Possible hybrid weapon platforms for India

[arnabmit]

What weapon platforms can we make out of the weapon platforms that we already have?

I have a few in mind:

Astra-1 can evolve into a VSHORAD SAM or MANPADS with 10-15km range.

Astra-2 can evolve into a QR-SRSAM with 20-25km range which can be used for Army AD, Naval CIWS or IAF Point Defence systems.

AAD can evolve into our home grown MR-SAM in the 40-60km range. ("Ashwin" probably planned)

PDV can evolve into our own ER-SAM with 150+km range.

Pragati can evolve into MR coastal defence system with the incorporation of seekers and control surfaces with 150km range.

Short range Nirbhay with transonic propulsion can give us cheap long range coastal defence system with 500km range. Same could be used as a land attack cruise missile to bridge the gap between Brahmos and Nirbhay. (LFRJ-LRCM?)

Pinaka in a 122mm version with 20-30km range and 40 tube launcher which can be mounted on tracked/wheeled FICV and be part of Mechanized Infantry.

 

[mikhail]

What weapon platforms can we make out of the weapon platforms that we already have?

I have a few in mind:

Astra-1 can evolve into a VSHORAD SAM or MANPADS with 10-15km range.

Astra-2 can evolve into a QR-SRSAM with 20-25km range which can be used for Army AD, Naval CIWS or IAF Point Defence systems.

AAD can evolve into our home grown MR-SAM in the 40-60km range. ("Ashwin" probably planned)

PDV can evolve into our own ER-SAM with 150+km range.

Pragati can evolve into MR coastal defence system with the incorporation of seekers and control surfaces with 150km range.

Short range Nirbhay with transonic propulsion can give us cheap long range coastal defence system with 500km range. Same could be used as a land attack cruise missile to bridge the gap between Brahmos and Nirbhay. (LFRJ-LRCM?)

Pinaka in a 122mm version with 20-30km range and 40 tube launcher which can be mounted on tracked/wheeled FICV and be part of Mechanized Infantry.

Let's see if all of the above are feasible or not-
1)Astra-I can easily be turned into VSHORAD just like what the Yankees did with the Aim-7 Sparrow turning it into their primary VSHORAD Aim-7 Sea Sparrow.Hence it's feasible.
2)Astra-II will have a minimum range of around a 110 Kms in air-air version,so it's most likely that a SAM version of it will have a range of around 35-40 Kms for which we already have got our own indigenous Akash mk-1 version having a range between 25-35 kms.So no need for an addition Qr-MRSAM when there is already one available to the Indian forces.
3)AAD-First of all it's too expensive and cumbersome to be mass produced by India.So while it's range is really impressive the DRDO scientists should seriously consider about trimming them and making them more compact.If they are able to modify it further loosing some unwanted weight and making it TEL compatible,plus making it a bit more cheap then we'll have in our hands a really effective SAM which can serve as both MR-SAM and LR-SAM at the same time.So it's areally feasible option.
4)PDV-Same goes with the PDV.If only DRDO can modify it a bit and lower it's height,weight and make it compatible to TEL similar to Akash.
5)Pragati/Prahaar-This is absolutely feasible.
6)Making a short range,cheaper version of Nirbhay-Absolutely feasible.
7)Pinaka-Why modify it to 122 mm version when we already have the BM-21 Grad system in adequate numbers plus the current 214 mm version of Pinaka can do the job with equal ease plus the DRDO is already developing a longer version of 300 mm.So not a feasible option in my opinion.

 

[arnabmit]

2)Astra-II will have a minimum range of around a 110 Kms in air-air version,so it's most likely that a SAM version of it will have a range of around 35-40 Kms for which we already have got our own indigenous Akash mk-1 version having a range between 25-35 kms.So no need for an addition Qr-MRSAM when there is already one available to the Indian forces.

Akash is definitely not a Quick-Reaction SAM. Also, Akash is not VLS compatible. Astra-I based SAM can be the QR-SR-SAM which Trishul was being developed for, or Maitre was being planned. Astra-II based SAM would be of much higher range.

Astra-II BVR maximum range would be 120km if launched from high altitude. If it is surface launched, then the range would be maximum 40-50km.

SAM based on Astra-II would be able to out perform the Russian BUK/Shtil or MBDA CAMM.

As a case study, think of P15B destroyers with 4 layer defence system:
Layer 1: 110km Barak8 ER-SAM
Layer 2: 40km Astra-II based MRSAM
Layer 3: 15km Astra-I based QR-SRSAM
Layer 4: 5km gun based CIWS

The defence of the entire flotilla would be impenetrable!

3)AAD-First of all it's too expensive and cumbersome to be mass produced by India.So while it's range is really impressive the DRDO scientists should seriously consider about trimming them and making them more compact.If they are able to modify it further loosing some unwanted weight and making it TEL compatible,plus making it a bit more cheap then we'll have in our hands a really effective SAM which can serve as both MR-SAM and LR-SAM at the same time.So it's areally feasible option.

4)PDV-Same goes with the PDV.If only DRDO can modify it a bit and lower it's height,weight and make it compatible to TEL similar to Akash.

Cost won't be a factor here. AAD and PDV based SAM can be our very own 9M83 & 9M83ME combine, used in S300. Height & weight won't really be a factor here when launched from a TELAR. 4 AAD based SAM would go on a TELAR, 2 PDV based SAM would go on a TELAR.

7)Pinaka-Why modify it to 122 mm version when we already have the BM-21 Grad system in adequate numbers plus the current 214 mm version of Pinaka can do the job with equal ease plus the DRDO is already developing a longer version of 300 mm.So not a feasible option in my opinion.

BM-21 is Cold War era stuff. Am talking about indigenous solution. Half the price, much better CEP, double the volume of production, no import hassles. 214mm & 300MM are standoff platforms, I am talking about offensive Mechanized Infantry.

 

[arnabmit]

Any other inputs? @Kunal Biswas @Twinblade @ersakthivel @p2prada

 

[ersakthivel]

mini brahmos, smaller than the one meant for su-30 MKI can be developed for both tejas and Mig-29 K.

 

[Twinblade]

What weapon platforms can we make out of the weapon platforms that we already have?

I have a few in mind:

Astra-1 can evolve into a VSHORAD SAM or MANPADS with 10-15km range.

Too heavy for manpads and too expensive for VSHORADS.

Astra-2 can evolve into a QR-SRSAM with 20-25km range which can be used for Army AD, Naval CIWS or IAF Point Defence systems.

Not enough info available to make such call. MICA is a good choice for Maitri because it has the maneuverability of a short range missile and energy of a medium range missile. 50g at 7 Km altitude compared to 25-40g for other missiles at sea level.

AAD can evolve into our home grown MR-SAM in the 40-60km range. ("Ashwin" probably planned)

Ashwin is supposed to be 150 Km+.

PDV can evolve into our own ER-SAM with 150+km range.

There are already plans to make 300+ km SAMs
Long-range SAMs, cruise missiles for all platforms: Avinash Chander - The Hindu

Pragati can evolve into MR coastal defence system with the incorporation of seekers and control surfaces with 150km range.

In what role ? Pragati does not have the ability to hit moving targets. Coast Guard ships equipped with Nag or CLGM can do the job adequately. For anything that needs more firepower there's Brahmos, Gabriel and Harpoons. A domestic subsonic sea skimmer isn't the top of priorities right now as Indian navy has decided to invest in supersonic and hypersonic future. So the role might have to be filled by cruise missiles.

Short range Nirbhay with transonic propulsion can give us cheap long range coastal defence system with 500km range. Same could be used as a land attack cruise missile to bridge the gap between Brahmos and Nirbhay. (LFRJ-LRCM?)

Agreed on first part. If a short ranged Nirbhay needs to be developed, it needs to be developed in the size of internal bay for stealth fighters (Kongsberg NSM or Rocketsan SOM). LRCM project is a supersonic cruise missile (600km+)

Pinaka in a 122mm version with 20-30km range and 40 tube launcher which can be mounted on tracked/wheeled FICV and be part of Mechanized Infantry.

Enhanced range 122 mm rockets (with up to 40 km range) are already in Indian service. Tracked vehicles are maintenance nightmares and only good for offroad performance.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Just like the Tracked SPGH, An tracked MRLS would add huge firepower to Armored forces, Tracked in necessary because the wheeled system cannot keep up with Armour-ed formations over rough terrian, The reason for which Akash SAM is also have tracked version ..

BM-21 is Cold War era stuff. Am talking about indigenous solution. Half the price, much better CEP, double the volume of production, no import hassles. 214mm & 300MM are standoff platforms, I am talking about offensive Mechanized Infantry.

 

[arnabmit]

Too heavy for manpads and too expensive for VSHORADS.

A derivative of course, not as-it-is. A much lighter, shorter ranged version. 10-15km range.

Not enough info available to make such call. MICA is a good choice for Maitri because it has the maneuverability of a short range missile and energy of a medium range missile. 50g at 7 Km altitude compared to 25-40g for other missiles at sea level.

I was talking about something like this:
[video=youtube_share;Vi-BsEJQ1t0]http://youtu.be/Vi-BsEJQ1t0[/video]

Ashwin is supposed to be 150 Km+.

There are already plans to make 300+ km SAMs
Long-range SAMs, cruise missiles for all platforms: Avinash Chander - The Hindu

Aah, fingers crossed. We desperately need at least S300VM class SAMs.

In what role ? Pragati does not have the ability to hit moving targets. Coast Guard ships equipped with Nag or CLGM can do the job adequately. For anything that needs more firepower there's Brahmos, Gabriel and Harpoons. A domestic subsonic sea skimmer isn't the top of priorities right now as Indian navy has decided to invest in supersonic and hypersonic future. So the role might have to be filled by cruise missiles.

Not Pragati as it is now, but with active seeker/guidance and control surfaces/thrusters. NAG/CLGM would have sub 10km range. Am talking about 100-150km range.

Agreed on first part. If a short ranged Nirbhay needs to be developed, it needs to be developed in the size of internal bay for stealth fighters (Kongsberg NSM or Rocketsan SOM). LRCM project is a supersonic cruise missile (600km+)

Yup, That's what am talking about, but in a transonic package. Let's say Mach 1.5, 500km range.

Enhanced range 122 mm rockets (with up to 40 km range) are already in Indian service. Tracked vehicles are maintenance nightmares and only good for offroad performance.

Are the 122mm 40km rockets indigenous or imported. Good if former, my suggestion is in case it is the later. Tracked platforms are invaluable for desert and marshes, wheeled for other terrains. FICV would have both, right?