Indian Army News & Discussions

[redpearl75]

Indian Officers To Join USMC Exercise

NEW DELHI - India's decision to participate in upcoming exercises at the U.S. Marine Corps base at Okinawa, Japan, is a clear signal that New Delhi will not go out of its way to please Beijing, a defense analyst here said.

Analyst Nitin Mehta said the move also proves that India is taking seriously the prospect of a future threat from China.

About 14 senior Indian Army and Navy officers will take part in the Habu Nag exercise, which will begin by the end of the month and continue until mid-October.

More joint Indian-U.S. military exercises are planned in the future, including one in Alaska next month and a special forces exercise in India.

Exercise Habu Nag, held annually since 2006, is a bilateral tabletop exercise that focuses on operating skills based on exercise scenarios, to test the theoretical ability of Indian and U.S. forces to jointly respond to specific situations.

Last year, when the exercise took place at another U.S. base closer to China, India opted not to participate.

The joint exercise coincides with Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony's Sept. 26-27 visit to Washington.

---------- Post added at 05:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:07 PM ----------

Indian Officers To Join USMC Exercise - Defense News

 

[JohnP]

India has not bought a single gun in over 20 years, so what's happening with artillery? Is the circus still on?

 

[CONNAN]

India has not bought a single gun in over 20 years, so what's happening with artillery? Is the circus still on?

buddy there are some good for nothing lazy assoles who need to wake up till then hope for the worst

 

[marcos98]

Bell Helicopter and Agusta Westland have withdrawn their bids for 197 ALH

New Delhi, September 26
American ‘Bell Helicopter’ and Italian ‘ Agusta Westland’ have withdrawn their bids for the 197 Advance Light Helicopters (ALH) being acquired for the Army for search and rescue operations. The $600 million deal, they have complained, is being processed in favour of the French-German combine ‘Eurocopter’.
It is unusual for such global firms to withdraw from the race after two years of the tender ‘process’, alleging ‘bias’. Augusta Westland, ironically, won the bid in February this year for supplying 12 choppers at a cost of Rs 3,546.17 crore, eight of which would be customised for VVIP transportation. They will replace the ageing Russian made MI-8 helicopters, which are close to completing their technical life.

A representative of a firm lobbying for ‘Eurocopter’, however, quipped, “ after having failed to meet tough standards, it looks like just a case of sour grapes for our competitors.”

The ‘Eurocopter group was created in 1992 with the merger between the helicopter divisions of ‘Aerospatiale-Matra’ (France) and ‘DaimlerChrysler Aerospace’ (Germany). The group is now a subsidiary, owned wholly by ‘European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Company’ (EADS), one of the three largest aerospace groups in the world.

The helicopters of remaining two bidders - Kamov of Russia and Eurocopter - are now undergoing field weapons trial exercises for final selection.

It looks like an ‘open war’ among competitors with allegations of ‘bias’ and ‘kickbacks’ flying all over. Sources said the complaints have been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Defence Ministry.

Besides the Army, Air Force and the Navy too are trying to clinch a similar deal separately to suit their own combat requirements. But in all the three deals, American Bell, French Eurocopter, Italian Augusta Westland and Russian Kamov are the main bidders. Only in the Army deal, things seem to be going haywire, with two bidders alleging ‘foul play.’

In all, India is looking for 384 helicopters - 197 for the Army, 137 for the Air Force and 50 for the Navy (which intends to replace aging Chetak helicopters bought 30 years ago.)

 

[redpearl75]

:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::

Babus bog down Army modernization
Rajat Pandit, TNN, Sep 28, 2010, 03.03am IST

Read more: Babus bog down Army modernization - The Times of India Babus bog down Army modernization - The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Modernisation of the 1.13-million strong Army, grappling with critical capability gaps in areas like artillery, air defence, aviation, night-fighting and the like, is yet to gather steam despite the deteriorating security scenario in India's neighbourhood.

There are close to 100 Army procurement projects currently meandering their way through different stages amid bureaucratic bottle-necks, cumbersome procedures and general apathy, say defence ministry sources.

In fact, given the "prevailing worrisome state of affairs'', it's estimated the Army will take over 15 years to achieve its optimum level of operational readiness to defend borders as well as battle militancy in the hinterland.

This when Pakistan is gleefully receiving massive arms packages from the US in the name of the global war against terrorism and China is expanding its trans-border military capabilities at a staggering rate.

Incidentally, the ongoing revision of Army's war doctrine factors in the possibility of India even being forced to tackle "a two-front war'' in a worst-case scenario. But to achieve the military capabilities required for such an eventuality will take a lot of doing.

The much-smaller Navy and IAF, of course, are much better placed on their modernisation paths. While the two are more technology-intensive, the Army has many more ongoing procurement projects at any given time.

The need is increasingly being felt to revamp MoD's land systems acquisitions wing to fast-track inductions, as also ensure "much greater synergy'' within the Army HQ between its different "line directorates'' and the weapons and equipment directorate.

"Apart from better processes, MoD's Army acquisitions wing needs a strong dose of additional manpower and reorganisation. At present, it's capable of handling only around 24 projects a year,'' said a source.

A series of arms scandals in Army has also often derailed its modernisation plans. Take, for instance, the long-delayed over Rs 20,000-crore artillery modernisation programme. India has not been able to import a single 155mm/52-calibre gun since the infamous Bofors scandal of the mid-1980s.

When things were just about getting back on track, they were hit once again by the Denel and ST Kinetics scandals. Consequently, Army still awaits its planned progressive induction of 1,580 towed guns, 814 mounted gun systems, 180 self-propelled wheeled guns, 100 tracked self-propelled guns and 145 air-mobile ultra-light howitzers.

Similarly, it continues to make do with obsolete air defence missile and gun systems. Moreover, the force desperately needs third-generation thermal-imaging, image-intensification and infra-red devices to bolster the night-fighting capabilities of both its infantry and mechanised forces.

The conclusion of the long-delayed selection process for acquisition of 197 "light utility'' helicopters, with Russian Kamov and Eurocopters now left in contention, is also awaited to replace the ageing Cheetahs and Chetaks for high-altitude and other operations.

While 133 of these choppers will be for Army, the other 64 will go IAF. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has also promised to manufacture another 187 light helicopters for the armed forces to meet their overall requirements.

 

[redpearl75]

Guruprasad director of Research and Development Establishment



Dr S Guruprasad has been appointed director of Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), a DRDO laboratory, at Dighi. He will join duty on October 1, said sources.



Born in 1960, Guruprasad had graduated in mechanical engineering from Bangalore university and has done his PhD at IIT, Mumbai.



He joined the RNDE in 1986 and contributed to all major research activities at the laboratory. He was a key member of the design team for Sarvatra, a military bridge and underwater Shourya launcher.



In 1999, he was appointed the project director of BrahMos Platform Systems Project and was instrumental in developing Mobile Autonomous Launcher for Army, and inclined and vertical launchers for warships.



Guruprasad was awarded PhD for his research in blast resistant structures. He is also a recipient of the DRDO performance excellence award in 2004. Moreover, he also has to his credit three patents for his inventions in Sarvatra Project and has filed over 18 patents for his inventions during the recent BrahMoS Project.

 

[redpearl75]

BEML Offers 155mm, 52 caliber Artillery Gun; Field Trials Begin

2010-09-29 Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML) has reportedly offered a 155mm, 52-caliber state-of-the-art artillery gun. The Bangalore-based defence public sector undertaking is ready with the wheeled gun and field trials have already started at its testing tracks in the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), Karnataka.

This development comes in the backdrop of the fact that the artillery has not purchased a long-range gun in about 20 years following the Bofors gun controversy. The Government recently gave the nod to inviting global tenders for the 155mm guns and the proposed contract for over 1000 guns, besides other range of artillery guns including Howitzers, worth over Rs. 20,000 crore.

BEML chairman and managing director VRS Natarajan said they were the nodal processing agency for this gun, which would enhance the lethality of the defence forces. The gun is part of a technology transfer between a Slovakian company, DMD, and BEML to produce this high-precision gun for the Indian armed forces.

Natarajan said, "We have already been made a nodal processing agency for the 155mm, 52-caliber gun which is a state-of-the-art weapon to be inducted by India. We will produce and supply this to the defence forces. It’s a technology transfer; India wants to go for a very upgraded tank which is faster, lighter and able to have a greater fire power with lethality."

He also said, "For the wheeled gun project, we have tied up with a Slovakian company, DMD, for a defence offset and the vehicle has already been made available for trial. The time frame is about three years from the date of order by the defence forces. We expect it to commence in the current year or at most the next year."

According to the BEML chief, the company was also looking at the tracked version of the same gun, which will give better fire power. "We have already set up a state-of-the-art, world-class test track. We have a firing range too," Natarajan said, adding that the PSU was also in the process of setting up infrastructure for the overhauling of T72 and T90 tanks.

According to officials, the 155mm, 52-caliber gun -- which is already in use by NATO countries - would augment Indian capabilities. At present, BEML has set up a testing range at KGF and started the trial of Suzana guns. This wheeled gun would increase the artillery power of the Indian Army. The gun's trial evaluation is over and it is waiting for the request for proposal from the Indian Army, the officials added.

 

[marcos98]

Botswana, India to Hold Joint Military Exercise from October 3rd to 9th​

Botswana, India to Hold Joint Military Exercise from October 3rd to 9th | India Defence
A 15-member delegation of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) will be in India from Oct 2 to participate in a joint logistics exercise with the Indian Army. The BDF delegation, led by their Chief of Staff Logistic Brigadier George Modirwa Tlhalerws, will travel to Dehradun for the Oct 3-9 exercise.

"Besides being engaged in aspects related to the exercise, the visitors will be given an exposure to premier institutions such as Indian Military Academy (IMA) and Forest Research Institute (FRI)," a defence spokesperson said. "Based on a specific request by the BDF, during an earlier visit by Chief of Army Staff to Botswana, the Indian Army is presently engaged in putting in place arrangements for the envisaged exercise. Titled 'Ex Milap', the proposed exercise will aim to give an exposure, to personnel of the BDF, on a wide spectrum of issues related to logistics support for a fighting force," the spokesperson said.

Botswana - located in Southern Africa - became independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. It is a flourishing democracy that has held free and fair democratic elections since independence. India and Botswana have long enjoyed close defence ties having had a well-established training team located in the country to facilitate training of personnel of the BDF.

 

[rajgoynar]

Joint training exercise for Indian Armed Forces in Andaman and Nicobar



Port Blair, Oct 2 (ANI): With an objective to streamline and strengthen joint operations, the newly set up Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) conducted a unified exercise for the personnel of Army, Navy and Air Force.

Buzz up!
This was first of its kind training in Andaman Nicobar Island that is not done on main lands of our country.


The Amphibians, a specialised unit of ANC coordinated this exercise. The equipments are also modified according to the geographical condition of island where heavy tanks and army trucks can move easily in deep water.

Soldiers are well trained to reach any place of operations on helicopter and slither down with ropes.

The entire theoretical and practical training is given by creating a warlike situation to make soldiers adapt with the true conditions of the island.

Speaking to media persons Major Sachin Mahadok, spokesperson of the Amphibians Unit, said units of Indian Army's Armoured Corps and commandoes, ships of Indian Navy and aircraft of Indian Air Force are taking part to reinforce the coordinated strategies.

" We are trying to get together the persons from all other Commands and Fleets in India, the Army, the Air Force and the Navy on a common platform. To this end, how do we achieve this, is by carrying out and synergising the training of the Army, Air Force and Navy to optimise the results in actual battlefield (conditions)," said Major Sachin Mahadok.

He also said that this joint exercise would enable the personnel posted at ANC to face any battle-like situation.

"The most important thing in training in amphibian domain here is to actually simulate the actual thing. To that end, how do we achieve simulation is by actually carrying out training during firing, then using the noise of the helicopters while slithering and use the smoke. We have something called as smoke, battlefield smoke which we use intelligently to obscure the training round, so as to achieve the same kind of simulation we will get in the battlefield," he added.

During training all the personnel visit each other's defence base and know about their strong and weak points.

The joint exercise has given them scope to establish effective coordination among the three wings of the armed forces.

The Amphibians Unit, based at Port Blair, has successfully executed the tasks assigned to it under the ANC that was established in 2001. (ANI)



Joint training exercise for Indian Armed Forces in Andaman and Nicobar - Oneindia News

 

[redpearl75]

Joint forces India’s future, ANC’s success to be emulated

Chethan Kumar, Port Blair/Carnicobar:

''Jointness is success'' is what the tri services command in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is chanting and the mantra seems to be bearing fruit for the Indian armed forces.


A brain child of the Kargil Committee, the Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC) –– a joint force of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force –– has finally borne the tag of being a ‘model’ for the Defence Ministry, which is said to be planning to set up more of such commands in the country.

Started as an experiment for the Centre to test for the first time operating all its armed forces, including a Coast Guard unit, from one base with one command, the ANC in October next year will celebrate its 10 years of working as a “single force”.

Addressing a group of visiting journalists from Bangalore, Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) Vice Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi while conceding that there were differences in the initial stages of ANC’s creation said: “We’re happy we’ve been able to iron out all differences and are carrying out operations in tandem,”adding that the command has seen tremendous success in working jointly.

He stressed on the fact that going forward, India must adopt this formula through out the country and that the nation is growing in that direction. The Defence Ministry, which is trying to bring all the services under one act – the Tri Services Act – is probably a gesture of this acceptance.

ANC has been conducting many joint operations involving the Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Police, etc, which include operations like patrolling, rescue operations et al.
Further, for the first time in the country, the Centre has set up a tri services training school at Port Blair which is training personnel from all the units together, helping each other in understanding the nuances of the other units, as well as enhancing the ability of operating together.

ANC has also to its name the tag of being a major amphibious warfare hub with training facilities, including a sea-land fighting unit.

Command centre key to counter China

Sitting literally on China’s life line – the Malacca Strait – the ANC command will prove key to countering China’s string of pearls strategy around India. China’s uninterrupted oil/power supply from the Gulf to China needs to pass through the strait before touching Pakistan and Sri Lanka and go towards Bangladesh. While China has already geared up with ports in Chittagong in Bangladesh and a port in Sri Lanka to keep its supplies secure, India is gearing up with an infrastructure boost. Joshi said that the command is looking for expansion, mainly in terms of infrastructure, training, equipment, etc. He said the command will convert its uni-directional air strips into multi-directional all weather strips to get a fighter detachment unit in Carnicobar among other things to check on China.

Please continue with the thread in terms of the advantages from the Army perspective...

 

[SpArK]

India, Russia to hold annual military cooperation talks​

2010-10-05 18:50:00



New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Further expansion of bilateral military ties will be high on the agenda of the 10th annual meeting the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation here Thursday, an official said.

The meeting will be jointly chaired by Defence Minister A.K. Antony and his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov, and the focus will be on extending the existing bilateral agreement on military-technical cooperation, the official said Tuesday.

Serdyukov, who is arriving in India Wednesday, will be accompanied 'by a large delegation of Russian defence ministry and industry representatives', said the official.

The commission's sessions are held annually and alternate between New Delhi and Moscow.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss regional and global security issues, according to the official.

Since the establishment of the India-Russia strategic partnership in 2000, the two nations have steadily developed and strengthened bilateral cooperation covering a range of areas, of which defence forms a significant component.

They share a multifaceted military technical cooperation that includes not only supply of defence equipment and systems but also collaboration in research and development and production.

The two countries, at the last meeting of the commission in Moscow, committed to military cooperation until 2020 which comprises about 200 joint projects, including the modernisation of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier that the Indian Navy has purchased, the transfer of technology for the licensed production of T-90 tanks in India, the production of BrahMos missiles and the purchase of Smerch MLRS by India.


India, Russia to hold annual military cooperation talks

 

[redpearl75]

Indian military officers train with 31st MEU
10/5/2010 By Cpl. Michael A. Bianco, 31st MEU


USS ESSEX, AT SEA (Oct. 5, 2010) — Fourteen service members from the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy boarded the ships of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, Sept. 28, to work alongside Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Sailors with Amphibious Squadron 11 during exercise Habu Nag 2010.

Indian officers came to observe Navy and Marine Corps amphibious training off the coast of Okinawa and participate in a tabletop planning exercise.

“India and the United States share seafaring traditions,” said Col. Andrew MacMannis, commanding officer, 31st MEU. “We consider them partners and friends, and we strengthen the bonds between our militaries with this training.”

Habu Nag ’10 is the 5th annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise between India and the United States, designed to increase interoperability during amphibious operations, including mock humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations and mechanized raids.

“We specialize in amphibious operations and work with the U.S. Navy several times a year, but this time we are getting so much more information because of the opportunity to see how the Marines train,” said Col. Manoj Tiwari, amphibious operations coordinator with the Indian Army. “Interoperability developed by exercises such as these enable our forces to better work together in real-world efforts.”

Although Habu Nag is an annual exercise, this is the first time the Indian military had the chance to work alongside Marines in this situation.

 

[SpArK]

Pvt sector to develop Rs 10,000-cr army communications network

Ajai Shukla / New Delhi October 6, 2010, 0:47 IST
Industry consortia to be formed to develop high-tech system.

In a giant first step towards bringing India’s reputed Information Technology (IT) industry into defence production, the Indian Army has approached six private sector IT majors to develop a high-tech communications backbone network for i

The army’s communications chief, Lt Gen P Mohapatra, revealed today that the army had sent out security-classified “Expressions of Interest”, or EoI, for developing a Tactical Communications System (TCS), which will provide a robust, snoop-proof, mobile, cellular network for the Indian Army’s voice and data communications during battle.
The EoI, which Business Standard has reviewed, has gone out to at least five private companies: Tata Power (Strategic Electronics Division); HCL Infosystems; Wipro Technologies; Rolta India; and L&T. Another potential candidate, Tech Mahindra, was ruled out as it did not qualify as an Indian company because of a foreign holding component higher than 26 per cent.

In addition, three public sector undertakings — Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL); Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL); and ITI Ltd — have also received the EoI.

In the 16 months since the TCS project was sanctioned by the apex Defence Acquisition Council on May 18, 2009, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has tried to hand over the project without bidding to defence PSU, Bharat Electronics Ltd. As Business Standard reported (March 3, 2010: MoD sidelines pvt sector in crucial defence project), the MoD cited “communications secrecy” as the logic for handing over the project on a plate to BEL. After protracted internal debate, MoD decided to allow the Indian private sector to participate, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation developing the secret algorithms required for encoding communications.

Recipients of the EoI say the TCS development and production will cost up to Rs 10,000 crore. But the TCS is only a foot in the door for the private sector. CII Director-General Chandrajit Banerjee estimated today that there were about Rs 30,000-40,000 crore worth of defence electronics systems in the pipeline.

Recipients of the EoI must respond within two months (it was issued on September 24) giving out details of the consortia they create for the TCS project; their technology development plans; development milestones; and time schedules. They must also spell out their estimated capital expenditure for designing and developing a prototype system. Based upon this, MoD will select two companies, which will each build a prototype of the TCS. The better of the two will manufacture the seven TCS systems that the Indian Army needs.

The EoI places the TCS project in the “Make” category of the Defence Procurement Procedure of 2008 (DPP-2008). Under this, the MoD will fund 80 per cent of the development costs, while the selected company (termed the Development Agency, or DA) will fund the remaining 20 per cent. The “Make” procedure mandates that at least 30 per cent of the system must be indigenously developed. However, one of the companies that have received the EoI confidently claims that it will develop at least 70-80 per cent of the system in India.

In a bold departure from its earlier practice of selecting the lowest bidder, MoD has indicated that indigenisation and technological quality of the product would be considered in choosing a Development Agency. The EoI states: “The contribution of the Indian industry in acquiring and developing Technologies in critical areas shall be a key criterion in assessment of various proposals (sic).”

Intriguingly, MoD has issued EoIs in the TCS project only to companies that fulfilled the criteria developed for nominating Raksha Udyog Ratnas, a concept that MoD went on to reject. These criteria, which are mentioned in the EoI, include registration at least 10 years ago as a public limited company; FDI holding of under 26 per cent; annual turnover of at least Rs 1000 crore; a minimum credit rating of CRISIL/ICRA-‘A’; and a positive net worth and profitable operations in at least 3 of the last 5 years.

The TCS project is India’s second project under the “Make” procedure, after the Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) development project (Business Standard, August 9, 2010, Indian industry at landmark defence tender). But MoD sources, pointing out the significance of the TCS, say: “The FICV is just a standalone armoured vehicle. In contrast, the TCS is a network-centric backbone that connects crucial systems in the electronic battlefield; it connects the sensors, the shooters, the decision systems and the command hierarchy. It is the backbone for everything

 

[redpearl75]

Indra 2010 - Indian, Russian Armies to Conduct Anti-Terror Military Exercises

2010-10-06 Indian and Russian Armies to conduct anti-terrorism exercise Indra-2010. This will be held in Chaubattia in Uttarakhand between October 15 and 24, Defence Ministry officials revealed in New Delhi. The battalion-level exercise will comprise of infantry troops from both the armies who would work out insurgency and terrorism situations and plan and execute an operation to counter these, particularly in a mountainous terrain, they said.

Other elements from both the armies include observers, air elements and representatives from the Defence Ministries of both countries. The Russian complement would include 257 personnel and the Indian side will be represented by an infantry battalion. "Indra-2010 is intended to enhance the defence cooperation and military-to-military relations between the two armies," they added.

The first of the Indra exercise series was conducted in India in October 2005 and the second was held in Russia in 2007. Since then the two armies have not held an exercise under the series for the last three years.

The Indo-Russian Army exercise comes in the wake of an inter-governmental commission for military and technical cooperation headed by the Defence Ministers of both the countries meeting in Delhi tomorrow. Indian Defence Minister A K Antony and his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov will meet here to discuss defence relations, buying and selling of military hardware and cooperation in military technologies.

 

[SpArK]

Antony to attend defence conference



New Delhi, Oct 8 (IBNS): Union Defence Minister A K Antony is expected to leave for Hanoi on Sunday for a four-day visit to Vietnam to attend the first ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM)-Plus next week.


The ASEAN Defence Ministers had agreed to establish an ADMM-Plus forum comprising of the 10 ASEAN countries and 8 non-ASEAN countries including Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States, during the Fourth ADMM held in last May.

“We view our participation in the ADMM-Plus deliberations as an aspect of our Look-East Policy and the larger objective of our integration with the region,” the defence ministry said in a statement released on Friday.

On the sidelines of the ADMM-Plus, Antony is also expected to have bilateral meetings with the defence ministers of other countries, including the Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen Phung Quang Thanh and other Vietnamese leaders for discussion on issues of mutual interest.