Indian Navy News & Discussions

[redpearl75]

Russia may offer strategic technologies

Russia may offer India strategic defence technologies to retain dominant position in the Indian crowded weapons market, said a Russian expert.

“Growing international competition for the Indian defence market will push Russia to expand its cooperation with India into new sectors where it has no rivals, such as strategic weapons and technologies,” said Konstantin Makienko of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST) ahead of the 10th session of the India-Russia intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation.

The IGC commission will meet in New Delhi on October 7 under co-chair of Defence Minister A. K. Antony and his Russian counterpart, Anatoly Serdyukov.

The Russian expert suggested that the two countries could diversify their defence ties into nuclear submarine technologies despite continuing international restrictions against India.

“India's de-facto joining of the nuclear club makes such restrictions rather pointless.”

In fact, Russia is already helping India acquire nuclear submarine capability. Next March, Russia will hand over an Akula-class attack submarine, Nerpa, to India on a 10-year lease.

Its design has been largely incorporated in India's first indigenously built nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, launched last year.

Cooperation in strategic weapons will be in line with Russia's long-time policy of offering India advanced defence technologies.

“Russia is interested in strengthening India's defence potential without any limitations,” said Mr. Makienko, adding Russia was not prepared to supply China high-end weapons systems that India received.

The fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), which India will build jointly with Russia, is one example of this policy.

“The FGFA programme will enable India to join the exclusive club of nations who have such weapon systems,” he said. “It will give India an overkill capability over China, not to mention Pakistan.”

The FGFA project marks a further shift in Indo-Russian defence ties from a buyer-seller relationship to joint design and construction of new weapons systems.

Top destination
In coming years India will remain number one destination for Russian defence sales, according to the Russian Centre for Analysis of International Weapons Trade (CAIWT). “In 2010-2013 India will account for 54.4 percent of Russian weapons exports estimated at over $15 billion,” the CAIWT said.

 

[CONNAN]

 

[Tejas-MkII]

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier’s nucleus ready - India - DNA

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier’s nucleus ready
Published: Thursday, Oct 7, 2010, 1:04 IST
By Suman Sharma | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA


The nucleus of Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), India’s first ship being built using the modular construction (block-building) method, is ready. The engine and diesel generator rooms and two of the 21 blocks of the 40,000-tonne vessel, designed by the navy’s directorate of naval design, have been completed.

The 260-metre-long and 60-metre-broad gas turbine ship will be powered by four American GE LM 2500 aviation engines which generate 80 MW, enough to attain speed in excess of 28 knots. The vessel, which is expected to be ready by 2013, will have six generators of three mega Watts each.

A source said the blocks being made separately will come up vertically till a certain length. After which a long flight deck, capable of operating Russian MiG-29K, Ka-31 and the indigenous naval light combat aircraft Tejas, will be laid on them.

The keel of the ship being manufactured by Cochin Shipyard was laid in February 2009 by the defence minister, after the government sanctioned its design and construction in January 2003. The vessel will have two take-off runways and a landing strip with three arrester wires. It will have the capacity to carry a maximum of 30 aircraft with sufficient hangars to house them.

IAC’s construction has been planned in two phases. The first phase covers work up to the first launch by the end of this year, while the second phase would cover all remaining work till its delivery for sea trials towards the end of 2013.

 

[CONNAN]

Indian Coast Guard To Double Assets, Manpower


http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?topicName=india&id=news/awx/2010/10/06/awx_10_06_2010_p0-259657.xml&headline=Indian%20Coast%20Guard%20To%20Double%20Assets,%20Manpower


By Anantha Krishnan M.
KOCHI, India

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) plans to double its assets and personnel gradually, with a proportional beefing up of infrastructure.

The ICG has formally commissioned a new station at Murud Janjira in Maharashtra. The station had been set up and activated in June 2010 as part of the strengthening of Joint Coastal Patrolling (JCP) off Gujarat and the Maharashtra coast.

Three stations funded by the Ministry of Home Affairs – Veraval (Gujarat), Dahanu (Maharashtra) and Murud Janjira (Maharashtra) – are part of the plan to strengthen close coastal surveillance to prevent smuggling of arms and explosives, as well as the infiltration of anti-national elements through the sea route.

The responsibility of coastal security from the shoreline through territorial waters was entrusted to the ICG in November 2008. “In addition, the director general [of the] Indian Coast Guard has been designated as the Commander Coastal Command, with the responsibility for overall coordination between various Central and State agencies in all matters relating to the coastal security,” an ICG source says. The ICG also is pursuing the enhancement of its surveillance capabilities.

The new ICG station at Murud Janjira will play a large role in joint coastal patrol — along with the police, customs and fisheries department — to thwart maritime security threats. Two more stations at Dahanu and Ratnagiri have been planned for establishment in Maharashtra by March 2011, sources say.

The envisaged Coast Guard Air Station at Ratnagiri will be the first full-fledged ICG air station in Maharashtra, and will play a crucial role in maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue along the Maharashtra coast.

The ICG recently conducted a coastal security exercise off Lakshadweep islands code named Neptune-II. The exercise saw active participation from the Indian army, Indian air force and other agencies involved in coastal security. A slew of measures are in the works as a result of lessons gleaned from the exercise. “Prominent among them are increasing surveillance of the uninhabited islands, positioning of air assets at Lakshadweep Islands, strict implementation of access control at the embarkation and disembarkation points, establishment of watchtowers and radar chains along the islands, acquisition and training on more boats for the police and measures to further strengthen civil aviation security,” a source says.

Indian Minister of State for Defense Pallam Raju told AVIATION WEEK in Bengaluru that the coastal security has been put on an all-time high alert. “We are ensuring that all loopholes on Indian coasts are plugged and the [upgrade plans are prioritized],” he says. “More teeth will be given to the ICG and surveillance radars will come at different points that would probe deep into the sea.”

 

[redpearl75]

Western India Shipyard Wins Rs. 72 crore Order for INS Sujata Repairs

2010-10-06 Western India Shipyard Ltd (WISL), today said that it has secured a major order to repair a naval vessel (INS Sujata) for around Rs 72-crore with an option of increase in the value of the contract up to 15 per cent. The time-frame to complete the order is 11-months, the company said in a press release issued here.

The current assignment is the largest-ever order bagged by WISL since its incorporation in 1992. WISL is also in an advanced stage of discussions with various large ship-owners such as Shipping Corporation of India, Dredging Corporation of India, Ambuja Cement, SIEM of Norway, Adani Shipping, Essar Shipping, Jindal Shipping, etc for entering into a long-term relationship, the release said.

The company's Director & CEO, Subhash Mutreja, said that "following the restructuring, the repair facility is operational in full capacity. The existing order from the Defence Ministry, which also happens to be the largest order ever placed by the defence to a private ship repair facility augurs the confidence in our capability. We are in touch with several other players and expect to have a robust order-book in the coming months."

 

[SpArK]

^^^

posted already in the previous page..

 

[CONNAN]

India to buy modern warships, maritime planes at $4.5 billion - People's Daily Online


India to buy modern warships, maritime planes at $4.5 billion


The Indian Navy will acquire four modern amphibious ships and four P-8I long range maritime patrol planes totally worth about 4.5 billion U.S. dollars, local media reported on Wednesday.

The acquisitions of the warships and planes were approved by the Defense Acquisition Council headed by Defense Minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday evening, reported the Press Trust of India, citing an official of the Defense Ministry.

The four amphibious warships will be made in India through license from a foreign country according to a technological co- operational agreement at a cost of about 3.5 billion U.S. dollars, while the four P-8Is will cost about one billion U.S. dollars, said the report.

Currently, the Indian Navy operates a small fleet of the amphibious vessels, including a large amphibious transport ship, some aging tank landing ships and other smaller vessels. The large amphibious transport ship was procured from the U.S. in January 2007, and is the second largest vessel with a full displacement of 17,000 tons in the Indian Navy.

It will be the largest procurement of the amphibious ships by the Indian Navy in recent years. As the four warships enter the service, they will enhance the coastal amphibious operational capabilities of the Indian Navy.

However, the Indian Navy has not disclosed the technological details of the four amphibious ships.

P-8I is a U.S. newly-developed maritime long range patrol plane with the world's most sophisticated anti-submarine systems. Besides, it is also capable of carrying out anti-surface and other missions with the missiles.

In January 2009, the Indian Navy signed an agreement with the U. S. to buy eight P-8I planes worth nearly 2.1 billion U.S. dollars, so as to replace the aging long range aerial reconnaissance fleet of eight Russia-made Tu-142s and five IL-38 planes.

Within next ten years, the Indian Navy will operate 12 modern P- 8I planes, which will become the largest aerial fleet of the modern long range patrol planes over the Indian Ocean.

 

[SpArK]

 

[CONNAN]

Indian Navy, Coast Guard to be Aided by Satellite based Coastal Security System
Indian Navy, Coast Guard to be Aided by Satellite based Coastal Security System | India Defence

2010-10-08 The Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Telemetry Tracking and Command Network is developing a satellite based detection system for coastal security. These measures are now being initiated following the 2008 terrorist attacks in which terrorists entered Mumbai through the sea route.

The system will enhance the maritime surveillance plans of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. Aviation Week quotes anonymous sources:
"AT PRESENT THE ICG IS EQUIPPED WITH TECHNOLOGY TO TRACE VESSELS WHICH ARE OVER 20 METERS [66 FT.] IN LENGTH. THE NEW RADAR WILL TAKE THE SURVEILLANCE TO VESSELS BELOW 20 METERS, WHICH IS VERY CRUCIAL. GENERALLY SMALL BOATS POSE BIGGER THREATS."

The new facility will be tested by the Tri-Service Command at Andaman with the help of ISRO's ground station.
"THE COASTAL SECURITY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PRIMARY CONCERNS OF INDIAN SECURITY AND DEFENSE OFFICIALS POST-[MUMBAI ATTACKS]. THE LACK OF [NEW] SYSTEMS HAS [BEEN] SEEN AS A SERIOUS LAPSE BY THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT ... NOW, WITH ISRO STEPPING IN, IT WILL ADD MORE TEETH TO INDIA'S MARITIME SECURITY PLANS. BANGALORE-BASED BHARAT ELECTRONICS LTD. ALSO IS DEVELOPING NEW RADARS THAT WILL BE INSTALLED IN VARIOUS COASTAL LINES. USER TRIALS ARE OVER AND THE PROJECT HAS NOW ENTERED THE EXECUTION STAGE."

At present, Coast Guard vessels communicate with VHF transmitters. The new satellite-based system will enable the Coast Guard and the Navy to track vessels accurately and locate the ones that are not registered.

 

[RPK]

The Motorship - Caterpillar to power Indian patrol vessels

Caterpillar Marine Power Systems is to supply the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) with 72 propulsion engines and gensets to power 36 interceptor boats.

The Cat 3516C marine propulsion engines each have an output of 2,525kW @ 1800 rpm while the C4.4 auxiliary gensets will deliver 86 ekW @ 1500 rpm. The 36 new patrol boats will be built by Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), Mumbai and will be constructed with an aluminium alloy hull and feature water jet propulsion.

The engines and generator sets will be delivered over the course of three years, with the project scheduled to conclude in late 2013. The L & T Ship Design Center in Mumbai utilized the 3516C engine for much of the design work and finalized the decision to use Cat engines once the tank test was completed.

In recent years, the Indian government has committed to strengthening the resources in the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. In early 2010, L&T won a contract to design and build patrol boats for the ICG. Construction will be completed at L&T shipyards in Hazira and Katupalli.

 

[redpearl75]

Andaman Command Key To Checkmate China Strategy

India’s Tri-Service Command is gradually increasing its assets in order to monitor Chinese strategy in the region.

The command is situated in Andaman and Car Nicobar Islands with Port Blair as its headquarters. Officials from the Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC), confirmed that India is keeping a close watch on the activities of China and other countries in the region.

Though the officials stuck to a pre-planned brief on the sensitive China queries, it was clear the strategically located ANC keeps its antennas up round-the-clock to ensure that the region is well-guarded against external challenges.

”We are looking at developing assets along the islands in the next five years,” ANC chief Adm. D.K. Joshi told AVIATION WEEK. “We are at handshaking distance from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. No other region has such a contiguous borderline.”

Through its “String of Pearls” strategy, China has signaled its intentions in the Malacca Strait by boosting its efforts to build ports in Hambantota (Sri Lanka) and Gwadar (Pakistan). “The Malacca Strait in the Indian Ocean is pivotal for uninterrupted oil and power supplies from the Gulf to China. We are gearing up to modernize our installations and infrastructure in Andaman,” Joshi said.

The “String of Pearls” term was coined in a 2003 Booz Allen consultancy report to the Pentagon elaborating China’s designs to gain command in the Indian Ocean. The ANC, set-up in 2001, has had its share of teething problems. It marked the first time that such a unique experiment was undertaken by India. An official close to the situation notes that because the three services have their own distinct way of doing things it took some time for all pieces to fall in place.

---------- Post added at 01:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:50 PM ----------

 

[SpArK]

Indian Naval Chief begins visit to Israel​

TEL AVIV (PTI): India's Naval Chief Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma heading a high-level delegation began a four day visit to Israel, as New Delhi and Tel Aviv are poised to start joint development and production of futuristic weapon systems and platforms.

Defence sources here described the visit a part of "service to service cooperation" during which wide ranging defence cooperation between the countries will be reviewed.

Verma, invited by his Israeli counterpart Eliezer Marom, will also call upon Defence Minister Ehud Barak, Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and other senior defence officials during his four day trip.

He will visit the Haifa cemetery Tuesday to lay a wreath on the memorial of fallen Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the liberation of Haifa during World War I.

A large number of Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives in this region during the First World War and nearly 900 are cremated or buried in cemeteries across Israel.

A unique ceremony commemorating the sacrifice of Indian soldiers was observed this year on September 22 as part of the Haifa Day celebrations.

The Indian army commemorates September 23rd every year as Haifa Day, to pay its respects to the two brave Indian Cavalry Regiments that helped liberate the city in 1918 following a dashing cavalry action by the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade.

In the autumn of that year, the Brigade was a part of the Allied Forces sweeping northwards through Palestine in what is seen as the last great cavalry campaign in history.

"No more remarkable cavalry action of its scale was fought in the whole course of the campaign. Machine gun bullets over and over again failed to stop the galloping horses even though many of them succumbed afterwards to their injuries", is how the Official History of the War (Military operation Egypt and Palestine: volume 2) describes the Indian troops bravery.

Captain Aman Singh Bahadur and Dafadar Jor Singh were awarded the Indian Order of Merit (IOM) and Captain Anop Singh and 2nd Lt Sagat Singh were awarded the Military Cross (MC) as recognition for their bravery in this battle.

Major Dalpat Singh (MC) is known in the annals of history as the Hero of Haifa for his critical role in the Liberation of the city.

India and Israel are said to be recently discussing the prospect of further expanding defence relationship with strategic implications.

The volume of defence business between the two countries can be gauged from the fact that Israel has already supplied Barak missiles to the navy, night fighting devices to the Army and the Air Force and improved the radar network of the Indian Air Forces supplying hitech electronic warfare systems and information technology.

The first of the three Phalcon airborne early warning radar systems (AWACS) supplied by Israel as part of a 1.1 billion USDs deal has given a big boost to India's reconnaissance capabilities.

As per local sources, India is Israel's single largest importer of its defence equipment constituting about 50 per cent of Israel's defence exports and about 30 per cent of India's imports.

India has also sought to replace weapons procurement from Israel with joint development projects, including potential sale of the jointly manufactured defence equipments to other countries.

Indian Naval Chief begins visit to Israel :: Brahmand.com

 

[redpearl75]

Naval Auxiliary Craft Ambuda Inducted into Southern Naval Command Naval Ship Repair Yard

2010-10-11 A 930 tonne Naval Auxiliary Craft Ambuda was inducted into the Southern Naval command's Naval Ship Repair Yard today. The induction ceremony was conducted by Commodore Ajay Kumar Sinha, Chief Staff Officer (Technical), Southern Naval Command at the Naval base.

The vessel operated by a crew of 19 was 50 m long and is fitted with two engines, a Naval press release said. The sea going barge, capable of speed up to 12 knots was named after the previous Auxiliar which served the Indian Navy for over 40 years and de-inducted in February 2007. Ambuda, has a capacity of 500 T fresh water and capable of serving Navy's warships at anchorage outside the harbour and elsewhere to ensure quick operational turnaround.

It was equipped with all essential and latest communication and navigation equipment and also carries a Rigid Inflatable Boat. The vessel complies with the standards of India Register of Shipping and Intentional Maritime Organization for vessels of similar class, the release said.

 

[marcos98]

Indian Navy's 2nd Italian Fleet Tanker 'Shakti' Launched​

Sestre Ponente Shipyard of Fincantieri, has launched the second of the two Indian Fleet Tankers - christened Shakti (strength) at a ceremony in Genoa, Italy on 11 Oct 2010.

Shakti was launched with the recitation of Vedic hymns by the Warship Production Superintendent in Italy and breaking of coconut by Mrs Homai Saha, Wife of His Excellency Shri Debabrata Saha, the Indian Ambassador in Rome, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion. In accordance with the Italian tradition, a bottle of champagne was also broken at the ship's bow by the 'God Mother' Mrs Homai Saha. The Controller Warship Production and Acquisition of Indian Navy, Vice Admiral NN Kumar along with senior Italian Navy, Indian Navy and MOD officials were present at the launching ceremony.

Deepak was the first of the two Fleet Tankers to be designed and built in Italy and is in advanced stage of trials and delivery to Indian Navy. The second Fleet Tanker Shakti is being constructed at the Sestre Ponente shipyard of Fincantieri, Italy using many modern and state-of-the-art ship construction methods and concepts with advanced outfitting to deliver the ship, in a challenging time frame of two years.

The Fleet Tankers will be the first warships in Indian waters made by Fincantieri , the premiere shipbuilder in Europe. The ships are in double hull configuration that provides greater safety against accidental oil spillages in accordance with latest MARPOL regulations. The first Fleet Tanker is scheduled for delivery in end 2010 in India, post completion of trials in Italy.

The trials of 'Shakti' will start in Dec 2010, and delivery of the ship and commissioning is scheduled in India in mid 2011, post trials in Italy.

Livefist - The Best of Indian Defence: Indian Navy's 2nd Italian Fleet Tanker 'Shakti' Launched

 

[SpArK]

Private shipyards eye defence production entry​

Oct 13, 2010 (Mint - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Private shipyards in the country such as ABG Shipyard Ltd, Bharati Shipyard Ltd and Pipavav Shipyard Ltd are looking at building high-end defence vessels for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard amid a slump in their traditional business and as the government plans to invest '50,000 crore over the next five-seven years to acquire such equipment.

India's largest engineering and construction firm Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T) has started preparing the capability to build defence warships and para-military vessels at its Kattupalli shipyard in Tamil Nadu.

The navy recently recommended engaging private yards to build high-end warships, now a monopoly of state-owned Cochin Shipyard Ltd, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, Goa Shipyard Ltd and Mazagon Dock Ltd.

Bharati Shipyard, the country's second largest ship maker, plans to build submarines, warships, frigates and auxiliary vessels.

The largest, ABG, also plans to bid for the defence contracts. Pipavav Shipyard is also positioning itself as a defence contractor and has hired former Cochin Shipyard chairman and managing director M. Jitendran.

Prakash C. Kapoor, Bharati Shipyard managing director, confirmed the development. "The policy is not yet clear, but we will be readying ourselves for building bigger defence ships," Kapoor said.

A senior executive at ABG Shipyard said his company is keen on defence opportunities. In an earlier interview, Pipavav Shipyard's chairman Nikhil Gandhi endorsed similar views.

According to Kapoor, entering the defence segment will help derisk its portfolio. Analysts agree but are sceptical about the navy allowing private yards to build high-end vessels.

Domestic brokerage ICICI Securities Ltd said in a 29 September report by Bharat Chhoda and Jehangir Master that the shipbuilding business has been hit by the weakness in freight rates.

Shipyards globally have reported a shrinking of order books, with no fresh ones being placed.

"Shipbuilding companies would continue to report satisfactory results over the next couple of years as order execution picks up pace and deliveries continue," the report said.

"We expect the performance of shipyards to peak in calendar year 2011. After this, it is expected to remain muted for a few years as utilization levels drop, leading to subdued earnings for most shipyards," the report added.

The ICICI report said ABG Shipyard has a sizeable order book (pending execution) which is 4.5 times its fiscal 2010 revenue while Bharati Shipyard's order book (pending execution) is 1.9 times its fiscal 2010 revenue.

The execution of the orders will provide stable revenue over at least the next two years and one year to ABG Shipyard and Bharati Shipyard, respectively.

However, beyond that, earnings are likely to be subdued for a few years, the report cautioned. The report said Bharati and ABG have failed to win new build orders of a significant size in the last one-and-a-half years.

Private shipyards eye defence production entry | TradingMarkets.com