India Developed Naval Gun Fire Control System (GFCS)

India has developed a new generation multi-sensor, multi-weapon defence system against enemy targets on board naval ships. The state-of-the-art "Gun Fire Control System" (GFCS) developed by Bharat Electronics Limited will be installed on board the P-28 class of ships.

"The GFCS is a quick reaction, multi-sensor, multi-weapon, short/medium/long range defence system against air, surface or shore targets on board naval ships", a senior official of the Bangalore-based Navratna defence PSU told PTI.

The GFCS is designed to provide air, surface or shore defence with 76 MM and 30 MM guns. Its purpose is to locate a hostile target using a radar or video tracker, acting on early warning search radars and to track its approach with high accuracy, in order to obtain reliable target data.

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.indiandefenceindustry.com/
(An e-Hub for India Defence & Aerospace Ecosystem)
Credit: USIBC.

US Clears 145 x M777 Howitzers for India

The US Congress has cleared to sell 145, M777 Howitzers to India in a deal worth 647 m USD.

It is the light-weight towed Howitzer with Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems (LINAPS).

The deal will include warranty, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, US government and contractor representatives' technical assistance, engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in its notification.

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.indiandefenceindustry.com/
(An e-Hub for India Defence and Aerospace Ecosystem)
Credit: USIBC.

DRDO Signs Six MoUs with Pvt Industry Players

FICCI has established a Centre for Technology Commercialisation to provide an organized structure to link the mind to the market. The Centre will be supported by the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. All activities of technology assessment and commercialization at FICCI could be undertaken as part of this Centre.

The DRDO-FICCI’s Accelerated Technology Assessment and Commercialisation (ATAC) Programme reached a new landmark on Monday with the signing of six memorandum of understanding (MoU) between DRDO and leading industry players.

The industries include Jyothy Laboratories and Alkali Metals for multi-insect repellant based on DEPA; Jyothy Laboratories for woolcare ; Vantage Security for explosive detection kit; Deltapure Water India Ltd. and Ariva Group for RO based Water Purification System; MGM Associates for High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) Chamber and GSC Glass for electrochromic window.

DRDO Signs Six MoUs with Pvt Industry Players

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
www.IndianDefenceIndustry.com
(An e-Hub for Indian Defence Industry Ecosystem)
Credit: USIBC.

America Impatient Over Pending Defence Agreements

The United States, according to credible recent press reports, is training Special Forces to “grab” Pakistan’s nuclear weapons if they seem about to fall into terrorist hands. And if the Indian Army is to play a role in the operations, here is how it might play out.

While US Special Forces are heli-dropped onto known Pakistani nuclear missile sites, and the US Air Force suppresses Pakistan’s air defences, the IAF’s newly acquired C-130J Hercules aircraft take off from Udhampur, flying Indian commandos to an unused airstrip near Kahuta which American Green Berets have temporarily secured. The Hercules’ electronic jammers blind Pakistani radars before entering Pakistani airspace; the Green Berets give the all-clear to the airborne Indian commander on secret frequencies that cannot be intercepted or jammed.

The Hercules lands in pitch darkness, satellite navigation directing the aircraft precisely to the landing site. Indian assault teams spill out to secure and deactivate the endangered nukes.

But there is a hitch……………………

Read Full Article: America Impatient Over Pending Defence Agreements

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.indiandefenceindustry.com/
(An e-Hub for Indian Defence Industry Ecosystem)
Credit: USIBC and Its News Agencies.

US: Partnership with India is Critical and Very Important

"It should be clear that we continue here at the White House and in the National Security Council to view the partnership with India is critical and very important," Mike Hammer, White House spokesman said yesterday on the occasion of US President Barack Obama completing one year in office.

In the words of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, it launched third phase -- Indo-US 3.0 -- of relationship with New Delhi.

For Indo-US relationship, one of the key features of the second year of Obama Administration would be Obama's visit to India sometime this year.

President Obama had made priority in the first year of his Administration to a develop close partnership with India to build on the previous administration's work.

Sukhwindar
http://www.svipja.com/
Credit: PTI.

DRDO Flight Trials of Laser-Guided Bombs (LGBs) for the IAF

India , on 21 Jan 2010, carried out two successful flight trials of laser-guided bombs (LGBs) for the IAF to test the effectiveness of the guidance and control systems at the Chandipur integrated test range in Orissa.

"Two flight trials were conducted today at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, to test the effectiveness of the guidance and control systems of the LGBs," a Defence Ministry release said here.

IAF officers flew their aircraft and released the LGBs as per prescribed standard operating procedures. "On-board systems in both the trials worked satisfactorily and the mission objectives have been met," the release added.

Bangalore-based Aeronautics Development Establishment (ADE) has developed the guidance kit for 1000-pound LGBs and these are designed to improve accuracy of air-to-ground bombing by IAF.

Credit: PTI News.

India Raises Defence Export License Concerns with US

India raised serious concerns relating to defence trade with the US, including export licence restrictions on its PSUs and DRDO by including them in the American 'Entity List'.

During a meeting between Defence Minister A K Antony and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, India also informed the US that its bilateral defence relations should grow from seller-buyer to a comprehensive cooperation rooted in transfer of technology and co-production of equipment and weapons.

Indicating its hesitation in going ahead with certain defence agreements as a precursor to significant defence co-operation, it stressed that these pacts, including Communication Inter-operability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), being pushed by US, would have to be studied for their benefits before signing them.

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.indiandefenceindustry.com/
(An e-Hub for Indian Defence Industry Ecosystem)
Credit: PTI News.

US Defense Secy Seeks Arms / High-Tech Policy Change on Both the Sides

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he’ll use his first visit to India this week in two years to seek progress on accords already initiated. “Not getting these agreements signed is an obstacle to Indian access to the very highest level of technology from the US", Gates said.

Monitoring the use and any attempted resale of U.S. defense technology to third parties, is a requirement of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act of 1996.

India is looking to strengthen its defense industry by buying U.S. weapons, then manufacturing them at home to supply its own forces and ultimately to export supplies to other countries. “We both have to re-examine policies dealing with exchanging technology”, as per Gates.

US / EU Industry are lobbying India to increase the level of foreign investment allowed in its defense industry to 49 percent from 26 percent. That would let the contractors have more control over joint ventures while giving them greater incentive to transfer proprietary technology, and participate in joint production. This is their pressing demand.

Gates said, India is a “critical partner” of the US on issues from climate change to combating terrorism.

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.indiandefenceindustry.com/
(An e-Hub for Indian Defence Industry Ecosystem)
Credit: USIBC and Its News Agencies.

India as a Major Defence Sourcing Hub: CII-KPMG Study

The Govt. should consider the establishment of dedicated A & D SEZs, establishment of a tax equalization subsidy linked to value of goods and services supplied to the Defence Sector, and exemptions to Offset JVs from R&D Cess," as per a study by CII-KPMG.

"The fiscal regime plays a critical role in any defence market in creating an environment that incentivises and supports the long term risk taking, investment and R&D required by the industry," the study noted. It said with skilled intensive manufacturing capabilities and a world class IT base, India had the "right ingredients to become a key link in the global defence supply chain".

New initiatives such as improving visibility of Govt. Defence Order Book, Increasing Industry Output and Feedback into the Tender Process, Reduction in Bidders' Costs, Extending the Use of Offset Credit Banking, Allowing Offset Credit Trading, and Introducing the Use of Multipliers, could be considered further.

FDI cap of 26 %, the study said, though the opinion was divided on increasing the FDI limit due to security considerations, there was clear expectation from the industry that it should be hiked from the present level.

Click for full Article: India as a Major Defence Sourcing Hub

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.indiandefenceindustry.com/
(An e-Hub for Indian Defence Industry Ecosystem)
Credit: USIBC and Its News Agencies.

Govt Set to Ink Record $2.2bn Arms Deal with US

New Delhi has formally approached Washington for a direct Govt-to-Govt deal for acquiring 10 C-17 Globemaster-III giant strategic airlift ac, each of which comes for over a whopping $220 million.

India sent `a letter of request' for the acquisition of 10 C-17s to the US Govt last week. "Under FMS, we will get C-17s at the same price the US Govt buys them from Boeing, plus some service charges,'' said an MoD official.

IAF certainly needs to augment its strategic airlift capability to move large combat systems and troops over national and international distances, given that it has barely a dozen Russian-origin IL-76 `Gajraj' aircraft. IAF's medium-lift fleetincludes 104 Russian AN-32 aircraft.

The massive four-engine C-17 dwarfs them all. Capable of carrying a payload of up to 170,000 pounds, it can transport tanks and troops over 2,400 nautical miles.

With mid-air refueling, the C-17 can go even longer distances. Rugged , a C-17 can even land at a small forward airbase on a semi-prepared runway or airdrop over 100 combat-ready paratroopers directly into a battlezone.

Pse Click for the full Report: Govt Set to Ink Record $2.2bn Arms Deal with US

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.indiandefenceindustry.com/
(An e-Hub for Indian Defence Industry Ecosystem)
Credit: USIBC and Its News Agencies.

DRDO to Tie-up with SNECMA, France, for Kaveri Engine

The Govt. has given go-ahead permission to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to take up an offer of SNECMA to ‘partner’ with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) for jointly developing the Kaveri aero engine.

The Rs. 2,839-crore Kaveri engine programme was launched in 1989, specifically to power the Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, now under development at the DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). In 2005, the GTRE indicated that it would not be able to develop the Kaveri engine on its own.

There was a hitch in the technology transfer earlier. Now SNECMA has indicated that the technology can be given as fast as the Indians can assimilate it.

The GTRE hopes to use the SNECMA – GTRE Kaveri to replace the GE F404 (IN20) engine that will fly two squadrons of the Tejas.

Full Report:

Kaveri Tie-up with SNECMA, France

Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
Credit: USIBC and Its News Agencies.