Admiral R B Pandit, Chief of Staff, HQWNC and Vice Admiral Narayan Prasad (IN Retd.), CMD, Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL).

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CZECH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE CHOOSES RAFAEL DEFENSE-BUILT SPYDER AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM

Haifa, Israel. The Czech Ministry of Defence has informed the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD) of its decision to equip its military with an Israeli air defense system produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, speaking on the development, said: “We thank the Czech government for their partnership and the decision to equip their military with Israeli air defense systems. This is another significant step in strengthening security relations between our two countries, and it is also great news for Israeli defense industries during such a complex period.”

Following an international tender process, which lasted several years, the Czech Ministry of Defense informed the Directorate of International Defense Cooperation (SIBAT) in the Israel Ministry of Defense, of its decision to equip its military with Israeli air defense systems.

On September 25, the Czech government approved the launch of procurement negotiations for four Israeli Surface-to-Air Python & Derby or SPYDER batteries, within the framework of a government-togovernment (GTG) agreement between the two countries. Israel was selected as the sole supplier for the project and the expected agreement between the countries’ defense ministries is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars.

SPYDER is a quick reaction, low-to-high surface-to-air missile system designed to counter attacks by a variety of aerial threats including aircraft, helicopters and UAVs. The system provides effective protection of valuable assets, as well as first-class defense for maneuvering forces located in combat areas. The SPYDER system includes a radar system produced by Elta, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Ariel Karo, EVP marketing and business development at Rafael, said: “We are very proud to have been selected to provide SPYDER systems to the Czech Republic through a GTG process. The decision to select SPYDER, developed and produced by Rafael, is a significant vote of confidence in our proven air defense capabilities demonstrated over the years through a variety of solutions that span from Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the SPYDER air defense system, in service and combat-proven in different countries around the world.”

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GEOPOLITICS: WEST ASIA

ISRAEL COUNTERS IRAN’S SURGE IN BALLISTIC MISSILE ARSENAL Israel has begun its counter-efforts of anti-missile defense system and introduced Arrow-3, the most advanced version of the Arrow ballistic missile interceptor, into the service in response to Iranian efforts towards ballistic missiles arsenal upgrade

By ARIE EGOZI

T

EL AVIV. Iran has stepped up efforts to upgrade its ballistic missiles arsenal – this is to achieve greater range, accuracy and lethality. The latest development forced Israel to make an effort to improve the efficiency of its multi layered rocket and ballistic missile defence system. The Israeli Arrow-3, the most advanced version of the Arrow ballistic missile interceptor, is now being introduced into service.

Arrow-3 fly out test

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This was inducted into the service after this missile successfully completed a 10-day series of tests in Alaska, in which it intercepted by hard kill, three targets simulating ballistic missiles in different trajectory scenarios.

The very complex series of tests was performed jointly by the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO), in the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD), together with the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

The Arrow-3 weapon system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is designed to intercept expo-atmospheric ballistic missiles.

For Israel protection against ballistic threats is not just a theoretical issue. Notably, at 2.40 AM on March 17, 2017, the officer in front of the radar display of an

Israeli Air Force (IAF) Arrow-2 anti-ballistic missile battery saw suspicious blips on the screen in front of him.

There was no time for further consideration and a second later, an Arrow-2 missile was launched from its canister. Seconds later loud explosions were heard in Eastern Israel near the border with Jordan.

Minutes before the sequence of events began, IAF fighter jets attacked a convoy that carried advanced weapons made in Iran, and was in Syrian territory on its way to the Hezbollah terror organization in Lebanon.

When the fighter aircraft were on their way back to base, a Syrian unit launched a Russian made SA-5 surface to air missile that missed the Israeli aircraft.

But the big heavy missile continued its trajectory with a projected hit point inside Israeli territory. The Arrow-2 operator had a few seconds. The Israeli interceptor hit the Syrian missile armed with a 200 kg warhead. It exploded over Jordan. This was the first operational intercept by an Arrow-2 anti-ballistic missile.

The Arrow batteries are interconnected to one command centre which can decide what battery or rather what launcher will achieve the best results after an incoming missile is detected by the “Green Pine” phased array radar and its advanced versions like the “Super Green Pine” (SGP).

Detection is also performed by the Americans, who have one

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missile detection X band radar system in the south of Israel and share with Israel data collected by their spy satellites.

The decision on what battery will launch can be made also using the communications network between the batteries with the no need to go through the central command center. This sequence was tested successfully in the recent intercept.

The decision was made and the incoming surface - air missile that assumed a ballistic trajectory, was destroyed.

Israel has a four layered rocket and missile protection system that is operational and being upgraded continuously. The Arrow 2 and 3 are the upper layers of a system that is designed to defend Israel from rockets and missile. The Rafael “Iron Dome” has intercepted hundreds of short and medium range rockets during the “Protective Edge” operation in Gaza in 2014.

One layer above is the RafaelRaytheon “David Sling” designed to intercept longer range rockets and cruise missiles. All these system are either fully operational or one step from it.

Syria is equipped with old Scud B/C/D ballistic missiles and the Iranian effort is to upgrade them and manufacture newer versions in Syria to protect them from night attacks by Israel.

But the major ballistic threat is from Iran. This country has a big arsenal of long range missiles.

While some report in the Iranian press about new versions of existing missiles are considered false, the experts say that this country can launch a massive ballistic missile attack on Israel.

The Shihab-3 was the first intermediate range ballistic missile that was built by Iran’s military, a local clone of the No Dong from North Korea. Its first version has a range of 1,300 km. Soon after, Iran came with two new models, which

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An Israeli Iron Dome missile

has a range of 1,650 and 1,950 km respectively. Another long range ballistic missile is the Sajil. The Iranians claim that it has a 2,000 km range.

Israeli experts say that the Iranians sometimes use different names for the same missile, but they agree that with foreign help mostly from North Korea, the Iranians have “made a big leap forward.”

Aries Herzog, who headed the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) in the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMoD), says that the Arrow-3 is the most advanced interceptor in the Israeli arsenal.

While the Arrow-2 has a proximity fuse that detonates the warhead, the Arrow-3 is designed as a ‘hit to kill’ interceptor. A kill vehicle is ejected from the main missile and maneuvers itself until it achieves a kinetic kill with the incoming enemy missile.

The Arrow-3 will intercept outside the atmosphere. It is much smaller and lighter than the Arrow-2 and has super maneuverability.

Herzog emphasized that the “End Game” when the kill vehicle goes for the final impact, is not dependent of any sensors on

the ground. “This is made by the missile itself.”

So the Israeli four tiered rocket and missile protection system is in place and being upgraded continuously, according to the developing threat. And recently, the laser as a weapon against rockets is on the table again.

After it was pushed aside, in favor of the Iron Dome rocket interceptor, the Laser Beam that can do the same mission and probably better, and with lower costs, is on its way back. In recent months, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael are working hard to accelerate the development of a laser system that can shoot down rockets and mortar shells.

According to IAI, a prototype of laser cannon for intercepting mortar shells and similar short-range threats is in a very advanced stage of development, and successful experiments have already been carried out. In recent years, the defence industries in Israel and the United States have been working to develop a laserbased defence system, which is considered to be the one that will change the battlefield.

EITAN IS ISRAEL’S LATE ENTRY INTO THE WHEELED APC TYPE OF COMBAT VEHICLES. THE WHEELED TYPE HAS BECOME A FAVORITE IN MANY ARMED FORCES. THIS IS DUE TO SPEED AND FLEXIBILITY

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GEOPOLITICS: WEST ASIA

David’s Sling weapons system Stunner missile launch during final milestone test

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A few years ago, Rafael presented the first model of a laser gun called an “iron beam” designed to respond to shells fired from a range of up to five miles from the border, and Iron Dome has difficulty coping because of the short time that passes from the moment the launch is detected until it hits. According to IAI, the main advantage of the laser is a fast reaction time, and therefore such a system is good for dealing with short-range munitions such as mortars.

The US army and the IDF understand that this system has additional advantages over missilebased defence systems, since its arsenal of ammunition never ends, and the cost of launching a laser beam is very low compared with an Iron Dome interception missile that is estimated to cost tens of thousands of dollars.

The issue became very urgent after a few months ago, the Hamas terror organization in Gaza, launched 460 rockets into Israel, some in big salvos of 30- 40 rockets.

Israeli projects for developing these systems, partly in conjunction with US partners, were shut down in 2007, when it was decided to focus on the home-made Iron Dome. Then, too, some senior figures continued to criticize the Iron Dome.

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But after the last Gaza operation in 2014, Iron Dome became a “star”, mainly because its high kill rate.

With recent developments – the capability to launch salvos of rockets from Gaza and the more dangerous threat – the 1,40,000 rockets accumulated by the Hezbollah in Lebanon, the laser gained again its place of honor.

It became obvious, that the laser solution is on the table again, very seriously. The Iron Dome and the David’s Sling systems are now deployed on both borders to protect against the rockets, but sources say that in case of massive rocket attacks, and in many cases the need to launch more than one interceptor, the situation will be stretched to a critical point.

According to some estimates, in order to intercept such a large number of rockets, the IDF will have to fire a huge number of more than 30,000 interceptors from the Iron Dome system, and the astronomical price of these could reach billions of dollars. That is the basis for the new interest in a laser system that can kill rockets, with a few dollars price tag, attached to each laser pulse.

In the past, Israel and the US cooperated for the development of the Nautilus, a laser “cannon” that could kill rockets.

The Nautilus was a Tactical HighEnergy Laser, or THEL. In 1996, the United States and Israel agreed to cooperate on the development and production of the Nautilus. The demonstrator in 2000 managed to shoot down 28 Katyusha artillery rockets and five artillery shells.

On November 4, 2002, THEL shot down an incoming artillery shell.

The prototype weapon was very big and heavy, and could not get smaller mainly because of the specifications of the Laser generator. The program was discontinued in 2005. The opposition to the laser weapon in Israel brought to the development of the Iron Dome and David’s Sling.

An Israeli very senior source said that it was a mistake to stop the development of a laser based rocket interceptor “now there is a growing number of experts that understand the mistake that was made and ready to re start the development , with the more advanced building blocks available today.”

One indication to the renewed effort to develop laser systems to knock out rockets of the sky, is the Rafael “Drone Dome” system.

According to the Israeli company “Drone Dome” has 360° circular coverage and is capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralizing drones using a low-intensity laser beam.

A spokesperson for Rafael said that the company is developing defense systems based on lasers.

“The Drone Dome is an example.” He did not give any more details about other systems in this category.

There are many indications that laser as a rocket killer is high on the Israeli agenda again, and that the opposition that was very strong in the past exists, but is weaker, much weaker. It can be assumed that next year the first tests with an electrical laser will be conducted in Israel, with US officials following the process and results.

-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist.

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IN CONVERSATION

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ith the civil aviation sector having taken a major hit due to the pandemic COVID 19, Minister of State for Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri is confident that the steps taken by his Ministry will put the sector back on rails in the coming days.

In an interview to Sri Krishna, Consulting Editor, Raksha Anirveda, he spoke on a wide variety of issues ranging from a calibrated recommencement of domestic air operations to establishing exclusive air links or “Air Bubbles” with several countries, though these are temporary arrangements aimed at restarting passenger services while regular flights remain suspended.

Edited excerpts:

‘WITH CALIBRATED RECOMMENCEMENT OF DOMESTIC AIR OPERATIONS LOAD FACTOR EXPECTED TO REACH PRE-COVID LEVELS BY YEAR END’ 110

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What steps are being taken to revive the civil aviation sector in the post-lockdown period?

All efforts have been made to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the aviation sector. Some of the measures taken to support the aviation sector include: • Resumption of domestic operations in a calibrated manner. Initially only one third (33 per cent) of the summer schedule 2020 was allowed, which was subsequently increased to 45 per cent on June 26 and then to 60 per cent on September 2.

• Detailed guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all major stakeholders, i.e. airlines, airports, ground handling agencies are issued to ensure safe air travel.

• Adequate care taken to ensure that cargo terminals at all major airports were operational, whenever required.

• GST rate reduced to five per cent for domestic Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services with effect from April 1.

• Encouraging Indian carriers to increase their share in international air cargo traffic.

• Route rationalisation in the Indian airspace in coordination with Indian Air Force (IAF) for efficient airspace management, shorter routes and reduced fuel burn.

• With the gaining of experience, certain amendments / updation in guidelines carried out to facilitate passengers.

• The undertaking from the travellers about not having tested COVID positive during last two months has been reduced to last three weeks.

• International arriving

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passengers permitted to take the connecting flight to their final destination, when exemption from institutional quarantine is granted on the basis of a negative RT-PCR test report.

• Pre-packed snacks / meals/ pre-packed beverages allowed to serve on domestic flights depending on the duration of flight.

• In-flight entertainment, wherever available allowed to be switched on during travel.

• RT-PCR testing at the entry airports for the arriving international transfer passengers permitted on a pilot basis.

• Air Suvidha portal launched for filling of Self Reporting Form by all International Arriving Passengers to India and also for processing exemption requests from institutional quarantine requirement from passengers fulfilling prescribed conditions.

• Air Bubble- Exclusive air-

EXCLUSIVE AIR-LINKS OR AIR BUBBLES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH COUNTRIES WHICH INCLUDE AFGHANISTAN, BAHRAIN, CANADA, FRANCE, GERMANY, IRAQ, QATAR, MALDIVES, NIGERIA, UAE, UK AND US links or Air Bubbles have been established with countries which include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Qatar, Maldives, Nigeria, UAE, UK and US. These are temporary arrangements aimed at restarting international passenger services while regular international flights remain suspended due to COVID-19.

RECOMMENCEMENT OF RCS-UDAN FLIGHTS

• RCS operations also resumed from May 25. Operation of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) flights were allowed without the restrictions.

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IN CONVERSATION AIR INDIA • General instructions issued to IS UNDER ensure the continued benefit of FINANCIAL air connectivity to small cities/ DISTRESS AND towns. As per the guidelines, THE DEBT OF all the operational RCS routes THE COMPANY in Priority Areas (North IS NEAR TO RS 60,000 CRORE. East Region, Hilly States and THE DEBT Islands), Helicopter Routes, BURDEN IS routes with Zero VGF, routes UNSUSTAINABLE. up to 500 km Stage Length THE PROCESS OF were permitted to resume DISINVESTMENT operations.

OF AIR INDIA • Bank Guarantee requirement IS ON AND THE of SAOs reduced to 20 per cent.

GOVERNMENT IS • UDAN 4.0 launched and 78 new COMMITTED TO routes identified and approved DISINVEST AIR under first phase of UDAN 4.0, INDIA focusing on North Eastern States, Hilly areas and Islands.

What is the status of Air India?

IAir India is under financial distress and the debt of the company is near to Rs 60,000 crore. The debt burden is unsustainable. The process of disinvestment of Air India is on and the government is committed to disinvest Air India. After the issue of Preliminary Information

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Memorandum (PIM) in January 2020 for inviting Expression of Interest (EoI) from the interested bidders, the deadline has been extended up to October 30.

What is the status of International flights to and from India?

For international travel, exclusive air links or “Air Bubbles” have been established with Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Qatar, Maldives, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US). These are temporary arrangements aimed at restarting passenger services while regular flights remain suspended.

What role do you foresee for private carriers in India in the post COVID-19 periods?

Aviation sector including airlines is badly affected due to COVID-19.

With suspension of domestic air operations, the liquidity of the airlines was hit adversely. With the calibrated recommencement

of domestic air operations, the load factor has increased and it is expected to reach pre-COVID levels close to the end of the year. Ministry is reviewing periodically recommencement of air operations in consultation with airlines and airport operators and initiating necessary steps wherever required.

With steady increase in passenger traffic, revenues of airlines are bound to improve.

Private carriers have substantial domestic market share and carry about 85 per cent of the total domestic traffic. The government aims to operationalise 100 additional airports by 2024 taking total operational airports beyond 200.

With such huge infrastructure, it is expected that demand for air services will increase. So the role of private carriers to cope with the expected rise in demand becomes critical. The number of aircraft in Indian sky is also expected to double in next few years. So the private carriers are going to have a major role in the Indian aviation scene and they are going to be the prime movers in the foreseeable future. They will have to deal with the challenges posed by the pandemic.

What would be the benefits of privatisation of airports?

Delhi and Mumbai airports were leased out under Public Private Partnership (PPP) in 2006. AAI has earned revenue to the tune of Rs 29,000 crore from Delhi and Mumbai airports during the period 2006-07 to 2019-20. The experience indicates that PPP brings out operational and professional efficiency in managing airports. This has also resulted in increased revenue for

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the AAI and in turn it is able to make investment for development of airport infrastructure in Tier-II and TierIII cities. Privatisation reduces the need for public sector investment and channelises the scarce resources of the government in social sectors.

What impact the pandemic has had on aviation sector?

Aviation sector including airlines is badly affected due to COVID-19.

Based on the information received from the stakeholders, the impact of COVID-19 on aviation sector and losses accrued on account of nonoperation of flights are as under: i. There have been regulatory restrictions on flight operations leading to severe curtailment in operations and sub-optimal aircraft utilisation. ii. The international traffic has reduced from 93,45,469 during March-July in 2019 to 11,55,590 during March-July 2020. iii. The revenue of Indian carriers has reduced from Rs 25,517 crore during April-June 2019 to Rs 3,651 crore during AprilJune 2020. iv. The revenue of airport operators has reduced from Rs 5,745 crore during April-June 2019 to Rs 894 crore during April-June 2020.

Any measures to make North East Region more attractive for private airlines?

RCS-UDAN: Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) on October 21, 2016, which aims at making flying affordable for masses.

• RCS - UDAN is a market driven scheme.

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• Under RCS-UDAN, NER comes under Priority Area.

• Higher VGF (Viability Gap Funding) have been offered for Priority Areas in RCS-UDAN. • Till third round of bidding under RCS - UDAN, nine airports, 11 heliports and two water aerodromes have been identified and are being developed in NER. • 42 new routes identified and approved under first phase of UDAN 4.0 in NER. RCS Cell is in the process of awarding the routes to Selected Airline Operators (SAOs).

• Proposals for use of Dornier 228 sent to DoNER for funding for expenditure related to air connectivity and development/ upgradation of infrastructure.

• As per Route Dispersal Guidelines, airlines to allocate 10 per cent of trunk routes (Category-I routes) to the routes connecting NER. Also, airlines to operate one per cent of the trunk routes to the routes connecting airports within NER.

Effect of Atmanirbhar Bharat on aircraft industry?

Rationalisation of air space is one of the major components of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”. Unveiling of the fourth tranche of the COVID-19 economic measures as part of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (‘Self-reliant India Mission’) would reduce travel time and save on fuel and thereby benefitting airlines.

Reducing GST on Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services in India from 18 per cent to five per cent is another major step taken by the government.

This would facilitate setting up of MRO facilities in India and greatly benefit Indian carriers. This is effective from April 1.

Allowing AAI airports on PPP basis is also expected to bring in much needed investment in airport infrastructure. This will help in creating airport infrastructure in the Tier-II and Tier-III cities helping in increasing air connectivity in the regions.

DELHI AND MUMBAI AIRPORTS WERE LEASED OUT UNDER PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) IN 2006.

AAI HAS EARNED REVENUE TO THE TUNE OF RS 29,000 CRORE FROM DELHI AND MUMBAI AIRPORTS DURING THE PERIOD 2006-07 TO 2019-20. THE EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT PPP BRINGS OUT OPERATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EFFICIENCY IN MANAGING AIRPORTS

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CIVIL AVIATION NEWS CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY ISSUES GUIDELINES ON DOMESTIC AIR TRAVEL, SAYS AIRLINES CAN DECIDE BAGGAGE LIMITATION New Delhi. In a move aimed at increasing passenger comfort, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has issued revised guidelines for domestic air travel, giving airlines permission to decide baggage limitation as per their respective policies.

“The matter with regard to check-in baggage has been reviewed based on the feedback/inputs received from concerned stakeholders. Considering the convenience of the passengers, it has been decided to amend the existing provisions in this regard and baggage limitation would be as per the airlines’ policies,” the ministry noted in an official order. When domestic flight resumed operations from May 25 after a gap of two months due to the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, the ministry had allowed only one check-in baggage and one hand baggage per passenger.

Currently, airlines have been allowed to operate not more than 60 per cent of their pre-Covid domestic flights. International flights, meanwhile, have been under suspension since March 22. Only flights under the Vande Bharat mission and air transport bubbles are operating.

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ROLLS-ROYCE COMPLETES GROUND-TESTING OF TECHNOLOGY SET TO POWER THE WORLD’S FASTEST ALL-ELECTRIC PLANE

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ew Delhi. Rolls-Royce has completed testing of the ground-breaking technology that will power the world’s fastest all-electric plane. All the technology has been tested on a full-scale replica of the plane’s core, called an ‘ionBird’, including a 500hp electric powertrain powerful enough to set world speed records and a battery with enough energy to supply 250 homes.

The plane is part of a Rolls-Royce initiative called ACCEL, short for ‘Accelerating the Electrification of Flight’. Our ACCEL project team includes key partners YASA, the electric motor and controller manufacturer, and aviation start-up Electroflight.

The team has been developing the technology while adhering to the UK Government’s social distancing and other health guidelines and the systems will soon be integrated into our ‘Spirit of Innovation’ plane. There is a long history of iron-birds in aviation for testing propulsion systems ahead of flight, but in this case we have named the test airframe ‘ionBird’, after the zero-emission energy source propelling the aircraft.

UK Business and Industry Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “From trains to

planes, our transport of the future will be powered by clean, electric sources – with companies like Rolls-Royce developing the tech to help meet our net zero ambitions. The completion of ground-testing for the governmentbacked ACCEL project is not only a step towards an exciting world record attempt, but a leap towards developing all-electric and hybrid-electric planes that one day could ferry large numbers of passengers around the world.”

The dedicated team have tested each and every component of the system including: • Running the propeller up to full speed (approximately 2,400 rpm) using the most power-dense battery pack ever assembled for aircraft propulsion. When at full power during the flight-testing phase, it will propel the aircraft to more than 300mph setting a new world speed record for electric flight. Over 6,000 cells are packaged in the battery for maximum safety, minimum weight and full thermal protection.

• Since January, our engineering and test pilots have spent many hours optimising the system and developing operating procedures for electric flight.

• Generating GBs of data every hour of operation which the team have

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analysed to improve performance wherever possible.

Rob Watson, Director – RollsRoyce Electrical, said: “Rolls-Royce is committed to playing a leading role in reaching net zero carbon by 2050. The completion of groundtesting for the ACCEL project is a great achievement for the team and is another important step towards a world record attempt. This project is also helping to develop RollsRoyce’s capabilities and ensure that we remain a leader in delivering the electrification of flight, an important part of our sustainability strategy.”

Bremont, will be the official timing partner for the all-electric speed record attempt. The British luxury watch maker has also helped develop the design of the plane’s cockpit which will feature a stopwatch, while the company has machined canopy release parts at its Henley-on-Thames manufacturing facility. The first flight is planned for later this year and we are aiming to beat the current allelectric flight world record early next year. Half of the project’s funding is provided by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), in partnership with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Innovate UK. Mark Scully, Head of Technology for Advanced Systems & Propulsion at the Aerospace Technology Institute, said: “The significance of reaching this milestone should not be underestimated. The ACCEL team is pioneering the integration of highperformance batteries, motors and drives to deliver an electric propulsion system in an ambitious flight test programme. These technologies and the systems integration needed to utilise them hold great potential for future sustainable aviation, which is why the ATI is proud to support the project.” The ACCEL project is a series of firsts for Rolls-Royce as we journey towards net zero carbon by 2050. It is the first Rolls-Royce project to use offsetting to make the whole programme carbon neutral.

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BOEING WINS MORE 737-800BCF ORDERS, LAUNCHES NEW FREIGHTER CONVERSION LINES

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EATTLE. Boeing announced a firm order from an unidentified customer for two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF), as well as agreements to open additional conversion lines in Guangzhou, China, and Singapore to meet strong market demand. Based on the popular Next-Generation 737, the 737-800BCF offers operators newer technology, lower fuel consumption and higher reliability than other standard-body freighters.

Primarily used to carry express cargo on domestic or short-haul routes, the airplane is capable of carrying up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 pounds) and flying up to 2,000 nautical miles (3,750 kilometers).

The 737-800BCF now has 134 orders and commitments.

“The freighter conversion program is an excellent way to double the life of an airplane and provide operators with an economical way to replace less efficient freighters,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Boeing. “By working with our partners to add freighter conversion capacity, we look forward to meeting the strong demand in this market segment and helping our customers scale their operations.”

The new 737-800BCF line at Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (GAMECO) is scheduled to open in early 2021, marking the MRO’s second conversion line for the marketleading 737-800BCF. To date, Boeing has delivered 36 737-800BCF to more than 10 operators across four continents.

“The addition of the new production

line demonstrates our ability to quickly respond to market trends and requirements and is a testament to the skill and professionalism of the entire GAMECO-Boeing team,” said GAMECO General Manager Norbert Marx. Boeing will also add a second conversion line for its widebody converted freighter, the 767-300BCF, at ST Engineering’s facility in Singapore. The second line is scheduled to open later this year.

The world’s most efficient freighter in its class, the Boeing 767 freighter family offers the lowest operating costs per trip and allows airlines to develop new opportunities in the long-haul, regional and feeder markets. The 767-300BCF has virtually the same cargo capability as the 767-300F production freighter with up to 56.5 tonnes (124,600 pounds) of payload and flying up to 3,350 nautical miles (6,190 kilometers). The Boeing freighter family, which includes production and converted freighters, provides more than 90 percent of the world’s freighter capacity, offering an unmatched selection of capacity and capability with superior economics in every freighter size.

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CIVIL AVIATION NEWS AIRBUS’ ORDERS BY AUGUST 31 STANDS AT 370 AIRCRAFT

New Delhi. Airbus’ 2020 gross orders

by August 31 totalled 370 aircraft with net orders of 303 after excluding the year’s cancellation. The company has also registered one new order for an ACJ320neo. However, there is no cancellation for ACJ320neo in August. In the month of August itself, Airbus delivered a total of 39 aircraft spread out among 35 A320 Family aircraft including the first A321neo to Gulf Air, two A330 including the first A330-900 to Portuguese carrier Orbest and two A350. Airbus’ backlog of aircraft remaining to be delivered as of August 31 stood at 7,501 comprising 524 A220s, 6,091 A320 Family aircraft (including 6,034 A320neo Family), 319 A330s (including 285 A330neo Family), 558 A350 XWBs and nine A380s.

AIRBUS HELICOPTERS, HTM-HELICOPTERS TO BECOME FIRST OPERATOR TO USE NEW H145 FOR OFFSHORE WIND OPERATIONS

onauwörth, Germany.

Airbus Helicopters and HTM-Helicopters have signed a contract for the purchase of two additional H145 helicopters. HTM will be the first operator to use the new five-bladed H145 in the Offshore Wind segment.

The delivery of the first helicopter, a four-bladed H145, is scheduled for the fourth quarter this year, while the second aircraft, a fivebladed H145 will be delivered mid next year. The four-bladed H145 will also later be upgraded with the new five-bladed rotor system by HTM’s maintenance organization.

The two new aircraft will be operated from HTM’s bases at Norden-Norddeich, Emden, Borkum and Helgoland. For their missions, which include passenger transport to and from wind farms and hoisting technicians to the wind-turbines, the two helicopters will be equipped with a powerful hoist, floatation equipment,

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and a cargo hook.

Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite.

It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class.

The new upgrade of the H145 boasts several new features that will allow customers to enhance their operations: The innovative five-blade bearingless rotor increases the useful load by 150 kg, further enhancing the mission capabilities of the aircraft.

TO SUPPORT WIDE-RANGING ACTIVITIES IN JAPAN NAKANIHON AIR REINFORCES UTILITY CAPABILITIES WITH NEW H215 ORDER Tokyo. Nakanihon Air, one of Japan’s largest helicopter operators, has ordered one H215 heavy helicopter to shore up its capabilities for utility and aerial work.

Currently operating 45 Airbus helicopters, Nakanihon Air specialises in activities covering emergency medical services, electronic news gathering, as well as passenger and goods transportation in Japan. The air services company also runs an Airbus-approved maintenance centre for H135 helicopters, while major inspections of the operator’s existing Super Puma fleet are performed at the manufacturer’s Kobe maintenance facility. The twin-engine, heavy-lift H215

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is a member of the Super Puma helicopter family, known for its high availability rate, performance, and competitive operating cost. Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, the rotorcraft consists of two versions — one tailored for multirole operations and the other for aerial work and utility missions. There are currently 28 helicopters of the Super Puma family in Japan flown by civil operators, parapublic operators, and the Ministry of Defense for various search and rescue missions, coastguard operations, fire-fighting, as well as Private and Business Aviation and commercial air transport missions.

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BAE SYSTEMS SELECTED TO PROVIDE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR NEW AERION SUPERSONIC AS2 BUSINESS JET

ISRAEL’s ISRAIR AIRLINES PLANS TO BEGIN DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM TEL AVIV TO ABU DHABI

By ARIE EGOZI

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ew Delhi. BAE Systems has received a contract from Aerion Supersonic to supply the flight control system for its new AS2 supersonic business jet.

BAE Systems will design, develop, and integrate a fly-by-wire flight control system, including active inceptors, for the new aircraft.

“We are leveraging decades of expertise and advanced technologies to architect a flight control system that will enable the future of flight,” said Ehtisham Siddiqui, vice president and general manager of Controls and Avionics Solutions for BAE Systems.

“We are proud to be collaborating with Aerion Supersonic on this nextgeneration flight control system for the AS2 aircraft.”

The new flight control system adds to BAE Systems’ more than 40 years of experience developing and integrating fly-by-wire systems. The system builds on the company’s proven core technology, but uses smaller and lighter components to allow for integration on the AS2 aircraft. The system will comprise active inceptors, primary flight control computers, actuator control units, and remote electronics units.

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“We are delighted to expand our long-standing relationship with BAE Systems and for them to join our growing team of globally-renowned technical partners who will support bringing the AS2 to production.”

BAE Systems’ active inceptors will provide AS2 pilots with static and dynamic tactile force feedback in the palm of their hand. Unlike a passive system, the active inceptor includes electronic controlled actuators that send tactile feedback to the pilot through the flight stick. The feedback warns pilots of structural or aerodynamic operating limits – giving them improved situational awareness to maintain a safer, more stable flight.

Aerion’s AS2 private jet is the first supersonic aircraft to use only synthetic fuel and reach supersonic speeds without the need for an afterburner.

The business jet will enhance pointto-point travel with a maximum speed of Mach 1.4 – approx. 1,000 miles per hour – at 57,000 feet. The AS2 will commence production from the company’s new global headquarters and manufacturing and research campus – Aerion Park – in Melbourne, Florida, in 2023. The flight control system development will be conducted at BAE Systems facilities in Endicott, New York, and Rochester, UK.

Tel Aviv. Israeli airlines are expecting good business on the new routes to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Israeli aerospace companies also expect maintenance work of passenger airlines operated by some Gulf States. Israeli airline Israir Airlines, commonly known as Israir plans to begin offering direct flights from Ben Gurion Airport to Abu Dhabi next month.

The airline said it would begin operating the flights immediately, pending final approval from Israeli and Emirati authorities. No exact date for launching the route was given, though several reports have speculated that the direct line would start next month.Israir will operate the flight with the airline’s Airbus 320 for flight duration of just three and a half hours. The development came after Saudi Arabia and Bahrain approved the flight to use their airspace.

One-way tickets will go on sale for US$299 and a four-day vacation package including lodging at a five-star hotel will cost just US$699, the airline said.

“There is no doubt we can expect great demand for Abu Dhabi flights,” said Israir President Uri Sirkis. Israeli companies that offer maintenance work for aircraft like Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) also expect work as a result of the normalisation agreements with the UAE and Bahrain.

-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist

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HELIRUSSIA 2020

RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS’ MULTIPURPOSE CHOPPERS ON DISPLAY AT HELIRUSSIA 2020 The 13th edition of HeliRussia 2020 exhibition provided an excellent opportunity for the helicopter industry to showcase their products, discuss various issues and join forces to face the new challenges of the future

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oscow. The Russian Helicopters Holding Company, part of the Rostec State Corporation, presented its civilian products at the 13th International Helicopter Industry Exhibition HeliRussia 2020, which was held at Crocus Expo IEC from September 15 to 17.

The Russian Helicopters holding’s exposition featured Ka-32A11BC multipurpose helicopter and the light multipurpose Ansat with new optional equipment.

Also at the exhibition were presented a new SP-32 water tank designed for the modernized Ka-32A11M helicopters. As part of the modernization, it is planned to install new avionics, more powerful VK-2500PS-02 engines and an improved fire extinguishing system on the helicopter.

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“The HeliRussia exhibition is an excellent opportunity for us to discuss with the participants of the Russian helicopter market all the issues that have accumulated over the year, to join forces in the face of new challenges. The COVID-19 epidemic has become one of them.

For the industry, it is especially important to observe the safety of workers in continuous production, remote training of specialists and maintenance of equipment, the development of medical

aviation and specialized options to effectively fight the Coronavirus.

That is why the specialists will focus on the Ansat light helicopter, certified for the installation of a special medical module and equipped with an expanded range of optional equipment,” said Russian Helicopters Holding CEO Andrey Boginsky before the event.

Major Display During HeliRussia 2020:

KA-32A11BC

The Ka-32A11BC multirole helicopter is designed for special search and rescue operations, building tall structures, transporting cargo internally and

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on an external sling, logging, medevac and complex fire-fighting missions, as well as on patrol and to support during law enforcement operations. The main features of this multirole helicopter is it has coaxial design and the absence of a tail rotor mean that it is compact, high power, highly manoeuvrable and very easy to handle. Having high load capacity, it can carry up to five tonnes on its external sling. It is equipped with the latest avionics systems. The chopper is very economical – with low operating costs, and an extended service life of 32,000 flight hours.

The Ka-32A11BC can operate efficiently in dense urban areas, difficult to access mountainous and forested regions, and can also land on small vessels, drilling platforms and on un-prepared, hard to access sites.

MI-38 HEAVY UTILITY HELICOPTER

Also at the HeliRussia the brandnew Mi-38 heavy utility helicopter has been presented on the open ground. The multirole Mi-38 can carry cargo and passengers, including VIPs, and can also be used as a search-and-rescue helicopter and flying hospital, as well as for offshore missions.

The Mi-38 can operate in a wide range of climates, including maritime, tropical

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and cold environments. The technical solutions deployed in the Mi-38 give the helicopter superior maximum payload, passenger capacity and key performance indicators to other helicopters in its class.

ANSAT MULTIPURPOSE HELICOPTER

The company too presented Ansat multipurpose helicopter fitted with additional equipment - an internal fuel tank and ballonets within the framework of the HeliRussia-2020 International Exhibition. Ansat is a light twinengine multipurpose helicopter, the serial production of which is deployed at the Kazan Helicopter Plant. According to the certificate, the design of the helicopter allows it to be quickly transformed into both cargo and passenger versions with the ability to carry up to eight people.

In May 2015, an addendum to the type certificate for the

modification of a helicopter with a medical module was received. Ansat is certified for use in the temperature range from -45 to +50 degrees Celsius, as well as for operation in highlands. In 2019, the Federal Air Transport Agency certified an increase in the fuselage resource of the Ansat light helicopter to 16,000 hp.

“The Ansat helicopter project is actively developing in accordance with the needs of our customers.

We do not stand still and respond to the requests of partners, making our products more competitive and convenient in operation. By the end of the year, we plan to submit a new generation Ansat prototype for testing. In addition to a wide range of optional equipment, this helicopter will receive an upgraded fuel system with increased capacity, the latest avionics for instrument flights, as well as a lightweight fuselage with expanded use of composite materials,” said Russian Helicopters CEO Andrey Boginsky.

“THE ANSAT HELICOPTER PROJECT IS ACTIVELY DEVELOPING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS. WE DO NOT STAND STILL AND RESPOND TO THE REQUESTS OF PARTNERS, MAKING OUR PRODUCTS MORE COMPETITIVE AND CONVENIENT IN OPERATION” Andrey Boginsky Russian Helicopters CEO

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APPOINTMENTS

AIR MARSHAL VR CHAUDHARI ASSUMES COMMAND OF WESTERN AIR COMMAND

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ew Delhi. Air Marshal VR Chaudhari AVSM VM took over as Air Officer Commandingin-Chief of Western Air Command, Indian Air Force (IAF) on August 1. He succeeds Air Marshal B Suresh PVSM AVSM VM ADC. Air Marshal VR Chaudhari was commissioned into Fighter Stream of the IAF on December 29, 1982 as a Fighter Pilot.

In a distinguished career spanning nearly 38 years, the Air Officer has flown wide variety of fighter and trainer aircraft in the inventory of IAF. He has a flying experience of more than 3800 hrs, including operational flying on MiG-21, MiG-23 MF, MiG 29 and Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. In recognition of his

distinguished service, the Air Marshal was awarded Vayu Sena Medal (VM) in January 2004 and the Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) in January 2015.

VICE ADMIRAL S R SARMA ASSUMES CHARGE AS CHIEF OF MATERIEL, INDIAN NAVY

New Delhi: Vice Admiral S R Sarma on September 1 assumed charge as the Chief of Materiel (COM) of the Indian Navy. He replaces Vice Admiral GS Pabby, who superannuates on completion of an illustrious naval career spanning close to four decades.

The Admiral officer is a post graduate in Computer Science and Engineering from IISc, Bengaluru and a distinguished alumni of Naval Higher Command Course. During his illustrious career spanning over three and a half decades, he has served onboard Indian Naval Ships Vindhyagiri, Rana, Krishna and Mysore in various capacities. In recognition of his distinguished services, the Vice Admiral was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM). He is also a recipient of Lt VK Jain Gold Medal in 1994.

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VICE ADMIRAL DINESH TRIPATHI ASSUMES CHARGE AS DIRECTOR GENERAL NAVAL OPERATIONS New Delhi: Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on August 13 assumed charge as Director General Naval Operations (DGNO). He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy Khadakwasla and was commissioned into Indian Navy on July 1, 1985.The Flag Officer is a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare, and has served on frontline warships of the Navy as Signal Communication Officer and Electronic Warfare Officer, and later as the Executive Officer and Principal Warfare Officer of Guided Missile Destroyer INS Mumbai. A graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, where he was awarded the Thimmaya Medal, Vice Admiral Tripathi has attended Naval Higher Command Course and Naval Command College at the US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island in 200708, where he won the Prestigious Robert E Bateman International Prize.

VICE ADMIRAL MA HAMPIHOLI TAKES CHARGE AS COMMANDANT, INDIAN NAVAL ACADEMY New Delhi: Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi on July 27 took charge as Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy (INA) from Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, who served a successful tenure of over 13 months.

Vice Admiral Tripathi took over as the Commandant of Indian Naval Academy on June 12, 2019 last year.

During his tenure, the Academy saw marked transformation in infrastructure and training facilities. Under the Flag Officer’s leadership, on November 12, 2019, INA was bestowed with the President’s Colour for rendering 50 years of yeoman service in shaping Naval leaders for Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Friendly Foreign Countries. Vice Admiral Tripathi was accorded a warm send off, with the traditional ‘Pulling Out’ ceremony.

Vice Admiral Hampiholi is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasala; Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the erstwhile College of Naval Warfare, Karanja and the prestigious National Defence College, New Delhi.

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BOEING APPOINTS MARC ALLEN CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER HICAGO. The Boeing Company on September 17 named B Marc Allen as chief strategy officer and senior vice president, Strategy and Corporate Development, reporting to President and CEO David Calhoun. The company also announced Christopher Raymond as the company’s chief sustainability officer, a newly created position reporting to Executive Vice President, Enterprise Operations and Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith. The appointments are effective October 1.

Allen, first appointed to the company’s Executive Council in 2014 as president of Boeing International, will now take on responsibility for the enterprise’s

overarching strategy, including long-term planning; global business and corporate development; and strategic investments, acquisitions and divestitures.

As Boeing’s first chief sustainability officer, Raymond will be responsible for further advancing Boeing’s approach to sustainability that is focused on

environmental, social and governance priorities, stakeholder-oriented reporting and company performance.

Operating within the Enterprise Operations, Finance and Sustainability organization, Raymond will lead a team that collaborates across Boeing’s commercial, defense and services businesses and its enterprise functions in support of the company’s commitment to responsible and inclusive business practices and positive global impact.

Raymond first gained responsibility for Boeing’s sustainability strategy in April 2020 when his role leading strategy was expanded to integrate corporate development and deepen the company’s focus on environmental and social considerations.

New Delhi. Starting from September 1, Lorenzo Mariani has become Executive Group Director Sales & Business Development of MBDA and Managing Director of MBDA Italia. Reporting directly to Eric Béranger, the group’s Chief Executive Officer, he also becomes a member of MBDA’s Executive Committee. Mariani succeeds Pasquale Di Bartolomeo following his appointment as Leonardo’s Chief Commercial Officer. As Executive Group Director Sales & Business Development, Mariani will guide an integrated multi-national team responsible for generating the order intake to sustain the long

term performance of the company. This includes all activities related to the whole product life cycle, and for understanding precisely what customers require and developing the most compelling solutions to meet these requirements. As Managing Director of MBDA Italia, Mariani will be the senior representative of the company in Italy. He will lead MBDA’s relationship with both the Italian customer and the Italian industrial community.

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MV RAJA SEKHAR JOINS BEL AS DIRECTOR (R&D)

Bangalore. MV Raja Sekhar took charge as Director (Research & Development) of Navratna Defence PSU BEL on September 1. He was working as Chief Scientist of BEL’s Central Research Laboratory (CRL)-Bangalore, and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at BEL’s Corporate Office, before his elevation. Raja Sekhar joined BEL’s Ghaziabad Unit on February 1, 1985, as Probationary Engineer after completing B. Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. In a career spanning over 35 years, he has worked in various capacities and gained rich experience in diverse technologies of BEL. He was instrumental in the indigenous development of state-of-the-art Thermal Imager-based Sights and Systems in association with IRDE.

Christopher Raymond

B. Marc Allen

LORENZO MARIANI APPOINTED MANAGING DIRECTOR, MBDA ITALIA

BOEING APPOINTS DANDRIDGE TO LEAD COMPANY’S COMMUNICATIONS CHICAGO. US aerospace and defence major Boeing on September 9 named Ed Dandridge as the company’s senior vice president and chief communications officer effective September 28. Dandridge succeeds Greg Smith, who has served as interim chief communications officer since July in addition to his role as executive vice president of Enterprise Operations and chief financial officer. Dandridge will report to Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun and will serve on the company’s Executive Council.

In this role, Dandridge will oversee all aspects of

Boeing’s communications, including business unit communications, corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, leadership communications, employee engagement and corporate branding, as well as channel and content marketing. Dandridge joins Boeing from AIG, where he served as global chief marketing and communications officer, AIG General Insurance, since April 2018. Dandridge is a seasoned global executive and recognized industry leader with more than 25 years of experience.

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NEWS ROUND UP

AIR FORCE COMMANDERS’ CONFERENCE: IAF REVIEWS PREPAREDNESS, DELIBERATES ON ROADMAP FOR NEXT DECADE

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ew Delhi. With the continuing tension along the Sino-Indian border on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the three-day Air Force Commanders’ Conference (ACC) which concluded on July 24 had a series of discussions and reviews on operational preparedness and strategies for countering security threats envisaged across the entire spectrum. They discussed the current situation and thereafter carried out a thorough review of the IAF’s transformation roadmap for the next decade.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Karambir Singh and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General MM Naravane addressed the Conference and interacted with the Commanders as well as the

Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at Air Headquarters on matters of jointness and integrated war fighting. The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria reviewed the status and issues related to all Commands as well as branches.

AMID INDIA-CHINA FACEOFF AT LAC, GOVT REACHES OUT TO ARRANGE NEW EQUIPMENT FOR IAF

New Delhi. As the Sino-Indian border standoff continues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the government is reaching out to arrange new equipment for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and including the three service chiefs and Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, is expected to clear ground-based, high-frequency radios. About 160 are likely to be procured. The Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) smart anti-airfield weapon— presumably, bombs to destroy runways and hangers— is also ready. The development trials are over and production issues will be discussed. Also under discussion is DRDO‘s unit repair vehicle for the Arjun tank. This is a small (only Rs eight crore) but significant project. The manufacture of ammunition for Pinaka multi-barrelled rocket launchers is also on the agenda. The private sector will be invited to produce Pinaka ammunition while the Ordnance Factory Board will also make some. This has happened after the DRDO developing a shell with better propellant.

DTC DELIVERS UNSURPASSED SUBTERRANEAN COMMUNICATIONS HAMPSHIRE, England. DTC Communications Inc. (DTC) has delivered MANET Mesh radios for a successful End-User trial in a subterranean / underground and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) environment.

DTC radios live streamed 6 dismounted Video and Voice feeds from the P4 Basement of a shopping mall to L2, some six floors above, and to a Command Post 400m outside. Juan A. Navarro, CEO, DTC, says “This was truly great work by our “Make-in-India” partners Brij Systems Limited and Exicom Technologies India LLP.” DTC’s technology delivers Mission Critical, Secure, Tactical Data, Video and Voice comms providing realtime Shared Situational Awareness (SSA) for Assault Teams and Special Operations. The OEM solution was designed and engineered specifically for Exicom Technologies in the DTC UK facility.

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SAAB CALLS INDIA’S NEW DEFENCE FDI MODEL OF ENHANCED INVESTMENT UP TO 74% “VERY ATTRACTIVE”

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ew Delhi. Swedish company SAAB has said that 74 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in defence is a “very attractive model” but wanted clarification whether the Strategic Partnership (SP) model of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) comes under it. In a virtual interaction with the media, Mats Palmberg, Head of SAAB’s Gripen India campaign, said his company is planning to set up an advanced industrial body, the Indian Aircraft Company (INAC). “If the Gripen fighter is selected by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the 114 fighter tender which

is underway, then INAC will be set up.”

“This will enable the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have control over the setup and they can take responsibility and also meet customer expectations.”

TO STAND GUARD AGAINST CHINA AT LAC, INDIA IN TALKS WITH US TO BUY ADVANCED MQ-9 UAV

New York. With China continuing to adopt an aggressive posture towards India, Washington’s sale of advanced weapons system show its commitment to New Delhi’s security, said a senior US State Department official. “At a time when India is facing substantial security challenges, the growth in our defence partnership is exceptionally important. This partnership includes defence sales, particularly our offers of advanced US weapon systems as a demonstration of our commitment to Indian security and sovereignty,” the official told reporters on September 30.

IN A BIG BOOST TO INDIGENOUS DEFENCE PRODUCTION HAL ROLLS OUT 300TH ALH DHRUV

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engaluru. In yet another major fillip to indigenous programme, 300th Advanced Light He l i c o p t e r ( A LH) Dhruv rolled out from HAL hangar in Bengaluru on September 29. Speaking on the occasion, R Madhavan, CMD, HAL said ALH never looked back from the day when the prototype took its maiden flight on August 30, 1992 and has evolved into a world class helicopter with its unparalleled performance. “The

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evolution from ALH Mark-I to Mark-IV has been phenomenal and is a boost to the indigenous design and development of helicopters,” he added.

The Roll-out certificate of the 300th helicopter was handed over to GVS Bhaskar, Chief Executive Officer, Helicopter Complex by YK Sharma, Additional Director General (South Zone), Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) at a programme held at HAL’s Helicopter Division.

ENCOURAGING INDIGENOUS DEFENCE PRODUCTION, INDIA TO PRODUCE NEXT GEN FIGHTER JETS

New Delhi: In keeping with encouraging indigenous private sector in defence industry, India is likely to produce its next generation of fighter jets in a private sector-led joint venture, which could require investments of over Rs 2,500 crore from the selected company but would catapult it into a select league capable of manufacturing cutting edge aeronautical systems. India’s leading aerospace manufacturer and state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is currently working out the costs involved and the structure of the planned JV for the production of the fifth generation Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA), with an ambitious target for 2028.

MOD SIGNS `591.34 CR CONTRACT WITH ALPHA DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES FOR MISSILE AND RADAR SYSTEMS UPGRADE New Delhi: Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract worth Rs 591.34 crore with Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies Ltd (ADTL) for the upgrade/ digitisation of 16 Russian versions of Pechora Missile and Radar Systems. Pechora Systems, in service at present, are already 30 plus years old and there are lots of obsolescence and spares / repair / maintenance problems, which will be solved by the upgradation. The project will be undertaken by Alpha Design in partnership with Russia and would be completed in four years time.

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INDIA CONCLUDES BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISES WITH AUSTRALIA, BANGLADESH, JAPAN, RUSSIA

By PK GHOSH

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ew Delhi. Against the backdrop of aggressive Chinese stand in South China Sea and to keep the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) specially the IndoPacific safe and secure, Indian Navy went into several bilateral naval exercises namely with Australia, Bangladesh, Japan and Russia in the month of September and early October.

The joint naval exercise between Indian Navy (IN) and Royal Australian Navy Passage Exercise (PASSEX) concluded in the East Indian Ocean Region (IOR) on September 24.

The two-day exercise involved participation of HMAS Hobart from the Australian side and Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri and Karmuk. In addition, an Indian MPA and helicopters from both sides participated in the exercise.

The exercise, aimed at enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices from each other, involved advanced surface and anti-air exercises including weapon firings, seamanship exercises, naval manoeuvres and Cross Deck Flying Operations. PASSEX is regularly conducted by IN with units of friendly foreign navies.

The second edition of India-Bangladesh bilateral naval exercise ‘Bongosagar’

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was concluded on October 5. Exercise Bongosagar, whose first edition was held in 2019, is aimed at developing interoperability and joint operational skills through conduct of a wide spectrum of maritime exercises and operations.

In this edition of exercise Bongosagar, ships from both the navies participated in surface warfare drills, seamanship evolutions and helicopter operations.

Alongside ‘Bongosagar’, the third (3rd) edition of Indian Navy – Bangladesh Navy Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) was also conducted in Northern Bay of Bengal, wherein IN and BN units undertook joint patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Conduct of CORPATs has strengthened understanding between both the navies and instituted measures to stop conduct of unlawful activities.

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kiltan, an indigenously built Anti-Submarine

Warfare Corvette and INS Khukri, an indigenously built Guided-Missile Corvette were participated along with Bangladesh Naval Ship (BNS) Abu Bakr, a GuidedMissile Frigate and BNS Prottoy, a GuidedMissile Corvette.

India and Bangladesh have a close, long-standing relationship covering a wide spectrum of activities and interactions, which has strengthened over the years.

The people of India and Bangladesh also share close cultural bonds and a shared vision of democratic society and a rulesbased order. This edition of exercise Bongosagar assumes greater significance since it is being conducted during Mujib Barsho, the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bongosagar and IN – BN CORPAT, undertaken over three days, reflect the priority that Indian Navy accords to the Bangladesh Navy as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region). Besides Australia, Japan, which is a Quad member nation, also went into the fourth edition of India – Japan Maritime bilateral exercise JIMEX 20 which concluded on September 28. JIMEX, which is held biennially, commenced in January 2012 with special focus on maritime security cooperation.

Naval cooperation between India and

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Japan has also increased in scope and complexity over the years. Advanced level of operations and exercises planned during JIMEX 20 are indicative of the continued upswing in Indo-Japanese defence relations and continued efforts by both the governments to work closely for a more secure, open and inclusive global commons, in accordance with international regulations.

In early last month, India took part in the two-day 11th edition of INDRA

NAVY-2020 with its all weather ally Russia. The latest edition of bilateral naval exercise, which was held in the Bay of Bengal coincided with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Moscow. Ex INDRA NAVY epitomises the long-term strategic relationship between the two navies.

This exercise has matured over the years with increase in scope, complexity of operations, and level of participation.

The primary aim of exercise INDRA NAVY-2020 was to further consolidate

inter-operability built up by the two navies over the years and also to enhance understanding and procedures for multifaceted maritime operations.

The exercises assumed significance on the back of Chinese aggressive posture in the South China Sea as well as to ensure the free navigation of water in the Indian Ocean Region. They were also well within Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

Berlin. Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace and Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd have reached an agreement to provide inservice support of the T-55 engine should the government of Germany select the H-47 Chinook for its Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH) heavy-lift helicopter requirement. Since the forming of the Chinook Germany Industry Team in 2018, originally comprised of nine German companies, Boeing continues to build a strong industry team to provide the Luftwaffe with local long-term services support, maintenance and training of the Chinook over the next several decades.

In addition, Boeing’s industrial plan will foster German economic growth while creating highly skilled jobs in country.

Moscow. Rosoboronexport, part of the Rostec State Corporation, has supplied 3000+ tanks and vehicles based on them abroad, including artillery, engineering and other weapon systems and military equipment over 20 years of its activity in the international arms market. “The equipment designed by the Russian school of tank building, which celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, receives acclaim of foreign specialists every year. The latest products from Rostec holding companies – Armata and T-90MS MBTs, BMPT Terminator tank support fighting vehicles, SprutSDM1 light amphibious tanks, TOS-1A heavy flamethrower systems, Msta-S self-propelled howitzers, a broad lineup of engineer vehicles based on tank chassis and many other domestic

armored vehicles – are in high demand around the world. In a number of countries, armored units equipped predominantly with Russian vehicles became the backbone of the national armed forces,” said Alexander Mikheev, Director General of Rosoboronexport and Deputy Chairman of the Russian Engineering Union.

BOEING, HONEYWELL AEROSPACE, ROLLS-ROYCE REACH AGREEMENT FOR H-47 CHINOOK HEAVY-LIFT HELICOPTER REQUIREMENTS

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WORLD DEMAND FOR RUSSIAN ARMORED VEHICLES REMAINS STEADILY STRONG, SAYS ROSOBORONEXPORT DIRECTOR GENERAL

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IN NEWS GOA SHIPYARD BEGINS PRODUCTION OF STEALTH FRIGATES FOR NAVY, DELIVERY LIKELY BY 2026 New Delhi. Goa Shipyard Ltd, September 21, commenced production of the two guided missile frigates, which are being built in collaboration with Russia’s Yantar Shipyard for the Indian Navy. GSL expects to deliver the first ship to the Navy by 2026. Though the frigates are based on a Russian design, they will have significant indigenous content, including an Indian-built radar, sonar systems and sensors, communication suites and antiship BrahMos missile systems. Initiating the production process, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar said that the frigates would help the Navy meet maritime challenges. India and Russia entered into a government to government agreement for four stealth frigates, with two being built in Russia and two at Goa Shipyard. The stealth frigate project is the largest contract in GSL’s history and represents a quantum leap in the shipyard’s capabilities.

DRDO BEGINS PREPARING FOR CONTACTLESS CONFLICTS OF FUTURE, PLANS STAR WARS-STYLE WEAPONS New Delhi. In a major step towards tackling future war scenarios with focus on space wars, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning a national programme on directed energy weapons (DEWs) like high-energy lasers and highpowered microwaves, which are increasingly being considered crucial around the world for the contactless conflicts of the future. The national programme will have short, medium and long-term goals, with the eventual aim being to develop different DEW variants of up to 100 kilowatt power, in collaboration with the domestic industry, sources said.

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AMID SINO-INDIAN STANDOFF; INDIA PLANS TO ACQUIRE MQ-9B SKY GUARDIAN, UPGRADE HERON New Delhi. With the continuing standoff along the Sino-Indian border for almost five months, India has decided in favour of the weaponised MQ-9B Sky Guardian drone from the US and to upgrade its existing Israeli Heron fleet with satellite communication capability in an attempt to enhance its range as well as surveillance capabilities. The face-off between the Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has spurred the Indian private sector and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to start manufacturing short-range tactical drones as well as anti-drone systems to boost border defences. The three services have come to a conclusion that India should opt for a weaponised drone rather than the 22 reconnaissance and surveillance Sea Guardian drones approved in 2017 by the US administration for supply to India, according to highly placed sources.

RAFAEL DISPLAYING VARIETY OF LAND, AIR AND NAVAL TECH PROWESS AT HEMUS 2020 Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is all set to showcase its land, air and naval technology prowess at HEMUS 2020 International Defense and Services Exhibition at Plovdiv in Bulgaria from September 30 – October 3. The company also congratulated Bulgaria for holding the exhibition. At HEMUS 2020, Rafael will exhibit a variety of its solutions, for air, land and naval applications, with special focus on Bulgaria’s defense programs and requirements. This includes the country’s planned 8X8 combat vehicle program, offering a complete package of systems to enable and enhance full ground combat vehicle survivability, maneuverability and lethality.

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EXPEDITING DEFENCE DEALS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, GOVERNMENT DOES AWAY WITH OFFSETS FOR G-TO-G AGREEMENTS

VIETNAM BOOSTS SURVEILLANCE OF COASTLINES, ORDERS ISEA-25HD FROM ISRAEL’S CONTROP Hanoi. In a development aimed at heightened intelligence gathering in its costal areas, Vietnam has awarded a contract to Israel’s Controp for the supply of observation and surveillance systems for new ships built in Vietnam and India. The latest move also underscores Hanoi’s increased assertiveness in securing its coastal lines. The Israeli company, which specializes in lightweight

electro-optics, has been an active player in Vietnam for several years; and in 2017 it had won a contract for the supply of electro-optic and infrared payloads.

In the latest deal, Controp is slated to supply the iSea-25HD, a lighter version of iSea30 and iSea50, which has been designed such that the entire system is contained in a single unit for medium-sized boats.

ROHDE & SCHWARZ OFFERS PORTFOLIO FOR PRECISE AESA TESTING New Delhi. In order to reduce complexity, costs and efforts for TRM testing, Rohde & Schwarz concentrates on test and measurement solutions to maximise the performance of AESA designs with highest precision instruments and automation of complex test scenarios. Modern active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars are a strong focal point of the global aerospace and defense industry. The performance of state-of-the-art AESA radar systems depends strongly on the performance of the individual transmit-receive-module (TRM) assembled in the antenna array. Rohde & Schwarz offers new test and measurement solutions for TRM performance validation, enabling the customer to maximize their radar system capabilities.

New Delhi. In a move to speed up defence deals with countries, the government has done away with offsets for government to government defence deals as the policy has failed to bring critical technology into the country and has resulted in loading extra costs on contracts, an official said. The new Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), cleared by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on September 28, has done away with the need of foreign companies investing at least 30 per cent of the contract value in the Indian manufacturing sector if the deal is being processed under the government to government or single vendor case.

BOEING DELIVERS SOCOM’S FIRST NEXT-GEN CHINOOK HELICOPTER PHILADELPHIA. Boeing is delivering new technologies and performance improvements to US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) with the Block II Chinook helicopter. Boeing’s Philadelphia team recently delivered the first MH-47G Block II Chinook to SOCOM on time. “This delivery marks a major step for the Chinook program,” said Andy Builta, vice president and H-47 program manager. “The new Chinook will give US Special Operations Forces significantly more capability for extremely challenging missions and will enable them to conduct those missions on the future battlefield.” The company is on contract for 23 more MH-47G Block II Chinooks, having signed a contract with SOCOM in July. Boeing has more than 4,600 employees in Pennsylvania supporting Chinook, the V-22 Osprey, MH139A Grey Wolf and a number of services and engineering efforts. Including suppliers and vendors, Boeing’s activities support an estimated 16,000 jobs in Pennsylvania.

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IN NEWS CAG REPORT AFTERMATH: NEW FIGHTER JET ENGINE COMPLEX COMING UP, FRENCH ASSISTANCE LIKELY ON RAFALE OFFSETS

DRDO HANDS OVER AHSP RESPONSIBILITY OF PINAKA WEAPON SYSTEM TO DGQA New Delhi. An important milestone was achieved on September 25 when Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP) responsibility of Pinaka weapon system was handed over

by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to Directorate General Quality Assurance (DGQA). AHSP transfer marks successful establishment of production of Pinaka rockets, Launchers, Battery Command Posts, Loader Cum Replenishment and Replenishment Vehicles as well as successful establishment of Quality Assurance processes.

AHSP handing over took place at ARDE, Pune wherein the documentation required by various Production agencies, Quality Assurance agencies, Maintenance agencies and Users were formally handed over by ARDE, HEMRL and VRDE to CQA (A).

INDIA TO ORDER 2 MORE ISRAELI PHALCON ‘EYES IN SKY’ FOR US$1 BILLION New Delhi. With high costs having been the stumbling block for acquisition of “Falcon” aircraft, India is now finally going to seal the long-pending of about US$1 billion deal to acquire two more “Phalcon” airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft from Israel. According to sources, the acquisition of the two AWACS, with the Israeli Phalcon early-warning radar system mounted on Russian Ilyushin-76 heavy-lift aircraft, is all set to get the final nod from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) after extensive inter-ministerial consultations.

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New Delhi. Undeterred by the questions raised by government auditor Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) over non-completion of high end technology transfer as part of the Rafale fighter jet offsets deal, there are reports that a new fighter jet engine complex spearheaded by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is in the works, with advanced discussions on for a completely new engine for future Indian fighters with a French manufacturer. The new engine complex is being set up as a national mission to develop a 110 kilo newton powered engine for the future class of advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) and could produce the engine within seven years of starting work.

IAI SIGNS DEAL TO ACQUIRE 50 PER CENT EQUITY IN UAV DEVELOPER BLUEBIRD AERO SYSTEMS Tel Aviv. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) on September 24 signed an agreement to acquire 50 per cent of the equity of BlueBird Aero Systems. BlueBird, a leading UAV developer and integrator in the small tactical arena, has been providing its solutions to Israeli forces and worldwide customers for close to two decades. As part of the transaction, IAI is acquiring the holdings of Piramal Technologies SA from India, as well as additional shares from Fiberless Access and Ronen Nadir. Ronen Nadir will continue to hold 50 per cent of BlueBird shares and serve as the company’s CEO.

DRDO IDENTIFIES 108 PLATFORMS FOR INDUSTRY TO DESIGN, DEVELOP AND MANUFACTURE TO ACHIEVE ‘ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT’ New Delhi. In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for self reliance or ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has taken several initiatives to strengthen the indigenous defence ecosystem.

As part of this, a DRDO delegation met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on August 24 to apprise him about 108 systems and subsystems which have been identified for designing and development by the Indian industry only.

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AMID INCREASING BORDER TENSION AT LAC, ARMED FORCES SOUND ALERT OVER CHEETAH, CHETAK HELICOPTERS

NRDC, NAL TO INCUBATE AEROSPACE ENGINEERING START-UPS New Delhi. Start-ups are the initiative to bring innovation in mainstream. The action plan is to focus on simplification and hand-holding. Another important aspect of startups is industry-academia partnership and incubation. Looking at these aspects National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) joined hands to establish an Innovation cum Incubation Centre with external private funding to promote start-ups in the emerging area of Aerospace technologies. Under this programme start-ups in the area of Aerospace engineering would be incubated, mentored and supported for product and prototype development and their validation. The agreement was signed by Dr. H. Purushotham and Dr. Jitendra J. Jadhav, Director, CSIR-NAL and was exchanged by the representatives of both the organisations in the presence of Dr. Shekhar C Mande, Secretary Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General CSIR, R Vaidheeswaran, Joint Secretary, DSIR and other senior officials of CSIR and NAL at CSIR Headquarters, New Delhi.

New Delhi. With increasing tension along the Sino-Indian border in Eastern Ladakh, the armed forces have once again sounded the alarm over their ageing and virtually obsolete Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, stressing that the ‘total technical life’ of these light utility choppers will begin ending from 2023 onwards. They have urged the government to fast-track two long-pending ‘Make in India’ projects to build such light utility helicopters as well as ensure Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) delivers its own under-development choppers in requisite numbers within the required time-frames.

MAKE IN INDIA BOOST: MOD SIGNS CONTRACT WORTH RS 409 CRORE WITH INDIAN COMPANY FOR SUPPLYING MULTI-MODE HAND GRENADES New Delhi. In a boost to the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative in the defence sector, Acquisition Wing of Ministry of Defence (MoD) on October 1 inked a contract with M/s Economic Explosive Ltd (EEL) (Solar Group), Nagpur for supply of 10,00,000 Multi Mode Hand Grenades to the Indian Army at an approximate cost of Rs 409 Crores. These grenades will be replacing the hand grenade design of World War-II vintage, in use with the Indian Army.

The Multi-Mode Hand Grenade has been designed by DRDO/ Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratories (TBRL), and is being produced by M/s EEL, Nagpur. The Grenades have a distinctive design, in that, they can be used in both offensive and defensive modes. This is a flagship project showcasing public-private partnership (PPP) under the aegis of Government enabling “Atmanirbharta” in cutting edge ammunition technologies and accomplishes 100 per cent indigenous content.

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IN NEWS

L&T-BUILT SEVENTH AND LAST OFFSHORE PATROL VESSEL FOR INDIAN COAST GUARD LAUNCHED AMID ESCALATING SINO-INDIAN BORDER TENSION, INDIAN ARMY SEEKS ICVS WITH NIGHT VISION New Delhi. As the border tension with China continues, Indian Army has sought upgrade of its ageing BMP-2/2K infantry combat vehicles (ICVs) with better fire power as well as nightfighting capabilities. The ageing Russian-origin BMP vehicles, which have anti-tank missiles, cannons and machine guns but suffer from nightblindness, have also been deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh to counter the build-up by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

UNSC REFORM BEING “HELD HOSTAGE” AND USED AS A “CONVENIENT SMOKESCREEN” BY SOME NATIONS: INDIA United Nations. India has sought tangible action to achieve the long-delayed reforms of the United Nations saying that intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform are being “held hostage” and used as a “convenient smokescreen” by countries that do not wish to see any changes in the most powerful organ of the multilateral organisation. India also underlined that it will take steps to see how the goal can be realised in the next session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). In a letter to the President of the 74th Session of the General Assembly of the world body Tijjani Muhammed-Bande, India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu, conveyed New Delhi’s strong disappointment over the decision regarding roll-over of the intergovernmental negotiations (IGN) on UNSC reforms into the next session of the General Assembly that begins in September.

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Kattupalli (TN). In an impressive function at Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T Ltd) shipbuilding at Kattupalli in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Coast Guard seventh Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) was launched on October 6 in keeping with maritime tradition

by Hema Somanathan, wife of Dr TV Somanathan, IAS, Secretary (Expenditure), Ministry of Finance.The OPV is the last in the series of OPVs being built by L&T Shipbuilding under the contract signed between Ministry of Defence and L&T, Ltd on March 30, 2015. It was the first time that the contract for building an OPV Class of Vessel was awarded to a Private Shipyard, i.e. in line with the Government’s policy of “Make in India”.

The OPV is likely to be inducted into Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in March 2021 after completion of extensive trials and testing for the equipment and machineries fitted onboard.

The length of the OPVs is 98 metres and breadth 14.8 metres with gross tonnage of 2,100 tonnes. The endurance of the vessel is 5,000 nautical miles at cruising speed. The cruising speed of the ship is 12-14 knots and maximum speed of 26 knots can be achieved. The ship will be fitted with indigenous 30 mm 2A42 gun and two 12.7 mm gun. The ship has been designed to carry integral Twin Engine Helicopter which

will enhance its operational, surveillance, search and rescue capability.

The OPV would be utilised for day and night patrol/ surveillance along with anti-terrorist/ anti-smuggling operations in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Coastal Security. The Vessel will have two Navigation Radars and ultra-modern technology including sophisticated navigational and latest communication system which are capable of operating in tropical conditions. The expected life span of the ship is more than 25 years. The ship would be manned by 102 crew, including 14 Officers and 88 Subordinate Officers and Enrolled Personnel. Despite the restriction and constraints faced by Industries across the world due to COVID-19, the coordinated efforts of ICG Overseeing Team with L&T Shipbuilding have resulted in timely launching of the Vessel.

This milestone will ensure timely delivering of the Vessel to ICG which is the need of hour in today’s existing security scenario.

GOVT GRANTS PERMANENT COMMISSION TO WOMEN OFFICERS IN INDIAN ARMY New Delhi. Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued the formal Government Sanction Letter for grant of Permanent Commission (PC) to Women Officers in the Indian Army paving the way for empowering Women Officers to shoulder larger roles in the organisation.

The order specifies grant of PC to Short Service Commissioned (SSC) Women Officers in all ten streams of the Indian Army i.e Army Air Defence (AAD), Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Army Service Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), and Intelligence Corps in addition to the existing streams of Judge and Advocate General (JAG) and Army Educational Corps (AEC).

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F/A-18 SUPER HORNET IS UNDERGOING SKI JUMP TRIALS FOR INDIAN NAVY New Delhi. Boeing has been flying an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet off a ground-based ski jump at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland as part of a demonstration effort for the Indian Navy to show that the aircraft can operate from short take-off but arrested recovery configured (STOBAR) aircraft carriers, such as the INS Vikramaditya and the future INS Vikrant. “Boeing and the US Navy are in the beginning phases of operating an F/A-18 Super Hornet from a ski jump at Naval Air Station Patuxent River to demonstrate it is STOBAR compliant for the Indian Navy,” Justin Gibson, a Boeing spokesperson, said.

SECOND BATCH OF 4 RAFALE FIGHTERS TO ARRIVE NEXT MONTH: SOURCE New Delhi. The second batch of Rafale fighter jets — likely to be four in number — is set to arrive at the Ambala Air Force Station in October as part of the Rs 59,000-crore deal with the French government, according to indications. “The next set of fighters, which are likely to be four in number, will arrive in the country in October,” a source said.

Five Rafale jets, including two twinseaters, had landed on July 27 at the Ambala Air Force Station, home of the first squadron of the French fighters.

INDIAN ARMY ISSUES TENDER FOR 7.62MM AMMUNITION FROM PRIVATE SECTOR New Delhi: In a move to take forward the long-delayed process of opening up ammunition manufacture to the private sector, the Indian Army has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for procurement of five different types of 7.62mm caliber ammunition to meet the annual requirement for the next 10 years.

The RFI was issued by the Army’s Master General of Ordnance, and gets particular focus following the 101 negative import list announced by the Defence Ministry that includes a range of ammunition.

DEFENCE MINISTER LAUNCHES NAVAL INNOVATION AND INDIGENISATION ORGANISATION New Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on August 13 launched the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) through an online webinar.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries were also present at the event.

The NIIO puts in place dedicated structures for the end users to interact with academia and industry towards fostering innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence in keeping with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

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IN NEWS BUSINESS CONGLOMERATE ADANI ENTERPRISES ACQUIRES 51% STAKE IN PLR SYSTEMS

Mumbai. Adani Land Defence Systems and Technologies, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), acquired 51 per cent equity shares of PLR Systems from Fouraces Systems. The transaction was completed by way of a cash transaction with one of the existing shareholders of PLR, Adani Enterprises announced. PLR Systems, incorporated in 2013, is engaged in manufacture and supply of indigenously manufactured defence equipment to the armed forces in India and other countries.

The statement said, PLR Systems’ authorised share capital is Rs 13 crore and paid-up share capital stands at Rs 12.04 crore.

GRSE CONTINUES STRONG PERFORMANCE IN 2019-20; REVENUE FROM OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES STANDS AT RS 1433.30 CRORE Kolkata. The performance of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), a Government of India Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) continued to be strong and the company’s revenue from operations stood at Rs. 1433.30 crore during the year 2019-20 as compared Rs. 1386.42 crore over the corresponding period in the previous year thus resulting in a percentage increase of 3.38 per cent. The result was declared at GRSE’s 104th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on September 11 through VC/OAVM. The Meeting was attended by Rear Admiral VK Saxena, IN (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director and other Directors, along with shareholders.

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EDGE TO ACQUIRE LOCKHEED MARTIN SHARES IN WEST ASIA’S LEADING MRO PROVIDER AMMROC Abu Dhabi, UAE. EDGE, the Abu Dhabi based advanced technology group for defence and beyond, on July 24 announced that it has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire the remaining 40 per cent stake currently held

by Lockheed Martin Corporation and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company, in Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Center (AMMROC). AMMROC is the leading provider of military Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services in the West Asia region. Both Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky have been shareholders in AMMROC since its inception in 2010, helping to develop military operation skills and capabilities within the country.

IN A FIRST, NAVANTIA LAUNCHES CORVETTE FOR SAUDI ARABIA Riyadh. Spanish shipbuilding major Navantia successfully carried out at 17:22 hours (local time) on July 22 the launching of AL-JUBAIL, the first of five corvettes built for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). The ceremony was held in slipway number 2 at the San Fernando shipyard, and was chaired by the Commander of RSNF, Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily; by the Chairwoman of Navantia, Susana de Sarriá; by the Acting CEO of SAMI, Eng. Walid Abukhaled; and by the Admiral of Logistics Support Bay of Cadiz of Spanish Navy, Vice Admiral Ricardo A. Hernández López (Alardiz).

BOEING, MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES PARTNER ON STATE OF THE ART UPGRADES TO JAPAN’S F-15J FLEET TOKYO. Boeing and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) recently signed a Direct Commercial Sale agreement to support upgrades to Japan’s F-15J fleet. The contract is part of a larger $4.5 billion modernization program, announced by the US Government in October 2019. The upgrades will introduce state-of-the-art electronic warfare and weapons. An all-new advanced cockpit system, running on the world’s most advanced mission computer, will deliver pilots enhanced situational awareness.

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ORDNANCE FACTORY TIRUCHIRAPPALLI LAUNCHES STABILISED REMOTE CONTROLLED GUN

GERMAN DEFENCE AND SECURITY ELECTRONICS PIONEER HENSOLDT DEVELOPS SELF-PROTECTION SYSTEM MUSS Taufkirchen, Germany. Germany-based HENSOLDT, a pioneer of technology and innovation in the field of defence and security electronics, has developed Multifunctional Self-Protection System (MUSS). MUSS is a soft kill-based active protection system (APS). “We have fundamentally revised and repositioned our technology,” explained Dr Oliver Rudow, Head of Business Line Countermeasures & Ground Protection Systems.

MOROCCO, NETHERLANDS, AND INDIA TO GAIN LONGBOW FIRE CONTROL RADAR FOR AH-64E APACHE HELICOPTERS ORLANDO, Florida. The US Army recently awarded LONGBOW Limited Liability Company (LBL), a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Corporation, four Foreign Military Sales contracts to provide the AH-64E Apache helicopter AN/APG-78 LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR) to Morocco, Netherlands, UAE and India armies. The addition of Morocco, the Netherlands and India armies expands the LONGBOW customer base to include 16 foreign militaries and 14 nations. UAE is updating from the AH-64D to the AH-64E aircraft. These contracts are a direct result of the five-year production requirements contract the US Department of Defense awarded to LBL in 2016.

DRDO SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT TESTS HYPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR VEHICLE New Delhi: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully demonstrated the hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology with the flight test of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) at 1103 hours from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Launch Complex at Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha on September 7. The hypersonic cruise vehicle was launched using a proven solid rocket motor, which took it to an altitude of 30 kilometres (km), where the aerodynamic heat shields were separated at hypersonic Mach number. The cruise vehicle separated from the launch vehicle and the air intake opened as planned.

New Delhi: The Ordnance Factory of Tiruchirappalli (OFT) has launched an indigenously manufactured weapon named stabilized remote controlled gun (SRCG).

A dedicated assembly and testing facility were also opened for manufacturing the weapon here. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the weapon through videoconferencing on August 10 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (self-reliant India mission).

DEFENCE MINISTER LAUNCHES BEML’S INDIGENOUS PRODUCTS

New Delhi: Rajnath Singh Defence Minister, GoI today launched BEML’s Indigenously designed & developed products such as BH150E 150 Ton Dump Truck; BE1800E 180 Ton Electrical Excavator; BD50HST Heli-Portable Dozer; and Medium Bullet Proof Vehicle ‘GAUR’ (MBPV) coinciding with Atmanirbharta Saptah. The launch ceremony was done virtually in the presence of Secretary Defence and Secretary Defence (Production) among others.

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IN NEWS RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS SIGN CONTRACT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN SHIP-BORNE HELICOPTER

THAI ENVOY ANNOUNCES THE ROYAL THAI ARMY’S PURCHASE OF 600 TATA MOTORS DEFENCE TRUCKS New Delhi: The announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ‘vocal for local’ signals that products be made competitive vis-a-vis global brands. Tata Motors – India’s leading auto brand – seems to have solidified the brand’s stance for the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative, by manufacturing high-end military support vehicles not just for the country, but one that fits the purpose of international defence deals. More recently, Thai ambassador to India Chutintorn Sam Gongsakdilauded India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by announcing the purchase of 600 Tata motors military trucks.

ELBIT-BUILT MULTI-ROTOR VTOL MINI UAS ‘THOR’ PASSES MULTIPLE TESTS BEFORE DELIVERY TO SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATION

Tel Aviv. THOR, a multi-rotor Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) mini Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), manufactured by Elbit Systems successfully completed a series of environmental qualification tests ahead of the delivery of more than a thousand of units to an army in Southeast Asia. Company was awarded a US$153 million contract to provide a networked multi-layered UAS array to an army in Southeast Asia, including more than 1,000 THOR VTOL mini-UAS, as per announcement made on October 6 last year.

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Moscow. Russian Helicopters holding company (part of the Rostecstate corporation) has signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense for the development of a modern ship-borne helicopter. A signing ceremony was held as part of the International Military-Technical Forum “ARMY-2020”, which is taking place in the Patriotic Park of Recreation and Leisure “Patriot” in the Moscow Region.

JINDAL ALUMINIUM INCREASING FOCUS ON DEFENCE, AEROSPACE SEGMENTS: MD Bengaluru: As the government is focussing on Atmanirbhar Bharat or self reliance in the defence sector with encouragement to private sector putting embargo on 101 defence items, India’s largest aluminium extrusion firm Jindal Aluminium, which controls over 30 per cent of the domestic market, is increasing its focus on the defence and aerospace segments, says a senior company official. The Rs 3,000-crore Bengaluru-based company with 52 years of history is also the second largest maker of aluminium flat rolled products, producing 50,000 million tonnes of rolled products, giving it 10-12 per cent of the market; and 1,20,000 million tonnes of extruded products per annum.

INDO-US DTTI: BENGALURU START UP TO DEVELOP AIR LAUNCHED DRONES FOR ARMED FORCES New Delhi: In a boost to indigenise defence industry, a Bengaluru-based start-up is part of the first Indo-US technology collaboration project in the aerospace sector and will work with the US Air Force Research Labs to develop future air launched drones for the armed forces. NewSpace Research and Technologies Pvt Ltd, a start-up that lists itself as a 46 member team, is part of a project selected under the Indo-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) to develop air launched unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

RS 1 LAKH CRORE BOUNTY FOR HYDERABAD DEFENCE, AEROSPACE SECTOR Hyderabad: With the government banning import of 101 weapons, platforms and equipment, the defence and aerospace sector of Hyderabad, which is key to India’s plans to become selfsufficient in defence manufacturing, is poised to bag orders worth over Rs 1 lakh crore in the next couple of years, said G Satheesh Reddy, secretary of the department of defence R&D and chairman of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) during a virtual conclave on “Make in Telangana” organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

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BIG BOOST TO ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT INITIATIVE: BEML BAGS ORDER FOR HIGH MOBILITY VEHICLES WORTH `842 CR Bangalore. BEML Ltd, a leading defence equipment manufacturer and a ‘Schedule A’ company of the Government of India under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), received a prestigious order from Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the supply of 330 High Mobility Vehicles (HMVs) for Pinaka Project at an approximate cost of Rs 842 crore. Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher developed indigenously for the Indian Army and produced in India with the involvement of Public Sector and Private Sector Defence Industries. The multi-barrel launcher system is mounted on the highly rugged BEML truck, much acclaimed for its off-road mobility and would provide the Indian Army with vital manoeuvrability on the battlefield.

MOD ISSUES CLARIFICATION ON INDIGENOUSLY MANUFACTURED ITEMS AMONG NEGATIVE LIST FOR IMPORTS New Delhi: A day after releasing 101 items of defence equipment which would be embargoed, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) clarified that after release of the negative list of items, certain queries have been received with respect to inclusion of some of the items like the light combat aircraft LCA Mark 1A, Pinaka rocket system and Akash missile system, which are manufactured in India. An official defence ministry release highlighted that systems like LCA MK 1A, Pinaka rocket system, Akash Missile System, etc. are developed with qualitative requirements framed by Defence Forces.

Such systems are also available in the international market.

FIRST ROCKETS PRODUCED BY PRIVATE SECTOR SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRED New Delhi: In keeping with the government’s recently announced Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Make in India got a major boost as the first ever rockets fully manufactured by the private sector were successfully test fired by Indian Army, signalling that single source dependency on Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) will soon be a thing of the past. The Pinaka rockets were tested at a firing range in Pokharan on August 19 and achieved the desired results by accurately hitting targets. The rockets have been manufactured by the private sector after a technology transfer agreement with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

BEL UPGRADES ATDS MAAREECH MANUFACTURING FACILITY WITH AN EYE ON ‘ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT’ Bengaluru/ New Delhi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on August 10 inaugurated through Video Conference the upgraded, state-of-the-art Maareech Integration Facility. Gowtama M V, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), on the occasion gave a presentation to the Defence Minister on Advanced Torpedo Decoy System (ATDS) Maareech.

This initiative by BEL is in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, a self-reliant nation.

BEML SIGNS MOUS WITH IIT, KANPUR & NASSCOM-COE New Delhi: BEML teamed up with IIT – Kanpur in the field of UAV and NASSCOM – CoE (Centre of Excellence) for AI & IoT related areas in the virtual presence of Rajnath Singh Defence Minister on August 14. Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Bipin Rawat, PVSM, Secretary (Defence Production) and other senior officials were present on the occasion. Dr. Deepak Kumar Hota, CMD BEML exchanged the signed copies with Sanjeev Malhotra, CEO NASSCOM and Professor A R Harish, Dean, IIT Kanpur after signing the MoUs. BEML will collaborate with IIT Kanpur for joint indigenous development of Pilotless Target Aircraft and tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Both the organizations will synergize respective capabilities and undertake feasibility study, design & development, testing & validations of UAV & PTA.

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Enhanced pistol The 9x19mm CARACAL EF is a versatile striker fired pistol that carries a high capacity 18 round 9mm magazine and features a unique low bore axis for improved instinctive shooting.

Tactical rifle Available in semi-automatic and select-fire configurations, this tactical weapon is designed for high-end law enforcement and military applications.

Sniper rifle This modern, rugged high performance precision rifle system excels in all MIL and LE applications in the most demanding environments.

Modular weapon system The advanced CMP9 SMG is a modern, modular weapon operating on an advanced blow-back system chambered in 9x19mm calibre.

To us, impossible is just the beginning.

For advanced customisation and total flexibility, contact us on sales@caracal.ae Discover more possibilities at edgegroup.ae

c a ra c a l . a e

DELENG19655/F-2(R-6)PRESS2018

Vol 2, Issue 11, Oct-Dec 2020

88TH ANNIVERSARY

CAN PVT ENTITIES HIT TARGET IN SMALL ARM DEVELOPMENT? It is to wait and watch if private entities hit the target in small arm development as government gives a go ahead to their entry

China’s Belligerence: The Big Picture India needs to discern China’s intent and larger strategic signals emanating from Beijing

FM’s Reform Package for Atmanirbharta

Success of reform package to depend on how effectively systems and procedures are implemented

Interview: Ariel Karo, EVP, Mkt & BD, RADS Rafael fully committed to Indian Armed Forces technological edge and operational readiness