India and South Korea are likely to ink their first defence contract as the Defence Ministry is negotiating for six minesweepers from a South Korean firm. While two vessels will be supplied by the manufacturer, the remaining minesweepers will be built in India.
Bilateral defence ties got a boost last year when Defence Minister AK Antony visited Seoul and held wide-ranging discussions with the Korean leadership. South Korea, famous for world-class ship-building facilities, evinced keen interest in industry-to-industry relations with India, besides regular military exchanges like joint exercises with the Indian armed forces.
India is all set to place an order with a South Korean shipyard for building eight minesweepers for its navy in its quest to overhaul its existing fleet of such specialised warships, defence ministry sources say.
The Indian Navy has decided on its choice for a Mine Counter Measures Vessel MCMV. The navy and the defense ministry have identified South Korea’s Kangnam Corporation as the L1 vendor lowest bidding and technically qualified for the procurement of eight such vessels. Italy’s Intermarine, which was also part of the technically qualified shortlist, was beaten by Kangnam on price when the commercial bids were opened.
While the Contract Negotiation Committee CNC still has to conclude a final agreement on the price with the vendor, it is expected to be in the region of USD 670 million INR 3000 Crore.
Russian news agency quotes a Russian Navy Staff Admiral confirming that a K-152 Nerpa attack submarine will be leased to the Indian Navy by October 2011. The quote was made with the condition of anonymity.
Previous reports had indicated that the submarine was already delivered to India. However now it appears that an Indian crew is undergoing training on-board with Russian instructors.
"The submarine is completely ready for transfer. An Indian crew is currently training aboard with Russian instructors,"
"This should be completed before October: We're running late as it is,"
Indian Navy’s Goa based based squadron, INAS-310 ‘COBRA’, celebrated its golden jubilee yesterday.
The squadron has two unit citations, over 80,000 hrs of flying, operations in – 1971 (East Pakistan), 1999 (‘Op Vijay’) and 2002 (‘Op Parakram’). Other operations that participated were Operation Vijay (Liberation of Goa) in December 1961, 1965 war (defend naval assets) against Pakistan, 1988 Operation Pawan (against LTTE) in Srilanka and 1988 Operation Cactus (maldives).
INAS 310 was commissioned by Nawab Ali Yavar Jung on 21 Mar 1961 in Heyres, France. The squardon was headed by Lt Cdr Mihir K Roy (later Vice Admiral). The squardon was commissioned on the French Aircraft carrier ‘Arromanches.’ The first Alize 1050 aircraft was handed over to India on 7th January, 1961 at a place called Villacoublay in France. The Cobra’s participated in a tactical excercise with Type-12 ships (INS Beas and INS Betwa). Both Alize and Type-12 (from UK) were newely acquired and were making their way to India.
With the scene of global strategic rivalry slowly shifting to the Indian Ocean, India's geopolitical future lies in its naval power, contrary to the country's traditional emphasis on its army, says Parag Khanna, leading American geo-strategist, author and founding director of the Global Governance Initiative at the New America Foundation think tank.
'In terms of geopolitics, India's influence is still very limited... what underpins that is the reality that India is not going to be what initially was thought and hoped it would be - a land-based continental rival to balance China.
'Now, India is seen as much more of a naval power -- overseeing and having a strategic role with respect to the Indian Ocean and the trade routes there. That actually is the geopolitical future of India; it's a very strong future,' Khanna, who was a senior geopolitical advisor to the US Special Operations Command, told IANS in an exclusive interview.
China formally started the manufacturing of two state-of-the-art fast attack missile crafts for the Pakistan Navy. These crafts are an addition to a couple of naval frigates which are being built for the strategic partner. The ceremony of the Fast Attack Craft FAC(M) of Pakistan Navy was held at Xinggang Shipyard. The Pakistan navy has signed a contract with Offshore International Company Limited (CSOC) & China Shipbuilding for the construction of the two modern missile crafts which will be geared with the latest sensors and weapons.
The Vice Admiral Tanveer Faiz Ahmed of the Pakistan Navy attended the ceremony. The arrangement states that one of the crafts will be built in Tianjin while the other one will be manufactured in Pakistan’s Karachi docks. The first craft was expected to be inducted in the force last October. At the moment there is no information about the financial agreements on this deal.
China is a major weapons system supplier to Pakistan and it is deeply involved in a series of defence projects with its ally. This includes the joint development of the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet which will be manufactured by both countries with engines supplied by Russia. A couple of naval frigates for the Pakistan Navy are also being constructed in china and at the moment three of them have been inducted into service. The fourth one is still being manufactured in the Karachi Shipyard.
Indian navy has asked for a briefing on the AMCA project which ADE is heading and they were briefed on AMCA project by the ADE which was attended by Navy’s high ranked officers. Navy earlier had shown interest in American made F-35 for their 5th gen platform requirements but it seems that Navy has decided to stick with Indigenous program.
Navy will join the program once AMCA begins its Technological demonstration phase after its first flight somewhere near end of this decade.
Navy is keen that N-LCA program is successful so that they can move to N- AMCA project soon after its completion. N-LCA had some issues with its landing gear which needed to be redesigned to operate on an aircraft carrier and survive hard deck landing .N-LCA NP-1 is almost ready for its first flight and will have its first flight in mid or end or March if Ground and taxi trials are conducted in time.
Our sources have confirmed that Navy has received a Briefing and also a copy of ASR (Air Staff Requirements) issued by Indian air force on AMCA aircraft , Navy is also working out how N-AMCA will fit its doctrine and into its plans of operating larger aircraft carrier from IAC-2 onwards .
The Pakistan Navy has augmented its patrols in the Arabian Sea in order to strengthen the security there, because of the rising terror and piracy threats.
The Navy is scheduled to participate in a 5-day naval exercise – The “Aman 11”. 39 countries will participate in this exercise and it will be launched from the 8th of March in the open sea. Similar exercises were held in 2007 and 2009 and the navies of very powerful countries participated in them.
The exercise in the open sea will greatly help the Pakistan Navy to assess its preparations to overcome the challenges in the region.
At the moment the security of the Arabian Sea is one of the most discussed topics in the world due to the fact that most of the world’s oil supply passes through there. The world military powers have taken the liberty to ensure the security of the Sea and the safe passing of the transporting ships.
Due to the rising threats in the region, the Pakistan Navy’s strategy was drastically change and preparations were made in order to ensure the safety of the country’s interests in the region.
The latest platforms are being indigenized and inducted in the Pakistan Navy in order to turn it into a potent force which will easily guard its sea territory. At the moment the PN is constructing frigates and missile boats, while earlier it has bought technology for Agosta class submarines.
More than 30,000 ships pass through the Arabian Sea each year and the Navies of NATO, EU and individual countries have taken the liberty to present their forces in this area and ensure the safety of the passing transport ships.
The Indian Navy will get delivery of the first of its six Scorpene submarines in 2015, a three-year delay from the original schedule of 2012, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday. 'The first submarine (Scorpene) is now scheduled to be delivered in the second half of 2015. As per the contract, the first submarine was scheduled to be delivered in December, 2012, and thereafter, one each every year till December 2017,' Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written reply during question hour. The six Scorpenes -- Project-75 as the submarine construction programme is called -- are under construction at the Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) at a cost of $4 billion in collaboration with French firm DCNS.
'There has been a delay due to initial teething problems, absorption of technology, augmentation of MDL infrastructure and procurement of MDL Purchased Material (MPM),' Antony said. He was replying to a question on the delays in augmenting India's underwater combat capabilities. He said the government constantly reviews the security environment and accordingly decides on the induction of appropriate defence equipment and platforms, including submarines for the navy. 'This is a continuous process undertaken for the modernization of the armed forces to keep them in a state of readiness to meet any eventuality,' he said.
'Any gap in submarine capacity is being addressed by modernisation and upgradation with the state-of-the-art weapons and sensors fitted on the existing submarines to enhance their combat-worthiness,' he added. The defence minister also noted that the government had accorded approval for revising the cost of Project-75 on account of increase in the cost of MPM items, related sub-heads and additional MDL infrastructure. Antony also said the government had already set in motion the process of constructing additional submarines under Project-75 (India). To shore up its depleting submarine fleet, India will this year issue a $11-billion global tender for building six more next generation vessels under Project-75 (India), a follow-on to the six Scorpenes. The navy issued the RFI for Project 75 (India) in September last year and some of the global firms that have responded to it are Russian Rosoboronexport, French DCNS/Armaris, German HDW and Spanish Navantia. The Indian Navy operates 14 diesel-electric submarines at present after it decommissioned two Foxtrot class submarines last year. Of the 14 submarines, 10 are Kilo class Soviet-origin vessels and the rest are HDW German-origin vessels. India is expected to induct the 12 Project-75 and Project-75 (India) submarines in the next decade-and-a-half. The 12 vessels would now be inducted one after the other over 12 years beginning 2015. The vessels are part of the 30-vessel submarine induction plans of the navy that was approved early in the last decade. The number of navy's submarines is likely to be just the half of the current 14 vessels in 2015, as most of them are aging and would be decommissioned in the next five years.
China's ambitions for a domestic aircraft carrier programme and its achievement of an initial operating capability (IOC) for the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) were both revealed in December 2010.
The DF-21D, based on the CSS-5 medium-range ballistic missile, is a two-stage weapon with an effective range of 810 n miles (1,500 km), according to the US Department of Defense's 2010 assessment of Chinese military power.
The ASBM has undergone extensive testing that Jane's understands has resulted in a status akin to what western services would call IOC, however it is unclear if the missile has actually completed overwater testing and US analysts believe that trials will continue for another several years.
China has spent considerable time and energy developing the DF-21D, which is believed to be a land-based, solid-propellant ASBM designed to accurately strike ships under way
The Navy will issue a global tender for procuring six next generation submarines worth over Rs 50,000 crore by the end of this year. "The government has cleared Project-75 India which is the next lot of six submarines... At the moment we are going with the Request for Information (RFI) process, I hope within this year we would be able to push off the tender," Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters on the sidelines of a submarine seminar.
Project-75 India is a follow on of the Scorpene submarine project, six of which are being built by the Mazgaon Dockyards Limited (MDL) under a Rs 20,000 crore deal with French company DCNS.
With a depleted submarine strength, the Navy is planning to induct over 12 submarines in the next 10-12 years. The plans have also suffered a setback in view of the delays in the construction of the Scorpenes in Mumbai. Talking about the capabilities of future submarines, the Navy chief said, "It will be a different boat in the sense that we are revising its Qualitative Requirements. Along with better sensors it will also have better hiding capability, improved detection range and combat management system."
He said the Navy would go for the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems for the submarines, which would enhance their capability of remaining submerged in water for a longer time period.
The Russian Navy will Get a 2nd Graney class nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine in 2015.
The construction of the Kazan submarine at the Sevmash Shipyard in the northern Russian city of Severodvinsk began in 2010. The first vessel of the Graney class, the Severodvinsk submarine, will enter service by the end of 2011.
"The hull of the Kazan sub has been built, but we still have to make many upgrades compared with the first vessel in the series. We are planning to deliver the submarine to the Navy in 2015," the official told on Tuesday.
The Kazan will feature more advanced equipment and weaponry than the Severodvinsk, which has been under construction since 1993.
Graney class nuclear submarines are designed to launch a variety of long-range cruise missiles (up to 3,100 miles or 5,000 km), with conventional or nuclear warheads, and effectively engage submarines, surface warships and land-based targets.
"Han Defense Review" magazine recently revealed that the first ship made in China, Ukraine, the aircraft carrier construction process provided extensive technical assistance, particularly in the power plant, but also experts in Ukraine also participated in the procurement of China in 1999, "Varyag "aircraft modification work.
"Han and Defense Review," pointed out that China "Varyag" modification has been completed, the assembly of power units developed in Ukraine.
"Han and Defense Review," edited by Andrei Chang said that Ukraine has also helped China built in Harbin, a boiler and turbine manufacturing plant, production of military boilers, turbines, steam equipment, used to make use of Chinese-made aircraft carrier catapult system, landing block device and the like Russia, "Admiral Kuznetsov" carrier aircraft equipment and other systems.
In addition, China has built two sets of carrier-based aviation pilot ground training facilities.
In the worst ever peacetime loss for the Indian Navy, the heavily armed frigate INS Vindhyagiri went down in the Mumbai harbour after colliding with a merchant vessel. The 3,000 tonne warship, designed to take on enemy submarines and surface ships, sank Monday afternoon after catching fire after the collision with a Cyprus-flag container carrier, M V Nordlake 24 hours earlier.
The loss of the frigate — sources said a salvage would be difficult as the warship has touched bottom — sent shock waves through the naval community. Commentators said the incident was “ignominious” and had dented the Navy’s image.
The Leander class frigate, commissioned in 1981, hit the merchant vessel near the Sunkrock lighthouse within the pilotage area of the channel at 4.36 pm on Sunday, as it was entering the harbour after a ‘day at sea’ for families of sailors and officers. No one was hurt in the mishap.
Even as India has announced its intent to have new generation diesel-electric submarines, Pakistan has gone ahead and signed a deal with long-standing ally China to produce submarines with the same technology that India wants. The Pakistan Navy and China’s Ship Building Corporation signed a deal that got the seal of finality during the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan last December. Indian security agencies in know of the matter have cautioned the government that this could tilt the balance in favour of the Pakistan Navy in the Arabian Sea.
India is looking to spend Rs 50,000 crore to acquire six new diesel-electric submarines that will be equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) technology to boost operational capabilities. Conventional diesel-electric submarines have to surface every couple of days for oxygen to recharge their batteries. A submarine using AIP technology can stay submerged for 12-15 days at a stretch, thus increasing its capacity to hunt down enemy warships without being detected. Nuclear powered submarines can stay underwater for even longer periods. Under the latest agreement, China will co-produce six AIP technology submarines with Pakistan. Currently, the neighbouring navy has only one submarine -- PNS Hamza. Pakistan is also looking at an AIP system produced by a French or German maker to fit on to the Chinese made hull of the vessel, said an official.
What is worrying for India is the known pace of Chinese construction. China could well provide three-four new generation AIP technology submarines to the neigbouring country within two years. The Chinese had supplied four frigates to the Pakistan Navy in 18 months flat! The two nations have also co-produced the single-engine J-17 fighter that was inducted into the Pakistan Air Force last summer.
For India, it could take upto five years to induct its first such submarine, as it will have to go through the process of trying out offers from various global bidders before ordering the vessels.
The Indian Navy has a bigger fleet in terms of number but it is dwindling and will be down to eight conventional diesel-electric vessels by 2015. By then, the first of the six under-construction Scorpene submarines will join the fleet followed by five more till 2018. The AIP technology vessels will follow later. Going by estimates, Pakistan would complete the induction of its fleet of AIP technology vessels by the time India starts off with its line of such submarines.
However, India will maintain its edge over Pakistan in case of nuclear-powered submarines. It hopes to induct the Akula-II Class attack submarine K-152 Nerpa on a 10-year lease from Russia in the next few weeks while the first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant is expected to be inducted by early-2012.
Indian Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma has already declared that nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant would be on ‘deterrent patrol’ to provide the ability of a retaliatory ‘second strike’ if the country faces a nuclear attack.
Defence minister A K Antony today expressed the hope that the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, that is being constructed at the Cochin Shipyard Limited, would be ready for the final launch in 2014.
Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the foundation stone laying function for the National Institute for Research and Development of Defence Shipbuilding (NIRDESH), at nearby Chaliyam, said that the in spite of the presence of Navy's from nearly 18 countries including USA, Russia, France, Germany, England and India, the piracy in the Indian ocean had not come down.
'It is not possible to say that the Somalian pirates alone are behind these acts. There are certain forces that are helping these pirates', he opined.
However, 'it is not possible to pin-point who are the external forces', he said.
Antony said during his visit abroad, many countries have also expressed their doubt that 'some forces are behind these pirates'.
The indigenation policy, Defence procurement policy and Defence production policy are ready and would be announced very soon, Antony said.
Pointing out that Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which was considered only as a dream, would become a reality as the initial test operation of LCA will be done at Bangalore on January 10.
Indian Airforce had given orders for 40 LCA, Antony said.
Antony said there was no controversy on the deal signed by India with Russia for the fifth generation fighter aircrafts. 'The deal signed was only for preliminary design contract and it is not a final contract', he said.
Considering the security situation around us, India needs fifth generation fighter aircrafts possessed by America and Ruissia.
Replying to a query on the Medium Multirole Combat Aircrafts, Antony said the project needs detailed study and it would take some more time before signing the deal.
He said 'no undue haste will be shown and everything will be studied in detail before signing the deal'.
On the lack of facility for berthing interceptor boats of Coast Guard at the Beypore Coast Guard Station, he said all necessary help will be given to coast guard for improving their facilities.
More radars will be installed under the auspices of the Coast Guard in Kerala for coastal security, Antony said.
Although not nearly as "shocking" as the recent photo release of the PLAAF's J-20 stealth fighter, the first definitive photos of the latest Type 041 (NATO designation: Yuan) class diesel-powered submarines (SSK) nevertheless shed light on another critical asset of the PLA's modernization efforts.
While the exact new features of these 2 SSKs remain predictably shrouded in secrecy, some PLA enthusiasts have speculated that the new SSKs will include new sonar and surveillance systems, some have even speculated that the newest models will be capable of vertically launching cruise missiles from their lengthened sails - the most noticeable new feature of the latest 2 Yuan Class SSKs being constructed in Wuhan. It is also widely believed that the Yuan Class SSKs include air-independent propulsion systems on board (as subtly implied by a PLA Daily article dated 23 Oct 2009), allowing for quieter patrols of longer endurance.
