BARCO : showcases latest rugged displays, console, sensor processing and software solutions for C4ISR and Naval applications at DEFEXPO 2012 | 4-Traders
New Delhi, India, 29 March 2012 - Visualization pioneer Barco is presenting its wide array of innovative products for enhancing situational awareness in defense programs, at this year's DEFEXPO 2012 from 29 March to 1 April. Highlights at the Barco booth (Expo-hall 18, booth 18g.62.) include a live demo of Barco's Vista 4500 console, a range of rugged MIL-qualified displays and processors, mission recorders and dedicated software for image processing.
Barco's Vista 4500 console on stage at DEFEXPO 2012 is the latest in the family of full MIL-qualified multi-function consoles. It offers an ergonomic, rugged working position for the most demanding sonar, Command and Control, fire control or situational awareness applications. The Vista 4500's modular approach makes it ideal for easy integration into various Combat Information Center (CIC) applications on board surface ships or submarines.
Rugged displays and DPM-3 computer
Besides this next-generation console, visitors to the Barco booth will also discover Barco's wide range of rugged displays for the military market, which all meet the most demanding military standards. Also on display is the compact DPM-3 computer, which has been specifically designed for use in on-the-move operations and in space-constrained areas of the utility vehicle, helicopter or ground army vehicle. The DPM-3 features the latest graphics and computing power, is fully MIL- qualified and very compact, meeting SWAP-C (Size, Weight, Power and Cost) requirements and allowing easy integration into vehicles. Thanks to its modular and open architecture, it can be fully customized.
Mission recorder for naval applications
The Barco booth at DEFEXPO 2012 further features the standalone MR-100-E mission recorder for naval applications. The MR-100-E captures, archives and manages mission-critical audio, video and graphics data. By providing a unified web service interface, it allows easy integration with the system application software. The MR-100-E is dedicated to systems demanding high-recording performance.
Contributing to India's defense industry
Mr. Abel Garamhegyi, Barco's Vice-President Growth Markets EMEAI& Managing Director for India, commented: "Quality is not a question of resources but a question of life and death, in the defense industry. When there is no room for failure, reliable, high-quality products are vital. Barco is proud to serve the defense forces in India and all over the world with zero-error products and services. DEFEXPO, the largest defense exhibition focused on Land, Naval and Internal Security Systems in the world, is the ideal opportunity to showcase our leading solutions to the defense industry."
India’s Arms Market: Everyone In, Nobody Out
Russia has arrived at the DEFEXPO 2012 exhibition in India in the shadow of its own recent failures and the success of Western weapons manufacturers on the Indian arms market. But is Russia’s position on the Indian market really so weak?
India is ready to buy
The Indian arms market is an extraordinary place even by the standards of the markets of the Gulf oil monarchies, which buy weapons indiscriminately, provided the batch is big and the price is high. But India, although it also buys many weapons, does so only after serious consideration and for far-reaching reasons. This is why arms talks with India are like a complex dance with a large number of partners, not unlike a Bollywood movie.
Diversification is the overriding concern of the Indian military, which means that the Indian military consider it a major problem not to have two similar weapon systems from two different countries on combat duty, and work hard to remedy this unfortunate omission.
This is not an example of the exotic greed of the rajahs’ heirs or the typical Oriental desire to show off. India has been consistently implementing a strategy it formulated decades ago, which boils down to buying suitable weapons from anyone who is willing to sell in order to use their technology. Unlike Chinese reverse-engineering efforts, India honors the terms and conditions of licensed assembly.
However, India also burdens arms acquisition contracts with so many requirements for localized components production, technology transfer and reinvestment of revenues in the Indian economy that any other client with such exacting tastes would have long been shown the door and asked to rethink its place in the global market.
But the Indian market is so large and attractive that global arms corporations are fighting for a place on it. The reason is simple: one contract with India can run into the billions or even tens of billions of US dollars.
Russia’s flagrant flops
Recently, Russian-Indian military cooperation has not been cloudless. India may be an easy client, but it has complained about maintenance. Worse still, Russia has failed to faithfully implement several contracts.
Recent flops involve the restructuring of the air-capable cruiser Admiral Gorshkov (renamed Vikramaditya by the Indian Navy) and the protracted negotiations on the lease of Project 971 nuclear-powered attack submarine Nerpa (re-commissioned as INS Chakra II), which ended relatively well several weeks ago.
Last year Russian suppliers suffered two painful losses at Indian tenders. Russia did not win the contract to supply 22 helicopters to India, which preferred the U.S. AH-64D Longbow to Russia’s Mi-28N. During the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender announced by the Indian Air Force to replace the aging MiG-21s, the Russian MiG-35 did not even make it to the finals, where the Eurofighter Typhoon twin-engine multirole fighter lost a contract worth at least $10 billion to France’s Dassault Rafale.
U.S. companies have been increasingly active on the Indian market in the past two years. Apart from the above helicopter contract, the Americans will also supply the P-8 Poseidon long-range anti-submarine aircraft to India and have signed a contract for licensed production of turbojet engines in India.
Everyone in their right place
However, the examples listed above only reflect Indians’ diversification tendency. The European and U.S. companies’ successes have tightened competition, but it would be premature to interpret this as a major problem for Russian arms exporters.
India has not reviewed its acquisition strategy and still tries to maintain balance among the main players. The picture has been somewhat complicated by the aggressive inroads by U.S. players, who believed they were guests of honor but were soon shown their place on the Indian market.
Lockheed Martin’s customized version of the F-16, the F-16IN Super Viper, was beaten by the French Rafale. When LM offered its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, India said that it would design its own light fighter and had already ordered the FGFA, a derivative of Russia’s PAK FA (T-50) developed for the Indian Air Force.
India has bought 250 fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), more than twice the amount Russia plans to produce for its own air force. It is also assembling the Su-30MKI (Flanker-H) twin-seat air superiority fighters jointly developed by Russia's Sukhoi and India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This is the largest Russian arms export contract since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Moreover, Russia is preparing to offer India a Sukhoi Super-30 upgrade of the Su-30MKI model.
Russia has confidently maintained its positions on the armored vehicles market. India’s attempt to develop the Arjun tank has not succeeded and so it continues to rely heavily on the Soviet Т-72М1 and Russian Т-90S main battle tanks made in India under license.
The Russian delegation presented a new modernization package for the T-90 tank at DEFEXPO 2012, which is described as “essentially a new tank,” although the Russian military describe it as “the 17th modification of the T-72” and refuse to order more of this model for the Russian army.
However, these arguments hold true only for the previous model and besides, India can still be willing to buy because it only produces the previous model of the T-90 tank.
The Russian presence in the Indian Navy is also considerable. Apart from the Vikramaditya and Nerpa, India has ordered Project 1135.6 Talwar class frigates and the MiG-29K carrier-based multirole fighter aircraft. Russia and India have also designed the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, currently used both in the navy and in the army.
New contracts on the table
A powerful pro-Russian lobby has formed in the Indian military over years of successful military cooperation with the Soviet Union and Russia. They are using the potential of such cooperation to mutual advantage.
Russia is supplying India with everything it can supply and everything India needs. The few exceptions can be explained by pressure mounted by the Indian military industrial lobby or by its deep ties with other countries.
A good example is the market of long-range air defense systems. India has bought Soviet-made S-75 and S-125 air defense missile systems, but has refused to buy the S-300PMU, generally considered the best in its class, for two reasons – its own air defense projects and its air and ballistic missile defense cooperation with Israel.
In short, India willingly lets everyone in its arms market while trying to prevent anyone from leaving. It also keeps an eye on the players to prevent anyone from gaining monopoly influence.
The Indian market is therefore a perfect venue which Russian companies should use to gain bargaining experience against the leading global suppliers.
India
Alenia, Airbus Military brace for India transport duel
India could issue a request for proposals (RFP) this year in regard to a 56-aircraft acquisition to replace the Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL)-built HS 748s operated by the Indian air force, with both Airbus Military C-295 and Alenia Aermacchi C-27J likely contenders for the requirement.
Industry sources at the Defexpo India 2012 trade show in New Delhi said the RFP could come during 2012, following a request for information that was issued in 2010.
The programme would see India obtain 16 aircraft in a flyaway condition, and 40 produced under license in India. One source said the programme will represent a major first, with the aircraft to be produced locally by a private sector company, and not HAL.
While India has yet to produce a major private sector airframer, a number of the country's large industrial conglomerates, such as Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Tata have been steadily building up their aerospace units in recent years.
India could require that the first aircraft be delivered within two years of a contract signing, with the next 15 within the following 24 months. A one-year pause would ensue, followed by the remaining 40 aircraft being produced in India at a rate of eight per year.
At the Defexpo show, Airbus Military displayed a model of the C-295 and Alenia a model of the C-27J.
Airbus Military highlighted that the C-295 has become the workhorse of a number of major air forces.
Alenia pointed out that the C-27J has a great deal of commonality with the Lockheed Martin C-130J, including common engines and other similarities. India operates six C-130Js and is in talks for six more that would likely be purchased under the US Foreign Military Sales mechanism.
The Indian air force has made significant progress toward upgrading its airlift capabilities in recent years. In addition to the acquisition of the C-130J, in 2011 it confirmed it would obtain 10 Boeing C-17 strategic transports. When it has received its full order of C-17s, it will be the second-largest operator of the type after the US Air Force.
India is also in the process of upgrading 105 Antonov An-32s with significantly improved avionics.
The HAL 748 is based on the 1960s-era Hawker Siddeley HS 748.
Alenia, Airbus Military brace for India transport duel
French firms focus on India
NEW DELHI, March 30 (UPI) -- India's defense and aerospace needs and manufacturing capabilities are attracting the interest of European companies seeking to plumb its potential.
Naval defense company DCNS of France, munitions-maker Nexter and Eurocopter this week have all touted operations and deals with India worth millions.
DCNS announced that through its subsidiary, DCNS India, it has signed an agreement with India's SEC Industries to locally manufacture equipment for the Indian Navy's P75 Scorpene submarines.
The deal, worth about $66.5 million, is for hull hatches, cofferdam doors, knuckle hoses, ballast vent valves, high-pressure air cylinders, weapon handling and storage systems. SEC will manufacture the equipment under a transfer-of-technology accord. Indian shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited will then integrate the equipment onboard the P75 Scorpene submarines.
"The contract with SEC is part of the indigenization program implemented by DCNS India under the P75 Mazagon Purchased Materials contracts," said Bernard Buisson, managing director of DCNS India. "Through this will to manufacture in India, we are developing strong industrial partnerships and capabilities for the P75 and future programs.
"Together with our partners, we are positioning ourselves for the long term."
DCNS said the company's strict quality standards would be followed in local manufacturing and that DCNS India, with support teams in France, is providing training for SEC employees -- more than 40 SEC personnel will be trained this year and next, and on-the-job training will also be performed in India over the next five years.
"Through this contract, our company will gain in technology terms, infrastructure and trained manpower," D. Vidyasagar, managing director of SEC Industries said.
"SEC Industries is upgrading its capabilities: set-up of a new workshop dedicated to this program, acquisition of new industrials means for sanding, welding and painting and recruitment of skilled manpower; technicians and engineers."
In the aerospace sector, Eurocopter this week touted its product line as part of its marketing effort at Defexpo 2012 exposition in New Delhi.
Scale models of its AS550 C3 Fennec, AS565 MBe Naval Panther and EC725 rotorcraft -- all of which have been proposed for Indian military program -- were put on display.
"As India looks to upgrade its military rotorcraft fleets, Eurocopter is the one manufacturer with the product range and depth to meet the full scope of operational needs for the country's army, navy and coast guard," said Eurocopter Senior Executive Vice President of Asia-Pacific Norbert Ducrot.
"Additionally, Eurocopter is the first major manufacturer to establish an Indian subsidiary, reinforcing its support and services network throughout the country and further developing the company's relationship with India and its industry."
Eurocopter's subsidiary in India, established in 2010, has maintenance centers throughout the country and help in "expanding the world's largest helicopter manufacturer's commercial presence in this highly promising marketplace, reinforcing its support and services network throughout the country and further developing the company's four-decade relationship with Indian industry," the company said.
Eurocopter is the only foreign helicopter manufacturer in the world to have created a fully fledged subsidiary in the country.
Nexter Systems of France, which supplies the Indian armed forces with artillery systems and artillery rounds, meanwhile, announced it is opening a wholly owned subsidiary in the country this year "due to the importance of Indian artillery and other programs and the willingness of Nexter Systems to become a leading partner of the Indian defense Industry."
Read more:
French firms focus on India - UPI.com
Axis Aerospace & Technologies and Bull sign MoU in homeland security and electronic warfare
Axis Aerospace & Technologies and Bull sign MoU in homeland security and electronic warfare
Issy les Moulineaux/Bangalore, March ?29,?2012?-
Axis Aerospace & Technologies Pvt. Ltd (AAT) and Bull today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) setting out the terms of their cooperation on future projects in the field of Electronic Warfare (EW), at DEFEXPO India 2012 in New Delhi.
According to Sudhakar Gande, Vice-Chairman, Axis Aerospace & Technologies: "This cooperation with Bull will provide the state-of-the-art and specific EW systems required in India." Mr Gande further asserted that this will be another milestone for AAT, as one of the premier defense companies in India.
From left to right: A. Srinivas, Head -Corporate Finance (Axis Aerospace & Technologies), S. Canda, VP Asia (Bull), O. Bohbot, VP International & Defense (Bull), Mr Sudhakar Gande, Vice Chairman (AAT), Mr S.C. Sharma, - President -Defense (AAT)
Axis Aerospace & Technologies is a licensed defense manufacturer for EW systems and, as prime contractor, will provide complete systems to the Indian Ministry of Defense, with all the associated local support for long-term maintenance.
Olivier Bohbot, Vice-President, International and Defense at Bull, commented: "India is a key market for us, and we are excited to forge a strategic partnership with AAT, which specializes in the aerospace and defense markets. We will be working on various business initiatives together, including as an offset partner for the defense program in India."
Bull will be supplying all the main EW sub-systems; sharing its expertise fully with AAT and the Indian Ministry of Defense. These systems include Electronic Support Measures (ESM), ESM for radar, Communications (C-ESM) and Electronic Counter Measure (signal jamming) systems.
Axis Aerospace and Technologies (AAT), based in Bangalore, in one of the premier aerospace and defense companies in India. AAT offers engineering design services, avionics and testing, manufacturing and aviation lifecycle support solutions.
AAT is establishing a 75-acre Aerospace Park, near the new Bangalore International Airport, to provide manufacturing and allied support facilities alongside globally renowned aerospace and defense companies. AAT is also developing Hassan Airport, which is India's first privately owned airport and is also the principle Indian Offset partner for various Offset programs for global OEMs.
AAT's vision is to build a powerful group of aerospace technology, infrastructure and lifecycle support businesses and to become the first choice partner to aerospace and defense majors around the world.
BULL : Axis Aerospace & Technologies and Bull sign MoU in homeland security and electronic warfare | 4-Traders
L&T forms consortium with Nexter Systems
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Nexter Systems of France (NS) have signed consortium agreements to collaborate for key Artillery Gun programmes of the Indian Army. These include the 155mm/ 52 Cal Towed Gun System (TGS) and Mounted Gun System (MGS) programme, with Nexter Systems as lead partner and a 130mm/39 Cal M-46 up-gunning programme, with L&T as lead partner.
The partnership between L&T and Nexter is based on delivering the best solution and value to the Indian Army. According to the agreements signed between L&T and Nexter, the latter will transfer the production of sub-assemblies of TRAJAN (TGS) and CAESAR (MGS) and the final integration of both systems to L&T in India.
The engineering customization of the systems to fulfill specific Indian requirements will be accomplished together by L&T and Nexter. L&T and NS are looking forward to extending the cooperation for these artillery programs for Indian MoD to other opportunities, globally.
During his visit to DefExpo 2012 (New Delhi) Philippe Burtin Chairman and chief executive officer of Nexter Systems said, ``Our partnership with L&T is hugely important to Nexter, I am convinced that the depth of our mutual commitment will result in a strong overall value proposition to the Indian MoD. Our teams have been working closely for more than two years and I am delighted with the results they have achieved together on the TRAJAN system for the TGS programme.``
Speaking on the occasion, M V Kotwal, President, L&T Heavy Engineering and Member of the Board, L&T said ``L&T and Nexter Consortium will endeavour to provide a winning solution to the Indian Army. Besides providing the most successful Artillery Gun Systems to the Indian Army, this partnership will open up new avenues in Indian and global defence markets for both partners. The collaboration offers not only commonality of ordnance but also reduces the logistics foot print significantly, and minimizes the requirements of spares and through life support across multiple artillery systems.``
http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/storyShow.php?fileR=20120330113751717&dir=2012/03/30
L&T forms consortium with Nexter Systems
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Nexter Systems of France (NS) have signed consortium agreements to collaborate for key Artillery Gun programmes of the Indian Army. These include the 155mm/ 52 Cal Towed Gun System (TGS) and Mounted Gun System (MGS) programme, with Nexter Systems as lead partner and a 130mm/39 Cal M-46 up-gunning programme, with L&T as lead partner.
The partnership between L&T and Nexter is based on delivering the best solution and value to the Indian Army. According to the agreements signed between L&T and Nexter, the latter will transfer the production of sub-assemblies of TRAJAN (TGS) and CAESAR (MGS) and the final integration of both systems to L&T in India.
The engineering customization of the systems to fulfill specific Indian requirements will be accomplished together by L&T and Nexter. L&T and NS are looking forward to extending the cooperation for these artillery programs for Indian MoD to other opportunities, globally.
During his visit to DefExpo 2012 (New Delhi) Philippe Burtin Chairman and chief executive officer of Nexter Systems said, ``Our partnership with L&T is hugely important to Nexter, I am convinced that the depth of our mutual commitment will result in a strong overall value proposition to the Indian MoD. Our teams have been working closely for more than two years and I am delighted with the results they have achieved together on the TRAJAN system for the TGS programme.``
Speaking on the occasion, M V Kotwal, President, L&T Heavy Engineering and Member of the Board, L&T said ``L&T and Nexter Consortium will endeavour to provide a winning solution to the Indian Army. Besides providing the most successful Artillery Gun Systems to the Indian Army, this partnership will open up new avenues in Indian and global defence markets for both partners. The collaboration offers not only commonality of ordnance but also reduces the logistics foot print significantly, and minimizes the requirements of spares and through life support across multiple artillery systems.``
http://www.myiris.com/newsCentre/storyShow.php?fileR=20120330113751717&dir=2012/03/30
