DRDO, PSU and Private Defence Sector News

[cobra commando]

DRDO inaugurates test
facility for rocket sled track

New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) inaugurated a national test facility in Chandigarh, called the Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) Penta Rail Supersonic Track. It will be used to test critical systems for rockets, aircraft and warfare. "India is among a handful of countries in the world now possessing this unique test facility," said DRDO chief Avinash Chander said at the inauguration. The facility consists of five rails, each having a length of 4km, on which a test article can be propelled at supersonic speed with the help of specially designed rockets, according to Manjit Singh, scientist & director at DRDO's Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory. "The track built for this purpose is precision-aligned and capable of withstanding high level of loads. The capability so acquired will accelerate the pace of development of defence and aerospace technologies and products," he said.

DRDO inaugurates test facility for rocket sled track - Livemint

 

[Abhi9]

[PDF]http://www.drdo.gov.in/drdo/pub/newsletter/2014/june_14.pdf[/PDF]

 

[Sridhar]

The Rail Track Rocket Sled facility recently inaugurated at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh. Photo: DRDO

Warheads at supersonic speeds, on the ground - The Hindu

 

[Sridhar]

The Rail Track Rocket Sled facility recently inaugurated at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh. Photo: DRDO

Warheads at supersonic speeds, on the ground - The Hindu

 

[Sridhar]

[PDF]http://www.icast.org.in/news/2014/may14/may26Ha.pdf[/PDF]

 

[abhi_the _gr8_maratha]

Livefist: Unveiled: India's Dinky New Anti-Terror Buggies

 

[cobra commando]

DRDO releases offsets wishlist, sets sight on 26 areas, facilities


SP�s Exculsive - SP's Aviation

 

[dealwithit]

India's DRDO Develops Battery Powered Mini Armored Vehicles
Mini armored vehicles, powered by batteries and capable of going into hotel lobbies and congested urban areas have been developed by India's Defence Research And Development Organization (DRDO).
Three fully equipped commandos can be seated in the three-ton vehicles which can manoeuvre noiselessly through tight closed spaces such as lobbies of hotels, office and apartment buildings, airport terminals and train stations besides hide-outs of terrorists. They can be taken into tight urban roads which are barely wider than sidewalks and very common in parts of Asia.
According to information contained in the DRDO's newsletter, the aftermath of 26 11, when Pakistani terrorists had caused mayhem in Mumbai, dictated the need for an agile, compact, highly manoeuvrable armoured envelope adequately protected to carry two to three persons in hostile environment especially in buildings, small gullies, constrained spaces of hide outs, etc.
DRDO's Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, has developed wheeled, tracked and low noise electric anti-terrorist vehicles (ATVs) to meet these varied needs of anti terrorist operations.
Each vehicle provides an all round protection from small arms and hand grenades. The vehicles can be easily deployed in the corridors of hotels and hostile terrains where it is difficult to operate in a normal wheeled vehicle. The vehicles have a very low turning radius and can turn around within a limited space. The tracked version of ATV has been ballistically tested by Central Reserve Police Force at Dausa, Rajasthan and has also undergone a successful grenade trial at Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh.

 

[abhi_the _gr8_maratha]

Huge potential to export missiles: DRDO chief | idrw.org

 

[Twinblade]

[tweet]479660969002405888[/tweet]

 

[Twinblade]

Paper published in nature magazine:-
Raman spectroscopy explores molecular structural signatures of hidden materials in depth: Universal Multiple Angle Raman Spectroscopy

B’lore’s quantum leap from CV Raman to IISc - Pune Mirror

A made-in-Bangalore quantum leap: From C V Raman to IISc
By Rakesh Prakash | Jun 18, 2014, 02.30 AM IST
UMARS COULD OPEN FLIGHT DOORS FOR LIQUIDS

Non-invasive technique to detect hazardous chemicals in liquids could transform screening methods at airports, railway stations and several other terror targets.

BANGALORE Chucking water bottles and decanting shampoo containers before stepping into the airport's securitycheck arena is something travellers are coerced into doing.

But now, an indigenous contraption might soon render this regimen unnecessary, aviation authorities willing. In a cutting-edge find, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore have developed a new non-invasive technique to identify explosive and hazardous chemicals hidden inside any container, plastic bottle, thick paper, envelope, and coloured glass bottle.

Titled 'Universal Multiple Angle Raman Spectroscopy' (UMARS), the technology is based on the Raman spectroscopy platform and explores the molecular signatures of the liquid being carried without the bottle being opened. Raman spectroscopy is a discovery of Bangalorebased scientist Sir CV Raman — also the first Indian director of IISc — who won the Physics Nobel in 1930.

"Security personnel currently either prohibit bottles containing liquids from being carried across the gate or demand the passenger taste the liquid to ascertain its content. With UMARS technique, the machine tells exactly what the chemical carried by the passenger, is.

This will not only prevent intrusion into a passenger's privacy but also save screening time," said Prof Siva Umapathy, J C Bose Fellow Professor, Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, IISc.

The UMARS technique was developed by Prof Umapathy and his student Dr Sanchita Sil, who is now at the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (Pune), in a research that spanned over two years.

The findings were published in the internationally- recognised journal, Nature's Scientific Report, on Monday. Prof Umapathy said the conventional X-ray baggage screening methods can only detect the presence of liquid in bottles (in the baggage), but UMARS can identify if any explosiverelated chemical is being carried in the bottle.

UMARS relies on illuminating the sample with the light source, which provides scattered light, offering molecular-specific signatures to identify the chemical substance. Prof Umapathy told Mirror, "Like fingerprints, all chemicals have their own molecular signatures.

We profile the signatures of all explosives and hazardous substances, upload the molecular data on to the computer and go about scanning with a portable easyto- operate set-up. Whenever a packet or a bottle containing the listed chemical or liquids is subjected to a check, the machine would be able detect it."

He said depending on the alert, security personnel could take a call, instead of subjecting everyone and every piece of baggage to physical scrutiny. Prof Umapathy and Dr Sanchita had used the technique to identify ammonium nitrate, a major component in making explosives, packed in a container.

The geometry is an independent, flexible, robust, and non-invasive technique, with the potential to be used in various fields of science spanning materials to biology as well as space exploration, the professor added. On how it differs from other screening mechanisms in the world, Prof Umapathy explained that the UK, USA and Japan have various advanced technologies in place to detect liquids.

While authorities at the Kobe airport in Japan are trying out microwave technology to detect explosives, London's Heathrow airport is reported to be using laser spectroscopy to screen for prohibited substances, he said, adding, "The speed and penetration level in our technology is quite high: While the process to screen the material is generally within 100 milliseconds, we have demonstrated profiling depths from a distance of 25 cm (can go up to 50 cm in laboratory condition)."

With the UMARS prototype ready and in progress for miniaturisation of the instrument, the two scientists are exploring commercialisation of their find. "We want to work with industries in the security and defence sectors, there is tremendous scope for its deployment in the country," Prof Umapathy said about the patented product.

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT?

Prof Siva Umapathy and Dr Sanchita Sil explain: "Non-invasive 3D imaging in materials and medical research involves methodologies such as X-ray, MRI, fluorescence and optical coherence tomography and NIR absorption and magnetic resonance.

These techniques provide information on morphology or density or changes in the bulk properties of materials but with no specific information on the chemical composition of the material.

Here, we present a new method using Raman scattering principles to record Raman spectra of concealed chemicals that provide unique molecular signatures of the species present." Raman spectroscopy is a form of molecular spectroscopy that was used to provide the first catalogue of molecular vibrational frequencies.

Raman discovered that when light traverses a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes in wavelength. This phenomenon is now called Raman scattering.

WHERE ELSE CAN IT BE USED?

POST OFFICES: Screening of envelopes for chemicals can be done without having to open the packet. Remember the US White House officials' fear of the anthrax virus being transmitted through mail? UMARS can make such a scenario an impossibility
MNCS: Suspicious material can be scanned at the entrance itself by subjecting all packets to UMARS technology. Even counterfeit drugs can be detected
RAILWAY STATION: A portable system can be installed at the railway station to detect explosives in small packets and hazardous chemicals in bottles
CHECK-POSTS: Smuggling of narcotics and hazardous chemicals can be checked. Could be of use to army personnel manning border check-posts

 

[cobra commando]

India Can Export Fighter Planes, Missiles: DRDO Chief - The New Indian Express

 

[ladder]

India Can Export Fighter Planes, Missiles: DRDO Chief - The New Indian Express

Chander said there was a scope for exporting 500-1,000 "cost competitive" indigenously developed LCA Tejas combat aircraft.

Not possible by any standard. Dr. Chander might have not taken into account that with JSF entering the service, thousand of used F-16 will be available in the market. Also, South Korean F/A 50 will be a competitor, which already has secured two export orders.

F/A 50 with the same power plant as Tejas Mk-1 and a rather conservative design based on F-16 perhaps inspires more confidence among small air forces.

Those allergic to USA will go for JF-17 or other designs.

Also, the LIFT aircraft have evolved considerably to dent the market of light fighters. A twin engine LIFT under some condition will be a better choice for non serious and small air force.

Though we can export a few Tejas, but that will require good diplomatic effort and good service by HAL.

 

[abhi_the _gr8_maratha]

Defence News - India's Defense Preparedness on Top Gear
.
.
India's defence preparedness has got a
shot in its arms in yet another
significant development when
Bangalore based Electronics and Radar
Development Establishment (LRDE)
announced to acquire a Dornier 228
light-weight aircraft for its own testing
of radar in air.
Named 'Nabhrathna', the aircraft
signify a jewel in the sky.
State-run aerospace firm Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on 1 May
2014 handed over the DO- 228 aircraft
to the DRDO for further upgradation.
The aircraft is to be equipped with
indigenous synthetic Aperture Radar
and state-of-the-art avionics and
communication system. HAL had
signed the contract for Nabhratna
Flying test bird aircraft in May 2013
and completed the project in May 2014,
six months before schedule time of
November 2014.
The significance of Nabhratna is
whenever LRDE needed to test any
radar under development; they had to
approach Indian Navy or Indian Coast
Guard for loan allotment of DO-228
aircraft for limited period. As it was
difficult to spare the aircraft because
of operational needs that resulted in
delay in the development of radars,
the LRDE decided to procure one
DO-228 aircraft for its own testing of
radar in air. The aircraft will be used by
LRDE as flying test bed (FTB) for
evaluation of performance of various
radars being developed by LRDE.

 

[cobra commando]

HAL inducts over 400 young officers | Business Standard News

 

[power_monger]

DRDO preparing for tommorrow - Talk by Shri Avinash Chander

 

[cobra commando]

First Woman Director For DRDO Lab

BANGALORE: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday appointed J Manjula as Director of Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE), Bangalore. She becomes the first woman director of a Bangalore-based DRDO lab and succeeds P Soundarrajan, who retired last month. An expert in integrated electronic warfare, Manjula, designated as an 'Outstanding Scientist' of DRDO, said her priority will be to indigenise the various electronic warfare systems for the Indian Air Force. "In the next two years, we will work towards building more Indian-made critical systems for various assets of IAF," she said.
First Woman Director For DRDO Lab - The New Indian Express

 

[cobra commando]

Bahrain Seeks HAL Support

[highlight]Bahrain's Minister for transport Mr. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed, (second from left) with Dr. R.K. Tyagi, Chairman, HAL (centre) and Mr. K. NareshBabu, MD, Bangalore Complex (right) at Farnborough Air Show (London) on July 15, 2014.[/highlight]

Bahrain's Minister for transport Mr. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed who also looks after his country's defence matters, visited HAL Chalet at the on-going Farnborough International Air Show (July 14 to 20) and evinced keen interest in HAL's activities. At a meeting with HAL Chairman Dr. R.K. Tyagi and Company Directors, he sought HAL's technical support in maintaining the Hawk fleet of Bahrain Air Force. He also urged HAL to increase its participation level at the biennial Bahrain Air Show. "Without HAL, our shows are incomplete", he told HAL top executives. He felt that Indian Defence companies have a lot to offer to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Bahrain could play a key role in all this. Earlier this year, HAL had sent a small delegation to the Bahrain Air Show to explore the possible areas of cooperation. A team from Bahrain followed it up immediately with their visit to HAL during Defexpo in Delhi.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

 

[cobra commando]

India To Sell Partial Stake in HAL

NEW DELHI — India will sell 10 percent of its 100 percent stake in monopoly military aircraft producer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), a senior Defence Ministry official said. All formalities have been cleared and the 10 percent stake will be put on sale by October, the official said. HAL, with an annual turnover of US $2.53 billion, is the country's sole producer of military aircraft. It plans to use money from the sale to finance a $5 billion modernization of the company, said the MoD official. The government, however, has no plans to privatize HAL by selling over 50 percent of its stake in the company, the MoD official clarified. HAL needs extra funds to add manufacturing facilities to produce the fighter aircraft that will be selected by the Indian Air Force for its $12 billion Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft program. The Rafale has been downselected and contract negotiations are underway. HAL has also tied up with Sukhoi to develop a fifth-generation fighter aircraft for which HAL will need to set up separate production lines. HAL will need another production line for serial production of the homemade Light Combat Aircraft, which is likely to be inducted this year. Currently, HAL is the license producer of the British-made Hawk advanced jet trainer and the Russian-made Sukhoi fighter aircraft. HAL also manufacturers helicopters, aircraft and UAVs, and is developing an indigenous light utility helicopter.
India To Sell Partial Stake in HAL | Defense News | defensenews.com

 

[cobra commando]

Defence Ministry inducts IAF Deputy Chief Air Marshal S B Sinha in HAL board

NEW DELHI: Meeting a long- pending demand of Indian Air Force, the government has inducted one of its senior officer in the board of state- owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The move to induct IAF Deputy Chief Air Marshal S B Sinha will help the force to have more say in the functioning of country's only aerospace firm and force's largest supplier, Defence Ministry officials told PTI here. The IAF, which is the largest customer of HAL, had been demanding for a long time to have its representatives in the HAL Board of Directors headed by its Chairman R K Tyagi, they said. The first meeting of the HAL board with its new member was held recently in which it took a number of decisions such as creating a skill development body, spending more money for research and development activities were taken, they said. Almost all the aircraft projects of the IAF including the Su-30 MKI, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas and multirole transport aircraft are with the HAL. The IAF and HAL were not on the same page recently over the issue of Pilatus basic trainer aircraft project as the air force favoured imports for meeting it's requirement to train rookie pilots whereas the HAL wanted to develop it indigenously. The government is also going ahead with its plans to disinvest 10 per cent stakes from the aerospace PSU with order books worth over 1 lakh crore.
Defence Ministry inducts IAF Deputy Chief Air Marshal S B Sinha in HAL board - The Economic Times