INDIA: Building a Modern Arsenal in India

[desiman]

Phalcon AWACS At Home Base Agra


Photos of the IAF's first Phalcon AWACS KW-3551 at Air Force Station Agra. With blazing sunshine, she was almost invisible in the shade of her hangar, behind the Il-76 [correction, Il-78] parked outside, and especially from where I was standing. But after scanning closely, I was just about able to make out her radome and snapped off a few after getting in a little closer. This is the Phalcon's special hangar, where, as you can see, the front part is much higher to accomodate the radome and a scaffold structure for maintenance. The rest of the hangar is the same height as the other Ilyushin-76/78 hangars.

Isn’t she just gorgeous?

 

[UchihaCG]

Isn’t she just gorgeous?

No it's ugly!

Let's see what it can do

 

[Hulk]

Yes it is, when is the second one coming home.

 

[desiman]

No it's ugly!

Let's see what it can do

LOL im sure its not ugly, i just love the way it looks so huge lol

Now lets see what it can do -

The PHALCON systems can be installed olso on other platforms, such as: Boeing 757, MD-83, Airbus 321 and various business jets


Each operator work station has a large graphic high-resolution, display for advanced system control.

Data may also be easily communicated to other users. The aircraft's communications suite includes long-distance secure voice and data links to other aircraft, naval and ground units, as well as voice and data relay facilities




A New Generation AEW Platform: The long-range, high performance, multi-sensor PHALCON AEW introduces a new level of performance to airborne early warning, tactical surveillance of airborne and surface targets, and the gathering of signal intelligence.

Unique Integration of Sensors: The PHALCON's four sensors are : Radar, IFF, ESM/ELINT and CSM/COMINT.

A unique fusion technique continuously cross-correlates data generated by all sensors: this data is combined with an automatically initiated active search by one sensor for specific targets detected by other sensors.

Radar: A radar with conformal phased array antennas for simultaneous coverage and instantaneous focus on selected targets. The PHALCON advanced radar has several conformal phased array antennas. They are mounted on the fuselage of the aircraft and can provide up to full 360 coverage.

Advantages: Radar beams can be pointed at any direction in space at any time, with the beam?s parameters fully controlled by the radar computer. The radar employs a flexible time-space energy management technique which provides the following advanced capabilities:

• Selectable surveillance: Surveillance can be limited to the battle zone and other areas of interest. The scan rate in these selected areas is much higher.

• Optimized detection and tracking: A special mode for maneuvering and high value targets employs a high scan rate and beam shapes optimized for each target to ensure tracking performance.

• Fast track initiation and no false alarms: Verification beams sent at specific, individual, newly detected targets Track initiation is achieved in 2 to 4 seconds. eliminate false alarms.

• Extended detection range: By transmitting extra long dwells in selected sectors, an extended detection range is achieved

• High Fault Tolerance and Redundancy: The system uses distributed, solid state transmitting and receiving elements. Each element is controlled in phase and amplitude. The system continues its operation even if some of the units are faulty.



Advanced IFF employing solid state phase array technology.

The PHALCON IFF system implements interrogation, decoding, target detection and tracking using the standard modes. Azimuth measurement is carried out by monopulse processing. The IFF antennas are incorporated in the primary radar array and are coordinated with the array to avoid mutual interference. Similar antenna elements and transmit/receive modules are used for both the radar and the IFF.

Electronic Intelligence

The PHALCON's advanced ESM/ELINT system is fully integrated with the radar and other sensors, serving as one of the most important elements of the identification process. It is designed to operate in very dense signal environments, providing simultaneous 360 coverage. The system uses narrow-band and wide-band receivers to provide very high sensitivity and high probability of interception of airborne and surface emitters. High bearing accuracy for all received signals is achieved through Differential Time of Arrival (DTOA) measurements. The system also collects and analyzes ELINT data.

Communication Intelligence

Tuned in to airborne, ground and shipborne transmissions. The PHALCON's CSM/COMINT receives in UHF, VHF and HF, rapidly searching for airborne, shipborne or ground communications signals of interest. Selected radio nets can be monitored for signal activity. A DF capability locates targets. Detected signals can be assigned to monitoring receivers instantaneously. The system makes extensive use of computers to reduce the load on operators.


The long-range, high performance, multi-sensor PHALCON AEW introduces a new level of performance to airborne early warning, tactical surveillance of airborne and surface targets, and the gathering of signal intelligence.

Unique Integration of Sensors

The PHALCON four sensors are: radar, IFF, ESM/ELINTand CSM/COMINT. A unique fusion technique continuously cross-correlates data generated by all sensors; this data is combined with an automatically initiated active search by one sensor for specific targets detected by other sensors.

It is rated among the best in the world and is time tested platform. Coupled with Indian MKI's its a formidable adversary for any aggressors.

 

[desiman]

Yes it is, when is the second one coming home.

The second Phalcon AWACS is expected to be delivered by early 2010 and the last by that year's end.The aircraft will be deployed with the IAF's 50 Squadron based at Agra under the Allahabad-based Central Air Command. Its operations, however, will be conducted by Air Headquarters directly. A total of six Phalcons are supposed to be inducted by 2012 by the IAF.

 

[desiman]

These guys are on their way also

DRDO AEW&CS


The Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS) is a project being undertaken by India's Defence Research & Development Organization to develop an AWACS for the Indian Air Force.


In 2003, the Indian Air Force and Defence Research and Development Organisation jointly carried out a study and evolved the system level requirements for an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system. Sanction was then given to DRDO to develop a suitable AEW&C system. Primary responsibility for the project was handed to DRDO's Bangalore-based Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), which is responsible for design, system integration and testing of the system. LRDE is also involved in the design of the radar array.

The DRDO AEW & Control System program aims to deliver three radar equipped surveillance aircraft to the Indian Air Force. The aircraft platform will be the Embraer ERJ 145. Three ERJ 145 are to be procured at a cost of US $ 300 Million, for the project. The aim is to deploy these AEW & C aircraft by 2013.

The AEW & C project is in addition to the acquisition of larger and more capable Phalcon AWACS from Israel. Three Phalcons have been ordered, with follow on orders of 3 more likely to be placed.

Apart from providing the Indian Air Force with a cheaper and hence, more flexible AEW & C platform as a backup to its more capable Phalcon class systems, the local AEW & C project aims to develop the ability to locally design and operationalize airborne surveillance platforms.

India's sole previous effort to develop an AEW & C system was the Airborne Surveillance Platform, but the program, codenamed Airavat was ended after the testbed crashed.

Capabilities

The AEW & C aircraft will have a locally developed AESA primary radar with IFF. The system will also have ESM (Electronic Support Measures), CSM (Communications Support Measures) ability. Datalinks to network the AEW & C with fighters, and ground based control systems will also be provided, as will be a SATCOM (Satellite Communication System). The aircraft will also have a comprehensive self defence suite. The entire avionics suite will be linked via a datahandling system, controlled by Mission computers.
Key features

The DRDO has released an overview of the AEW & C aircraft.

* The Radar will have an extended range mode against fighter aircraft, and will consist of two back to back AESA arrays, with an additional dedicated IFF array.
* The ESM system will be able to track sources with a directional accuracy of 2 deg. RMS and a frequency accuracy of 1 MHz.
* The ESM system will have complete 360 degree coverage in azimuth and have a database of up to 3000 emitters against which threats will be scanned.
* Communication Support Measure system will analyse and record intercepted communications both inflight and post flight.
* Self Protection Suite will have a passive Missile Approach Warning System, a Radar Warning Receiver and countermeasures dispensers. The SPS will be integrated with the ESM & CSM suite.
* The aircraft will have Inflight refuelling.
* The aircraft will have SATCOM, and datalinks to pass on ESM, CSM and radar data to ground stations and datalinks to pass on target information to fighters. More than 40 other aircraft will be datalinked together by the AEW & C aircraft.[5]

Work partners

The responsibility between various DRDO laboratories is split as follows:

1. LRDE and DEAL - Primary radar, and IFF
2. DEAL - Communication Systems and Data Link
3. DARE - Self Protection suite, EW & CSM
4. DLRL - Self Protection suite (counter measures)
5. CABS - Overall Program Management, Integration & development of the data handling system, displays, mission computers et al.

Various Indian private sector firms are also supporting the program.

NAL, India is assisting in aerodynamic studies of the antenna array, and flight modelling of the entire AEW&C platform.

 

[desiman]

Good News

Indian AEW&C system to become operational by 2011

India's capability to closely monitor happenings far from the country's borders will receive a boost with the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems getting operationalised by 2011.

The indigenous AEW&C system being developed by Centre for Air Borne Systems, Bangalore
, would be mounted on the Brazilian Embraer-145 jets, an official announcement said here today.

This will give India capability to monitor missile launches, troop movements and other security threats far outside its territorial borders.

The operationalisation of the indigenous AEW&C system received a boost with the DRDO signing a USD 210 million deal with the Brazilian aviation company Embraer to mount the system on its jets.

Under the deal signed here today, three Embraer-145 jets would be modified to carry the Indian active array antennae mounted on top of the aircraft's fuselage.

"The first of these Embraer based AEW&C systems would be inducted in the Indian Air Force (IAF) by 2011," a defence spokesman said here.

The announcement of the smaller Indian AEW&C system becoming operational comes as IAF is all set to receive the first of its three much larger 'Phalcon' Airborne Early Warning and Control systems aircraft from Israel in August next year.

The multi-million dollar contract was signed by CABS director S Christopher and Embraer's executive vice president Luis Carlos Aguiar in the presence of M Natarajan, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, and top defence and external affairs ministry officials.

The Union Cabinet had approved Rs 2,500 crore indigenous development of an AEW&C mission system two years ago in a major step to revive the programme, which received a severe jolt in the crash of an Indian AWACS system mounted on an AVRO turboprop aircraft in 1998.

A DRDO official said that the indigenous AEW&C system would comprise many sub-systems such as radar and communication links that were being designed and developed by DRDO.

They said the Embraer aircraft would be modified to carry the DRDO's AEW&C systems and the Brazilian company would ensure airworthiness of the air vehicle.

"A full-fledged Embraer-145 jet AEW&C will be flight tested for mission systems in India by DRDO along with IAF from 2012," an official said.

While the larger Phalcon AWAC system would be forward deployed to scan and monitor territories almost 500 to 700 km away from the country's borders, the smaller indigenous systems are being developed basically for theatre commands which are about to be raised.

Officials said a few Embraer-based AEW&C systems were already in operation with air forces of Brazil, Mexico
and Greece.

 

[desiman]

This is from a now dated article from late 1998, however in light of the fact that no artillery procurements have subsequently followed, it still stands.


The Field Artillery has in its service:

- One regiment each of 7.2 in and 5.5 in guns for general support;
both weapons were expected to be taken out of service by 1998.


- The Bofors 155 mm FH-77B howitzer used for general support and
counter-bombardment. This weapon is also deployed in the mountains
with six howitzers in Siachen and an 18-weapon regiment in both
Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. A total of 410 FH-77s against a
projected requirement of over 2,000 were procured in 1986. The
programme came into disrepute because of alleged bribes to
politicians (the Bofors scandal refered to aforthwith).


- The towed 130 mm M-46 field gun and the 130 mm Catapult
self-propelled gun (which equips only one regiment) used for
close support, general support and counter battery fire.
India procured about 400 Russian M-46s between 1992-95 for around
Rs.100,000 ($2,800) apiece. The Field Artillery now has 720 M-46s in
36 regiments and plans to have 60 regiments equipped by 2000.


- The 122 mm D-30 towed howitzer used for close support by multiple
regiments deployed on the plains.


- Many regiments now equipped with the 105 mm Indian Field Gun, and
earmarked to convert to the M-46.


- The 105 mm Light Field Gun equips regiments deployed in the
mountains. - The last regiment of 105 mm Abbot self-propelled guns
will soon be phased out.


- The 75 mm Pack Gun-Howitzer used to provide close support in
mountainous regions. While the splinter effect of its shells is
greater than the 25 pounder gun, its effect on defensive positions remains
unsatisfactory.


- The 160 mm M58 Tampella. The Field Artillery is also equipped with the
120 mm AM-50 Brand smoothbore which can be used to a range of 9,000 m
with PEPA/LP extended range ammunition.


----

And now for the good news:


Indian Army to Execute $4 Billion Artillery Projects

August 27, 2009


India is all set to initiate the long-awaited $4 billion artillery modernisation programme and will shortly float a global tender for the acquisition of 814 motorised howitzers.

The Artillery modernisation programme aims to induct roughly 2,814 guns of different types.


Defence Ministry sources said that the project has been granted approval by the Defence Acquisitions Council which is chaired by Defence Minister A K Antony and the Request for Proposal will be issued.

The artillery modernization includes off-the-shelf purchase of 200 155mm/52-calibre mounted gun systems from overseas, which will be followed by indigenous manufacture of another 614 such howitzers under transfer of technology.

The 17-tonne motorized howitzers will arm 40 regiments.

Another major project includes the purchase of 100 155mm/52-calibre self-propelled tracked guns for five artillery regiments and its field trials are slated for May-June 2010.

India is also looking to finalize the Rs 8,000 crore project to buy 400 155mm/52-calibre towed artillery guns, which is to be followed by indigenous manufacture of another 1,180 howitzers.

The contenders are BAE Systems, ST Kinetics of Singapore and Israeli Soltam.

Another project was to acquire 140 air-mobile ultra-light howitzers (ULHs) for Rs 2,900 crore. This is being eagerly awaited since the Indian Army needs ULHs to ensure artillery can be deployed in remote inaccessible areas.


India’s artillery modernization has been plagued with scandals and delays for decades.

No new artillery gun has been inducted ever since the infamous Rs 1,437 crore Bofors contract for 410 field howitzers became a scandal in 1986.

After that, a series of other delays including more dubious defence scams have kept India from modernizaing its artillery.

Lately, ST Kinetics has also come under the scanner for corruption charges.

 

[desiman]

Murky Competition for $2B India Howitzer Order May End Soon… Or Not

15-Nov-2009


India’s $2 billion purchase of about 400 new 155mm self-propelled howitzers is intended to supplement India’s dwindling artillery stocks, while out-ranging and out-shooting Pakistan’s self-propelled M109 155mm guns. It seems simple enough, and BAE Systems Bofors had been competing against systems from Israel’s Soltam and Denel of South Africa.

Unfortunately, the competition has mostly served as a cautionary tale, a years-long affair filled with legal drama, accusations of corruption, and more than one re-start. Meanwhile, India’s stock of operational 155mm howitzers has dwindled to around 200. In 2007, a new RFP was issued, and the competition was expanded. Is there an end in sight? Or a potential winner?

No. India’s Byzantine procurement processes have defeated operational needs yet again, as the competition stalls out one more time, and its existing artillery continues to decay…

* Competition Background
* Contracts and Key Events [updated]
* Additional Readings

Competition Background
LAND SPH 155mm Soltam Rascal
Soltam Rascal

US-India Defense and Strategic Affairs reported on the competition in 2004, and noted that this was expected to be one of the first large defense procurement decisions made by India’s new United Progressive Alliance government. The question now is whether a decision can be made within that government’s term(s) of office.

After multiple firing trials and several years, India’s competition managed to end up without any competitors left standing. All 3 competitors (Bofors FH-77B05, Soltam TIG 2002, Denel G5/2000) failed to meet India’s accuracy specifications in 2003 trials, but all three improved their guns to compete again in 2004. There are reports that Soltam fell out of the race after its barrel burst during field trials, while South Africa’s Denel sidelined in 2004 and then eliminated in 2005, after the Indian government accused the manufacturer of corruption in another defence deal.

That created problems on 2 fronts. Denel’s financial situation was deteriorating, and The Times of India reported that the contract may have been critical to the firm’s financial survival. In hindsight, that concern was valid, but Denel managed to survive the loss. A win certainly would have made a significant difference, and might have allowed Denel to delay its major corporate restructuring and associated strategic rethinking for several years.

ORD_FH-77B05
Bofors’ FH-77B05:
Winner by default?


The other problem involved India’s Ministry of Defence. India’s defense procurement establishment has shown an extreme risk-averse behavior and Defense India notes that when a competition devolves to a single-vendor solution, the practice is often to re-tender.

The resulting dithering was relieved when allegations that Bofors had paid INR 640 million (about $16 million) in bribes to secure the order eliminated the last contender. Bofors Defence AB had been blacklisted by India before, after allegations of kickbacks in a 1987 deal during Rajiv Gandhi’s regime. That scandal had derailed a planned 1,500 gun buy, reducing it to 410 FH-77B howitzers.

Those accused in the Bofors case would eventually have their day in court, however, and win. In April 2007, India re-opened its howitzer competition again, and the passage of time had created a number of changes in the requirements and options.

Meanwhile, the support contract with Bofors for India’s in-service howitzers expired in 2001, and India’s stock is believed to sit at just 200 operational 155/39 caliber guns as of January 2009.

Contracts and Key Events

Nov 23/09: India’s MoD publicly confirms the blacklisting and terms for all 7 firms mentioned in the Defense News report:

“In regard to the tender cases of procurement/execution, where the tender process has already been started and where the companies mentioned in the FIR are figuring, each case should be dealt as per the tender conditions, keeping in view of the FIR in question. No tender should be awarded to the companies mentioned in the FIR unless the CBI investigation clears them totally.”

Nov 12/09: Defense News reports that India’s artillery competition is frozen yet again. Singapore Technologies has been disqualified, and under India’s rules, competitions can’t proceed with just one qualified vendor.

In June 2009, corruption charges filed against the former director-general of India’s Ordnance Factory Board placed 7 firms on the “tainted” list, blacklisting them from defense contracts: Singapore Technologies, Israel’s IMI, Poland’s BVT, Singapore’s Media Architects, and India’s HYT Engg, T.S. Kishan and R.K. Machine Tools. The latest Indian MoD advisory will not allow them to participate in defense procurements, pending a full Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report.

Oct 7/09: Indian Express reports that:

“The government may have decided to let Ottavio Quattrocchi off the hook, but the Bofors ghost continues to haunt the armed forces, with several key artillery modernisation programmes put in the limbo due to wrongdoing charges levelled against three major international manufacturers.”

March 12/09: The Singapore Straits Times reports that India has picked ST Kinetics’ “Pegasus” semi-mobile light howitzer for its $1 billion, 145-gun ultralight howitzer competition. At 5,000 kg/ 11,000 pounds, the 155mm/39 caliber Pegasus SLWH is not quite as light as BAE Systems’ M777. What it does have, is an unusual feature that allows the towed gun to be moved limited distances, at up to 12 km/h, under its own power. This is a very useful feature when trying to sidestep return fire cued by artillery tracking radars.

Unlike the 155/52 caliber competition for larger and heavier howitzers, the “ultralight” competition reportedly contains no clauses requiring manufacture in India.

Singapore was also sent an RFP for the 155/52 caliber competition, which the Straits-Times reports could involve up to 400 foreign-made and 1,180 domestically-produced howitzers. ST Kinetics’s other products include the 155/52 FH2000 towed field howitzer, and the Primus 155/39 caliber 28.5-ton tracked self-propelled howitzer. Singapore Straits-Times.

Jan 14/09: An anonymous Army official tells Indian reporters that:

“The procurement process for the towed and light howitzer is proceeding as planned. Bids have been received from all the vendors and trials of the guns are planned in February or March [of 2009].... The trials for self-propelled howitzers are planned in May-June [2009].”

According to the IANS report, the initial contract involves 180 guns, but the eventual contract is to include up to 400 guns, thanks to transfer of technology to build the howitzers in India. Of these, 140 will be light howitzers that will be spread over 7 regiments. They will still be 155/52 caliber, just lighter thanks to advances in metallurgy and design. The remaining 260 guns will be towed and self-propelled variants. IANS via India Defence | Hindustan Times.
LAND_Bofors_Archer_Artillery.jpg
Bofors Archer System
(click to view full)

April 4/07: Re-tender is exactly what happened. Sujan Dutta of The Calcutta Telegraph reports that India has reopened its artillery competitions entirely, refloating 2 global RFPs to 12 makers of 155mm/52 calibre self-propelled guns. The Indian Army reportedly proposes to buy 400 systems at the outset: 180 tracked and 220 wheeled.

The first new tender was for wheeled guns, with an RFP floated in early March 2007. The second tender for tracked guns was floated at the end of the month. Expected competitors include BAE Land Systems USA (M109A6 Paladin possible for tracked), BAE Bofors (FH77B towed, Archer wheeled), France’s Nexter (Caesar wheeled), Rheinmetall (Zuzana wheeled from Kerametal in Slovakia, possibly PzH-2000 for tracked), Korea’s Samsung Techwin (K9 for tracked), and Israel’s Soltam (Atmos 2000 for wheeled, Rascal for tracked).

In making its decision to re-float the RFP, the cabinet committee on security reportedly concluded that:

* A single-vendor situation must be avoided;
* South Africa’s Denel had emerged as the single vendor for the tracked version, but they were blacklisted in 2005 on another deal;
* The process delays of 5 years since the first tender have been so great that the field as a whole has advanced since then;
* The standards for the selection of the guns need to be revised; and
* India’s defence procurement policy has been revised in the interim, and the RFP should reflect that.


Jan 16/06: A new scandal is swirling around re-opened allegations of kick-backs involving Bofors, and complicity by the current government in covering them up.

Jan 13/06: The Press Trust of India (PTI) reports that Army Chief General J J Singh has ordered a 4th round of extensive trials for the guns, in which only the Bofors and Soltam guns will be taking part. He said the two contending 155mm/52 caliber guns would be evaluated through summer and winter trials, with the winner inducted by 2007.


Jan 12/06: The Times of India reports that India’s UPA government has floated new global tenders for collaboration in the Nalanda ordnance factory project to manufacture 155mm Bi-Modular Charge Systems (BMCS) for India’s artillery. See this link from BAE’s SWS Defence for a more in-depth look at a particular BMCS solution.

South Africa’s Denel had been picked, but the blacklisting stemming from the anti-material rifles’ deal is having further ripple effects. The winner of this competition will be well positioned for any follow-on orders involving India’s new howitzers.

July 28/05: South African competitor Denel is blacklisted from Indian defense contracts by the Ministry of Defence, as a result of the CBI’s bribery investigation.

June 15/04: Madison Government Affairs, summarizing Defense News:

“The Indian Army will choose among three foreign contenders for a $2 billion purchase of about 400 155mm self-propelled howitzers after field trials in the Rajasthan desert later this month, an Indian Defence Ministry official said. The candidates are the Swedish SWS Defense AB FH77B05 L52, the Israeli Soltam TIG 2002 and the South African Denel G5/2000 gun. All three failed to meet India’s accuracy specifications in last year’s trials; all three improved their guns to compete again this year, said an Indian Army official from the artillery directorate”

 

[desiman]

Defence procurement worth $1.5 billion on hold as India blacklists Singaporean, Israeli firms


Defence procurement worth $1.5 billion on hold as India blacklists Singaporean, Israeli firms
Indian Army procurement projects, mainly concerning artillery guns and ammunition worth an estimated $1.5 billion have been put on hold following the blacklisting of Singapore Technologies, Israeli Military Industries (IMI), BVT (Poland) and four other companies.

The blacklist order were issued on June 05 following investigation of bribery against a former head of India’s Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Mr. Sudipto Ghosh who has been arrested by India’s premier investigation agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The OFB is a nodal point for many army procurement and modernization projects and the role of the seven companies in pushing its products through the OFB has reportedly come to light during the investigation into the Sudipto Ghosh affair. The companies have been blacklisted indefinitely.

The four other companies are T S Kishan and Co Pvt Ltd (India)- It manufactures explosive shells for the 155 mm Bofors guns in service with the Army. It has a tie-up with OFB for manufacturing sub-components of the artillery ammunition, R K Machine Tools (India)- It supplies components to the OFB including 120 mm shells and varieties of 155 mm ammunition and flares, Media Architects Pvt Ltd (Singapore) It is the distributor of several software packages, HYT Engg (India)- manufactures 155 mm components for the Army and BVT (Poland).

Just days before the blacklist, perhaps as a portent of things to come, the Defence Minister Mr. A. K. Anthony had spoken out that bribe givers would be dealt with harshly under India’s defence procurement system. After the blacklist announcement , Mr. Anthony was quoted as saying in an Indian newspaper, “ (the ban) should act as a deterrence to all those who are involved in procurement of system platforms for defence sector”.

Singapore Technologies was the only vendor in a $1.2 billion tender to provide 155 mm light howitzers for Army use in mountainous terrain. ST was the only company in consideration for the contract after BAE Systems Bofors did not take part. Another vendor, Denel of South Africa had been blacklisted in 2005 in a similar artillery procurement scandal. In addition, Singapore Technologies has a joint venture with the OFB to develop the SAR 21 MMS carbine to the Indian Army.

Israeli Military industries( IMI) on the other had been awarded a $300 million contract in April to set up an ordnance factory in the north Indian state of Bihar to produce ammunition for the 155 mm Bofors guns. Official sources said the contract has now been put on hold following the blacklisting. Earlier in 2002 . India had procured over 3,000 Tavor rifles for its special forces from IMI.

 

[desiman]

India Resumes Artillery Procurement Programme


India will reopen a long-delayed artillery procurment programme, with a request for proposal (RFP) to global defence suppliers for the procurement of 814 motorised howitzers to arm 40 regiments of the Indian Army.

Under the army's Rs20,000-crore artillery modernisation programme, the country will purchase 200 17t motorised 155mm/52-calibre mounted gun systems from overseas and a further 614 howitzers will be manufactured domestically under transfer of technology.

The clearance for the project has been given by the country's Defence Acquisitions Council.

The project is expected to deploy 2,814 guns of different types while the army wants ultra-light howitzers to aid swift deployment in inaccessible areas with the help of helicopters.

 

[UchihaCG]

Brother, I have a question; DRDOs are making claims that the AEW&C will be a "mini-phalcon" how much of this is true? Just again or does India have this capacity?

Will this radar be better than the one Pak got from SAAB?

 

[desiman]

Brother, I have a question; DRDOs are making claims that the AEW&C will be a "mini-phalcon" how much of this is true? Just again or does India have this capacity?

Will this radar be better than the one Pak got from SAAB?

Thats a tricky question to answer until the actual product is released. If one was to go as per the specs given already it the DRDO system would be as good at the SAAB system but again you must keep in mind that when you talk about such systems its not about who's better. The Phalcon is among the best in the world and suits India's needs well but the SAAB system does the job for Pakistan also. If you really have to rate them then yes the Phalcon has no comparison in the region atleast. Chinese systems sound good on paper but with no concrete proof and keeping in mind China's ways of medaling with info, i would rate the Phalcon as the best in the region. I dont know about the part about the "Mini Phalcon" because i dont know in which way it plans to be one. it could be but its too early to call that. If you want I can give you more tech details but i wanted to keep the answer simple, let me know but if you need more info. I will post detailed info about the saab system soon.

 

[manglasiva]

Whether its SAAB or Phalcon..both are good in terms of wasting money !!!

 

[rastor]

Thats a tricky question to answer until the actual product is released. If one was to go as per the specs given already it the DRDO system would be as good at the SAAB system but again you must keep in mind that when you talk about such systems its not about who's better. The Phalcon is among the best in the world and suits India's needs well but the SAAB system does the job for Pakistan also. If you really have to rate them then yes the Phalcon has no comparison in the region atleast. Chinese systems sound good on paper but with no concrete proof and keeping in mind China's ways of medaling with info, i would rate the Phalcon as the best in the region. I dont know about the part about the "Mini Phalcon" because i dont know in which way it plans to be one. it could be but its too early to call that. If you want I can give you more tech details but i wanted to keep the answer simple, let me know but if you need more info. I will post detailed info about the saab system soon.

Hi dd,

Thanks for all your efforts in posting in this thread. Do you post in forums other than def.pk?

Really appreciate your input.