Ministry of Defense---Year End Review-2010

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Ministry of Defense---Year End Review-2010​

The Strategic Forces Command of the Integrated Defence Staff, which handles the country’s nuclear weapons assets, honed its skills with successful tests of the Agni missiles. Other major events included the starting of digging work for the ambitious Rohtang Tunnel, implementation of Joint Doctrines, fresh orders for the Defence PSUs, new acquisitions proposed by the Government, rescue and Relief in flash flood ravaged Ladakh and the good show by Services personnel during the Commonwealth Games.

Strategic Forces Command (SFC)

The SFC successfully test fired the Agni A2 Missile from Wheeler Island on 15th May. With this test the SFC carried out successful launch of all three versions of the Agni in three months. On 25th November the SFC launched the medium range Agni-I.

Border Roads Organisation

Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, National Advisory Council, laid the foundation stone of the 8.8 kms long Rohtang Tunnel at Manali on 28th June. Expected to be completed by 2015, the Tunnel will be a step towards making the Leh-Manali Highway an all-weather road. The Rohtang Tunnel is the 18th Project of the BRO, which celebrated its Golden Jubilee this year.

Manekshaw Centre

The Manekshaw Centre was inaugurated by the President and Supreme Commander Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil in New Delhi on 21st October. The Centre, spread over 25 acres and boasting of a state-of-the-art Convention Centre, came up at a cost of Rs.64 crores. The prestigious National Defence College, New Delhi celebrated its Golden Jubilee with a seminar at the Manekshaw Centre.

National Defence University

The Union Cabinet accorded in principle approval on 13th May to set up the Indian National Defence University in Gurgaon, Haryana. The National Defence College, New Delhi, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington are proposed to be brought under its ambit without dissolving their autonomy.

Joint Doctrines

Three Joint Doctrines, one for Sub-Conventional Operations, another for Electronic Warfare and the third for Maritime Air Operations, were promulgated on 9th February. These were aimed to prepare the Armed Forces for battle space as future wars would be fought also in cyberspace. The Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, released another two Joint Operational Doctrines, one for Perception Management and Psychological Operations and another for Air and Land Operations on 16th June.

DPSUs/Ordnance Factories

INS Chennai, the third indigenous destroyer, was launched by Smt. Elizabeth Antony, wife of Defence Minister Shri AK Antony, at Mazagon Docks Limited in Mumbai on 1st April. The 163 metres long warship, being built under Project 15 Alpha, will be equipped with indigenously developed twin tube torpedoes, rocket launchers and the Brahmos missiles. It is expected to be commissioned into the Navy in August, 2013.

An anti-submarine warfare corvette for the Indian Navy was also launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilder & Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata during the year.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) of the Ministry of Defence accepted a proposal for procurement of 42 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft from HAL at Rs.20,107.40 crores and the proposal was sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security. The Government also signed a contract with HAL on 23rd July for buying 57 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers, of which 17 will be for the Navy.

The Government transferred the ailing Hindustan Shipyard Ltd from the Ministry of Shipping to the Ministry of Defence, Department of Defence Production on 23rd February. The shipyard had run losses to the tune of over 987 crores at the end of 2008-09 financial year.

MoD proposals

The Government approved Rs.9,175.16 crores worth of nationwide dedicated and security exclusive Optical Fibre Cable network for the three Services.

The HAL entered into a pact with Russian agencies for joint development of the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) on 21st December.

The DAC approved procurement of 16 twin engine Light Helicopters in August and another 14 twin engine shore-based Helicopters for the Coast Guard later in November. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2014 and 2017.

The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with M/s Augusta Westland Ltd on 8th February for buying 12 AW-101 helicopters for VIP travel. These will replace the ageing Mi-8 at the end of their technical life.

The government also registered the National Institute for R&D in Defence Shipbuilding (NIRDESH) as an autonomous body with its headquarters in Kozikode, Kerala. A proposal for expansion of Brahmos Aerospace, Thiruvananthapuram was also approved.

Flood Rescue & Relief

Following a devastating cloudburst in Leh-Ladakh on the night of August 4-5, 2010, the Army deployed 41 columns to mount massive Rescue and Relief efforts. Over 30 kms of roads, both on the Leh-Kargil-Srinagar and Leh-Sarchu-Manali routes, were totally damaged in patches and another 20 kms lay blocked due to landslides. The Army provided two IMMARSAT sets for telecom as the BSNL network snapped following the flattening of its towers. The Army set up a Field Hospital as the Civil Hospital was swamped in slush. The runway at the Leh airport, which was covered with more than six inches of slush, was made operational in a day. The IAF undertook 60 sorties of the Cheetah helicopters from Zanskar Valley on 9th August, evacuating 90 of the 130 stranded people. Carrying out a herculean task, the IAF undertook 245 sorties in all from Chandigarh, Delhi and Pathankot, airlifting 378 tons of relief materials including JCBs, bulldozers and BSNL equipment and 828 passengers over the next few weeks. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored 17 of 21 bridges that were washed away in a fortnight. The flash floods killed 175, including 24 Army men while 11 were reported missing.
In July, the Army deployed two Columns in Haryana for flood relief on the Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal at Kurukshetra and repaired a 35-40 feet long breach. In September the Army deployed four columns in the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand and Western Uttar Pradesh. Nearly 140 civilians were rescued in Haridwar, Bijnore, Saharanpur, Moradabad and Rampur districts.

The Army also rendered Rescue and Relief efforts in Kupwara, J&K in July and Kaithal, Haryana. The Army also undertook Relief and Rescue efforts following a train mishap in Birbhum, West Bengal in July while the IAF flew in two Mi-17, one ALH and one Cheetah from Kalaikunda to West Midnapore after a train accident on 28th May. One AN-32 also carried a surgical team from Jorhat.The IAF also flew two IL-76 with humanitarian aid to Kyrgyzstan, hit by violence, in July.

DefExpo

The 6th DefExpo, the Land and Naval Systems exposition, was held in New Delhi from February 15-18, 2010. More than 650 companies, including 300 from 35 other countries, participated, compared to 450 in the last expo held in 2008. About 25 products were launched in the expo, the largest of its kind in Asia.
Commonwealth Games

Personnel of the Armed Forces won 25 medals including ten Gold, contributing more than 25 percent of India’s tally of 101 medals at the 19th Commonwealth Games, held in New Delhi from October 3-14, 2010. Fifty men from the three Services competed in ten events during the Games.

The Armed Forces also provided day-to-day management of the Queen’s Baton Relay on its 100-day run across the country, bands from the three Services performed during the Opening and Closing ceremonies, Flag Hoisting during medals presentation and the erection of a Bailey Bridge.
Welfare

The Union cabinet approved on 26th May a proposal for the expansion of ECHS scheme. Under the proposal 199 new Polyclinics including 17 Mobile facilities and 15 new Regional Centres are to be set up at a cost of Rs.141 crores, thus covering areas with Ex-Servicemen population of less than 2,500. These would be manned by an additional manpower of 2,263 on contractual basis and 315 serving personnel.

The Government also took a decision to improve the scale of rations to Army troops. Proposals include procurement of Branded Wheat Flour, Special Rations to Troops posted at altitudes more than 12,000 feet and bringing the fresh fruit quota for Personnel Below Officer Rank at par with the Commissioned Officers and hike in Condiment Allowance to take care of inflation and high prices in remote areas.

Visits and International Cooperation

Defence Minister Shri AK Antony visited the US and South Korea in September, Vietnam in October, Oman in May and Seychelles in July. In Vietnam Shri Antony attended the first ASEAN Plus Eight Defence Ministers’ Meeting where the Hanoi declaration was adopted. In South Korea two MoUs were signed on enhancing cooperation, exchange of delegations, training and joint exercise and another envisaging Joint R&D and development of futuristic defence technologies with the DRDO.

The Army chief General VK Singh paid a four-day visit to Vietnam in July, Australia in August and Tajikistan in November. The Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma visited Colombo for the 60th anniversary celebrations of Sri Lanka on 9th December, where INS Mysore and Tarangini also made port of call. The Director General Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anil Chopra visited Buenos Aires in June to attend the International Heads of Coast Guard Services Forum to mark the bicentennial anniversary celebrations of Prefectura Naval Argedver. He later visited Tokyo to participate in the 10th ICG-Japan Coast Guard high level meeting and witness combined exercise at Kobe.

The visiting dignitaries from abroad included the Russian Defence Minister Mr. AE Serdyukov for the 10th meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation in October, US Secretary of State Dr Robert Gates in January, General (Retd.) James Jones, NSA of the US, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, UK Secretary of State for Defence Mr. Liam Fox, French Chief of Defence Forces Admiral Edouard Guillard, Brazilian Defence Minister Mr. Nelson Jobin and Navy chief Admiral Julio Soares de Moura Neto, Japanese Defence Minister Mr. Toshimi Kitazawa, Bangladesh Army Chief General Md. Abdul Mubeen, Commander-in-Chief of the Israeli Navy Vice Admiral Elizer Marom and a six-member Korean delegation led by Yoon Huk Soo, Deputy Commissioner General, Korean Coast Guard (KCG) for the Fifth ICG-KCG high level meeting on 10th August.

The Indian Coast Guard on 10th August handed over to the Indian Navy a Dornier aircraft for deployment in Seychelles.

The International Music Festival, held in New Delhi in March, brought together Bands from the Armies of six nations, - UK, France, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, besides India.

Inquiry

At the directions of the Defence Minister the Army completed a Court of Inquiry into the Sukhna Land Scam. Six Officers were found blameworthy and four others censured. Shri Antony also ordered CBI probe into the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society Scam.


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DRDO

This was an excellent year for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas passing stages to finally take wings, unveiling of the Light Combat Helicopter and the Armed Version of ALH Dhruv and the Main Battle Tank Arjun finally getting bulk orders. The Government also initiated a long-awaited restructuring of the DRDO to make it leaner and give fillip to private sector participation.

First Flight of Light Combat Helicopter

The indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), powered by Shakti engines, undertook its inaugural flight on 29th March. It is laced with Forward Looking Infra Red Imaging Technology, Laser Range Finder facilities for target acquisition under all-weather conditions and data link for network centric operations. The 5.5 ton capacity helicopter is due to get its Initial Operational Clearance in December, 2011.

Armed Version of ALH Dhruv

The Armed Version of ALH Dhruv, ALH Weapons System Integrated, ALH-WSI, was developed by HAL and is presently undergoing integration trial for armament and electro-optical systems. It is equipped with Forward Looking Infra Red and Thermal Imaging Sights Interface, a 20 mm turret gun, 70 mm rocket pods, Anti-Tank Guided Missiles and Air-to-Air Missiles.

LCA Navy rolls out

The first LCA Navy, NP-I, rolled out from the hangars of HAL, Bangalore on 6th July, ready for the phase of Systems Integration Tests leading to Ground Runs and Taxi Trials with the first flight due to take place next year.

Kaveri crosses another milestone

The Kaveri engine, being developed by the GTRE for the LCA Tejas, was tested under simulated altitude and forward speed conditions in February, 2010. Another engine was integrated with the IL-76 at the Gromov Flight Research Institute, Moscow for the Kaveri engine’s maiden Ground and Flight tests on 3rd November. It marked another step towards obtaining certificate for flight operations for the indigenous fighter jet engine.

Interceptor Missile Tests

The DRDO conducted the fourth in a row successful test of the Interceptor Missile, in endo-atmospheric mode at an altitude of 15 kms, at the Interim Test Range (ITR), Chandipur in Orissa on 26th July.

Brahmos Vertical Launched, and in high degree manoeuvre

The Brahmos was successfully tested from the state-of-the-art Universal Vertical Launcher fitted on a moving warship, INS Ranvir, off Orissa coast. The Vertical Launcher will be fitted on three Project 15A Class of warships being built at MDL, Mumbai and three more on the Talwar Class ships being built at Kaliningrad, Russia.

The Brahmos Block-3+ Version was successfully tested this month from ITR, establishing the supersonic cruise missile’s mountain warfare capability with a new guidance system involving large scale manoeuvring, steep dive and precision strike.

NBC Recce Vehicles handed over to Army

The DRDO handed over four Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Recce Vehicles, based on the Armoured Personnel Carrier BMP-2, to the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army in December, thus completing an order of eight Limited Series Production (LSP). The Army has ordered another 16 NBC Recce Vehicles.

New Pilot Selections System

The DRDO signed an agreement in New Delhi this year with the IAF for series production of the Computerised Pilot Selection System. Developed by the Defence Institute of Psychological Research, New Delhi, it is a state-of-the-art embedded micro-controller-based system.

DRDO Restructuring

The Government approved the restructuring of DRDO on 13th May, following recommendations made by the Committee headed by Dr. P Rama Rao, former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology. Aimed at boosting Defence Research and encouraging the private sector to participate in the vast Defence Production and R&D efforts, the proposals envisage establishment of the Defence Technology Commission with the Defence Minister in chair likely to be functional in February, 2011, decentralization of DRDO management and merger of some DRDO laboratories.

The Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) will continue work with the LCA Tejas and the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) with the development of the Kaveri engine. The development of MBT Arjun Mark-2 and Akash Mark-2 Missiles will also continue. A new commercial arm of the DRDO is also proposed to be set up as a Private Limited Company with a seed capital of about Rs.2 crores.

Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force is poised to enter the big league soon with a slew of big ticket acquisitions slated to unfold in the next few years. The handing over of the first of the six C-130J-30 Super Hercules to the IAF by Lockheed Martin at a function in Marietta, Georgia on 16th December is a step towards that direction and its induction early next year would herald a new era in the IAF at the threshold of a new decade. During the year 2010 the IAF acquired a dedicated network AFNET, revived remote runways and expanded others and took part in various Joint Exercises and Peacekeeping Operations.

AFNET dedicated to the Nation

The state-of-the-art gigabyte digital information grid, the AFNET, was dedicated to the Nation by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony on 14th September. Managed by the Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), the network links all ground-based and airborne sensors, Air Defence Weapon Systems and Command and Control Nodes. The dedicated network also paves the way for the release of radio spectrum for civilian telecom use.

New airfields, expansion of ground assets

Air Chief Marshal PV Naik inaugurated a new IAF airfield at Phalodi in Rajasthan on 6th April. The airfield, located between Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, can host all types of aircrafts in the IAF’s inventory. A new parallel runway was added to the one existing at the Air Force Station, Gwalior later in the year, capable of operating all types of IAF aircrafts. On 26th June Shri Antony became the first Defence Minister to land at the Advanced Landing Ground (AGL), Nyoma. The airstrip is located at an altitude of 13,300 feet, close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

Vayushakti- Demonstrating Firepower

The IAF staged a massive day-and-night Fire Power Demonstration (FPD), Vayushakti-2010, at Pokharan on 28th February. More than a hundred aircraft participated, including the recently inducted AWACS, UAVs and midair refuellers. Television viewers across the country for the first time saw streaming videos of the direct hits, brought Live by onboard cameras mounted on UAVs.

Joint Exercises, Peace Keeping

An IAF contingent of 230 men flew to France for the Indo-French Joint Air Exercise Garuda, held at the Istres Air Base from 14th to 25th June. The IAF fielded six Su-30 MKI, the MKI version of the Sukhoi making its debut over the French skies, besides three IL-78 midair refuellers and one IL-76 heavy lift aircraft. Later in the year the 3rd Indo-UK Air Exercise, Indradhanush, was held at Kalaikunda, West Bengal from 18th October to 3rd November. While the RAF brought the Typhoons for the first time, the IAF pitched in with its frontline fighter jets, - Su-30 MKI, Mirage-2000 and Mig-27. Both sides also operated their respective AWACS and midair refueller aircraft.

As part of the Peacekeeping operations under the UN Flag, a contingent of 196 IAF personnel left for Sudan, supported by six Mi-17 utility helicopters on 13th January. On 15th July the IAF sent its fifth rotational contingent of UN Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF) comprising 285 personnel to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The IAF helicopter UN mission based in Bukavu, DRC undertook Casualty Evacuation Operations on 3rd July from Sange, the provincial capital, airlifting 32 people in 13 sorties, who were injured in a fire when a gasoline tanker overturned the day before, killing 230 and wounding 190.

Master Blaster IAF’s new brand ambassador

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar was conferred the Honorary rank of Group Captain at a ceremony in New Delhi on 3rd September and in the new year will join a galaxy of leaders in the country to have flown in the Sukhoi, such as former President Shri APJ Abdul Kalam and President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

Adventure Sports – Mission Seven Summit

A team of IAF mountaineers scaled Mt. Denali (6,194 mtrs) in Alaska in May, 2010. With Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa next on the list in 2011, the team is aiming for a record of scaling the highest peaks in various continents, - Asia, Australasia, North and South America, Europe and Africa.

IAF also plans to send an all-women expedition to Mt. Everest next year. As a prelude the team scaled Mt. Kamet (7,757m) and Mt. Abi Gamin (7,354m) in May this year.

Indian Navy

The nation woke up to the threat from the sea in the wake of the Mumbai attacks of November 2008. The Government has since initiated a slew of measures to beef up coastal security and in the year gone by the Indian Navy, besides the Coast Guard, witnessed much activity and expansion. The Mig-29K and the INS Shivalik were the biggest force multipliers in the Navy during the year gone by. A large number of warships were also launched, including the INS Tarkash stealth frigate in Russia and INS Shakti fleet tanker in Italy in the Indian Navy’s efforts to bolster its blue water capability. The Navy’s anti-piracy operations continued reaping dividends during the year gone by, making the sea lanes safer. Keeping up with India’s growing clout, the Navy was the foremost among the three arms in outreach, conducting exercises with foreign flotillas, the Naval ports hosting flagships of various friendly nations and the Indian warships visiting distant shores.

Augmenting Coastal Security

The Indian Navy, being the nodal agency for Coastal Security among all maritime stakeholders, established four Joint Operations Centres, - at Mumbai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam and Port Blair. Besides the Coast Guard and the state Marine Police, other agencies including the Customs, Intelligence Bureau and Ports Authorities are all networked with these centres. Also, each coastal district has been placed under an Area Operations Centre for coordinating coastal security activities.

The Navy conducted 26 coastal exercises during the year involving other agencies to achieve better synergy. In all 12 exercises were conducted on the West coast, ten on the East, two in Lakshadweep & Minicoy Islands and two in Andaman & Nicobar archipelago. Besides, 89 Awareness Campaigns were conducted throughout the year in a bid to involve the large fishing community into the coastal security matrix.

The Indian Navy also played a key role in obtaining approval of the National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security (NCSMCS), in April, 2010 for the National Maritime Domain awareness (MDA) Grid. The Navy later formulated a Detailed Project Report for implementing it as a project of national importance. When the common information grid would be created, it will synergise and enable effective sharing of maritime related information among all stakeholders, thereby leading to faster response by security agencies.

Anti-Piracy Operations

Indian Navy has deployed 23 ships by rotation in the piracy-infested Gulf of Aden since October 23, 2008. To date over 1,400 merchant vessels have been escorted safely, over 1200 of them from about 50 other countries, and 26 piracy attempts foiled. The Indian Navy is constantly engaged with other countries on capacity building and coordination in efforts aimed at keeping open one of the busiest shipping channels around the world and avoid choking of international trade, particularly Oil.

Inductions

Defence Minister Shri AK Antony inducted the air dominance fighter Mig-29K into the Indian Navy at INS Hansa, Vasco da Gama, Goa on 19th February. The 4+ Generation multirole fighter jet, equipped with Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and guided anti-ship Missiles and smart bombs, will eventually berth on the INS Vikramaditya, the Gorshkov aircraft carrier, when it is likely to be delivered in 2012.

Shri Antony also commissioned INS Shivalik, the first of three indigenously designed and built stealth frigates, at Mumbai on 29th April. Equipped with Combat Management System, CMS-17, manufactured by the Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited, Ghaziabad, the Shivalik class will be the mainstay frigates of the Navy’s fleet in the first half of the 21st century.

During the year two Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts were also commissioned, taking the total to eight of ten ordered.



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In the pipeline

Tarkash, the second of the three follow on Talwar class stealth frigates being built by Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia, was launched on 23rd June. The Tarkash will carry the Brahmos missile in vertical launch mode, giving it 360 degrees manoeuvrability. The warship, also equipped with SAM missiles, torpedoes and Russian built anti-submarine helicopter Kamov Ka-31, will join the Indian Navy’s fleet in the second half of 2011.

On 11th October the INS Shakti, second of the two Indian fleet tankers being built by Fincantieri, was launched at Genoa, Italy. The first, INS Deepak, is undergoing advanced sea trials before delivery to the Indian Navy.

On 1st April INS Chennai, the third ship of Project-15A, was launched at Defence shipyard Mazagon Docks, Mumbai. Armed with Brahmos, the new ships of the Project-15 class will pioneer the Indian Navy’s foray into sophisticated multifunction radar system.

During the year the Navy also obtained approval to induct six submarines under Project-75 India and four Landing Platform Dock (LPDs) ships under the ‘Buy and Make Indian’ clause. The Indian Navy also concluded a contract to buy four additional P-8Is, taking the total number of the US-origin maritime aircraft ordered to 12.

Joint Exercises and Other Naval Operations

Four Indian Naval warships, INS Mysore, Tabar, Ganga and Aditya, sailed for South Africa to participate in the 2nd IBSAMAR, the Joint Exercise of the Navies of India, Brazil and South Africa. They formed part of the 11 warships that held manoeuvres in waters off the coast of Durban from September 13-27, 2010.

The Indian Navy’s Western Fleet held the 14th Malabar Joint Exercise with the US Navy in the Arabian Sea, from 23rd April to 2nd May. One Los Angeles class nuclear-powered submarine formed part of the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet that took part in the exercise, envisaged under the India-US Framework for Maritime Security Cooperation to achieve interoperability, with the first such exercise held way back in 1992. The 7th Milan, biennial exercise of the Navies of Asia-Pacific littoral states, was held at Port Blair from August 3-8, 2010. Started in 1995, 12 countries participated this year, the highest number so far, including Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and delegations from New Zealand, Vietnam and Brunei. The 7th Konkan Joint Exercise with the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy was held from 26th July while the 20th SIMBEX annual bilateral exercise with the Singapore Navy was held in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal between April 3-16, 2010.

The Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet deployed Guided Missile Destroyers INS Rana and Ranjit, fleet tanker INS Jyoti and missile corvette INS Kulish to South East Asia. The ships undertook passage exercises with the Navies of Indonesia, Singapore and Australia.

Eight Marine Commandos including two Officers visited Mauritius from 17th May to 4th June, training 32 Special Forces personnel of the Mauritius National Coast Guard in operations including heliborne. Earlier four Marcos including an Officer trained 12 men of the Maldives National Defence Force commandos from April 15-26, 2010.

Indian Navy also executed Operation ‘Raasta Saaf’ (Pathfinder) on 10th August in the wake of containers falling off MV Chitra off Mumbai. The Escort Force surveyed the route and ensured safe passage for vessels.

Decommissioning

Two Foxtrot Class submarines, - INS Vela and Vagli, commissioned in 1973 and ’74 respectively, bid adieu during the year. The Vagli, decommissioned on 9th December after more than 36 years of service, was the last of the Foxtrot Class submarines operated by the Indian Navy. The last of the Seaward Defence Boats, T-58, was also decommissioned this year, in Chennai, rendering more than 25 years of service.

Adventure Sports – Solo Circumnavigation

‘Sagar Parikrama’, the first Indian solo circumnavigation, was completed when Commander Dilip Dhonde returned Mumbai on 19th May aboard the sailing boat INS Mhadei. Cdr Dhonde’s voyage began on August 19, 2009 and took him through 21,600 nautical miles, or 38,880 kms, around the world, during its 277 day odyssey, overcoming very often the rough sea. Cdr Dhonde’s feat can be appreciated by the fact that less than 300 people have succeeded in the attempt so far.

Indian Army

The Year 2010 marked a leap towards fulfilling the urgent need of the Army to bridge the shortfall in its Officers Cadre with the approval of the second Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Gaya in Bihar. Indigenization got a big boost as the Army decided to place an order for another 124 Main Battle Tanks MBT Arjun and conducted pre-induction trials of the 3,500 kms long Agni-3 ballistic missile. Also during the year a change of guard took place at the top with General VK Singh taking charge.

CCS nod to 2nd OTA at Gaya

In February, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) gave its nod for setting up an OTA at Gaya, the second in the country after Chennai, at an initial cost of Rupees 360 crores. Expected to start functioning by June next year, the Academy will groom 250 cadets initially and the number is expected to go up to 750 at its bloom. The step will go a long way in mitigating the shortage of officers in the one million strong Indian Army, which presently has around 36,000 Officers on roll as against a sanctioned strength of 47,000.

Army opts for 124 more MBT Arjuns

In a major thrust to the indigenization programme, the Army decided to place a fresh order for an additional 124 MBT Arjun Mark-2 tanks. This followed the success of the indigenous tank in the grueling desert trials in the first quarter of this year. The 124 tanks now being ordered are over and above the existing order of an equal number of MBT Arjun Mark-I placed with the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi.

Army tests Agni-3

In February the Army conducted the successful pre-induction test firing of the Agni-3. The 17-metres long marker pen shaped missile can carry a 1.5 ton nuclear payload to a distance in a radius of 3,500 kms. The missile achieved textbook precision, attaining a maximum altitude of 350 kms and withstood temperatures in the range of 3,000 degrees Celsius during its flight.

New Chief

General Vijay Kumar Singh took over charge as the 24th Chief of Army Staff on 31st March. Commissioned into the Rajput Regiment on June 14, 1970, General Singh participated in the 1971 Indo-Pak War and the IPKF Operations in Sri Lanka.
Joint Exercises, Peace Keeping

Joint exercises and UN missions

A Russian military contingent participated in the ten-day-long Indo-Russian Joint Exercise Indra-10 in the Kumaon Hills of Ranikhet, Uttarakhand in October. Earlier a contingent of the 16 Madras (Travancore) Regiment took part in the 10th edition of the Indo-US Joint Exercise Shatrujeet at Camp Pendelton, California. In October a 15-member contingent of the Botswana Defence Force participated in the Joint Exercise Milap in Dehra Dun. Seven men of the Corps of Engineers went to Cambodia to train the Royal Cambodia Armed Forces in demining, demolition and Counter-IED operations. During the three-week-long training 72 men were trained this year alone as part of the three-year-old programme.

On the flip side, an Indian Army camp in Congo operating under MONUSCO, the UN Mission at Kirumba base, came under an attack on 18th August by about 50-60 rebels, suspected to be of the Maymayi group. Three Indian Army personnel were martyred and seven wounded as the valiant men fought back the rebels. Later another attack by about 30-40 men of the same group at Rwindi was repulsed on 25th October.

CWG- Saviours in distress

When a bridge collapsed at the showpiece Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on the eve of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army stepped in at the eleventh hour, laying across a temporary Bailey bridge near the venue, and, as the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony later said, “Saved the day, really saved the day.”

The Army was also visible at all the venues throughout the 12-day ceremony, the tall and mustachioed armymen at the Flag Hoisting and Medal Distribution ceremonies winning applause with their immaculate turnout.

Adventure Sports – Base Jumping, first in the country

On 29th October, skydiver Lt. Colonel Satyendra Verma made a skydive from a height of 158 metres off the Pitampura TV Tower in Delhi. He thus became the first man to undertake a BASE (Building, Antenna, Spam (Bridge) or Earth Cliff) Jump in the country.

Indian Coast Guard

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is arguably the one Force that has seen the maximum expansion in capacity and capabilities. This year the government gave its nod to set up 14 new Coast Guard stations, five of them were commissioned during the year besides a Divisional Headquarter at Kavaratti in the Lakshadweep archipelago. The Coast Guard inducted seven vessels including an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) and a Pollution Control Vessel (PCV). The ICG also signed contract for acquisition of 12 Dornier Surveillance Aircraft on 30th March, four each to be delivered by the Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited every year beginning 2012. The Coast Guard also took delivery of six of the 17 Elta Radars under various stages of procurement. The installation of the first two Elta radar systems on the Dornier was completed this year, with the flight acceptance trials due to be undertaken next month.

New Coast Guard Stations

The Government approved setting up of 14 new Indian Coast Guard Stations (ICGS), - Pipavav and Mundra in Gujarat, Ratnagiri and Dahanu in Maharashtra, Minicoy and Androth in the Lakshadweep Islands, Karaikal (Tamil Nadu), Nizampatnam and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Gopalpur (Orissa), Kamorta and Mayabunder (A&N Islands) and Kolkata and Frazerganj (West Bengal). As many as 28 ICGS already exist across the country’s vast coastline. Two Coast Guard Air Stations have also been approved. The ICGS Hutbay in Andamans was commissioned on 28th January, ICGS Murud Janjira in Maharashtra on 30th September, Veraval in Gujarat on 2nd October and the Defence Minister Shri Antony commissioned ICGS Minicoy and inaugurated DHQ-12 at Kavaratti in Lakshadweep Islands on 24th December.

Acquisitions

The state-of-the-art new generation OPV, ICGS Vishwast was commissioned by Shri Antony at the Defence undertaking Goa Shipyard Limited on 17th March. ICGS Samudra Prahari, the first PCV of its kind in Southeast Asia, was commissioned in Mumbai on 9th October. Built by ABG Shipyard Limited, Surat, it carries the most advanced and sophisticated pollution response equipments to fight Oil Spills. The 95-meter-long ship can also embark a helicopter.

The ICG also acquired four of the 11 Interceptor Boats, C-146, C-147, C-148 and C-149, this year and inducted IC-117, based at Murud Janjira. Built by ABG Shipyard, Surat, this class of boats can attain speed of 45 knots and have an endurance of 500 nm.

Operations

In Coastal Surveillance patrolling during the year the Coast Guard apprehended 99 boats and 649 illegal fishermen for violating Indian territorial waters, as on 15th December. This includes 60 Myanmar poachers detained off the Andamans in less than a week, between 18th and 22nd September. On 26th December a ship carrying 16 Pakistanis and three Iraqi nationals was detained off the coast of Lakshadweep. The ICG also conducted the repatriation of 10 boats and 37 crew to Sri Lanka and 87 boats and 455 crew vice versa.

During the year the Coast Guard conducted 23 Coastal Security Exercises, 12 Coastal Security Operations, three anti-piracy operations, three Pollution Response Exercises and saved over 250 lives in 353 Search and Rescue (SAR) Missions and 252 SAR Air Sorties it undertook.

Joint Exercises and Other Naval Operations

ICGS Varuna visited Myanmar and Thailand, along with Indian Navy’s INS Tir, Krishana in February. The Varuna sailed again in October-November to Sri Lanka, Maldives and Seychelles for Training Squadron Deployment Exercise. Earlier the ICGS Samar visited Maldives and handed over an onboard ALH Dhruv to the Maldives National Defence Force on 21st April. In addition the newly inducted ICGS Vishwast participated in the 10th Joint Exercises of the Coast Guards of India and Japan off Kobe and made port of calls in the Philippines and South Korea on the way.

A four member ICG expert team led by Inspector General VSR Murthy visited Sri Lanka from November 9-15 for interaction with the Sri Lankan CG and discussed the development of a blue print for its expansion.
Indian Coast Guard ships provided Search and Rescue (SAR) cover to ‘Jewel of Muscat’, a traditional construction sailing vessel from Oman, on its voyage from Muscat to Singapore when it made the first port call at Kochi on 14th March. Underwater inspections were carried out before it sailed further on 10th April and the vessel was provided SAR coverage by the ICG throughout its stay in Indian territorial waters.


DPR


Chindits: MoD---Year End Review-2010

 

[ambidextrous]

huh....finally a nice year for Indian defence....
clearly a peek into the future of India - the superpower ...

 

[Kinetic]

2010 was the best year for Indian defence establishments so far and 2011 will be better. Many new..... PAK FA, LCH, Naval LCA, K-4, Agni-IIP, Brahmos Block-III+, Barak NG, Rustom-1, Aerostat etc.


1) We have started the year with first test flight of PAK FA
2) First test of K-4 SLBM
3) First test firing of the Agni-III by the Army
4) First flight of LCH
5) Roll out of LCA navy
6) First flight of LCA with radar and new configurations
7) First test firing of LR-SAM (Barak-NG)
8) First test firing of Brahmos Block III+ with mountain warfare capability and a new guidance system involving large scale manoeuvring, steep dive and precision strike.
9) First test of Rustom-1 medium altitude long endurance UAV
10) First test of Agni-IIP though failure but it had many new technologies including full composite stage, a new motor in its re-entry vehicle for better maneuverability and increased range, a flex nozzle in the second stage to avoid anti-ballistic missile defenses and an improved navigation system.
11) First Aerostat with electro optical, COMINT, ELINT and AEW radar payloads.

 

[angeldemon_007]

Important points from an article in IDR :

India pays dearly for poorly negotiated arms deals
1. three AWACS aircraft from Israel in March 2004-
These aircraft were earlier being sold to China for US $358 million but the deal had to be aborted under US pressure.
Subsequently, India agreed to buy them for US $1.1 billion–a whopping US $742 million more than the price agreed to by the Chinese.

2.Recently, Russia demanded enhanced inflation index for the Sukhoi deal. It also demanded that the rouble be compared with the euro and not with the dollar as agreed to in the original contract.

3.In the case of Gorshkov aircraft carrier, Russia has sought massive upward price revision. Apparently, India had failed to negotiate fool-proof agreements with clearly defined provisions. How else can such lacunae be explained?

In almost all contracts, imprecise and flawed provisions lead to multiple interpretations during the implementation stage. Invariably it is India that suffers as vendors exploit ambiguities in the contract language, especially with respect to delivery schedules, warranties, after sales support and penalties for default.

There is no free flow of information between the three Services. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in his report has pointed out instances when different services paid different prices for the same item from the same vendor.

 

[angeldemon_007]

Lets discuss some more these kind of achievements of MOD. I will start, plz do contribute.....

While Pakistan is getting 3 Type 214 with AIP in billion $. But MOD of defense instead of procuring 6 of these advanced subs in 2 billion $ insists on paying 11 billion $.

French company DCNS very obediently comes forward and says it will provide 6 Scorpene in 5 billion $ with AIP. Also the point to be noted is that Scorpene is not as advanced as Type 214 which will be equipped with Seimens AIP, one of the best in the world.

 

[angeldemon_007]

Russia recently selected French Mistral class for increasing its amphibious capability. It will purchase atleast 2 of such ships at 500 million $ per piece and will even get full TOT.

But Indian govt. insists on purchasing 4 of similar kind at 4 billion $. I am sure there point will be, they are paying for TOT.

Plz. join the discussion in highlighting MOD achievements....

 

[angeldemon_007]

Project 15 B, CCS nod for 4 more stealth destroyers for Rs 30000 crore.
That makes it ~$ 1.875 billion per ship. Do you guys know, in this much money we not only be able to develop the latest stealth destroyer but also be able to equip the latest AEGIS defense system on these destroyers.

But I am sure nothing like this is going to happen, govt. will develop them with indigenousness mediocre capability and publish it as there success.

I also believe US won't give us AEGIS unless we sign some agreement. Although there are some rumors about US offering some defense system to Indian Navy which is interpreted by media as AEGIS.