DRDO, PSU and Private Defence Sector News

[abingdonboy]

Can't help it. For long DRDO has been criticized for biting more than it can chew. So they are taking successive approach. Also, the budget allocated to R&D is a factor.

Besides SFDR is at this point more important a project than a CCM could ever be. Simply because of the fact that a Fighter jet carries at least double the number of BVRAAM than a WVRAAM.

How I see it. DRDO will first take MICA IR approach by converting Astra MK-1 into an IR guided missile bu changing its KU bank seeker and adding TVC. The technologies are under development but the entire product is not, though.

Like I said. Force services’ hand. They are happy to throw billions are foreign companies for CCM, take a fraction of that and give it to DRDO for development of their CCM.

necessity is the mother of all invention, by giving the armed forces the option to go abroad it only further disincentives domestic projects.

 

[Defcon 1]

These days when a project is initiated with a service in mind the service will contribute to development costs from outset. So if users work with DRDO then this budget issue is non-existent

DRDO’s annual budget is not even 20% of the CAPEX of the armed forces, clearly there’s ambple scope to provide them more if the users are interested.

This is very idealistic thinking. As I said, very unrealistic. Services haven't contributed to any significant program other than probably lca navy.

 

[cyclops]

Close up photo of MPATGM's test by DRDO.....

I hope they end up using Tonbo Imaging's CLU.

 

[Kay]

Can't help it. For long DRDO has been criticized for biting more than it can chew. So they are taking successive approach. Also, the budget allocated to R&D is a factor.

Besides SFDR is at this point more important a project than a CCM could ever be. Simply because of the fact that a Fighter jet carries at least double the number of BVRAAM than a WVRAAM.

How I see it. DRDO will take MICA IR approach by converting Astra MK-1 into an IR guided missile by changing its KU band seeker with an IR seeker and adding TVC to present propulsion.

The technologies are under development but the entire product is not.

The WVRAAM has to be a different airframe than Astra as it is supposed to pull higher g's than BVRAAM.
Even if the budget is less, there should be at least a design study in place for WVRAAM and manpad development.

 

[sthf]

Like I said. Force services’ hand. They are happy to throw billions are foreign companies for CCM, take a fraction of that and give it to DRDO for development of their CCM.

necessity is the mother of all invention, by giving the armed forces the option to go abroad it only further disincentives domestic projects.

Shoving something down Armed Forces' throat has the potential of backfiring spectacularly. They are highly subservient to "Desh ke ladle" netas as it is, taking away their choice of armaments will be a disaster.

Post Kargil, all IAF wanted was more M2Ks but since the then leadership lacked spine, feared a corrupt to boot bureaucracy will do a Bofors with or without the will of political masters and the result is for all of us to see. That drama is still continuing to this day and it's bleeding 2019 now with no end in sight. Hundreds of pilots lost because political class was busy saving it's own ass.

This is not to defend the asinine tantrums of the forces but after the carbine selection, I now firmly believe that forces are doing this out of desperation as they will rather buy "mediocre" stuff from private vendors than the "world class" stuff from Sarkari babus.

 

[Archer]

DRDO's year book says that has 'Fire and Forget' capabilities.
Not sure if that rules out laser guided part. Would be awesome to have both!

No laser guidance, IIR seeker.

 

[Rahul Singh]

The WVRAAM has to be a different airframe than Astra as it is supposed to pull higher g's than BVRAAM.
Even if the budget is less, there should be at least a design study in place for WVRAAM and manpad development.

MICA uses the same airframe for both IR guidance and RF. So a similar approach can also be adopted for Astra IR.

Addition of canards and TVC will do the job.

 

[Kay]

MICA uses the same airframe for both IR guidance and RF. So a similar approach can also be adopted for Astra IR.

Addition of canards and TVC will do the job.

MICA is a much smaller missile and mating the maneuverability requirements of a WVRAAM and longer engagement distances and speed of BVRAAM is difficult and can lead to a compromised design, specially in a larger airframe and in first go.
India is better off trying to buuld something like IRIS-T or A-Darter.
Canards and TVC addition means a new missile.

 

[Tang]

But HAL's been producing DO-228 for decades and will continue to do so and even proposing it for civilian UDAN scheme as well. Doesn't it make sense for them to increase indigenization percentage which would help them propagate "Make in India" to GOI?

They are doing so,
Every DPSU is indigenising every part of their product portfolio,via msme and otherwise.
Visit the website of these DPSU,go under make in India section.
See it yourself.

 

[patriots]

Induction of Indigenous Bridge in Corps of Engineers: 5 Metre Short Span Bridge has been formally handed over to the #IndianArmy. The Bridge aims to provide mobility to country's forces by speedy establishment of bridges

 

[patriots]

Next-gen desi anti-radiation missile set for trials with passive seeker
https://english.manoramaonline.com/...ials-ngarm.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true

 

[SanjeevM]

Is it possible for DRDO to make smart mortar shells that have seeker and wings for maneuvering?

If this can be done, we don't need to fire 1000s of mortar shells, a few can take enemy mortar positions and ammunition dumps that may be located behind the hills with precision. Seekers can seek heavy metal objects. So a dump of mortar shells on enemy side can be targeted with low cost shells. They can be backed with support from weapons locating radars.

 

[Enquirer]

Is it possible for DRDO to make smart mortar shells that have seeker and wings for maneuvering?

If this can be done, we don't need to fire 1000s of mortar shells, a few can take enemy mortar positions and ammunition dumps that may be located behind the hills with precision. Seekers can seek heavy metal objects. So a dump of mortar shells on enemy side can be targeted with low cost shells. They can be backed with support from weapons locating radars.

It's technically doable but it won't be 'low cost'!!
Excalibur shells (that are gps guided) cost around $100K each!!!

The key issue is that an artillery projectile (I am not discussing a mortar) suffers about 60,000 G force (whereas a missile just suffers about 20-30 Gs). Just imagine the kind of electronics & sensors that needs to be produced to withstand that kind of forces!!!!

That said, I think DRDO is trying to develop some guided shells.

 

[SanjeevM]

It's technically doable but it won't be 'low cost'!!
Excalibur shells (that are gps guided) cost around $100K each!!!

The key issue is that an artillery projectile (I am not discussing a mortar) suffers about 60,000 G force (whereas a missile just suffers about 20-30 Gs). Just imagine the kind of electronics & sensors that needs to be produced to withstand that kind of forces!!!!

That said, I think DRDO is trying to develop some guided shells.

Instead of GPS tracker, tracking metals like a magnet near the target area, wouldn't it be cheaper?

 

[Enquirer]

Instead of GPS tracker, tracking metals like a magnet near the target area, wouldn't it be cheaper?

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[SanjeevM]

I meant instead of high end seekers, if low cost seekers be made? Wouldn't G force required for mortar shell lesser than artillery shell? Apologize for my ignorance. Just had a thought.

 

[Vorschlaghammer]

Instead of designing shells with control fins, and expensive electro optical seekers, something like the M1156 PGK combined fuze and guidance package is cheaper and screws onto existing shell bodies.

 

[Enquirer]

Instead of designing shells with control fins, and expensive electro optical seekers, something like the M1156 PGK combined fuze and guidance package is cheaper and screws onto existing shell bodies.

Same principle (control fins, GPS guidance etc) but low accuracy and low price.

 

[Vorschlaghammer]

Same principle (control fins, GPS guidance etc) but low accuracy and low price.

Yep, pinpoint stuff don't come cheap. All depends on tactical requirement. If you have something like the old soviet 240mm breech loader mortar, it'll bust fortifications by sheer explosive weight. The heavy shells are not affected too much by windage and the heavy construction of the platform helps accuracy.

 

[Chinmoy]

Is it possible for DRDO to make smart mortar shells that have seeker and wings for maneuvering?

If this can be done, we don't need to fire 1000s of mortar shells, a few can take enemy mortar positions and ammunition dumps that may be located behind the hills with precision. Seekers can seek heavy metal objects. So a dump of mortar shells on enemy side can be targeted with low cost shells. They can be backed with support from weapons locating radars.

You mean something like this>?