Indian Military

New Delhi – With the Indian Ocean region becoming very vulnerable to terror threats, the Indian Navy has decided to beef up its security along the Indian shores and has decided to go in for additional surveillance planes as well as spy drones.

The Indian Defence Ministry has floated a global Request for Information (RFI) for the medium range maritime reconnaissance aircraft (MRMR) with an operating range of over 350 nautical miles, and HALE (high-altitude, long-endurance) unmanned aerial vehicles or spy drones, with a service ceiling above 40,000 feet and endurance over 25 hours.

According to the Indian Navy, the acquisition of MRMR planes and spy drones can only compliment the surveillance on the Indian shores. The MRMR planes will be equipped with radars as well as anti-ship and submarine warfare capabilities. The Indian Navy has already finalised the acquisition of 12 P-8I Poseidon long-range maritime reconnaissance (LRMR) aircraft from Boeing at $3.1 billion. The first P-8I is slated for induction in early-2013.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy today successfully test-fired several surface-to-air missiles to assess its air defence capabilities, officials said.
Three surface-to-air missile tests were carried out in Sonmiani area of Sindh province, a navy spokesman said, adding all missiles hit their targets precisely.
Naval chief Admiral Noman Bashir and Air Defence Commander Vice Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar witnessed the drill.
"The successful testing will add to the defence capability of the Pakistan Navy," Bashir said.
A combination of surface-to-air missiles was tested, the navy said in a statement.
The "fire and forget" missiles are equipped with highly sensitive infrared homing heads that can intercept high speed aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.
These weapons give the navy the flexibility to operate with various missiles and strengthen the ground-based air defence, the statement said.
The area of responsibility of the navy's Air Defence Battalion stretches from Sir Creek in the east to Jiwani in the west, it added.

NEW DELHI: Colourful tableaux depicting the myriad hues of country's diversity, a vibrant performance by students and armed forces in full battle regalia -- the Republic Day parade on Wednesday had 'mini-India' in itself.
Marching down from the Raisina Hills to Red Fort, the parade showcased India's 'unity in diversity' and the military might as thousands of spectators along the 8km long route cheered the marching contingents and the mechanised columns.
The well turned out and synchronised military and police contingents led by General Officer Commanding ( Delhi) Maj Gen Manvendra Singh marched proudly to the lilting tunes of bands through the Rajpath where President and Supreme Commander of Armed Forces Pratibha Patil took the salute.
The march-past was watched by the Republic Day chief guest Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, defence minister A K Antony and the country's top political and military brass.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy has inducted its first squadron of indigenously made unmanned aerial vehicles that will be used for maritime interdiction operations in coastal areas.
The UAVs were inducted into the naval fleet during a ceremony held at the PNS Mehran airbase in Karachi on Wednesday.
The Uqab-II drones are equipped with sensors and their induction will enhance operational capabilities in surveillance activities, a spokesman said.
Navy chief Admiral Noman Bashir, who was the chief guest during the induction ceremony, said: "Cognisant of heightened surveillance measures at all times, the induction of Uqab-II UAVs will provide essential experience to Pakistan Navy and necessary impetus to utilise this particular segment of warfare to the best use of naval objectives."
Because of their small size, ease of operation and low risk of loss, UAVs are regarded as force multipliers and are increasingly being used by combat forces worldwide, he said.

[Stratpost]

The Indian Defense Minister AK Antony, on Monday, agreed to provide three aircraft to Seychelles on its request. An Indian Ministry of Defense statement said, “On a specific request from the Seychelles, Mr. Antony agreed to provide one new Dornier and two Chetak helicopters from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for maritime surveillance, at the earliest.” The statement quoted him as saying that although delivery would normally take 18 to 24 months, New Delhi would try to provide the aircraft in 15 months. In the meantime, India is to provide an in-service Dornier Aircraft to carry out maritime surveillance. This comes after Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh committed $ 5 million assistance to Seychelles for defense-related projects during the visit of Seychellois President James Alix Michel to India earlier.

Antony met President Michel, Vice President Danny Faure, the Minister for Home Affairs Joel Morgan and Foreign Minister Jean Paul Adam in Mahe, while leading a delegation comprising Defense Secretary Pradeep Kumar and the Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral DK Dewan.

New Delhi – Jubilant Bhartia Group, a renowned diversified Indian conglomerate, has signalled its entry into the defence sector by announcing its plans to manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in India.

Jubilant Bhartia has set up Jubilant Aeronautics (JAPL), a joint venture wherein Israel’s leading defence corporation called Aeronautics will pick up a 26% stake and produce UAVs. The new venture will be based in Bangalore and will manufacture UAVs for defence and civil purposes besides looking after the integration, maintenance, repair and overhaul of UAVs as well.

The current joint venture has been forwarded to the foreign investment promotion board (FIPB) seeking its clearance to the equity investment by Israel’s Aeronautics. The creation of this joint venture will enable India to have powerful UAVs made indigenously, an area where India lacks superior technology. The UAVs made by Jubilant Aeronautics will assist India’s homeland security as well as the monitoring of oil and gas pipelines, weather forecasting and traffic monitoring and disaster management among others.

JAMMU/NEW DELHI: Two Pakistani aircraft on Wednesday flew close to the international border in the Jammu sector, triggering an air defence alert of the Indian Air Force.
The two low-flying Pakistani light aircraft were detected close to Indian territory and were sighted by BSF troops deployed in the R S Pura Sector in Jammu, Indian Air Force sources said.
"Their movement and approach were picked up by our sensors and radars," they said.
Thought the aircraft were flying in Pakistani territory, it was a breach of agreement between the two sides barring flying of fixed-wing aircraft in 10 km area from each side of the international boundary, they said.
"As per its standard operating procedures (SOP), IAF responds in such situation looking at the level of threat posed by the aircraft," they said, without giving details.
The SOP could range from activating its surface-to-air missile batteries to scrambling of fighter aircraft located close to the area.

[Stratpost]

The Indian Air Force (IAF) began trials for the AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter last week. IAF sources confirmed that the aircraft, which is competing with the Russian Mi-28 for the IAF’s tender for 22 attack helicopters, has already completed trials in Jaisalmer and is currently undergoing high altitude, flight and maneuverability demonstrations at Leh.

The trials are expected to continue till the end of next week, after which the Mi-28 is expected to be given a similar once-over. The maintenance and weapons trials of the former will be conducted in the United States in the coming weeks.

Features of the AH-64D Apache Longbow. Source: Boeing

Dean Millsap of Boeing Rotorcraft Systems, told visiting Indian media in Philadelphia in May that the company had crash-tested the aircraft to a drop-speed of 40 feet per second. The company is pitching its ballistically-tolerant structure, which can withstand an impact up to 23 millimeters, to emphasize the survivablility of the aircraft.

[TNN] After Israeli UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or spy drones which act like cruise missiles, the Indian armed forces are looking to induct ‘loitering’ missiles that hover before selecting and hitting targets of greater priority. Army has issued a global RFI (request for information) about medium-range loitering missile systems, seeking details about their day and night camera payloads, ground control stations, data links, launchers and the like. Only a few armament majors like Israeli Aerospace Industries and Raytheon make such missile systems.