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Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread
Looks the relationship might be turning to the worst.
Russia plays spoilsport in T-90S tank deal
16 Feb 2008, 0001 hrs IST,Rajat Pandit,TNN
NEW DELHI: As if the huge cost escalations and time overruns in several defence projects was not enough, Russia is now putting some roadblocks in India's plan to indigenously manufacture 1,000 T-90S main-battle tanks.
Russia is refusing transfer of technology (ToT) in a couple of critical areas - like the metallurgy for gun barrels, ordnance and armour plates - for the manufacture of T-90S tanks at the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi.
India, on its part, has taken up the matter with the Russian government.
"The Russians say the ToT in the two areas is restricted by their laws. While we are asking them to give it, we are also developing our own metallurgy for gun barrels and armour plates," said Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) chairman Sudipta Gosh on Friday.
Wrangling over the delay in ToT apart, OFB seems quite confident of soon achieving the planned production target of 100 T-90S tanks per year.
"This year, we will hand over five indigenously produced T-90S tanks to the Army, followed by 50 next year and probably 100 the year after that," said Ghosh.
It's not as if Russia has not minted money on the huge T-90S contracts. Having already imported 310 T-90S tanks for over Rs 3,625 crore under a February 2001 contract, India signed another big contract for importing another 347 tanks with Russia in November last year for around Rs 4,900 crore.
These 657 tanks are in addition to the plan for licensed manufacture of the 1,000 tanks at Avadi under ToT. Overall, the Army wants around 3,800 potent tanks for the requisite 'speed and shock effect' on the western front with Pakistan.
The 1,657 T-90S 'Bhisma' tanks - 310 of them have already been inducted in the Army's 2 (Ambala) and 21 (Bhopal) 'strike' corps - will constitute the core of the self-contained and highly-mobile 'battle groups' for blitzkrieg thrusts across the border.
The rest of the armoured strength will be made up by upgraded T-72 M1 'Ajeya' tanks, the main backbone of India's armoured might, apart of course from 124 indigenous 'Arjun' tanks. The 1,657 T-90S tanks will gradually replace the older T-55 and T-72 tanks being phased out.
With both conventional armour-plating and 'explosive reactive armour', the T-90S tanks can fire a wide array of missiles and laser-guided weapons. The tank in themselves are quite potent but that cannot detract from the fact that there is now a distinct 'chill' in the defence relationship with Russia.
Looks the relationship might be turning to the worst.
Russia plays spoilsport in T-90S tank deal
16 Feb 2008, 0001 hrs IST,Rajat Pandit,TNN
NEW DELHI: As if the huge cost escalations and time overruns in several defence projects was not enough, Russia is now putting some roadblocks in India's plan to indigenously manufacture 1,000 T-90S main-battle tanks.
Russia is refusing transfer of technology (ToT) in a couple of critical areas - like the metallurgy for gun barrels, ordnance and armour plates - for the manufacture of T-90S tanks at the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi.
India, on its part, has taken up the matter with the Russian government.
"The Russians say the ToT in the two areas is restricted by their laws. While we are asking them to give it, we are also developing our own metallurgy for gun barrels and armour plates," said Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) chairman Sudipta Gosh on Friday.
Wrangling over the delay in ToT apart, OFB seems quite confident of soon achieving the planned production target of 100 T-90S tanks per year.
"This year, we will hand over five indigenously produced T-90S tanks to the Army, followed by 50 next year and probably 100 the year after that," said Ghosh.
It's not as if Russia has not minted money on the huge T-90S contracts. Having already imported 310 T-90S tanks for over Rs 3,625 crore under a February 2001 contract, India signed another big contract for importing another 347 tanks with Russia in November last year for around Rs 4,900 crore.
These 657 tanks are in addition to the plan for licensed manufacture of the 1,000 tanks at Avadi under ToT. Overall, the Army wants around 3,800 potent tanks for the requisite 'speed and shock effect' on the western front with Pakistan.
The 1,657 T-90S 'Bhisma' tanks - 310 of them have already been inducted in the Army's 2 (Ambala) and 21 (Bhopal) 'strike' corps - will constitute the core of the self-contained and highly-mobile 'battle groups' for blitzkrieg thrusts across the border.
The rest of the armoured strength will be made up by upgraded T-72 M1 'Ajeya' tanks, the main backbone of India's armoured might, apart of course from 124 indigenous 'Arjun' tanks. The 1,657 T-90S tanks will gradually replace the older T-55 and T-72 tanks being phased out.
With both conventional armour-plating and 'explosive reactive armour', the T-90S tanks can fire a wide array of missiles and laser-guided weapons. The tank in themselves are quite potent but that cannot detract from the fact that there is now a distinct 'chill' in the defence relationship with Russia.
Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread
So India turns to France.
Thales again bags Indian Army's order for thermal imagers
Submitted by Tarique on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 18:00. India News
By IANS
New Delhi : French defence major Thales has received a repeat order for 400 thermal imagers for the Indian Army's T-90 main battle tank (MBT) taking to 1,000 the number of such devices it will supply to the Russian builder of the vehicle.
"The deal was signed 10 days ago," Francois Dupont, corporate country director of Thales India Private Ltd, announced Saturday on the sidelines of the ongoing DEFEXPO-2008 international defence exposition.
"Certification of the Catherine FC (thermal imagers) by (Russian defence equipment company) Rosoboronexport and the creation of Thales India Private Ltd as a local maintenance facility were decisive factors in this success," Dupont added.
"This growing relationship places Thales as the main partner pf the Russian industry within the optronics field," the official maintained.
According to Dupont, the deployment of the Catherine FC on the T-90 "is the result of close cooperation and highly complementary industry know-how of the two partners".
"We're proud to have the opportunity to work with such a demanding customer as the Indian Army," said Francois Hubert-Habart, sales director for Asia for Thales' land and joint systems.
"Cooperation between us is excellent. The difficulties we encountered at the outset were quickly resolved by getting the right structure in place - particularly a maintenance facility in India that guarantees extremely fast and efficient service.
"This new facility is also a prime illustration of or commitment to develop a growing long-term relationship with the Indian Army," Hubert-Habart added.
In operational service with more than 10 countries around the world, the Catherine FC incorporates a long-wave infrared detector (LWI) that is a proven solution for the battlefield environment.
This technology provides an effective day/night vision capability and can also see through dust, rain and smoke while remaining largely impervious to the dazzling effects of sunlight and explosions.
For this reason, virtually all tank fire control systems in use today use LWI sensors.
Globally, Thales employs 22,000 R&D engineers out of a total workforce of 68,000 employees in 50 countries with 2007 revenues forecast in excess of 12 billion euros.
So India turns to France.
Thales again bags Indian Army's order for thermal imagers
Submitted by Tarique on Sat, 02/16/2008 - 18:00. India News
By IANS
New Delhi : French defence major Thales has received a repeat order for 400 thermal imagers for the Indian Army's T-90 main battle tank (MBT) taking to 1,000 the number of such devices it will supply to the Russian builder of the vehicle.
"The deal was signed 10 days ago," Francois Dupont, corporate country director of Thales India Private Ltd, announced Saturday on the sidelines of the ongoing DEFEXPO-2008 international defence exposition.
"Certification of the Catherine FC (thermal imagers) by (Russian defence equipment company) Rosoboronexport and the creation of Thales India Private Ltd as a local maintenance facility were decisive factors in this success," Dupont added.
"This growing relationship places Thales as the main partner pf the Russian industry within the optronics field," the official maintained.
According to Dupont, the deployment of the Catherine FC on the T-90 "is the result of close cooperation and highly complementary industry know-how of the two partners".
"We're proud to have the opportunity to work with such a demanding customer as the Indian Army," said Francois Hubert-Habart, sales director for Asia for Thales' land and joint systems.
"Cooperation between us is excellent. The difficulties we encountered at the outset were quickly resolved by getting the right structure in place - particularly a maintenance facility in India that guarantees extremely fast and efficient service.
"This new facility is also a prime illustration of or commitment to develop a growing long-term relationship with the Indian Army," Hubert-Habart added.
In operational service with more than 10 countries around the world, the Catherine FC incorporates a long-wave infrared detector (LWI) that is a proven solution for the battlefield environment.
This technology provides an effective day/night vision capability and can also see through dust, rain and smoke while remaining largely impervious to the dazzling effects of sunlight and explosions.
For this reason, virtually all tank fire control systems in use today use LWI sensors.
Globally, Thales employs 22,000 R&D engineers out of a total workforce of 68,000 employees in 50 countries with 2007 revenues forecast in excess of 12 billion euros.
Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread
Do the Russians really think they can get away with treating all of its big clients like this? They are letting all their recent sales to Algeria and Venezuela get to their heads. It's astonishing countries like Indonesia and Greece are still falling into this trap.
Do the Russians really think they can get away with treating all of its big clients like this? They are letting all their recent sales to Algeria and Venezuela get to their heads. It's astonishing countries like Indonesia and Greece are still falling into this trap.
Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread
There is suggestive intended disinformation with that drawing. Disinformation is not something new, the best recent case is with the Borei class. There is this picture allegedly of the Borei class with a hump back and skewed prop. The pics of the Borei in its launching showed the tail shrouded with what seems to be a pump jet instead. Also a pic in a Russian website showing the Borei class under construction showed no humpback.
On the ATV, the reactor output of 80mw is rather too low, even for a sub with a surface displacement of 6000mt. To put that in comparison, the Han class has a reactor output of 90mw with a surface displacement of 5500mt.
The second is that the crew of 100 seems rather large. The Akula class, a much bigger sub, had a crew of 62, and remember the IN plans to lease the Akula II under construction to train crews for the ATV.
The third is the blimp shaped TAS. The Russians discarded the blimp shaped TAS that was used in the Victor IIIs and Akula 1s with a much slimmer designs for the Typhoon and Akula II class.
There is suggestive intended disinformation with that drawing. Disinformation is not something new, the best recent case is with the Borei class. There is this picture allegedly of the Borei class with a hump back and skewed prop. The pics of the Borei in its launching showed the tail shrouded with what seems to be a pump jet instead. Also a pic in a Russian website showing the Borei class under construction showed no humpback.
On the ATV, the reactor output of 80mw is rather too low, even for a sub with a surface displacement of 6000mt. To put that in comparison, the Han class has a reactor output of 90mw with a surface displacement of 5500mt.
The second is that the crew of 100 seems rather large. The Akula class, a much bigger sub, had a crew of 62, and remember the IN plans to lease the Akula II under construction to train crews for the ATV.
The third is the blimp shaped TAS. The Russians discarded the blimp shaped TAS that was used in the Victor IIIs and Akula 1s with a much slimmer designs for the Typhoon and Akula II class.
Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread
Technical Specification for Overhaul of "Admiral Gorshkov" Has not Changed: It Will Be Intended for Russian MiGs
The possibility of using American fighters on it has not been provided for within the framework of the upgrade and reequipping of the former Russian "Admiral Gorshkov" heavy aircraft carrying cruiser, which is being obtained by the Indian Navy and renamed to "Vikramaaditya" ((in Latin letters.))
"We have not received any changes in the technical specification, we have specifications for the MiG-29K. Insomuch as we know, the Indians, it is possible, intend to use the English Sea Harrier (vertical takeoff) on this ship besides our airplane," representative of a FGUP PO Sevmash, at whose wharf the upgrade of the "Admiral Gorshkov" is taking place, told Interfax on Thursday.
The media had reported earlier that the Indian side is investigating a variant for equipping the Vikramaaditya with American F-18 Super Hornets, and already had requests the study of such a possibility at the Boeing company.
"Even if the Indian navy has a similar initiative, it hardly is for the "Gorshkov." The American airplanes takeoff using a steam catapult, which we don't have on the ships we manufacture: we use a ski-jump and short takeoff and landing airplanes - the MiG-29K," he explained.
At the same time, the source proposed that the Indians, it is possible, are examining the possibility of purchasing American airplanes for their own first aircraft carrier which they are building at the own dock in Kochina.
Earlier, the Indian navy chief of staff, Admiral Surish Mehta, announced that deliveries of the Russian ship-based MiG-29K fighters which are intended for the "Admiral Gorshkov" aircraft carrier purchased by India will begin in May 2008.
At the same time he emphasized that fulfillment of the contract is somewhat delayed.
The contract for the delivery to India of 16 ship-based MiG-29K/KUB fighters (12 combat and 4 combat-training airplanes), and also the unique full hardware for training flying and maintenance personnel, including simulators and interactive ground and sea based training systems, was signed in January 2004. The total of the contract is more than 700 million dollars. An option for the subsequent delivery of 30 more airplanes in the period to 2015 is provided also.
Source: 26.05.08, Interfax-AVN
Technical Specification for Overhaul of "Admiral Gorshkov" Has not Changed: It Will Be Intended for Russian MiGs
The possibility of using American fighters on it has not been provided for within the framework of the upgrade and reequipping of the former Russian "Admiral Gorshkov" heavy aircraft carrying cruiser, which is being obtained by the Indian Navy and renamed to "Vikramaaditya" ((in Latin letters.))
"We have not received any changes in the technical specification, we have specifications for the MiG-29K. Insomuch as we know, the Indians, it is possible, intend to use the English Sea Harrier (vertical takeoff) on this ship besides our airplane," representative of a FGUP PO Sevmash, at whose wharf the upgrade of the "Admiral Gorshkov" is taking place, told Interfax on Thursday.
The media had reported earlier that the Indian side is investigating a variant for equipping the Vikramaaditya with American F-18 Super Hornets, and already had requests the study of such a possibility at the Boeing company.
"Even if the Indian navy has a similar initiative, it hardly is for the "Gorshkov." The American airplanes takeoff using a steam catapult, which we don't have on the ships we manufacture: we use a ski-jump and short takeoff and landing airplanes - the MiG-29K," he explained.
At the same time, the source proposed that the Indians, it is possible, are examining the possibility of purchasing American airplanes for their own first aircraft carrier which they are building at the own dock in Kochina.
Earlier, the Indian navy chief of staff, Admiral Surish Mehta, announced that deliveries of the Russian ship-based MiG-29K fighters which are intended for the "Admiral Gorshkov" aircraft carrier purchased by India will begin in May 2008.
At the same time he emphasized that fulfillment of the contract is somewhat delayed.
The contract for the delivery to India of 16 ship-based MiG-29K/KUB fighters (12 combat and 4 combat-training airplanes), and also the unique full hardware for training flying and maintenance personnel, including simulators and interactive ground and sea based training systems, was signed in January 2004. The total of the contract is more than 700 million dollars. An option for the subsequent delivery of 30 more airplanes in the period to 2015 is provided also.
Source: 26.05.08, Interfax-AVN
Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread
India in Berlin Air Show as a Partner Country in Defence for the First Time
(Source: Indian Ministry of Defence; issued May 23, 2008)
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony leaves New Delhi on Sunday, on a three-day visit to Germany. Accompanied by a high-level official delegation, Shri Antony will attend the International Aerospace Exhibition and Conferences – ILA 2008, popularly known as Berlin Air Show and will hold talks with his German counterpart Dr. Franz Josef Jung.
The Berlin Air Show is the oldest air show in the world dating back to 1909. India is participating in this leading air show as a Partner Country for the first time in Defence sector. Germany’s Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel will open the Air Show on 27 May during a 90-minute tour of the event. She will be accompanied by Shri Antony, Mr Michael Glos, Federal Minister for Economics and Technology, Mr Matthias Platzeck, Minister President of the Land Brandenburg, Mr Harald Wolf, Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economics, Technology and Women, and Mr Jürgen Thumann, President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
In a message to the organizers of the show, Shri Antony said, India’s participation marks another milestone in our cooperation with leading countries and global firms in the aviation and aerospace sector. He said, a strong industrial base, sophisticated Research and Development institutions and a huge domestic market have resulted in a fast growing aviation sector in India. This provides new opportunities for cooperation and strategic alliances between domestic and international partners. ‘India is harnessing its indigenously developed civilian space technologies as a key multiplier for development’, Shri Antony said.
Referring to the Indian Defence Sector, Shri Antony said, ‘new policies to transform this sector by actively encouraging all players-whether private or public, Indian or foreign-to play a larger role in defence production through mutually beneficial partnerships, private investment and technology transfers have been put in place. Companies that proactively seek out industrial partners in India will enjoy advantages in our expanding market. In this context, we welcome recent commitments made by some European partners to transfer technology to Indian partners and locate production in India’, the Defence Minister said.
The Air Show provides an ideal platform for exploring business opportunities and joint ventures. A large number of Indian companies – both public and private and Defence Organisations will showcase their defence related capabilities and products at the Show. The composite India Pavilion covering 1200 sq meters will witness the participation of five Defence Public Sector Undertakings namely Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI); the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and five private defence industries – TATA group of companies, Larsen & Toubro, CADES, ACCORD Software & Systems , Saraswati Dynamics. Indicative of the importance being attached to India, a seminar on “Opportunities in the Indian Defence Sector” will be held on 28 May . The SARANG team of Indian Air Force will give a scintillating display of aerobatics with their helicopters. The Air Warriors Symphony Orchestra will also perform at Berlin Air Show.
Over the years, Indo-German relations have remained cordial and friendly. India was the first country after the Allied withdrawal to establish diplomatic relations with Germany in 1951 and was among the first few countries to have supported the cause of unification in the early stages. Indo-German relations have made rapid strides in the last few years backed by a number of high level visits from both sides.
The two countries signed an agreement on Bilateral Defence Cooperation in September, 2006. The agreement envisages that the main forum for guiding the defence relations between India and Germany will be the High Defence Committee, which would meet once every year alternatively in India and Germany at the level of Defence Secretary. The agreement is also aimed at establishing expert level talks in the form of sub- groups on strategic defence issues i.e. Security and Military Policy, Arms Control, Disaster Relief, Defence Technology, Procurement Procedures, etc. It would also provide higher level of strategic partnership for co-development, co-production, joint ventures and transfer of technology.
India and Germany also signed an agreement on Mutual Protection of Classified Information on Defence related issues during the visit of German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel to New Delhi on October 30, 2007.
The delegation to accompany the Defence Minister includes Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, Defence Secretary Shri Vijay Singh, Secretary Defence Production Shri Pradeep Kumar, DG Acquisition Shri SK Sharma, Advisor to Defence Minister Shri Sundaram Krishna, Additional Secretary Defence Production Shri Ajoy Acharya, Joint Secretary (Exports) Shri Satyajit Rajan besides representatives of DPSUs. Minister of State for Defence Production Rao Inderjit Singh will also be attending the Berlin Air Show from May 28.
Shri Antony will start his official engagements with a visit to the Berlin War Cemetery and pay his homage. It is the place where 51 soldiers of undivided India who died during the World War II have been laid to rest.
The Defence Minister returns home on 28 May.
India in Berlin Air Show as a Partner Country in Defence for the First Time
(Source: Indian Ministry of Defence; issued May 23, 2008)
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony leaves New Delhi on Sunday, on a three-day visit to Germany. Accompanied by a high-level official delegation, Shri Antony will attend the International Aerospace Exhibition and Conferences – ILA 2008, popularly known as Berlin Air Show and will hold talks with his German counterpart Dr. Franz Josef Jung.
The Berlin Air Show is the oldest air show in the world dating back to 1909. India is participating in this leading air show as a Partner Country for the first time in Defence sector. Germany’s Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel will open the Air Show on 27 May during a 90-minute tour of the event. She will be accompanied by Shri Antony, Mr Michael Glos, Federal Minister for Economics and Technology, Mr Matthias Platzeck, Minister President of the Land Brandenburg, Mr Harald Wolf, Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economics, Technology and Women, and Mr Jürgen Thumann, President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
In a message to the organizers of the show, Shri Antony said, India’s participation marks another milestone in our cooperation with leading countries and global firms in the aviation and aerospace sector. He said, a strong industrial base, sophisticated Research and Development institutions and a huge domestic market have resulted in a fast growing aviation sector in India. This provides new opportunities for cooperation and strategic alliances between domestic and international partners. ‘India is harnessing its indigenously developed civilian space technologies as a key multiplier for development’, Shri Antony said.
Referring to the Indian Defence Sector, Shri Antony said, ‘new policies to transform this sector by actively encouraging all players-whether private or public, Indian or foreign-to play a larger role in defence production through mutually beneficial partnerships, private investment and technology transfers have been put in place. Companies that proactively seek out industrial partners in India will enjoy advantages in our expanding market. In this context, we welcome recent commitments made by some European partners to transfer technology to Indian partners and locate production in India’, the Defence Minister said.
The Air Show provides an ideal platform for exploring business opportunities and joint ventures. A large number of Indian companies – both public and private and Defence Organisations will showcase their defence related capabilities and products at the Show. The composite India Pavilion covering 1200 sq meters will witness the participation of five Defence Public Sector Undertakings namely Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI); the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and five private defence industries – TATA group of companies, Larsen & Toubro, CADES, ACCORD Software & Systems , Saraswati Dynamics. Indicative of the importance being attached to India, a seminar on “Opportunities in the Indian Defence Sector” will be held on 28 May . The SARANG team of Indian Air Force will give a scintillating display of aerobatics with their helicopters. The Air Warriors Symphony Orchestra will also perform at Berlin Air Show.
Over the years, Indo-German relations have remained cordial and friendly. India was the first country after the Allied withdrawal to establish diplomatic relations with Germany in 1951 and was among the first few countries to have supported the cause of unification in the early stages. Indo-German relations have made rapid strides in the last few years backed by a number of high level visits from both sides.
The two countries signed an agreement on Bilateral Defence Cooperation in September, 2006. The agreement envisages that the main forum for guiding the defence relations between India and Germany will be the High Defence Committee, which would meet once every year alternatively in India and Germany at the level of Defence Secretary. The agreement is also aimed at establishing expert level talks in the form of sub- groups on strategic defence issues i.e. Security and Military Policy, Arms Control, Disaster Relief, Defence Technology, Procurement Procedures, etc. It would also provide higher level of strategic partnership for co-development, co-production, joint ventures and transfer of technology.
India and Germany also signed an agreement on Mutual Protection of Classified Information on Defence related issues during the visit of German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel to New Delhi on October 30, 2007.
The delegation to accompany the Defence Minister includes Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, Defence Secretary Shri Vijay Singh, Secretary Defence Production Shri Pradeep Kumar, DG Acquisition Shri SK Sharma, Advisor to Defence Minister Shri Sundaram Krishna, Additional Secretary Defence Production Shri Ajoy Acharya, Joint Secretary (Exports) Shri Satyajit Rajan besides representatives of DPSUs. Minister of State for Defence Production Rao Inderjit Singh will also be attending the Berlin Air Show from May 28.
Shri Antony will start his official engagements with a visit to the Berlin War Cemetery and pay his homage. It is the place where 51 soldiers of undivided India who died during the World War II have been laid to rest.
The Defence Minister returns home on 28 May.
Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread
India Reactivates Air Base Close to China in Kashmir
(Source: Voice of America news; issued June 2, 2008)
SHRINAGAR, Kashmir --- On Saturday the Indian Air Force pilots landed a Russian-built Antonov-32 transport aircraft at the Daulatbeg Oldi air base in Ladakh province of Indian administered Kashmir. At an altitude of more than 4,937 meters, close to the Chinese controlled portion of Kashmir, the air strip is considered the highest in the world.
The revival of the base, abandoned in 1966, is seen by analysts as India's military standing up to China. This comes as the Air Force plans to revive two more bases in eastern Ladakh, both close to the Chinese frontier.
The news agency Press Trust of India quoted Air Force sources as saying that the Daulatbeg Oldi Base was revived to bolster India's aerial and land reconnaissance capability in the strategic region. The news agency said that regular operations would be initiated at the base, while two other air fields, Chushul and Fukche, also along the Chinese frontier, will be revived.
The Daulatbeg Oldi Air Base, abandoned in 1966 after an earthquake rendered it unusable, is located close to the Chinese controlled portion of Kashmir, also referred to as Aksai Chin. It is eight kilometers from the Karokaram Highway that links Pakistan with China and is part of the historic silk route that linked Kashmir with central Asia.
The base was set up and used as an advance landing ground during the Indo-Chinese conflict in 1962.
Defense Analysts in New Delhi see the revival of the air base as an assertion of India's military power and a projection of India's defense posture near China and Central Asia.
Phunchok Stobdan is a senior fellow at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Stobdan says India has been avoiding confrontations with China, and says the recent problems in Tibet were an immediate concern.
“There have been limitations to what we could do, when the recent riots took place in Tibet," Stobdan said. "We could not stand up behind the Tibetans to interfere in China's internal issues. But I think strengthening your own borders furthers the implications of what is happening there. "
Adding that China made 24 attempts to take hold of the Dalulatbeg air base during the last India-Pakistan conflict in Kargil, Stobdan says India has awakened late to the problem.
"On the other side there are 13 such projects going on," Stobdan said. "Modernization of airports and creating more infrastructure. This has been going on for a very long time on the Chinese side. The Indian side has woken up very late.
For now however, analysts say the base can best be utilized for dropping food and supplies to the troops posted in rugged mountainous terrain, where troops still rely on mules.
South Asian nuclear neighbors, India, Pakistan and China, each control portions of Jammu and Kashmir divided by a ceasefire line called the Line of Control, and Actual Line of Control. The major portions lie within India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars over the region, while China controls a largely unpopulated region.
India Reactivates Air Base Close to China in Kashmir
(Source: Voice of America news; issued June 2, 2008)
SHRINAGAR, Kashmir --- On Saturday the Indian Air Force pilots landed a Russian-built Antonov-32 transport aircraft at the Daulatbeg Oldi air base in Ladakh province of Indian administered Kashmir. At an altitude of more than 4,937 meters, close to the Chinese controlled portion of Kashmir, the air strip is considered the highest in the world.
The revival of the base, abandoned in 1966, is seen by analysts as India's military standing up to China. This comes as the Air Force plans to revive two more bases in eastern Ladakh, both close to the Chinese frontier.
The news agency Press Trust of India quoted Air Force sources as saying that the Daulatbeg Oldi Base was revived to bolster India's aerial and land reconnaissance capability in the strategic region. The news agency said that regular operations would be initiated at the base, while two other air fields, Chushul and Fukche, also along the Chinese frontier, will be revived.
The Daulatbeg Oldi Air Base, abandoned in 1966 after an earthquake rendered it unusable, is located close to the Chinese controlled portion of Kashmir, also referred to as Aksai Chin. It is eight kilometers from the Karokaram Highway that links Pakistan with China and is part of the historic silk route that linked Kashmir with central Asia.
The base was set up and used as an advance landing ground during the Indo-Chinese conflict in 1962.
Defense Analysts in New Delhi see the revival of the air base as an assertion of India's military power and a projection of India's defense posture near China and Central Asia.
Phunchok Stobdan is a senior fellow at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. Stobdan says India has been avoiding confrontations with China, and says the recent problems in Tibet were an immediate concern.
“There have been limitations to what we could do, when the recent riots took place in Tibet," Stobdan said. "We could not stand up behind the Tibetans to interfere in China's internal issues. But I think strengthening your own borders furthers the implications of what is happening there. "
Adding that China made 24 attempts to take hold of the Dalulatbeg air base during the last India-Pakistan conflict in Kargil, Stobdan says India has awakened late to the problem.
"On the other side there are 13 such projects going on," Stobdan said. "Modernization of airports and creating more infrastructure. This has been going on for a very long time on the Chinese side. The Indian side has woken up very late.
For now however, analysts say the base can best be utilized for dropping food and supplies to the troops posted in rugged mountainous terrain, where troops still rely on mules.
South Asian nuclear neighbors, India, Pakistan and China, each control portions of Jammu and Kashmir divided by a ceasefire line called the Line of Control, and Actual Line of Control. The major portions lie within India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars over the region, while China controls a largely unpopulated region.
Re: Indian Army & Navy news thread
India's Navy Expanding Rapidly
While Chinese naval modernization efforts are capturing the attention of Western naval officials and analysts as well as journalists and even bloggers, little attention is being given to the Indian Navy's massive expansion effort. Mohammed Ahmedullah, a leading defense writer, wrote in Military Technology (2/2008):
"With the second biggest Army in the world and a rapidly expanding Navy, India knows that it needs to modernize fast, leapfrog in technology and accumulate military assets rapidly over the next decade if it has to safeguard it growing economic might with military teeth. . . ."
Within a decade the naval forces of India will include two large aircraft carriers, a large force of missile-armed surface warships, and a significant submarine flotilla, probably including three nuclear-propelled attack submarines. The rationale for the expansion of the Indian fleet is to protect the flow of oil to India's rapidly growing economy.
However, the Indian subcontinent sits astride the tanker sailing routes from the Middle East to Chin and Japan. And, Indian naval forces could come into play with respect to the continuing turmoil and quest for resources in Africa.
The current Indian Navy expansion program provides for the rehabilitation of the Soviet-built, 44,570-ton carrier Admiral Gorshkov in a Russian shipyard. That project is far behind schedule and over cost; the ship should be fully operational about 2015. India has also begun construction of an "air defense ship" -- a 40,000-ton carrier to be completed about 2018. (India now operates the 28,700-ton, ex-British VSTOL carrier Hermes; she was originally launched in 1953 and completed in 1969, and has been extensively rebuilt.)
Now being procured are advanced missile-armed destroyers and frigates. Some are being fitted with the highly-touted Israel Barak-8 air-defense system.
With respect to submarines, the Navy currently operates 14 relatively modern submarines: four German Type 209/1500 (built in Germany and India) and ten Russian-built Kilo/Project 877EM. Some of the latter are being fitted to fire the Russian-developed Klub-S submerged-launch, anti-ship missile. However, there have been some problems encountered with that modification to the submarines.
Six French-built Scorpene torpedo-attack submarines are under construction in at the Mazagon Dockyard in Mumbai. These will replace the last of the Foxtrot/Project 641 submarines operated by India.
Most significant, India will again operate nuclear-propelled submarines in the near future. Three Akula/Project 971 torpedo-attack submarines are on order, being constructed in Russia. These are 33-knot, relatively quiet submarines, capable of operating to 1,970 feet feet, armed with four 21-inch and four 25.5-inch torpedo tubes and carrying 40 tube-launched missiles and torpedoes. (India previously operated a nuclear submarine from 1988 to 1991, when a Soviet Charlie I/Project 670 cruise missile submarine was leased to India. Soviet personnel operated the submarine's reactor-propulsion plant.)
For the past two decades India has also been working on the development of an indigenous nuclear-propelled submarine, officially labeled the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV). The project has encountered numerous difficulties, but there are reports that the first ATV submarine is now under construction at the Mazagon Dock Yard. The first of several such craft may be completed as early as 2010. She will have a submerged displacement of some 7,000 tons and will carry cruise missiles as well as torpedoes.
The Indian Navy is also procuring advanced aircraft to support fleet operations: These include MiG-29K multi-role aircraft and Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopters for the carriers, and land-based Il-38D maritime patrol aircraft.
Whereas in the past few decades the Indian Navy has relied upon Soviet and -- to a lesser degree -- British naval technology, Indian leaders are shopping world-wide. Israeli, French, and South African as well as Russian weapons are being sought. And, the former U.S. amphibious ship Trenton (LPD 14) was transferred to India in 2007 and it is likely that six Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules aircraft will be acquired. Obviously, there are other U.S. naval platforms and systems of interest to India.
Thus, the Indian Navy is undergoing a massive expansion. By some criteria the naval expansion is greater than that of the other services. And, unlike the Chinese naval modernization, India's efforts are taking advantage of essentially all of the world's naval technologies and are being undertaken with relatively little publicity.
-- Norman Polmar
June 10, 2008 08:06 AM
India's Navy Expanding Rapidly
While Chinese naval modernization efforts are capturing the attention of Western naval officials and analysts as well as journalists and even bloggers, little attention is being given to the Indian Navy's massive expansion effort. Mohammed Ahmedullah, a leading defense writer, wrote in Military Technology (2/2008):
"With the second biggest Army in the world and a rapidly expanding Navy, India knows that it needs to modernize fast, leapfrog in technology and accumulate military assets rapidly over the next decade if it has to safeguard it growing economic might with military teeth. . . ."
Within a decade the naval forces of India will include two large aircraft carriers, a large force of missile-armed surface warships, and a significant submarine flotilla, probably including three nuclear-propelled attack submarines. The rationale for the expansion of the Indian fleet is to protect the flow of oil to India's rapidly growing economy.
However, the Indian subcontinent sits astride the tanker sailing routes from the Middle East to Chin and Japan. And, Indian naval forces could come into play with respect to the continuing turmoil and quest for resources in Africa.
The current Indian Navy expansion program provides for the rehabilitation of the Soviet-built, 44,570-ton carrier Admiral Gorshkov in a Russian shipyard. That project is far behind schedule and over cost; the ship should be fully operational about 2015. India has also begun construction of an "air defense ship" -- a 40,000-ton carrier to be completed about 2018. (India now operates the 28,700-ton, ex-British VSTOL carrier Hermes; she was originally launched in 1953 and completed in 1969, and has been extensively rebuilt.)
Now being procured are advanced missile-armed destroyers and frigates. Some are being fitted with the highly-touted Israel Barak-8 air-defense system.
With respect to submarines, the Navy currently operates 14 relatively modern submarines: four German Type 209/1500 (built in Germany and India) and ten Russian-built Kilo/Project 877EM. Some of the latter are being fitted to fire the Russian-developed Klub-S submerged-launch, anti-ship missile. However, there have been some problems encountered with that modification to the submarines.
Six French-built Scorpene torpedo-attack submarines are under construction in at the Mazagon Dockyard in Mumbai. These will replace the last of the Foxtrot/Project 641 submarines operated by India.
Most significant, India will again operate nuclear-propelled submarines in the near future. Three Akula/Project 971 torpedo-attack submarines are on order, being constructed in Russia. These are 33-knot, relatively quiet submarines, capable of operating to 1,970 feet feet, armed with four 21-inch and four 25.5-inch torpedo tubes and carrying 40 tube-launched missiles and torpedoes. (India previously operated a nuclear submarine from 1988 to 1991, when a Soviet Charlie I/Project 670 cruise missile submarine was leased to India. Soviet personnel operated the submarine's reactor-propulsion plant.)
For the past two decades India has also been working on the development of an indigenous nuclear-propelled submarine, officially labeled the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV). The project has encountered numerous difficulties, but there are reports that the first ATV submarine is now under construction at the Mazagon Dock Yard. The first of several such craft may be completed as early as 2010. She will have a submerged displacement of some 7,000 tons and will carry cruise missiles as well as torpedoes.
The Indian Navy is also procuring advanced aircraft to support fleet operations: These include MiG-29K multi-role aircraft and Ka-31 airborne early warning helicopters for the carriers, and land-based Il-38D maritime patrol aircraft.
Whereas in the past few decades the Indian Navy has relied upon Soviet and -- to a lesser degree -- British naval technology, Indian leaders are shopping world-wide. Israeli, French, and South African as well as Russian weapons are being sought. And, the former U.S. amphibious ship Trenton (LPD 14) was transferred to India in 2007 and it is likely that six Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules aircraft will be acquired. Obviously, there are other U.S. naval platforms and systems of interest to India.
Thus, the Indian Navy is undergoing a massive expansion. By some criteria the naval expansion is greater than that of the other services. And, unlike the Chinese naval modernization, India's efforts are taking advantage of essentially all of the world's naval technologies and are being undertaken with relatively little publicity.
-- Norman Polmar
June 10, 2008 08:06 AM
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