>> Sp’s Exclusives / news in brief Indian Army Scouts ‘Smart’ Artillery Shells
The Indian Army is looking to procure 155mm Trajectory Correctable Munitions (Course Correctable Fuze) for its 155mm artillery guns, and to include 39/45/52 calibre equipment. Interested vendors have been sent a 34-point questionaire to identify all parameters of prospective systems, including dimensions and weight of Course Correctable Fuze, whether it has any limitations in operating in different types of terrain prevalent in India, the extreme atmospheric conditions in which Course Correctable Fuze can effectively operate, whether it is compatible with 39/45/52 calibre of 155mm artillery in service with the Indian Army, the maximum and minimum range achieved by firing Course Correctable Fuze with 39/45/52 calibre of 155mm Gun Systems, whether this fuze affects the minimum or maximum range of the standard HE projectile of 155mm gun system, type of guidance being used, accuracy (in terms of Line and Range), different modes of Course Correctable Fuze, efficacy in firing in High Altitude Area etc. The procurement has been accorded high priority by the Army, which will be looking to wrap up an order within 18 months.
New Ammunition For MBT Arjun Tested Trials of new 120mm penetration-cumblast ordnance for the Arjun main battle tank have been successfully conducted at the DRDO’s Proof and Experimental Establishment in Odisha. According to DRDO, “The neutralisation capabilities of MBT Arjun against hard and soft targets have been improved by designing new ammunitions, viz, PCB for hard concrete
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US Army contracts Raytheon for Patriot air defence system upgrade
Raytheon has been awarded a contract to upgrade the Patriot air and missile defence system operated by the US and two allied militaries. Awarded by the US Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), the $235.5-million contract requires the company to begin full rate production of the radar digital processor (RDP) kits for Patriot modernisation that will deliver significant benefits to troops. The kits are expected to provide improved target detection and identification, as well as enhanced surveillance, and support of Patriot advanced capability-3 (PAC-3) missile segment enhancement (MSE) system. Additional benefits would include a 40 per cent improvement in overall radar reliability due to increased mean time between failure, as well as decrease in the number of battery replaceable units needed for the system from 759 to 56.
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target, so that it can be effectively used in not only against field fortification and LoC bunkers but also in future urban warfare. The PCB projectile causes damage to the target by penetrating the protective layer of the target followed by internal blast. The proposed projectile has the capability to defeat light or moderately protected targets like LoC bunkers, administrative buildings, field fortifications”. The new ammunition has the ability to penetrate a 500mm thick RCC wall at a range of more than 1.5 km. The projectile contains 2.6 kg high explosive and can engage a 1 m x 1 m target at a range of 1 km. The DRDO hopes to operationalise the ammunition by next year and hand over consignments to the two Arjun MBT tank regiments already in service wit the Army in Rajasthan.
corrections, the DRDO identified certain electro-mechanical snags that doomed the missile, veering it dangerously off course and threatening coastal safety. Top sources say the missile is ready for its second test, with two prototypes lined up. Internally, the DRDO has committed itself to the success, since a cruise missile milestone sends out a far more formidable message than proven ballistic missile and hybrid missile technology that the Indian establishment has proven effectively over the years.
Patriot is a long-range, all-altitude, allweather air defence system designed to protect soldiers against advanced threats. Developed under the Patriot International Engineering Services Programme (IESP), the RDP increases the reliability of the digital processing system and associated analogue components by tenfold. Work under the contract is scheduled to be carried out at the company’s Integrated Air Defense Center in Massachusetts, with support from a global team of Patriot system suppliers. Jointly manufactured by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, Patriot is a long-range, all-altitude, all-weather air defence system designed to protect soldiers against advanced threats such as aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the battlefield. Extensively operated by the US forces during Kuwait War and the most recent Iraq conflict, the missile is also in service with Egypt, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Korea, Taiwan and the UAE.
US and Qatar sign $11 billion weapons sale agreement The US Government has signed letters of offer and acceptance (LOA) worth $11billion with Qatar for the sale of attack helicopters and air-defence systems. Signed by the US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Qatar’s Defence Affairs Minister Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah, the agreement covers the Boeing-built AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, as well as Patriot and Javelin missile
New Defensive Aids For MBT Arjun Proven In Trials
DRDO’s New Embankment Blasting Device Successfully Tested
Nirbhay Cruise Missile Test Before Diwali
After a partially failed debut, India’s Nirbhay subsonic 1,000-km range cruise missile is all set for its crucial second test that will look to kill the ghosts of the debut. In March last year, the Nirbhay cruise missile’s launch, booster separation and wing deployment were the only successful aspects in what was a disappointing day for the DRDO. The missile flew to an altitude of 4.5 km and was 17 minutes out when it began to deviate from its predicted flight path, compelling the programme team to abort and remotely destroy the missile in mid-air, splashing its debris into the Bay of Bengal. After a year of investigations and
technology. A few more tests are lined up before the Mk.II is declared operational and handed over to the armed forces and production agencies.
The DRDO has conducted user-assisted technical trials of the Bund Blasting Device Mk.II, the new improved version of the indigenous man-portable embankment blasting device, designed and developed by the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh. The successful tests were carried out at the Ramgarh range by the Army’s 120 Engineering Regiment. The new version of the BBD is said to be double as effective as the Mk.I version, requiring half the devices for the same effect. The system consists of a hollow charge initiation device and the main HE-filled projectile attached to a rocket motor. The hollow charge on initiation creates a deep pilot hole. The HE projectile on entering this hole detonates, creating a big crater, fulfilling the requirement. To remove/lower the height of bunds, an array of such devices is fired to get the desired result within the shortest possible time, according to DRDO literature on the
systems. The deal is reportedly the biggest US weapons sale this year, and is also the first acquisition of Patriot missiles by Qatar. Unnamed US defence officials were quoted by Agence France Presse as saying that the US will supply around ten batteries for the Patriot systems, as well as 24 Apache helicopters and 500 Javelin anti-tank missiles. Qatar has been investing in missile defence systems to counter the threat from Iran, which has strengthened its missile arsenal, the officials said. The two ministers also signed and renewed the US-Qatar defence cooperation agreement during Hagel’s visit to Doha. As well as governing the interaction between the US and Qatari armed forces, the ten-year agreement enables the continued deployment of US soldiers to installations in the area, including the Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base, Reuters reported.
Defence Ministry Clears Procurement Proposals worth `21,000 crore India’s Ministry of Defence on Saturday cleared procurement proposals worth `21,000 crore. In his first Defence Acquisition Council meeting, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley cleared critical proposals such as the much-awaited replacement of Indian Air Force’s ageing Avro transport aircraft fleet, supply of Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv for the Coast Guard and Navy at `7,000 crore and the `9,000-crore proposal for fleet support ships for the Navy. Continuing the stance that the NDA Government has taken ever since coming to power, the
An advanced laser warning countermeasure system and a mobile camouflage system have recently been tested and proven on the Arjun MBT Mk.II in the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. Both capabilities will be strong survivability factors on the new improved tanks as it heads into a crucial phase of user trials. The new camouflage system has been developed to provide multi-spectral signature management for Arjun Mk.II, in order to protect the vehicle against all enemy sensors and smart munitions. According to the CVRDE, “The performance evaluation trials have been conducted at MFFR and system has been integrated in the Arjun MBT.” The advanced laser warning countermeasure system has been developed to increase survivability of Arjun Mk.II against anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) with semi automatic command to line-of-sight (SACLOS) system, ATGMs with a laser target designator, beam rider ATGMs, and tanks fitted with a laser range finder. During recent trials, the ALWCS was integrated with the Arjun’s integrated fire control system. SP —SP’s Special Correspondent For complete versions log on to: www.spslandforces.com
indigenisation theme was visible even in the clearances given on Saturday. For instance, the request for proposal for the Avro replacement programme would be issued to Indian private players, who can jointly build the aircraft along with foreign vendors. Acceptance of necessity for the programme to replace the fleet of 56 Avro platforms was accorded by the Defence Acquisition Council in July 2012. As per the programme, 16 aircraft would be manufactured by the foreign vendors while 40 would be built within the country. The tender for fleet support ships too would be issued to private sector and public sector shipyards within the country. Another proposal to produce offshore patrol vessels and fast patrol vessels for the Coast Guard, pegged at `2,360 crore was also given a green signal.
Indian Army wants increase in Financial Powers of Theatre Commanders As the Narendra Modi Government focuses on faster decision-making and quicker defence procurement processes, the Army’s regional commanders may soon get to break free of the bureaucratic rigmarole, if their demand for hiking their financial powers, in some cases even doubling it, is met by the Defence Ministry. If this proposal is approved by the NDA Government, it would pave way for speedier purchase of weapons and supplies urgently required by the troops for operational needs in troubled areas such as Jammu and Kashmir and in the North East states, say officers at the Army