Ali.009
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The Bharati missile production has been plagued by delays and failures. At one point the frustrated Indians wanted to scrap the entire indigenous program and then build only those missiles which had a foreign collaboration. The problem with this strategy is that American For-profit companies do not transfer technology and commit commercial suicide. The other problem is that Russia has failed to transfer technology to Bharat because it has been cozying up with the US.
Bharat’s Brahmos Cruise Missile: Faster than a speeding bullet–that’s a dud!
NEW DELHI, Jan 9: India’s missile scientists have said that the country’s indigenous missile programme is flagging and needs foreign assistance to revive it.
The embarrassing admission came amid claims by Indian analysts that Pakistan’s missile programme had proved to be more robust and surefooted than India’s. The Mail Today newspaper on Wednesday quoted the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as announcing that it would scrap its 25-year Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) by the end of this year. Pakistan missile project ahead of India’s’
Bharat has purchased 800 of the PJ-10 Brahmos missiles from Russia, painted them with the Tricolor. There is one slight problem. The Indian Army refuses to buy them ’till they can be tested and proven that they work.
-The Indian Army is refusing to buy any more of the 3.2 ton BrahMos cruise missiles which have a range of 300 kms.
-The Truck mounted army version of BrahMos failed its first operational test
Last year, India ordered 800 more of the new PJ-10 BrahMos missiles.
-The Indian Army had planned to buy 80 launchers as well.
Russia has not yet ordered any BrahMos
-The BrahMos special version, in spite of being an Indo-Russian venture, was fully dependent on US satellites.
-The Russian global positioning network is not usually used by Indian defence agencies for their strategic programmes.
-“This leads to speculation about why the entire galaxy of US satellites failed to provide signals to the missile.
-We need to solve the mystery of how the satellites suddenly failed over the Pokharan skies,” sources said.
February 2, 2009: The Indian Army is refusing to buy any more BrahMos cruise missiles until the system has proved, via realistic testing, that it can do what it was designed to do. The army version of BrahMos failed its first operational test recently. While the Indian Navy is happy with the performance of its version of the missile (which is used to destroy enemy warships), the army version is equipped with a different terminal guidance system, that is supposed to enable the missile to hit a target in a cluttered environment. This is basically a video camera which broadcasts back to an operator images of what the missile is headed for. This is so minor adjustments can be made, to insure that the right, say, building can be hit. In addition to getting that new guidance seeker working, the army is also concerned with the high cost of each missile (over $2 million).
The Indian Army BrahMos is fired from a truck mounted launcher, and during the test, missed its target some 200 kilometers distant. The missile was accepted for service in the Indian Navy three years ago, but the first operational test of the army version was delayed as engineers fussed over technical issues. The missile had performed well in development tests. But an operational test means the missile is issued to a combat unit, and fired by a military crew. Russia has had problems like this before, as have all countries. But Russia has had more problems with high tech weapons, like BrahMos, than Western nations.
Last year, India ordered 800 more of the new PJ-10 BrahMos missiles. The Indian Army had planned to buy 80 launchers as well. Russia has not yet ordered any BrahMos, while India is also working on lighter versions for use by aircraft and submarines.
The 3.2 ton BrahMos has a range of 300 kilometers and a 660 pound warhead. Perhaps the most striking characteristic is its high speed, literally faster (at up to 3,000 feet per second) than a rifle bullet. Guidance is GPS or inertial to reach the general area of the target (usually a ship or other small target), then radar (in the navy version) that will identify the specific target and hit it. The warhead weighs 660 pounds, and the high speed at impact causes additional damage (because of the weight of the entire missile.)
India and Russia developed the weapon together, and now offer the BrahMos for export. The high price of each missile, about $2.3 million, restricts the number of countries that can afford it. Different versions of the PJ-10 can be fired from aircraft, ships, ground launchers or submarines. The maximum speed of 3,000 kilometers an hour makes it harder to intercept, and means it takes five minutes or less to reach its target. The air launched version weighs 2.5 tons, the others, three tons or more.
The 29 foot long, 670mm diameter missile is an upgraded version of the Russian SS-NX-26 (Yakhont) anti-ship missile, which was in development when the Cold War ended in 1991. Lacking money to finish development and begin production, the Russian manufacturer made a deal with India to finish the job. India put up most of the $240 million needed to finally complete two decades of development. The PJ-10 is also being built in Russia. Efforts are being made to export up to 2,000. China and Iran have also expressed interest in the weapon, but only Malaysia, Chile, South Africa, Kuwait and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) have been approached with a sales pitch. Russia and India are encouraged enough to invest in BrahMos 2, which will use a scramjet, instead of a ramjet, in the second stage. This would double speed, and make the missile much more difficult to defend against.
The large order from India indicates it plans to make the missile a major weapon system. The BrahMos can carry a nuclear warhead, but is designed mainly to go after high value targets that require a large warhead and great accuracy. The BrahMos could take out enemy headquarters, or key weapons systems (especially those employing electronic or nuclear weapons.) Strategy Page: Build It Right, And They Will Come
The Cruise Missile that is faster than a bullet is a dud. It does not work. There are all sorts of excuses about the failed missile system–the latest one being the report that the US satellites did something wrong.
KOCHI: DRDO scientists have launched an investigation into the failure of the BrahMos army version missile, especially why its GPS system couldn’t link onboard computers with hovering satellites eventually crippling its guidance system and keeping it frm achieving mission objectives.
The ambit of the probe will also examine why US satellites blinked during the test window, thereby denying the missile the crucial inputs needed for its guidance.
A primary analysis of the January 20 test has shown that the missile, a special version capable of hitting hidden targets like terrorist camps, performed the flight plan but missed the target. The missile was supposed to hit a rather insignificant target hidden among obstructions at the Pokharan range.
“It had an advance seeker which was to home in on the target using GPS data obtained through US satellites.
But it is a mystery why the SCAN technology failed to access the satellites,” said BrahMos sources.
The seeker, an advanced one developed to guide the missile to very insignificant targets, was a success during test flights. The seeker and the new software were tested extensively using fighter aircraft flying at top speeds.
“Once we were confident of their success, we decided to go in for the first test on the missile. But the failure is a mystery,” top sources told to The New Indian Express.The BrahMos special version, in spite of being an Indo-Russian venture, was fully dependent on US satellites. The Russian global positioning network is not usually used by Indian defence agencies for their strategic programmes. “This leads to speculation about why the entire galaxy of US satellites failed to provide signals to the missile. We need to solve the mystery of how the satellites suddenly failed over the Pokharan skies,” sources said.
The probe report is expected by Wednesday and will be submitted to the Defence Minister. Though the failure rattled the Army a bit, sources said its top brass was still for BrahMos missiles. “We will wait for the result of the February 20 tests.
The missile is still the best to hit a defined and designated target like an enemy depot or an airport. The wait-and-watch is only regarding the advanced version of BrahMos,” sources told to The New Indian Express. BrahMos failed as US shut its eyes in the sky? Manoj K Das Last Updated : 02 Feb 2009 06:59:48 PM IST
Algeria had the guts and the gumptions to cancel the Russian purchase the return the sub standard planes back to Russia. Does India have the guts?
Algeria Returns Russian Migs, Demands Money Back
Russia sold the Migs-29’s to Algeria at cut-rate prices, and forgave past debts of $4.7 billion to get the deal. The photo shows an Iraqi Mig-29 shot down in Operation Desert Storm.AltNet October 24th, 2008
The Migs for Algeria were actually old airframes from the 1990’s with new equipment installed. The problem is that the frame and skin of an aircraft wears out, because it is constantly flexing in flight. Eventually it’s like repeatedly bending a wire in the same place, the metal starts to break apart. No wonder Algeria was mad. They have also canceled an oil contract with the Russian national oil company Gazprom.
After Israel bombed the nuclear plant in Syria, StrategyPage.com predicted that many Russian military deals would falter. The Russian radar and anti-aircraft systems that were installed in Syria obviously didn’t work. Once customers find out that the equipment doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do, they get cranky and cancel contracts. This may be a contributory factor in the case of Algeria.
Russian military equipment is usually much cheaper than U.S. equipment, or the best European equipment. However, it’s usually just not as good. Rickety old Russian Migs are good enough for attacking rebels, or neighbors, but if you have to go up against the U.S. or her allies, you’re toast. Alt Net October 24th, 2008