lemurian
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BANGALORE: The worsening domestic security situation in the country has foreign defence contractors like Boeing, BAE Systems and EADS, rubbing their hands in anticipation.
Stung by the glaring deficiencies in the country's internal security apparatus, the government has announced plans of spending about $10 billion, over the next five to six years and completely overhaul and modernise the internal security arrangements. The vendors have already identified a gamut of opportunities in the space, ranging from cyber-security networks to precision munitions and urban-specific armoured transportation, all essential elements that are either depleted or missing from the country's weapons arsenal.
BAE Systems, one of the world's largest defence contractors, sees a number of business opportunities, relating to the country's nascent National Intelligence Grid (Natgrid) programmes.
"We have been talking to the ministry of home affairs a great deal on the grid programmes, and feel there is an obvious opportunity there," Guy Douglas, spokesman for BAE India, said. The Natgrid is a giant database of comprehensive intelligence reports, designed to collate information collected from phones and income tax records, along with airport and immigration details of individuals.
According to Mr Douglas, BAE's subsidiary Detica, which specialises in collecting, managing and exploiting information that could lead to actionable intelligence, could be harnessed for India's intelligence community.
"It is an expensive and complex system, but Detica has the advantage of working with the US and UK governments and their security agencies. They have the relevant experience," Mr Douglas added. US defence giant Boeing too, plans on getting into the intelligence gathering space in India, through its platform Visual Security Operations Control or VSOC.
"VSOC provides one view into many systems, to provide real-time threat recognition, analysis, collaboration and response co-ordination through a network of disparate systems," said Vivek Lall, vice president and country head, Boeing Defense Space & Security.
According to Mr Lall, VSOC's capabilities include homeland security requirements and force protection of commercial, civil, or military assets.
On the armaments side, there is a glaring need for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for both combat and reconnaissance purposes.
While the state-owned defence laboratory, the defence research and development organisation (DRDO), has tasted success in developing drones over the last few years, the foreign defence vendors have also now entered the fray.
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) is in talks with the government, to push its mini drone, Tracker, to meet the country's homeland security needs.
The deadly accuracy of the US drones in their Iraq and Afghanistan has had Indian defence hawks clamouring for their induction, taking into consideration their perceived impact on the Maoists, especially in the jungles of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
American defence major has also stepped into the UAV space. "We are providing the airframe for the UAV platform, called the Fire Scout. The Indian government has expressed an interest and a letter of request is going through the process right now," Sikorsky Aircraft's Anthony Moreland said. BAE, through its joint venture with the Mahindra Group, Defense land Systems India, is also targeting the armoured vehicle segment, with their offering, the Mine Protected Vehicle India, which they showcased at last year's Defence Expo.
"The vehicle has been specifically developed for India, and will be built here as well. We hope it will be sold to both the armed and the paramilitary forces,. We have already sold 6,000 vehicles of similar technology to the US and Canadian forces," said Mr Douglas. With a lucrative market on offer, defence vendors say they have identified the critical components and have highlighted the ill-preparedness of India's paramilitary forces, state police units and coast guard. They are all waiting to cash in.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Indias-worsening-security-situation-excites-global-defence-firms/articleshow/6320932.cms
Stung by the glaring deficiencies in the country's internal security apparatus, the government has announced plans of spending about $10 billion, over the next five to six years and completely overhaul and modernise the internal security arrangements. The vendors have already identified a gamut of opportunities in the space, ranging from cyber-security networks to precision munitions and urban-specific armoured transportation, all essential elements that are either depleted or missing from the country's weapons arsenal.
BAE Systems, one of the world's largest defence contractors, sees a number of business opportunities, relating to the country's nascent National Intelligence Grid (Natgrid) programmes.
"We have been talking to the ministry of home affairs a great deal on the grid programmes, and feel there is an obvious opportunity there," Guy Douglas, spokesman for BAE India, said. The Natgrid is a giant database of comprehensive intelligence reports, designed to collate information collected from phones and income tax records, along with airport and immigration details of individuals.
According to Mr Douglas, BAE's subsidiary Detica, which specialises in collecting, managing and exploiting information that could lead to actionable intelligence, could be harnessed for India's intelligence community.
"It is an expensive and complex system, but Detica has the advantage of working with the US and UK governments and their security agencies. They have the relevant experience," Mr Douglas added. US defence giant Boeing too, plans on getting into the intelligence gathering space in India, through its platform Visual Security Operations Control or VSOC.
"VSOC provides one view into many systems, to provide real-time threat recognition, analysis, collaboration and response co-ordination through a network of disparate systems," said Vivek Lall, vice president and country head, Boeing Defense Space & Security.
According to Mr Lall, VSOC's capabilities include homeland security requirements and force protection of commercial, civil, or military assets.
On the armaments side, there is a glaring need for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for both combat and reconnaissance purposes.
While the state-owned defence laboratory, the defence research and development organisation (DRDO), has tasted success in developing drones over the last few years, the foreign defence vendors have also now entered the fray.
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) is in talks with the government, to push its mini drone, Tracker, to meet the country's homeland security needs.
The deadly accuracy of the US drones in their Iraq and Afghanistan has had Indian defence hawks clamouring for their induction, taking into consideration their perceived impact on the Maoists, especially in the jungles of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
American defence major has also stepped into the UAV space. "We are providing the airframe for the UAV platform, called the Fire Scout. The Indian government has expressed an interest and a letter of request is going through the process right now," Sikorsky Aircraft's Anthony Moreland said. BAE, through its joint venture with the Mahindra Group, Defense land Systems India, is also targeting the armoured vehicle segment, with their offering, the Mine Protected Vehicle India, which they showcased at last year's Defence Expo.
"The vehicle has been specifically developed for India, and will be built here as well. We hope it will be sold to both the armed and the paramilitary forces,. We have already sold 6,000 vehicles of similar technology to the US and Canadian forces," said Mr Douglas. With a lucrative market on offer, defence vendors say they have identified the critical components and have highlighted the ill-preparedness of India's paramilitary forces, state police units and coast guard. They are all waiting to cash in.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Indias-worsening-security-situation-excites-global-defence-firms/articleshow/6320932.cms
No need to worry unnecessarily.. I am waiting for the GDP report for 2010-11 to see India acheive 8.5 to 8.75% growth for this year...!!!!!
