Russia says no to technology transfer for Smerch rockets

[Rahul9090]

New Delhi, July 16
The Army faces a peculiar situation in strengthening its offensive weaponry. While the Russians have backed out of providing technology transfer for rockets used in the Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), the Finance Ministry has refused to import the same rockets.

As of now, the Army is left with Smerch rockets for less than half-a-day in a battle. The Smrech, an effective domination weapon, is tasked with the three Strike Corps - head quartered at Ambala, Mathura and Bhopal, respectively. The Army has 62 such launchers, which move in squadrons with Strike Crops and have the capacity to hit targets at 70-80 km away, allowing the Infantry and tanks to move forward in case of an assault. These rockets can neutralise enemy troop concentrations, command posts, artillery and missile locations.

Sources said Russia had expressed reservation to meet Indian conditions to indigenise the production of rockets, allowing the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) to produce them here. In August 2012, an MoU was signed between the OFB and Russian companies — Rosoboronexport and Splav "SPA" to manufacture five versions of Smerch Rockets.

The Russian side has expressed reservations on allowing technology transfer. The worried Army moved a fresh case through the Ministry of Defence to import rockets. The Finance Ministry turned it down, saying that the original permission was given for local production and a fresh permission has to be sought for importing the rockets.

Sources said a fresh case had been taken up, but till then the Army had to wait for the rockets.

Each year, India displays the Smerch in the Republic Day parade to showcase its might. These have been acquired at a cost of Rs 2,600 crore. So far, rockets for the launchers are purchased from Russia.

India is so dependent on Russia that international think tank — the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)-— observed in its report in March 2014 that the major supplier of arms to India between 2009-13 was Russia — accounting for 75 per cent of Indian imports.




The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News

 

[Didact]

Russians have a habit of changing their positions vis-a-vis the Indian deals. No different this time around either. They could pretty much put a clause in the contract that their commitment(s) and/or agreements that the contract will be held hostage to their whims and make our lives easier.

But regardless of all that, this will backfire on the Russians big time. There are two primary reasons for this.

1. The IA/DRDO is already trialing the 60 km range Pinaka MKII rockets The IA already has some 54 Pinaka launchers and a production rate of around 5000 MKI rockets a year, with production expected to be increased once MKII rockets enter service.
It wouldn't take much to simply replace the Smerch at 62 launchers with Pinaka.

2. The 70-90 km range touted as the advantage for the Smerch is also a bit of a handicap for the unguided rockets. At that range you are rarely looking at target suppression or fire support for fighting formations, which is exactly the role the rocket artillery is expected to play.
You are looking at high value target destruction, for example key command and communication nodes and logistics bases or key bridges, targets where you'd rather use a single precision guided munitions than an unguided rocket salvo. A guided Prahaar would make a much better option IMHO, not to mention it too can be used in salvo mode.

 

[SwAggeR]

Russians have a habit of changing their positions vis-a-vis the Indian deals. No different this time around either. They could pretty much put a clause in the contract that their commitment(s) and/or agreements that the contract will be held hostage to their whims and make our lives easier.

But regardless of all that, this will backfire on the Russians big time. There are two primary reasons for this.

1. The IA/DRDO is already trialing the 60 km range Pinaka MKII rockets The IA already has some 54 Pinaka launchers and a production rate of around 5000 MKI rockets a year, with production expected to be increased once MKII rockets enter service.
It wouldn't take much to simply replace the Smerch at 62 launchers with Pinaka.

2. The 70-90 km range touted as the advantage for the Smerch is also a bit of a handicap for the unguided rockets. At that range you are rarely looking at target suppression or fire support for fighting formations, which is exactly the role the rocket artillery is expected to play.
You are looking at high value target destruction, for example key command and communication nodes and logistics bases or key bridges, targets where you'd rather use a single precision guided munitions than an unguided rocket salvo. A guided Prahaar would make a much better option IMHO, not to mention it too can be used in salvo mode.

Source for annual production of 5000 Pinaka rockets ??

Now , India needs to reverse engineer it as Ruskies are backing away from the contract.

 

[GURU DUTT]

well i guess its good in a sense we are not going to war tommorow and we have enof to use russian rockets as spearheads which will be folowed by pinaka and grad

we now need to dvelop better versions of pinaka and should take active help of owr primier sientifick research institutes and also rope in private players + have a better project mangement which produces results realli fast and take expert advice from israeli , french and american and russian experts

 

[Skull and Bones]

What happened to Prahar? There is always an option to develop a low cost version of guided munitions,

 

[OrionHunter]

Source for annual production of 5000 Pinaka rockets ??

Now , India needs to reverse engineer it as Ruskies are backing away from the contract.

Let's ask the Chinese to help us reverse engineer the rockets!!

 

[Didact]

Source for annual production of 5000 Pinaka rockets ??

Now , India needs to reverse engineer it as Ruskies are backing away from the contract.

The Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFAJ) is all set to enhance it's manufacturing capacity of Pinaka rockets from the present 1,000 rockets to 5,000 every year for the Indian Army. (March 20, 2012)

I can't post the sources as I don't have enough number of posts, but a simple google search will provide enough number of verifiable links.

 

[TopCat]

India need techonology? I thought they are vying form Mars.

 

[cirr]

Let's ask the Chinese to help us reverse engineer the rockets!!

China has much better rockets。

As a matter of fact，China mass-produces the best rockets and rocket launchers in the world。

China also produces a multitude of rockets to suit the needs of different customers，from the beggars to the super rich。

Go and ask for help。

 

[HariPrasad]

Russians have a habit of changing their positions vis-a-vis the Indian deals. No different this time around either. They could pretty much put a clause in the contract that their commitment(s) and/or agreements that the contract will be held hostage to their whims and make our lives easier.

But regardless of all that, this will backfire on the Russians big time. There are two primary reasons for this.

1. The IA/DRDO is already trialing the 60 km range Pinaka MKII rockets The IA already has some 54 Pinaka launchers and a production rate of around 5000 MKI rockets a year, with production expected to be increased once MKII rockets enter service.
It wouldn't take much to simply replace the Smerch at 62 launchers with Pinaka.

2. The 70-90 km range touted as the advantage for the Smerch is also a bit of a handicap for the unguided rockets. At that range you are rarely looking at target suppression or fire support for fighting formations, which is exactly the role the rocket artillery is expected to play.
You are looking at high value target destruction, for example key command and communication nodes and logistics bases or key bridges, targets where you'd rather use a single precision guided munitions than an unguided rocket salvo. A guided Prahaar would make a much better option IMHO, not to mention it too can be used in salvo mode.

Actually India had a plan to develop pinaka MK2 with 120 KM range. The specification of rockets were very impressive. Rocket will climb to 40 KM before hitting the target at 1.80 Mach speed. I do not know what happened to Plan. We should complete that MK2 .

Source for annual production of 5000 Pinaka rockets ??

Now , India needs to reverse engineer it as Ruskies are backing away from the contract.

Yes, 5000 rocket production was planned.

 

[cirr]

In so far as rocket launchers are concerned，we are in a position and ready to provide anything that you might ever desire：

Or this：

 

[HariPrasad]

China has much better rockets。

As a matter of fact，China mass-produces the best rockets and rocket launchers in the world。

China also produces a multitude of rockets to suit the needs of different customers，from the beggars to the super rich。

Go and ask for help。

China can not even produce best pencil cell forget about rocket launcher.

 

[cirr]

or this:

 

[indoPunjabi]

Screw Russia! It's high time MOD pump more cash in R&D to develop desi weapon systems.

 

[cirr]

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