DRDO, PSU and Private Defence Sector News

[RPK]

Sharpshooting just got easier


A holography technology company based at Technopark here has bagged the gold medal at the India Innovation Growth Programme (IIGP) for its technology innovation which could revolutionise the concept of sharpshooting.

The award was presented by Minister for Science & Technology Prithviraj Chavan in New Delhi last week at the culmination of the programme which was jointly organised by the Department of Science and Technology and Lockheed Martin USA.

According to Dr P T Ajithkumar, president and lead scientist of Light Logics, the conventional red dot sights and laser sights which were being used now had a very limited field of view because of its tubular vision.

The "Next generation Holographic Weapon Sight'' developed by the company enabled sharpshooting in a "tactical engagement area''. The hologram when illuminated with a laser beam produced a distant virtual image of a tiny spot covered by a circle. "The soldier looks through the 'Sight' fixed on the gun and uses this image to easily aim the target,'' he said.
Ajithkumar said that the new technology was tested by DRDO and optimisation was done for two years. "The field level testing was jointly done by DRDO and Indian Army and the results were successful. The new 'Sight' was an innovation on this and claims to have advanced features including 100 per cent diffraction efficiency and better battery life.
The IIGP sifted through 500 innovative ideas from across the country and shortlisted them after six months of scrutiny. The commercial feasibility of the technologies was also conducted by the IC2 Institute, University of Texas in association with FICCI.
Ajithkumar said his technology owed its success to the technology business incubator (TBI) facility at Technopark.

 

[nandu]

India Thought Leaders: HAL Chairman Sets Firm Agenda For Aggressive Export Sales

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) sits on a robust order book close to Rs 80,000 crore, showing the company's resounding health. As the backbone of the armed services, especially the Indian Air Force (IAF), HAL has firmed up a flight path to stay on top as South Asia's market leader. Brightening its outlook are a series of fixed-wing and rotary platform projects. The offset policy has also been a huge blessing, with a number of global leaders working closely with HAL. Provisional sales for 2009-10 stood at Rs 11,415 crore, up about 10% over the previous year, while the profit before tax for the year stood at Rs 2,617 crore, with growth of 12% over the previous year. The order book has also swelled by more than Rs 12,000 crore during the year. At the company's controls is a man who has ushered in a new shop-floor-driven, intense working philosophy. AVIATION WEEK met HAL Chairman Ashok Nayak as part of its India Thought Leaders (ITL) series.

AW: It has been over an year since you have assumed office. When you look back, what are your accomplishments so far?

A.N.: Well, let me take you through some significant ones, point by point.

· Maiden flight on the first Technology Demonstrator (TD-1) of Light Combat Helicopter on 29 March 2010.

· First flight of LCA Trainer aircraft (PV-5) in November '09.

· Integration and flight evaluation of the new Russian engine AL-55I on the IJT and production of the first Limited Series Production Aircraft.

· Production and Delivery of the first six Raw Material Phase Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer Aircraft.

· Fresh orders have been received for the supply of IJT, DO-228, and an upgrade of Jaguar DARIN-III standard.

The company achieved an excellent rating during 2009-10 against the Memorandum of Understanding with the MoD.

· More emphasis was given to customer support. Servicing of helicopters was taken up at Customer Bases to reduce the time involved in ferry to HAL.

· A new joint venture, International Aerospace Manufacturing Pvt Ltd, was formed with Rolls-Royce (RR) in Bangalore. The JV will be engaged in machining of compressor shrouds and casings (up to 800 mm. dia.) for Civil Aero Engines for RR. This will establish indigenous capability in the manufacture of parts for large civil aero engines.

AW: When you put 2010-11 in perspective, what are the key projects that could enter various levels of completion?

A.N.: We are targeting commencement of delivery of the ALH-Mk-III variant to IAF and the Army. ALH-Mk-III is the helicopter with Shakti engine and mission sensors suited for military applications, including high- altitude operations. Weapon trials on ALH Mk.IV (Armed Variant) also will be completed toward certification of the variant. Another major milestone targeted is the delivery of IJT for user trials. The flight evaluation of the AL-55i engine has been completed. Evaluation of spin characteristics, one of the critical flight parameters for a trainer aircraft, is planned in the year.

AW: Could you give us an update on various ongoing programs?

A.N.: (a) SU-30MKI : The present schedule will be completed by 2015-16. Additional orders are anticipated from IAF, and this will keep the production line active till 2017-18.

(b) Hawk: Technology absorption envisaged in the program is completed and production of aircraft from raw materials is under progress. Additional orders are anticipated and will keep the production line active till 2016-17.

(c) ALH: ALH with the Shakti engine suitable for high altitude operations for the IAF and the Army are under production for delivery commencing shortly in 2010. Production of armed variant with turret gun, rocket pod and air-to-air missiles along with Helmet Pointing System is planned in 2010-11.

(d) LCA: Limited Series Production is progressing at HAL. Three more aircraft from the LSP series will join the flight phase during the year. The trainer variant prototype took to the skies in November '09. The second trainer prototype is under progress. These will hasten up the process of achieving Initial Operation Clearance, which is expected to be achieved in December 2010, and the subsequent induction of the first squadron of LCAs into IAF by 2011.

(e) IJT: The certification process is expected to be completed in 2010. Concurrent production of Limited Series is progressing, and the first aircraft under the Limited Series Aircraft was flight tested in January '10. A contract for 73 IJT aircraft has been concluded and the production will be undertaken at Kanpur.

(f) LCH: Maiden flight of the first Technology Demonstrator (TD-1) of the Light Combat Helicopter was completed on 29 March 2010. Work on the second prototype is progressing. Initial Operation Clearance is expected by December 2011. Though LCH was intended for induction by IAF, now the Army is also considering its acquisition.

(g) LUH: Government sanction for the project was accorded in February 2009. Mockup build is completed. Design activities at RWRDC are progressing and the first flight is planned in 2012. This will be a light helicopter in the 3-ton category suitable for replacing the Cheetah/Chetak helicopters. LUH will be powered by the Shakti class of engine suitable for high altitude operations.

AW: Among all the JVs, which are the ones we could look at this year that are sure to deliver concrete results?

A.N.: HAL has 10 JVCs. Out of them three JVCs viz. BAE-HAL Software Ltd., Indo-Russian Aviation Ltd. and Snecma-HAL Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. are fully operational and are making a profit. The other JVCs are in their initial phase of operations and will break even shortly. In the case of Samtel HAL Display Systems Ltd. and Edgewood Technologies Pvt. Ltd., the initial set of products developed is under the testing and proving phase. Deliveries would commence in 2010-11. The HALBIT Avionics Pvt. Ltd., Infotech HAL Ltd. and Tata-HAL Technologies Ltd. is expected to generate profits from the current year. HATSOFF Helicopter Training Pvt. Ltd. will commence operations from July 2010.

AW: What is the latest from the export front? What kind of export targets have you set for this fiscal year?

A.N.: HAL has registered exports of Rs 195 crore during 2009-10 and has set a target of Rs 210 crore for the fiscal year 2010-11. HAL's exports fall into three categories: supply of aircraft (Dhruv, Cheetal/Chetak, Dornier); supply of spares and services to Aircraft and Engines, which fall into HAL's production line and supply of work packages. These work packages are supplies over an extended period of time.

Some of the contracts signed last year and the deliveries are underway to earn long-term benefits. They are: a) supply of Honeywell Garett TPE-331-12 Engine. Contract signed in April 2008 for 600 ship sets (projected value 170MUSD); b) supply of Flaperons to Boeing (contract signed in August 2009, value 37.275 MUSD; c) supply of main passenger door for Legacy 450/500 Aircraft (contract signed in December 2009, value 80 MUSD); (d) supply of weapons bay door for P8-I (contract signed in December 2009, value 4.7 MUSD.)

HAL will also be exporting two Dhruv helicopters to Ecuador, three Chetak helicopters to Surname and one Cheetal and two Chetak helicopters to Namibia.

AW: What kind of firm orders do you have for Dhruv from the Indian customers, including the armed services?

A.N.: Apart from the firm orders for the supply of 159 Dhruv helicopters to the Indian armed forces, orders have been secured for the supply of eight Dhruv helicopters to the Border Security Force. HAL has also supplied civil Dhruv helicopters to ONGC, the government of Jharkhand and the Geological Survey of India.

AW: What update could you give on the HPT-32 revival?

A.N.: A High Power Study Team (HPST) constituted by IAF has recommended certain modifications for increasing the reliability of the aircraft. Initially, modification on 10 aircraft has been taken up for completion by Sept. 10, after which IAF will flight evaluate for their efficacy. IAF will decide on the resumption of flights after this evaluation. An aircraft parachute recovery system is also planned for installation on the aircraft. This would give a safety alternative to the pilots in case of engine failures in midair.

AW: What is the latest from fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA)?

A.N.: Negotiations are currently progressing for concluding the Preliminary Design (PD) contract. The PD contract is expected to be signed shortly, and this phase is estimated to be completed in 18 months. The PD phase will be the preparatory phase during which the transfer of documents, drawings, training, etc. will take place for enabling the joint design, development and manufacture of the FGFA. The conclusion of the PD phase will lead into the R&D phase, which is estimated to be of 102 months' duration.

AW: How far has HAL been able to penetrate the global market? Where do you position HAL by 2012?

A.N.: HAL is emerging as a globally competitive aerospace company, winning the confidence of customers through the supply of high-precision structural work packages to leading global aerospace companies such as Airbus and RUAG in Europe, Boeing in North America and Embraer in South America. We will gradually focus on export of indigenously developed helicopters and trainer aircraft in the future. We will strive to harness the opportunities that emerge through offset. These should take the HAL export sales to substantially higher values in the years to come.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene... Sets Firm Agenda For Aggressive Export Sales

 

[prabhudoon]

corruption in DRDO

Dear friends
DRDO is our premier organization, and our first aim to clean the DRDO from corruption and nepotism.then only we can able to get fruitful output from DRDO


regards
prabhu

 

[Armand2REP]

I have to disagree with the views of the chief here, the armed forces especially Indian armed forces does not have the luxury or time to encourage indegenisation they cannot afford to get emotional with there judgement they have to guard the most highest peaks to the most busiest sea trading routes from not just one but two hostile countries.

Agreed, but you have to give some support to home industry if you want one. Purchase of foreign equipment should be no more than 50%, not 75% as it currently is.

One one side you have pakistan buying anything from F-16's,aghosta subs, AWACS from swedens JF_17 fighters

Pakistan is buying and being gifted weapons they can't afford to maintain. They can't even meet their IMF commitments. Double digit inflation, expanding deficits, and slow economic growth does not translate into a huge threat. It translates into a state soon to be bankrupt. They will be in the same position as Greece with major austerity needed.

from china , and on the other hand china who recently demonstated to the world that it has Anti-satallite capabilities by distroying its own satallite and also succesfully testing its own anti carrier missle and already achiving encouraging results in avionics by building a/c's many people argue and ridicule there technical capabilities but at least they are years ahed of us when we are still struggling with our own program for 30 years

They successfully tested their anti-carrier missile? I think I would have heard about that.

so with these alarming developments the armed forces does not have the luxury to be emotional like DRDO chief they have to be realistic they have to win a war and to do that they need sophisticated systems to help them win its as simple as that,

You play too much into CCP propaganda and DoD hype. China is trying to make themselves look more competent than they are and DoD is trying to get people to believe it so they can secure funding. If they have to be realistic then let them be realistic, Chinese capabilities are no better than Indian, just more peasant army. India failed to develop Kaveri, China failed to develop WS-10A. At least India can fall back on France. China has no one to help, not even Russia will play ball with them now.

DRDO should be realistic they promise to much and deliver too little and too late like when former army general V.K.malik commented on the lack of proper decent weapons even clothing for those high altitute posts resulting in a lot of soldiers losing there limbs to frostbites and the lack of WLR's which DRDO promised but never delivered, attack helicopters, and other eqipments if not for the mirage 2000 even air support would have been impossible so its simple if it wants the armed forces to buy indegenious weapons they have to deliver world class quality on time however possible or don't complain

The one thing DRDO and India should be competent in is land warfare systems. There is no excuse for signing JVs for things as simple as tactical vehicles and machine guns. Nor should they have a problem providing adequate clothing. These things can be resolved quit easily if the funding is provided and it will help shore up the export deficit. There are many things the DRDO shake-up needs to accomplish like focusing on core technologies and not a 1000 +1 projects that they can't hope to complete. Clear goals and strong leadership. Proper allocation of resources and far more capital expenditure. India can have a 50:50 ratio if it wants, it just has to have the will to make the changes.

 

[pavanvenkatesh]

Agreed, but you have to give some support to home industry if you want one. Purchase of foreign equipment should be no more than 50%, not 75% as it currently is.

The armed forces has always supported the home industry all the time like the army which purchased the pinaka MBRLS,BFS radar,Rajendra radar,Weapons Location radars, portable 2d radar,3D CAR radars, INDRA Radars,the NBC vehicle,NAMICA nag missle carrier (still in testing), the navy has always used homegrown sonars like the humsa, towed sonars, heavy torpedoes light torpedoes, not to mention ALH Druv,Chetak, Samyukta EW systems,Radar warning receivers for IAF also the ASHLESA 3D SR Radar for IAF they have been supporting C3I systems all are indegeniously developed all i said was develop classequipment the armed forces will defenatly buy we cannot expect them to buy low quality products just to encourage home grown industry They successfully tested their anti-carrier missile? I think I would have heard about that.

They successfully tested their anti-carrier missile? I think I would have heard about that.

They are going to test it soon, they have almost developed the tech i believe but you know how secretive the chinese govt. is it has sent other G5 countries in tizzy i am looking for other links will post soon
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=annrZr9ybk7A
http://thetaiwanlink.blogspot.com/2009/06/chinas-anti-ship-ballistic-missile_17.html

 

[nandu]

Embraer Develops Complementary Platforms For Indian Systems

The joint development of an Airborne Early Warning system by Embraer and India's Defense Research Development Organization for the Indian Air Force is on track.

The first flight of the modified EMB-145 will take place in December or early next year, Orlando Jose Ferreira Neto, executive vice president for defense systems, told Aerospace DAILY.

The first fuselage was joined for India's early warning aircraft in March for the first of three EMB-145s to be fitted with the Indian-designed antenna.

The Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU), developed by DRDO's Center for Airborne Systems, will then be integrated into the modified EMB-145 aircraft under the agreement, with certification to follow. Deliveries are expected to start in 2011.

While the challenges of integration have been many, "we are trying to mitigate risks," Neto says. "Talks are on how we shall integrate. It's a specific product with a specific objective.

"It's a new system, a new platform. We'll see what to do with it next because it is a state-of-the-art product — an update of platforms we have been selling," Neto adds.

Brazil uses the Ericsson Erieye radar on the EMB-99 or EMB-145. Erieye is a long-range pulse Doppler radar, fitted with fixed active phased array antenna. The 9-meter long, 900-kg. antenna unit is mounted on the upper spine of the fuselage and gives the aircraft its distinctive appearance. Rather than a conventional rotodome antenna system, Erieye has a fixed, dual-sided and electronically scanned antenna mounted on top of the fuselage, placing less demand on aircraft size.

Pakistan took delivery of its second Saab-2000 Erieye aircraft in late April. The Indian Air Force is said to be looking at acquiring 20 more systems.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...ps Complementary Platforms For Indian Systems

 

[prabhudoon]

In the name of technology development DRDO rely on the import of current technology (normally declared obsolete by Russia, USA, Israel, France etc)
The imported items are shown/demonstrated to users (ARMY/Navy/Air force). When it comes to mass development the actual fight begins between PSU's and DRDO. It is because DRDO does not know the inherent property and fails to prepare proper TOT as required.
DRDO directors are bluff-masters. They act as if DRDO Labs are autonomous bodies. They have been trained by their predecessors to bluff and simply bluff. The Minister normally does not ask technical questions as a result DRDO has become a bluff-masters' paradise.

 

[nitesh]

In the name of technology development DRDO rely on the import of current technology (normally declared obsolete by Russia, USA, Israel, France etc)
The imported items are shown/demonstrated to users (ARMY/Navy/Air force). When it comes to mass development the actual fight begins between PSU's and DRDO. It is because DRDO does not know the inherent property and fails to prepare proper TOT as required.
DRDO directors are bluff-masters. They act as if DRDO Labs are autonomous bodies. They have been trained by their predecessors to bluff and simply bluff. The Minister normally does not ask technical questions as a result DRDO has become a bluff-masters' paradise.

Wow so much of wisdom where you were all this time my lord. Care to explain from where you got so much of wisdom so we poor souls can get enlightenment

 

[nitesh]

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/201006032010060305293513175c7ec8c/Armour-of-defence.html

Armour of defence


DRDO and other scientific agencies showcase their products that offer protection to the defence personnel during biological, chemical or nuclear warfare

Renuka Phadnis
Posted On Thursday, June 03, 2010 at 05:29:35 AM

Going by the products showcased at the Bangalore India Bio 2010, it is clear the country is well-prepared for any kind of warfare, including biological, chemical or nuclear.

In this direction, DRDO Gwalior displayed its 100 per cent 'Made in India' products, meant for the defence forces at the two-day show that began on Wednesday. We give you a peek into some of these.

PROTECTIVE SUITS

These are clothing for medical responders for rescue operations in nuclear, biological or chemical warfare emergencies.

They are made of polyester fabric, which is waterproof. It is impervious to rain, sleet and snow. The suit has a mask with a filter made of particulate aerosol that provides contamination-free air to the wearer.

Application: Detonating bombs, gas leaks and for sewer-cleaning. The suits are colour-coded. White is for medical personnel, orange for radiation safety officers and navy blue for the team leaders.

SUBMARINE ESCAPE SUIT

A suit to rescue submariners from abandoned submarines. It is a self-control close-circuit breathing apparatus that allows the submariner to pass through various depths from 100m inside the sea to the surface with stops at each 10m during the ascent. The Indian Navy has asked for 500 such suits, according to sources.

RICIN SCAN

Even a milligram of ricin is enough to cause death. It can be put on door handles, on the pages of books or even be slipped into drinking water.

To find out whether a solution has ricin in it or not, the DRDO has developed a test kit. A drop of the liquid suspected to have ricin into the kit will indicate through colours whether it has ricin or not.

DRDO Gwalior is the nodal agency for dealing with applications for biological and chemical warfare. Throughout south Asia, only the laboratories from DRDO Gwalior are authorised to analyse such samples after accreditation from the UNO's Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Agents Warfare (OPCW).

One gram of ricin is produced from 1,000 kg of castor seeds. India is the third largest producer of castor seeds after Brazil and China.

'ALKET' CYANIDE ANTIDOTE

This antidote was developed to counter captured terrorists who try to commit suicide by consuming cyanide. Once the antidote is administered, the terrorist can be saved for gathering information.

DECONTAMINATION POST-CHEMICAL WARFARE

In case of a chemical warfare, blisters will appear and the effects can be fatal. DRDO has developed some powder that can be slathered over the skin.

NERVE AGENT POISON ANTIDOTE

For persons affected by nerve agent poisoning, an antidote developed by the DRDO can be injected every five minutes on the hip or buttocks to remove the poison till the person feels normal.

MICROBES CHECK FOR WATER

This is a test to check if the water has microbes. It is particularly of use during tsunami-like situations. The water turns black if contaminated.

'SHUDHIKA' SKIN DECONTAMINATION KIT

It is made for quick response medical teams for reducing the radiation load on the skin of personnel exposed to radiation after nuclear eventualities.

The kit has items that decontaminate the skin. It can also be used for handling accidental spillage at various medical, agricultural and industrial centres using radioactive materials.

Bangalore-based DEBEL (Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory), works under the Life Sciences Directorate of DRDO. It researches and develops technologies and products in the area of life support, medical and physiological protection systems for the Indian armed forces. DEBEL has developed.

FLYING CLOTHING

These are anti-gravity suits for fighter pilots. These fire-retardant suits help the pilot escape unhurt from aircraft fires where the temperature can reach 1200 degrees Celsius in 20 seconds. The pilot is protected by a special fabric that does not allow the skin to burn.

It is also anti-gravity. As the aircraft gains or loses height quickly, it senses the gravity and pushes compressed air near the abdomen and legs. Such suits are currently used by Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) pilots.

ALTERNATIVE OXYGEN CYLINDER

Instead of the oxygen cylinder, this apparatus enriches the air inside the aircraft so that pilots can breathe normally in the cockpits.

 

[nitesh]

june 2010 news letter

http://www.drdo.com/pub/techfocus/2010/jun10.pdf

 

[RAM]

India Thought Leaders: Accountability Will Make DRDO More Vibrant, Dr. Prahlada Says

India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is in a rejuvenation mode, following the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in giving itself a much-needed facelift. When reforms are implemented, they promise to make DRDO a vibrant organization. With missile expert Dr. V.K. Saraswat at the helm, DRDO has executed many visible actions so far this year. Amidst the makeovers and intense media scrutiny, Dr. Prahlada, Chief Controller R&D (Aeronautical & Services Interaction), DRDO, has been working hard to ensure that DRDO becomes resourceful and dynamic. AVIATION WEEK caught up with Dr. Prahlada to get a feel for the DRDO of tomorrow as part of its India Thought Leaders (ITL) series.

AW: You are among the few who have seen DRDO for close to 40 years. Do you think the ongoing reforms will make the DRDO any better?
P: Yes it will. I am confident. We need to perform and deliver on time. Quality is the key along with perfection and technological competence. Accountability and responsibility becomes more vital in the new scheme of things. Not that these weren't there. Just that we needed some course corrections. We will give our scientists more freedom to innovate, more freedom to research. Newer ideas and out-of-the-box-solutions will become [the] order of the day. The new school of thought balances between current and future programs.

AW: On what basis are these changes being implemented?
P: We have tried to analyze the users' major weapon requirement. In this process, we have identified the labs that need to be given more thrust. We have now told these labs what they need to do and what they don't. There's more clarity now.

AW: Which are the labs that will face the heat from within owing to this renewed push?

P: Well, to name a few: Gas Turbine Research Establishment – Kaveri engine for Medium Combat Aircraft (MCA); Aeronautical Development Establishment – Rustom UAV and Nirbhay missile; Aeronautical Development Agency – LCA Mk-II and MCA; Defense Research and Development Laboratory Research Center Imarat – LR-SAM, MR-SAM, SR-SAM and Astra missile; Advanced Systems Laboratory – Agni-5; Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment – Arjun Mk-II and next-generation MBT; Defense Electronics Application Laboratory – SATCOM, SDR.

AW: The emphasis of these reforms is woven around accountability. Are you confident that it will work, considering that the people are used to a set pattern of work all these years?
P: The responsibilities have been squarely fixed and there are no escape channels once you are accountable. People are [a] little complacent and we have to shake them up. We will support them and we will empower them.

AW: Can you give [a] little more insight into the new thought process in DRDO?
P: Mentoring is one area that we are getting into in a big way. Senior scientists at distinguished levels have come up the hard way. They have gone through the grind, performed, networked and have a huge bank of experience. The youngsters will now be given an opportunity to take advantage of this mentoring process. We will give the young scientists an opportunity to take risks. We will tell them to take risks with open eyes after due deliberations. The message is: We are with you.
AW: How will this mentoring help in delivering the products on time?
P: Products will come out on time if you have the capability to forecast a problem, prepare for it and finally overcome it quickly. We are devising all forms of informal ways of interactions. The goal is set and everyone will be told about the stake of the organization. Here mentoring can be vital.
AW: All this sounds very inspiring, but what have you done to boost the confidence of the users?
P: Users are being taken into confidence at all levels. We will involve them even at the technology stage itself. We value their concerns. We have taken all the criticisms in our stride and we are channelizing all our energies toward bringing in visible changes with deliverables. We will start getting results from this year itself.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?topicName=india&id=news/awx/2010/06/04/awx_06_04_2010_p0-231998.xml&headline=India%20Thought%20Leaders:%20Accountability%20Will%20Make%20DRDO%20More%20Vibrant,%20Dr.%20Prahlada%20Says

 

[RPK]

 

[RPK]

 

[nandu]

BEML to set up aerospace unit in B'lore

BEML Ltd, the state-owned heavy engineering and defence equipment major, is setting up another greenfield manufacturing plant at an investment of Rs 316 crore in Bangalore.

The Bangalore-headquartered company will make aircraft components and undertake aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul activities at its new plant, spread over 25 acres land, in the special economic zone (SEZ) near the Bangalore International Airport.

To explore scope in the aerospace components industry, the company has set up Aerospace Manufacturing Division (AMD). BEML also plans to make use of the opportunities available under the defence offset policy.

According to company sources, BEML manufactures some of the components — slat jigs for SU-30, fuselage rotating jig for IJTs, tow bars for aircraft operations, gear component for Cheetah helicopters and ALH (advanced light helicopter) — at its Mysore complex for its clients, including Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. It also manufactures some ground support equipment and ground handling equipment, which includes 18-tonne and 28-tonne aircraft towing tractors (ATT), automatic weapon loaders and crash fire tenders.

The AMD also plans to manufacture aero-structures and different types of jigs. Recently, the company received certification from Center for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC) for aero design and is in the process of obtaining manufacturing certification to become eligible for tie-up for defence aero offsets, according to the sources.

V Mohan, director (defence business), BEML, had earlier told Business Standard that the company was looking at a business of around Rs 100 crore during the two-year period ending March 2011 from the defence offset policy.

V RS Natarajan, chairman and managing director of BEML, on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government for the new plant. According to the MoU, the state government would provide 25 acres land to BEML in the notified SEZ near the Bangalore International Airport.

The proposed unit is expected to provide employment to about 250 personnel initially, besides providing business opportunities to local vendors with regard to procurement of raw materials and components.

The aero and defence related offset business is expected to exceed $15 billion in the next 10 years. For 2009-10, BEML registered a turnover of Rs 3,557 crore, a rise of 18 per cent over the previous year. Its net profit was down by 17 per cent to Rs 223 crore.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=12992

 

[nitesh]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...ucts-for-civilian-use/articleshow/6018219.cms

BANGALORE: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which caters primarily to the armed forces, plans to upgrade and custom-make its existing slew of biotech products for civilian use. The Life Sciences Cluster at the defence PSU will spend Rs 300 crore for the upgradation of biotech products such as intensive care units, ready-to-eat food products and clothing, which can be worn during nuclear biological chemical warfare. Some of this will be thrown open for civilian use as well, a top DRDO official told ET at the sidelines of 'Bangalore India Bio 2010'.

"The products which are expected to come out in the next few years will be five times more efficient in terms of cost compared to the imported ones. We will be working in sync with private companies, helping them with technology, setting up assembly lines and aiding quality control," said Dr VC Padaki, director, Defence BioEngineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), one of the laboratories at DRDO.

"The Indian defence sector hopes to have biotech products worth around Rs 300-500 crore over the next few years," added Mr Padaki.

Several companies have bagged contracts from DRDO to manufacture new products. Pricol, for instance, which manufactures and exports automotive parts, has won a DRDO project to develop critical-care ventilators. These ventilators, which are used in rural government hospitals, are 35% cheaper than the ICUs sold in the market.

"The Karnataka government is interested in buying these ventilators. We have sold it to the Kerala government and few corporate hospitals," said J Purushothaman, a biomedical engineer working for Pricol Medical.

Companies such as Aeronav Industrial Safety Appliances have recently bagged an order to develop protective apparel for pilots. Some private companies are helping DRDO develop cost-effective indigenous Hapo (High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema) bags that will replace the imported ones used by people in the Ladakh sector.

"Our indigenous Hapo bag costs Rs 1 lakh while as imported bag costs more than Rs 10 lakh and the Army has placed an order for 3,000 of them," said Mr Padaki of DRDO. SMEs and PSUs like Raksha Polycoats, Bengal Water Proof and Hindustan Metal Industries are also working with the DRDO.

Several small companies such as Bigtec Labs, located at the Entrepreneurship Centre (SID) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), have benefited from this DRDO programme. Infact, Bigtec Labs recently received the technology to make laproscopic surgery simulators from the Society for Biomedical Technology established by DRDO.

"These simulation tools help surgeons train themselves on laproscopic surgery, instead of learning it on live patients. We are going to make 25 such simulators in the first year," Bigtec director J Guru Dutt said. "The machine usually costs $40,000 while the indigenous version is expected to be 50% cheaper," he added.

DRDO scientists are also researching on new methodologies to defend the country against a range of potentially lethal agents. These projects include nanotechnology-based sensors, unmanned robot-operated aerial and ground vehicles attached with NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) detection sensors, laser-based detection for chemical clouds, self-contained NBC shelters and hospitals to handle NBC victims.

 

[youngindian]

New MoD policy to boost Indian arms industry

Ajai Shukla / New Delhi June 08, 2010, 0:47 IST


Facing sustained criticism for its continuing dependence on foreign weaponry, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is finalising an ambitious policy for building up India's defence industry, both public and private. The MoD Secretary for Defence Production, R K Singh, has told Business Standard that the country's first-ever Defence Production Policy mandates that weaponry and military systems will be identified several years into the future, to allow Indian companies the time needed to develop and manufacture them. The identified systems will be allocated to specific Indian defence companies as development projects. The MoD will lay down clear time targets and provide 80 per cent of the cost that will be incurred.

"We have consulted the army, navy, air force, the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO), academia, Ficci, CII and Assocham"¦ and noted their comments," says R K Singh. "The new policy will come up before the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) for consideration on June 11. Then the Defence Acquisition Council (the ministry's apex body on equipment acquisition) will clear it. Within two to three months, the new policy will be implemented."The current rulebook for defence procurement - the Defence Procurement Policy of 2008 (DPP-2008) - already lays down a "Make" procedure, which allows the MoD to allocate and fund projects through Indian industry. However, this has not yet led to any domestic orders for defence equipment, partly because equipment requirements have never been identified in advance, to give Indian industry the lead-time to develop them.


Pointed to this fact, the Secretary for Defence Production asserted, "But now it is going to happen. We have to make it happen"¦. because now our industry has the strength. It is interested. We will ensure that the 'Make' procedure becomes very friendly. More and more equipment will now come into the 'Make' procedure."

Explaining the working of the new policy, Secretary R K Singh says Indian defence companies will be encouraged to register their technological capabilities in an MoD databank. When a need is anticipated for the army, e.g. a futuristic Main Battle Tank, the MoD will survey the industry and identify at least two major companies, to which it will award development contracts. These two prime contractors, working with a tailor-made consortium of companies, will develop a separate tank prototype and the MoD will select one, or even both, for mass production.

A similar system of competitive development contracts is followed by the US defence establishment.

The new Defence Production Policy is rooted in the MoD's realisation that its longstanding acquisition model of building weaponry in India, through Transfer of Technology (ToT), has failed to generate indigenisation. Real indigenisation, the MoD now believes, comes from designing weaponry, not just manufacturing foreign designs.

"Look at what has happened historically," says Singh. "The (Indian defence) industries which came up, with some exceptions, are manufacturing products that were designed abroad, not here. Our industry has been in the habit of taking transfer of technology and building on licence until the product dies a technological death. There is no expenditure on R&D and no technology absorption. And since the most important components come from abroad, the vendor can turn off the switch any time. If India wants to emerge as a world power, we have to start developing our own products. That is what our industry will have to learn in partnership with the MoD."

It remains unclear how large a foreign component will be allowed in defence systems developed under the new Defence Production Policy. While the current "Make" procedure allows 70 per cent foreign component, Business Standard learns from MoD sources that the current thinking is to bring this down to "less than 50 per cent", along with the provison that the Intellectual Property Rights of the foreign component must reside in India.

Indian private companies are treating the new policy with some scepticism. "The MoD has always manipulated policy to favour the defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), which are the main beneficiaries of the old ToT practice," points out the CEO of a private Indian company that is active in defence. "Throwing out ToT and demanding real R&D will leave the DPSUs in the cold. Then we'll see whether the policy stays or goes."

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=13002

 

[nitesh]

cross post:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...ine=Akash Missile System For Indian Army OK'd

The Army version of the Akash missile system, valued at Rs 12,500 crore ($2.8 billion), has been cleared for induction by India's Defense Acquisition Council (DAC).
The India military services' combined orders of the Defense Research and Development Organization-developed Akash, including two radars, have a total worth of Rs 23,300 crore. This is an unprecedented defense order for a DRDO-developed weapons system, and the biggest order ever for DRDO's tactical missile and radar systems.

The DAC had earlier approved Rs 2,800 crore worth of 3-D Surveillance-cum-Acquisition Radars, independent of the missiles, for all three services.

"Seventy radars have been ordered, each costing Rs 40 core," the official said. In addition, the Indian Army has ordered Rs 1,500 crore of Weapon-Locating Radar, each costing Rs 50 crore.

"In the next 7-8 years, close to 100 Indian industries will benefit from these projects. The project support for the services for these systems will be there for 25 years," the official said. "This is a big boost to Indian industries with so much of money being pumped into the Indian economy. It is a great wealth-generation opportunity, in addition to [the] creation of more jobs as a home-grown tactical missile system is finally getting on top in place of the French, Russian, British and Israeli systems. This will give DRDO the much-needed lift and the Indian industry know-how to manufacture complicated weapon systems."

"The R&D cost of Rs 1,000 crore, including the project sanction of Rs 600 crore, is 8-10 times lower than the cost of similar system developments in advanced countries," the official said. "Akash, which is considered as Indian 'poor man's Patriot,' has certain unique characteristics like mobility, all-the-way-powered flight till target interception, multiple target handling, digitally-coded command guidance and fully automatic operation."

The Akash missile systems consist of a launcher, a missile with a 25-30 km. range, control center, multifunction fire control radar and supporting ground equipment.

 

[pavanvenkatesh]

Ajai Shukla / New Delhi June 08, 2010, 0:47 IST


Facing sustained criticism for its continuing dependence on foreign weaponry, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is finalising an ambitious policy for building up India's defence industry, both public and private. The MoD Secretary for Defence Production, R K Singh, has told Business Standard that the country's first-ever Defence Production Policy mandates that weaponry and military systems will be identified several years into the future, to allow Indian companies the time needed to develop and manufacture them. The identified systems will be allocated to specific Indian defence companies as development projects. The MoD will lay down clear time targets and provide 80 per cent of the cost that will be incurred.

"We have consulted the army, navy, air force, the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO), academia, Ficci, CII and Assocham"¦ and noted their comments," says R K Singh. "The new policy will come up before the Defence Procurement Board (DPB) for consideration on June 11. Then the Defence Acquisition Council (the ministry's apex body on equipment acquisition) will clear it. Within two to three months, the new policy will be implemented."The current rulebook for defence procurement - the Defence Procurement Policy of 2008 (DPP-2008) - already lays down a "Make" procedure, which allows the MoD to allocate and fund projects through Indian industry. However, this has not yet led to any domestic orders for defence equipment, partly because equipment requirements have never been identified in advance, to give Indian industry the lead-time to develop them.


Pointed to this fact, the Secretary for Defence Production asserted, "But now it is going to happen. We have to make it happen"¦. because now our industry has the strength. It is interested. We will ensure that the 'Make' procedure becomes very friendly. More and more equipment will now come into the 'Make' procedure."

Explaining the working of the new policy, Secretary R K Singh says Indian defence companies will be encouraged to register their technological capabilities in an MoD databank. When a need is anticipated for the army, e.g. a futuristic Main Battle Tank, the MoD will survey the industry and identify at least two major companies, to which it will award development contracts. These two prime contractors, working with a tailor-made consortium of companies, will develop a separate tank prototype and the MoD will select one, or even both, for mass production.

A similar system of competitive development contracts is followed by the US defence establishment.

The new Defence Production Policy is rooted in the MoD's realisation that its longstanding acquisition model of building weaponry in India, through Transfer of Technology (ToT), has failed to generate indigenisation. Real indigenisation, the MoD now believes, comes from designing weaponry, not just manufacturing foreign designs.

"Look at what has happened historically," says Singh. "The (Indian defence) industries which came up, with some exceptions, are manufacturing products that were designed abroad, not here. Our industry has been in the habit of taking transfer of technology and building on licence until the product dies a technological death. There is no expenditure on R&D and no technology absorption. And since the most important components come from abroad, the vendor can turn off the switch any time. If India wants to emerge as a world power, we have to start developing our own products. That is what our industry will have to learn in partnership with the MoD."

It remains unclear how large a foreign component will be allowed in defence systems developed under the new Defence Production Policy. While the current "Make" procedure allows 70 per cent foreign component, Business Standard learns from MoD sources that the current thinking is to bring this down to "less than 50 per cent", along with the provison that the Intellectual Property Rights of the foreign component must reside in India.

Indian private companies are treating the new policy with some scepticism. "The MoD has always manipulated policy to favour the defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs), which are the main beneficiaries of the old ToT practice," points out the CEO of a private Indian company that is active in defence. "Throwing out ToT and demanding real R&D will leave the DPSUs in the cold. Then we'll see whether the policy stays or goes."

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=13002

Finally some sensible progress instead of those complecated DPP procurement systems but only time can tell if it will be implemented or not

 

[nitesh]

lot of good info check the awards

http://www.drdo.com/pub/nl/2010/jul10.pdf

 

[plugwater]

DRDO scientists to get 20-week training

PUNE: Under the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) initiative called the Post Induction Training School, 186 scientists, including 22 women, are participating in a 20-week integrated training programme at the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) that commenced here on Tuesday.

The objective of this intensive training programme is to orient the freshly recruited scientists toward the organisational objectives of the DRDO, as also to the current and futuristic defence technologies. The training is expected to motivate and inspire the young scientists to constantly upgrade their technical capabilities and inculcate the spirit of innovative thinking, which will help them lead futuristic defence technology programmes.
The 186 scientists were selected through a national-level entrance test and campus recruitment processes at prestigious institutions and universities like the IISc, IITs and NITs.

The programme was inaugurated by Pune University vice-chancellor R K Shevgaonkar on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion at the DIAT, Shevgaonkar brought out the importance of modern defence technology vis-à-vis the wars in history. "In the last 100 years, there has been a palpable increase in use of technology in the battle field, as compared to 2,000 years ago. Scientists should be prepared for such changes," he said. To be a good scientist, Shevgaonkar said, one must have self discipline, since this meets the stringent time-bound requirements in the sphere of defence technology.

The scientists, from diverse engineering and science backgrounds, have been divided into seven streams — aeronautics; armament engineering; combat engineering and vehicles; electronics and computer science; materials and metallurgy; missiles and naval sciences. They will undergo four weeks of general organisational orientation training, followed by 12 weeks of general and advanced technology training. The scientists will be attached to various field units of the Indian Armed Forces for two weeks and two weeks will be spent for acquainting them with service and administrative matters.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...get-20-week-training-/articleshow/6080439.cms