Defexpo 2014: Land, Naval & Internal Homeland Security Systems Exhibit

[kurup]

L&T and Samsung Techwin (STW) Developed 155-mm/52-cal K9 Vajra-T Tracked Self Propelled Artillery at DefExpo 2014


L&T and STW's 155-mm/52-cal tracked SP gun and loader

L&T displayed a model of it proposed K9 Vajra-T gun and its at their pavilion at DefExpo 2014.

Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) and Samsung Techwin (STW) Co of South Korea announced on March 29, 2012 during DefExpo 2012 that they would cooperate to develop a 155-mm/52-cal tracked, self propelled artillery for the Indian Army.

The Indian Army plans to acquire 100 155-mm/52-cal Tracked SP (Self Propelled) Guns under its artillery modernization program. MOD floated a tender inviting India's Tata Power SED, Larsen & Toubro, BEML and Rosoboronexport to bid. L&T submitted a bid as lead partner in 2011.

The proposed L&T gun is a localized version of STW's K9 Thunder Self-Propelled Howitzer, claimed as the ‘largest and most successful’ of the 155 mm/52 caliber self-propelled artillery systems globally today.

L&T, as the lead partner, would localize the K9 using key technologies from STW, and manufacture it at its defense equipment facility at Talegaon near Pune.


K9 Thunder at DefExpo 2012

The production version of the gun will feature over 50 per cent local content.

The K9 Vajra-T can fire Extended Range Full Bore Boat Tail (ERFB BT) and Extended Range Full Bore Base Bleed (ERFB BB) projectiles to ranges of 30-km and 40-km respectively. It can fire a K315 HE Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP) to a range exceeding 50-km. The range using a standard M107 high explosive (HE) projectile is 18-km.

The Vajra-T has a direct fire sight to engage ground targets. It can engage a tank size (2.3-m x 2.3-m) target at 1-km.

It can fire a burst of 3 rounds in 30-sec, 6 to 8 rounds a minute for 3-min. Sustained rate of fire is 2 rounds per minute for one hour.

Equipped with a 1,000-hp engine, the K9 Vajra-T has a power-to-weight ration of 21-hp/ton. It's equipped with a hydro-pneumatic suspension system and can achieve a max speed of 67-kph.

The SP gun features an automatic fire control system (AFCS), powered gun elevation/depression and traverse system. The gun can be laid using a data link or on-board fire-control equipment. The automatic loading system receives projectiles from the storage position and places them on to the ammunition tray for ramming.

The driver has 6.5" video display for day driving and an uncooled thermal imager for night driving.

The Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV), K10, has a max transfer rate of 12 rounds / min. It can carry 104 rounds (Projectile) and 504 units (Charge).

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: L&T and Samsung Techwin (STW) Developed 155-mm/52-cal K9 Vajra-T Tracked Self Propelled Artillery at DefExpo 2014

 

[kurup]

Rustom-1 MALE-UAV Awaiting Army Order


Rustom-1 at DefExpo-2012

With Rustom-2 being one of the star attractions of DefExpo 2014 there was literally no place for the Rustom-1 in the display area outside the India Pavilion, but the project is well and kicking.

The all composite Rustom-1 based on the Rutan Long-EZ home built aircraft design and powered by 160-hp Lycoming engine has flown 30 time and logged 34 hrs, a DRDO rep told IDP Sentinel on February 8, 2014.

Rustom 1 has flown at an altitude of 20,000-ft and demonstrated an endurance of 5-hr. At the request of the Indian Army, the endurance is being stepped up to 8 to 10-hr. The aircraft cruises at 80-kt to 100-kt and has a max speed of 190-kt in a dive.

Presently, the aircraft needs to be externally piloted during take-off and landing. The Army has asked for autonomous take-off and landing (ATOL) capability, which the ADE is working on, both for Rustom-1 and Rustom-2.


Rustom-1 at DefExpo 2014

DRDO is currently pitching Rustom-1 for

1. Reconnaissance & Surveillance
2. Target Acquisition
3. Target Designation
4. Communication Relay
5. Battle Damage Assessment
6. Signal Intelligence.

The aircraft has a payload capacity of 60-kg. The wing has a hardened joint that will allow the UAV to carry light armament along with its EO sensors.

Increased endurance and ATOL would be compelling upgrades that would result in Army orders and pave the way for weaponizing the platform.

DRDO developed Rustom-1 as a replacement for the Israeli Searcher UAV that is used by all the three services. The Rustom-1 is claimed to have a much lower acoustic signature than the Searcher.

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: Rustom-1 MALE-UAV Awaiting Army Order

 

[Gessler]

BDL shows LRSAM with Dual-Pulse Rocket Motor at Defexpo 2014

LRSAM which is set to replace the shorter range Barak missile as the Indian Navy's preferred anti-missile defense weapon is still under development, but BDL, which will locally produce the missile, displayed its model at DefExpo 2014 perhaps signalling that development work is close to completion.

The model showed the internal layout of the missile's USP - a dual pulse smokeless solid fuel motor that provides high maneuver capability at target interception range throughout the missile's wide envelope.

LR/SAM is being jointly developed by DRDO and Rafael with the work split as follows.

DRDO

Two Pulse Rocket Motor
The rear controller
Thrust Vector Control
Folded Fins
Pneumatic Actuation System
Safe & Arm for Rocket Motor

RAFAEL

Multi-function Phased Array Radar
Missile Seeker
The Front Controller
Command electronic
Warhead
Pulsed Rocket Motor

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: BDL Shows LRSAM with Dual Pulse Motor at DefExpo 2014

 

[kurup]

Arjun Catapult at DefExpo 2014


Arjun Catapult 130-mm M45 Tracked SP Gun at DefExpo 2014

DRDO has designed and developed the Arjun Catapult system by mounting the 130 mm, M-46 Catapult Russian gun on an Arjun Mk-1 MBT chassis.

The system has a crew of 8 and a combat weight of 54-t.

Earlier, DRDO developed a similar system called Vijayanta Catapult by mounting the gun on the Vijayanta chassis. Two Indian Army (IA) regiments are equipped with Vijayanta Catapult Guns. The IA intends to extend the life of the 130 mm Catapult system and mount it on the Arjun MBT, to address immediate and interim requirements.


This might look like the backside of the Arjun Catapult, but it is actually the front side, as is evident from the windshield on the left for the driver. The gun faces the backside. The large recoil of the gun forced the arrangement!

DRDO's Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) developed the Arjun Catapult system in quick time, fielding the system for user trials in November 2013, within just four months of receiving the order from the Army. DRDO says the first prototype performed well during trials, but admits further improvements are under incorporation to firm-up the configuration for production.

A user-assisted General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR ) trial of the system is likely to to be held at the Pokharan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan during April-May 2014.


The driver's seat, facing in the opposite direction to the gun.

The Army is expected to place an order for 40 catapult gun systems.

K Sreethar, Head - Artillery, CVRDE, says, the Arjun Catapult has better stability, accuracy and consistency than the Vijayanta Catapult

“The gun barrel is mainly used to engage in indirect fire up to a maximum range of 27.4 km. It can also be fired directly on targets up to 1.4 km range. It can be fired at various angles of elevation as well. The catapult has STANAG Level II protection (a NATO standardization agreement) for the crew. It has low silhouette and has integrated fire fighting detection and suppression system,” he adds.


Looking down the barrel from one of the loader's seat.

The system features GPS and night vision devices for both the driver and the commander. The ergonomic design of the crew compartment factors in anthropometric data of Indian troops.

Arjun Catapult has excellent mobility because of its high performance engine, robust and effective transmission system and Hydropneumatic suspension.

The 130-mm M-46 rifled gun has a maximum range of 27.4-km.

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: Arjun Catapult at DefExpo 2014

 

[kurup]

Dhanush 155-mm/45-cal Gun Built by Ordnance Factory Board at DefExpo 2014


Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) developed Dhanush 155-mm/45-cal Gun

Dhanush was developed as an Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) - Army initiative using blueprints obtained from Bofors, Sweden in the late 1980s under the TOT clause of the contract to purchase Bofors 155-mm/39-cal guns.



Gunner's sighting and control seat and display

Dhanush is often referred to as upgraded Bofors gun, but OFB says that development of Dhaush was more than an upgrade.

Besides the change in the caliber of the gun, from 39 to 45, a lot else has changed.



The gun features a modified baffle muzzle brake for improved efficiency, a modified loading trough to enable BMCS Z-6 firing, an inertial navigation system for orientation and fixation, an auto laying system, muzzle velocity reader, unified sighting system, ammunition display unit and a communication system.



The gun has a muzzle velocity of 885 m/s and a range of 38-km (ERFB-BB).

OFB told IDP that the problem that caused the barrel of the gun to burst during trials has been resolved and trials of the gun are proceeding.

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: Dhanush 155-mm/45-cal Gun Built by Ordnance Factory Board at DefExpo 2014

 

[kurup]

Rustom-2 Update


Rustom-2 prototype at DefExpo 2014

The Rustom-2 is currently powered by twin Rotax 914 engines, each driving a twin blade variable pitch propeller.

Austrian developed Rotax 914 is a four-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine with air-cooled cylinders and water-cooled cylinder heads. Sustained max power output is 73-kW (100-hp) with a 5-min burst of 84-kW (115-hp) at 5,800 rpm.

A single Rotax 914 powers the MQ-1 Predator in a pusher configuration. The engine is a popular power plant for light certified and home built aircraft, autogyros and military UAVs.

A study is on to assess the feasibility of using a diesel (Heavy Fuel or HF) engine on the Rustom-2.

Coming back to Rustom-2 itself, the prototype displayed at DefExpo 2014 has already done Low Speed Taxi Trials. First flight, which was earlier scheduled for February 2014, has been pushed back to June 2014.

As mentioned in my earlier post, an ATOL (AutonomousTake Off and Landing) system for Rustom-2 is yet to be developed, so initial flights will involve piloted take-offs and landings.

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: Rustom-2 Update

 

[kurup]

Tata Motors / DRDO's Kestrel Wheeled Armored Amphibious Platform


Tata Motor's Kestrel APC unveiled at DefExpo 2014.

Tata Motors was one of several Indian and foreign countries invited by Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), a unit of DRDO, to respond to a request for information (RFI) for the supply of chasis, propulsion unit and weapon system for a wheeled armored amphibious platform. Other Indian firms invited to bid included L&T and Mahindra & Mahindra, while Russia's Rosoboronexport was among the foreign companies invited.



Tata responded to the RFI, and later to the RFP, for all the three modules of the armored personnel carrier (APC), and went on to win the three contracts. After being awarded the contract, the company shocked DRDO by developing the entire platform in just 18 months. (Tata's alacrity in developing the APC, despite its past manufacturing experience being limited to automotive products, may well be the reason why no one ever heard of the Kestrel till a few days before DefExpo 2014. The development time frame was bound to show the DRDO in poor light! I an only half kidding!)



The Kestrel, which is 7.8-m long and 2.28-m wide has a crew of 2 and can additionally carry 10 armed soldiers.

Kestrel's ballistic protection is modular. The protection modules can be replaced at short notice in response to varying threat levels, ranging from Stanag 1 to Stanag 4.



Depending on its configuration, Kestrel can weigh from 18-ton to 22-ton. Maximum weight can go up to 26-ton, but above 22-ton the APC loses its flotation ability.

On land, it has a max speed of 100-kph. When in water, it uses two underwater jets to wade through at up to 10-kph.

Powered by a 600-hp engine, it has a Power/Wt. ratio of between 26.6 to 23.


Note the rear view mirror on the amphibious APC!

The APC is armed with a 30-mm remotely operated cannon, a single 7.62-mm co-axial MMG and an automatic grenade launcher. In addition, it's capable of being fitted with a Javelin anti-tank missile station. The vehicle can be optimized for riverine, mountain or desert terrain.

The weapon fit of the vehicle hasn't been firmed up and will depend on user requirement. Tata is relying on the modularity and open architecture of the vehicle to make it suitable for diverse roles.



The Indian Army has shown a lot of interest in the vehicle and wants to get involved in the project before the configurations are locked down.

All the main subsystems of the Kestrel share commonality with in service Tata standard vehicle aggregates, so maintenance of the vehicle less expensive than foreign APCs.

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: Tata Motors / DRDO's Kestrel Wheeled Armored Amphibious Platform

 

[kurup]

IAC INS Vikrant (Project 71) Update


IAC INS Vikrant model at DefExpo 2014.

Following its launch on August 12, 2013, INS Vikrant was towed into Cochin Shipyard's repair dock! No the launch wasn't a AKA fraud! Here is the reason why Vikrant was promptly moved into the repair dock.

Cochin Shipyard's construction dock has a limitation on the overall size of a ship that it can construct. The repair dock of the shipyard can handle much larger ships than those that can be accommodated in the construction dock.

INS Vikrant is now getting its deck extensions - the landing strip and the overhang behind the ships island - at the repair doc. The work is likely to be completed by August 2014, after which the ship would be re-floated for fitment.

IAC is expected to commence sea trials in 2017, CNS DK Joshi told NDTV in November 2013.

Now, take another look at the photo above of the Vikrant model.. Notice all the aircraft on deck are MiG-29K's. No Naval LCA anywhere! The Vikrant model displayed at Aero India 2011 had many LCA Navals.

I am not saying...

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: IAC INS Vikrant (Project 71) Update

 

[jarves]

So in short Navy will not deploy any Naval LCA's??

 

[kurup]

So in short Navy will not deploy any Naval LCA's??

It's just his conclusion .... Does not need to be the truth.

 

[jarves]

It's just his conclusion .... Does not need to be the truth.

I read somewhere that naval version will only be used for training.

 

[kurup]

Arjun-2 MBT at DefExpo-2014


Arjun Mk-2 on display at DefExpo 2014

DRDO for the first time publicly displayed its Arjun Mk-2 MBT at DefExpo 2014.

The tank is currently undergoing trials. The project has reportedly slipped behind schedule.

In January 2014, sources told the TOI that Arjun Mk-II has a long way to go before being accepted by the Indian Army.



The Israeli Laser Homing Attack (LAHAT) missile hasn't performed up to expectations. The missile, which is launched from the main gun, lacks accuracy and emits smoke.

DRDO Chief, Avinash Chandra, is reported to have told the press, "Israeli counterparts have been conveyed the issues and asked to rectify the problems at the earliest."



DRDO has fitted the Mk-2 with the same German engine that powers the Mk-1, pending large enough orders from the Army to justify investment in a new engine manufacturing plant.

Almost 55 to 60% of the Arjun's components and major part of the technology is imported, including the engine, engine transmission, gun barrel, computer-controlled integrated fire control system, tracks, suspension, and the Muzzle Reference Systems.

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: Arjun-2 MBT at DefExpo-2014


Arjun Mk-2 at DefExpo 2014 - Couldn't Resist Taking More Pictures


Arjun Mk-2 at DefExpo 2014, a photo by sensorbliss on Flickr.

Thanks to the clouding today, the lighting was uniform. I couldn't resist taking this picture of the Arjun Mk-2 at the DefExpo 2014.

I wouldn't say it's looking badass, but it's definitely looking 'edgy!'

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: Arjun Mk-2 at DefExpo 2014 - Couldn't Resist Taking More Pictures

I read somewhere that naval version will only be used for training.

What navy has in mind , only navy knows .

 

[kurup]

Brahmos-M Still Largely a Concept


Brahmos-M mock-up at DefExpo 2014

Brahmos aerospace officials first announced the Brahmos-M as a concept at DefExpo-2012.

Brahmos-M is the missile that Brahmos should have been - a smaller (6-m) and lighter (1.5-ton) supersonic missile capable of being launched from any medium fighter, naval ship, mobile ground launcher or a standard submarine torpedo tube.

At Defexpo 2014, Brahmos Aerospace unveiled a mock-up of the Brahmos-M, but don't go and put an Google News alert on Brahmos-M yet. The missile will be a long time coming. The mock-up notwithstanding, the missile is still a concept.

The problem with developing Brahmos-M is - developing the smaller ramjet engine that will power the missile. India has yet to locally manufacture the ramjet that powers the Brahmos, over 9-years after the first test launch of the 'jointly developed' missile.

Russia is committed to transfer the technology to manufacture the Brahmos ramjet to India, but it hasn't happened. Either due to Russian reluctance or Indian inability, perhaps both, the TOT remains on the to-do list.

Without an engine, the detailed design of the Brahmos-M cannot be frozen. IDP understands that BATL has been tasked with developing the Brahmos-M engine. BATL's skill are in manufacturing rocket and missile components, not designing new engines.Hopefully BATL will develop a ramjet for the Brahmos-M with assistance from Russia and Indian academic institutions. Till that happens, or Russia coughs up a ramjet after seeing India struggle with the project, Brahmos-M will remain a concept.

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: Brahmos-M Still Largely a Concept

 

[kurup]

Rustom-2: Not Powered by a Turboprop!

Rustom-2 at DefExpo 2014

DRDO on February 6, 2014 unveiled what appears to be a yet to fly prototype of the Rustom-2 MALE UAV at DefExpo 2014.



What is most notable about the UAV is that it does not feature a turboprop engine, as Rustom-2 was expected to do.



Though I have yet to confirm it, the UAV may well be powered by twin diesel engines.

I should have an update tomorrow.



The Rustom-2 was supposed to fly in February 2014 and DRDO may have opted for a diesel engine as an interim power plant.



IDP has learned that DRDO has yet to develop autonomous take-off and landing capability so the initial version of the Rustom-2 will be piloted.


Rustom-2 model on display at Aero India 2013.

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: Rustom-2: Not Powered by a Turboprop!

 

[kurup]

Tata Power - Strategic Engineering Division (SED) 155-mm/52-cal MGS at DefExpo 2014


Tata Power SED's 155-mm/52-cal Mounted Gun System at DefExp0 2014

Tata Power SED's 155-mm/52-cal Mounted Gun System (MGS) is competing in a global tender to procure 814 155mm / 52 caliber mounted gun systems through a joint venture with the private sector under its artillery modernization program.

The gun has a range of

• 31-km with a Boat Tail projectile
• 42-km with Base Bleed projectile
• 55-km with V-LAVP projectile

It features a ring laser gyro inertial system, weapon management system and a automatic laying system with joystick control

The gun has a traverse of -3-deg to +75-deg in elevation and 40-deg right and left in azimuth.

Thum! Kaun Aata Hai?: Tata Power - Strategic Engineering Division (SED) 155-mm/52-cal MGS at DefExpo 2014