Indian Army thread

[heartwinlion]

Sweden’s flagship company Saab Group, which also owns Gripen International and late last January opened its representative office in New Delhi, recently won two significant contract awards from the Ministry of Defence, one worth US$24 million for supplying the CIDAS integrated all-digital defensive aids suite for the 16 armed Dhruv ALH helicopters now being built by HAL for the Indian Air Force (IAF), and the other for supplying the LEDS-150 active protection system (APS) for the Indian Army’s T-90S+ and T-90M main battle tanks (MBT). Presently, the DRDO’s Bangalore-based Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) and SaabTech are co-developing the MILDS AN/AAR-60 missile approach warning system (MAWS), which forms only one component of the CIDAS defensive aids suite. The MAWS is of South African origin and was further co-developed by EADS ewation (Germany) and Grintek Ewation (South Africa) after decided to merge by 2001. This was followed by SaabTech taking a stake in Avitronics (part of Grintek). SaabTech now owns both the South African companies (Grintek and Avitronics) as well as the EADS-Grintek joint venture. Therefore, in conclusion, the prime contractor for supplying the CIDAS defensive aids suite is SaabTech. The CIDAS will also find its way on board the HAL-developed Light Combat Helicopter, whose first prototype will be rolled out this March. In addition, the CIDAS will also most likely be on board the to-be-upgraded Ka-28PL, Ka-31 and Sea King Mk42B helicopters of the Indian Navy, and also on the 60 armed Dhruv ALHs that the Indian Army will be procuring for its projected Combat Aviation Brigade, which will also be employed for vertical envelopment operations in support of expeditionary amphibious warfare campaigns. A version of CIDAS also exists for combat aircraft and will in all probability be selected for installation on board the Su-30MKI in the near future, since the Su-30MKIs lack on-board missile approach warning systems and laser warning systems. Another aircraft to be equipped with CIDAS will be the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) now being co-developed by HAL and Russia’s United Aircraft Corp.


The contract for supplying the LEDS-150 APS suite for installation on board 987 T-90 MBTs has been won against stiff competition, and follows the Army HQ’s issuance of RFPs on April 24 last year. A total of six companies (Israel Military Industries, RAFAEL, BAE Systems, Raytheon, Rosoboronexport, Saab, and Germany’s IBD Deisenroth Engineering) were invited for submitting bids for supplying 1,657 APS suites worth $270 million. APS suites offered were Russia’s Kolomna-based KBM Engineering Design Bureau’s Arena-E, Israel Military Industries’ Iron Fist, RAFAEL Advanced Defence Systems’ Trophy, Raytheon’s Quick Kill, Saab’s LEDS-150 and Deisenroth Engineering’s AMAP-ADS. Eventually, the LEDS-150 was selected and its procurement contract was inked last month. The Land Electronic Defence System (LEDS) combines active signature management, soft-kill and hard-kill mechanisms to provide full spectrum active protection to armoured vehicles. Full hemispherical coverage is provided to detect incoming threats and alert the crew. When installed in full configuration, the LEDS-150 offers MBT-comparable protection to light and medium combat vehicles against engagement by weapons like RPG-7s, anti-tank guided-missiles, KE ammunition, mortars and field artillery shells. The LEDS-150 typically comprises laser warning sensors, ADC-150 active defence controller AD, a number of munition confirmation and tracking sensors, and high-speed directed launchers, which allow the combination of soft- and hard-kill countermeasure deployment capability to the platform, optional displays, and interconnecting harnesses. The hard kill feature of the LEDS-150 is characterised by its capability to physically destroy the efficiency of the terminal ballistic capability of attacking munitions without residual penetration of the protected vehicle. The hard kill system detects and tracks a single or simultaneous threats and calculates if the attacking munition will hit the platform or not. The system determines the best inertial intercept position and provides the slew and firing commands to the launchers. The Mongoose-1 countermeasure missile is launched at a predetermined time to intercept and neutralise the detected munition off-board at a distance of between 5 metres and 15 metres from the vehicle to minimise the collateral damage to own forces.--

TRISHUL: IDAS For Indian T-90 MBTs Selected

 

[heartwinlion]

India may goes for singapore ultralight howitzers

India expected to buy Singapore howitzers

NEW DELHI, March 12 — Singapore is the front runner to supply the Indian military's planned purchase of ultralight howitzers, the Republic's first major defence contract from South Asia's dominant power, people familiar with the developments said.

"Most of the technical evaluation of the contract to buy 145 pieces of the ultra-lightweight 155mm cannons has been done," said an Indian official who has proved reliable in the past.

Should the deal come through - possibly after field trials - it will be a major breakthrough for Singapore into India's arms market and help boost its economy's sagging export order-book.

The value of the contract is believed to be about S$1 billion (RM2.3 billion).
ST Kinetics confirmed that it had participated in the tender for the Indian army's ultra-lightweight howitzer and towed howitzer requirements.

"As with all our commercial and defence negotiations, we are bound by customers" confidentiality requirements," a company spokesman in Singapore said.

New Delhi, reliant on the Soviet Union and its successor state Russia for most of its defence needs, has embarked on a plan to diversify its arms purchases. Israel is nudging Russia to be the top supplier while US companies are eyeing major deals with the Indian Air Force and Indian
Navy.

ST Kinetic's Pegasus ultralight howitzers, which weigh just above 5 tonnes, are capable of firing three rounds in 24 seconds. Heavy use of titanium and light alloy aluminium gives the machines both mobility and ruggedness.

The Pegasus can be transported by helicopter as well as fixed wing aircraft.

In the case of India's military that would probably mean Mi-26 heavy lift helicopters and Ilyushin 76 aircraft.

Only two companies, ST Kinetics and BAe Systems have weapons that match India's specifications for the ultralight guns. It was not clear if BAe had bid for the contract, though the Britain-based company is said to have displayed the weapon at a trade event in India last year.

Singapore also was included in the list of nations to which India sent the Request for Proposals for the heavier 52-calibre howitzers, people familiar with the issue said.

That contract, for which there are several more bidders, envisages the outright purchase of 400 artillery pieces and licensed production in India of another 1,180 pieces.

The tender for the ultralight cannons does not include a clause for licensed production in India, according to people who have seen the documents. — The Straits Times

 

[heartwinlion]

must watch video

 

[nitesh]

DRDO scientists build bridge with brains - Pune - Cities - The Times of India

DRDO scientists build bridge with brains
25 Mar 2009, 0211 hrs IST, Prasad Kulkarni, TNN


PUNE: It's the first such project in the world, claim scientists of the Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Pune. The scientists are developing a lightweight, carbon fibre smart' bridge, which will be strong enough to hold a fully loaded battle tank.

"We have been working on the project for five years now and it has been successfully completed," said Makarand Joshi, one of the scientists involved. "Military and aerospace engineers always look for lighter and tougher structures to make their systems more efficient. Our project is one such attempt."

The eight-member team includes scientists Giridhar Singh, Mayur Godbole, Rahul Harshe and technician Felix Barla, as well as other supporting staff.

Joshi pointed out that the bridge has been put together entirely through indigenous technology, "This is the only structure of its kind anywhere in the world," he proclaimed. The only other bridge that could be compared to this is one in the US. "That bridge is 13 meters long, but has been developed with the help of a private company," he said. "The speciality of our bridge is that we have developed it entirely on our own. Our bridge is 5 metres long. We also plan to build a 24-metre bridge in the future."

According to Joshi, part of the bridge is currently at the laboratory, while one part has been sent to the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL), Bangalore, for testing. After testing both parts, the bridge will be joined together in the Pune laboratory. Thereafter, the test of whether the bridge will withstand a fully loaded battle tank will be carried out. This was most likely to take place in July, said Joshi.

The bridge is made of carbon-epoxy materials and is 30% lighter than aluminium. The cost of building the bridge is almost the same as that of an aluminium bridge, but the expenses occurred on maintenance of the carbon composite material bridge will be lower, said Joshi. The bridge weighs just 1.2 tonnes, but should be able to carry the load of a 70-tonne battle tank, he added.

Explaining why it was called a smart' bridge, scientist Mayur Godbole said, "This bridge can monitor itself. Fibre optic sensors have been embedded in the bridge to achieve this smartness. It can assess the weight/load on it and manage its durability accordingly. The bridge can also be operated by remote. There is no need to depute men at the bridge to monitor it."

The scientists pointed out the vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM) used in the bridge, which enables cost-effective manufacture of such structures. This particular process was developed in totality at the R&DE (E), they said.

Such a bridge would be useful in the transportation of vehicles both in times of peace and war, they added.

 

[Gabbar]

Indian Army to celebrate 71th Armourday on May 1st.

Armour Day is celebrated each year on 01 May to commemorate the commencement of mechanization of the Indian cavalry regiments. On this date in 1938, the Scinde Horse became the first regiment to shed their horses and convert to tanks. The first equipment was the Vickers light tanks and Chevrolet armoured cars.

In 1943 Indian Armour was equipped with the comparatively modern Sherman tanks (M4) of American origin. Expansion and modernisation of the Armoured Corps was initiated post independence with Centurions Mark 7 and AMX-13 light tanks. Since then the Armoured Corps has operated the indigenous Vijayanta tank, the Russian T-54 and T-55 tanks and the T-72 main battle tank which has been the workhorse of the corps for the past three decades.

Man and machine gave a sterling performance in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 by decimating the sophisticated Pakistani Patton tanks to form the famous graveyard, “Patton Nagar” near Khemkaran in Punjab. Lt Col AB Tarapore was posthumously honoured with the Param Vir Chakra for his gallant action against the Pakistanis in the Shakargarh bulge. The Corps covered itself with glory again in the 1971 war with Pakistan wherein tanks were at the forefront of action in the Western and Eastern fronts. 2nd Lt Arun Khetarpal fought gallantly and made the supreme sacrifice in the battle of Basantar River earning his regiment, The Poona Horse, yet another Param Vir Chakra.

The corps contributes substantially to the anti insurgency operations at any given time. This includes service with the Rashtriya Rifles, Assam Rifles and other Para Military Forces. The corps is also doing its share for world peace by contributing a small contingent to the UN peace keeping mission in Lebanon.

 

[Gabbar]

India resumes Gorkha recruitment after two-year lull

Kathmandu, April 18 (IANS) After a lull of two years, India has resumed the recruitment of Nepalis for its Gorkha regiments after a full nod by the Maoist government that had in the past pledged to halt all hiring in the Indian and British armies.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood had met Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda earlier this year to discuss the recruitment issue.

After the former revolutionary leader assured the Indian envoy that his government would not stop the recruitment of Gorkhas - the hilly Nepali tribe famed for their courage and loyalty - the Indian Army set in motion recruitment processes in Dharan in eastern Nepal and Pokhara in central Nepal.

While the Indian Army, as a matter of policy, does not disclose how many men it recruits a year, there were over 13,000 applications. The initial two-month screening process ended last month.

Currently, there are about 27,000 Gorkhas in the Gorkha regiments of the Indian Army. The Assam Rifles, which in the past used to deploy Gorkhas as well, has now changed its recruitment procedures.

India halted recruitment in Nepal two years ago due to the political instability and doubts about the policy of the Maoists, who while campaigning for last year's elections had pledged to stop the 'shameful' hiring of Nepalis as 'mercenaries' in foreign armies.

However, after the Maoists won the elections and came to power last August, the former guerrillas softened their stand and said the recruitments would continue till a conducive atmosphere and ample job opportunities were created in Nepal to retain its outgoing young workforce.

The tremendous response to the Indian Army's call for soldiers is due to four primary reasons.

Unlike the British Army, which provides home leave once in three years, Nepalis serving in India across the border can return home in an hour to attend emergencies, weddings and other family reasons. They can also obtain good education for their children in India, which is difficult in Britain due to financial and other reasons.

The new pensions announced by India recently are extremely attractive. A Gorkha, who now retires as a captain in the Indian Army, would get Rs.14,000-15,000 (IRS) as pension, which is more than the money received by a major general in the Nepal Army.

But perhaps the biggest reason is that there is no discrimination in the Indian Army unlike in the British Army.

The pay, perks and pension are the same for Indians as well as Nepalis.