Indian Navy Developments & Discussions

[RPK]

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[Sridhar]

India looks to play facilitator's role in Indian Ocean Region

Rajat Pandit, TNN, 8 February 2010, 03:10am IST
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PORT BLAIR: With Sukhoi-30MKI fighters generating sonic booms over the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago on Sunday, even as the 3,500-km Agni-III

missile created fireworks off the Orissa coast, India sent a strong strategic message across Bay of Bengal that it is ready to play the role of a security facilitator in the larger Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

India might not want to be seen as a regional supercop in the IOR, nor as the prime mover of a naval military bloc in the Asia-Pacific region. But yes, it has legitimate security concerns in the IOR, which falls in its strategic backyard, especially with China making strategic maritime moves in the region.

The endeavour to build "interoperability" with other friendly Asia-Pacific maritime forces can be gauged from the fact that a "table-top exercise" conducted at the ongoing multilateral Milan conclave with 12 foreign navies revolved around the security challenges of dealing with the problems of piracy, gunrunning, drug trafficking and illegal migration.

India may consider itself to be "a neutral player" in the entire power-play in the Asia-Pacific region, with the US seeking to "contain" China, but there is no getting away from the fact that it remains deeply concerned about Beijing's rapid modernisation of its armed forces.

India is now belatedly countering China's massive build-up of military infrastructure all along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control by raising two new infantry mountain divisions with 35,000 soldiers, basing Sukhois in the North-East and developing Agni-III and the still-to-tested 5,000-km Agni-V.

While Agni-III will be able to strike high-value targets in south China, the easy-to-move and deploy canisterised Agni-V will bring virtually the entire country within its strike envelope. Similarly, with a cruising speed range of 3,200-km, the Sukhois being based in Tezpur to be followed by Chabua and other airbases -- are part of the overall "dissuasive deterrence posture" against China, which has clear conventional and nuclear military superiority against India.

But even as it upgrades military infrastructure in the North-East, India is also now increasing turning its attention to the strategically-located cluster of 572 islands in the A&N archipelago, which is much closer to countries like Thailand and Indonesia than the Indian mainland.

There is even the possibility of India permanently basing a couple of Sukhoi-30MKI squadrons in the joint-services Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC).

"The geo-strategic importance of this location has been realised and projects have been approved at the highest levels. There are no specific plans at the moment to base Sukhois here but when the infrastructure comes up, we can see," said ANC chief Vice-Admiral D K Joshi.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...n-Indian-Ocean-Region/articleshow/5545844.cms

 

[Sridhar]

Lockheed keen to supply ships, weapons to India

8 Feb 2010, 1620 hrs IST, REUTERS

NEW DELHI: Lockheed Martin Corp, the world's biggest aerospace company, is keen to supply India with fighters, ships, helicopters and missile
system and Indian defence sources said a potential deal could be worth nearly $20 billion over five years.

"We are looking to supply frigates, air defence systems, helicopters. There is a huge horizon to expand," Roger Rose, chief executive of Lockheed's Indian operations, said on Monday.

The US company will also buy equipment worth $300 million from Indian firms for six military planes it is manufacturing for India, he said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...hips-weapons-to-India/articleshow/5548556.cms

 

[nandu]

United Arab Emirates hosts third Indian Ocean Naval Symposium
The third Indian Ocean Naval Symposium comes at a time when regional super-powers India and China are vying for more presence in an area stretching from Gulf of Aden to the Malacca Straits. The meeting is a cornerstone of the Indian Navy's aim to increase its influence in the region. Twenty-six littoral countries of the Indian Ocean comprise this pan-Asian maritime security forum. The meeting could upset the Arab world: Pakistan argues that IONS is grouped against the Islamic world.
The United States policy makers have shown an interest in the ONS forum. Robert Kaplan argues in his March/April 2009 article, “Center Stage for the 21st Century,” published in the Foreign Affairs journal, that India and China might have a greater rivalry in controlling the Indian Ocean for the better part of the 21st Century, with Washington acting as a moderator. India's courtship of new Indian Ocean defense allies, such as Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar, aims to counter China’s “String of Pearls Strategy.” China plans to surround India by building deep water ports in Pakistan’s Gwadar City in Baluchistan province and in Sri Lanka’s southern tip of Hambantota.
The host, the United Arab Emirates, is increasing its Navy and it wants to want to protect its interests in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. Earlier this year a contract was announced by the UAE Armed Forces and Abu Dhabi Ship Building ADSB to build 12 new vessels for the UAE Navy and retrofit 12 existing vessels. There are strong indications that a permanent secretariat of IONS might be set up in Abu Dhabi.
The first IONS forum was held in New Delhi on 14-15 Feb 2008, with the second in Sri Lanka on 21-22 May 2009. Oct/09

 

[Sridhar]

Two Day Seminar On Aircraft Carriers In The 21st Century Kicks Off


Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma kicked off the proceedings by declaring, "Aircraft carriers will continue to be the lynchpin of the conduct of naval operations. We need to revisit our doctrinal principles but no platform or weapon system can satisfactorily replace the aircraft carrier."

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2010/02/two-day-seminar-on-aircraft-carriers-in.html

 

[nitesh]

well here is the chief bursting bubble of Chinese anti ship missiles
http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/10/china-anti-ship-missile-no-threat-to-indian-warships.htm

 

[Sabir]

True, Marcos commandoes were deployed very queekly from there base in Munbai. They lost one of them in the operation (as sais that time in news channels). But unfortunately we do not even know his name.

 

[bengalraider]

The IN's new fleet tanker launched in italy

The new INS Deepak being launched in Italy by the Indian ambassador to Italy Mr Arif Khan and his wife Mrs Farida khan.

 

[sandeepdg]

Awesome pics, mate !!! But I miss the god old fireworks !!

 

[natarajan]

After a long time am posting,hmm nice shot of naval powers from across the world

 

[lodaxstax]

arnt those MKIs in the naval exercise?

 

[nitesh]

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/repor...hoppers-in-high-altitude-india-trials_1348713

Komardin also told reporters at the DefExpo here that Russia would deliver the fifth and the last of the Illushin-38 maritime aircraft to the Indian Navy tomorrow.

"The aircraft would arrive in Goa and this would complete the upgrading programme for the IL-38s. With this, we have completed the upgrade of all five of the IL-38s," he added.

IL-38s are long-range maritime aircraft in the navy's aviation fleet with a 7,200-km range touching speeds of 650 kmph. The Russians have provided five naval aircraft with a Sea Dragon multi-mission and electronic warfare suite.

 

[nitesh]

Indian Unmanned Submarine undergoes trial

guys can you please translate it, I think this is about un manned submarine:

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=83854

 

[Sridhar]

there is another news report which confirms it

Idukki, Wednesday, February 17, 2010: India’s first unmanned submarine was yesterday successfully tested at Idukki reservoir.
The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle- 150 was brought from Durgapur in West Bengal. The mini submarine was developed with the help of Defence Research and Development Organisation by Central Mechanical Research Institute scientists.
An unmanned autonomous submarine which can float, dive and move in water to perform various tasks. The submarine includes a pressurized cabin which is necessary for the diving and flotation system to work properly. This also helps to increase its sealing power against water leakage into the cabin.
The submarine is autonomous, that is automatic and self controlled. It is propelled by water jet propulsion. It can be programmed to dive to preset depths, move along preset trajectories, and return to the base after completing the assigned tasks. A remote control option is provided in order to perform special tasks.
The submarine is equipped with several sensors that can measure depth, orientation, attitude, location and speed. It is also equipped with an underwater video camera that can send wireless video pictures from underwater to a monitor above water surface.
Reports say, the submarine was brought from Durgapur in a container to Kalamavu dam and from there it was brought to reservoir via boat.
But the CMERI officials refused to divulge further details regarding the test.

• By KOL News , Written on February 17, 2010

http://www.asianetindia.com/news/unmanned-submarine-tested-idukki-reservoir_129110.html

 

[BloodRed]

Indian Unmanned Submarine undergoes trial

Indian Unmanned Submarine undergoes trial at Idukki dam

17 Feb 2010

Bangalore: The indigenously developed unmanned submarine has been tested successfully. The AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) -150 brought from Durgapur, West Bengal under utmost secrecy underwent the trials at the Idukki reservoir.

The vehicle has been developed by Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), based at Durgapur in collaboration with DRDO. It can collect information under water remotely without any crew or captain much like a remotely controlled pilotless aircraft.

Built with the intent of coastal security, AUV 150 will also be used to study aquatic life and minerals and to map oceans, said Dr. S.N. Som, the head of Robotics and Automation, CMERI. IIT Gorakhpur is also collaborating in the project.

Brought in a container over land from Durgapur upto Kulamavu reservoir at Idukki , the vehicle was later taken to the middle of the reservoir on a boat.

Though CMERI officials declined to comment on the exact date of the tests, they indicated that the trials were conducted in January. The current trials were that of runs in fresh water.

Since Kulamavu has a centre associated with Navy and also the reservoir being very deep, the choice fell on Idukki. The vehicle is yet to undergo sea trials.

With a length of 4.8 metres and weighing 490 kgs, AUV 150 is controlled remotely from land using wireless technology. It runs on battery. Dr. Som added that it would render invaluable service to Coast Guard and Navy. The US, Russia, Germany, Japan, Australia, South Korea are the other nations having such submarines.


First posted by ravar on bharat-rakshak.com
Translated from http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=83854

 

[Singh]

Great news. THanks for posting BloodRed

 

[Rahul Singh]

Indeed an pleasing development.Waiting for the day when navy will announce about indigenous program for the development of diesel electric SSKs.

 

[Armand2REP]

IN wants French Mistral

France expects Russian decision soon on buying Mistral warship

French naval shipbuilder DCNS said on Thursday it expected to receive a final answer from Russia soon on buying a Mistral-class helicopter carrier.

"The company is interested in cooperation with Russia. Now we are waiting only for a political decision. We believe we'll receive an answer from Moscow soon," Benoit de la Bigne, a DCNS executive, said.

The Russian military earlier announced that it was considering buying one of the Mistral-class amphibious assault ships, worth 400-500 million euros (around $540-$675 mln), and potentially building three or four vessels of the same class in partnership with the French naval shipbuilder DCNS.

A Mistral-class ship is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, four landing barges, up to 70 vehicles including 13 battle tanks, and 450 soldiers. The vessel is equipped with a 69-bed hospital and can be used as an amphibious command ship.

Many Russian military and industry experts have questioned the financial and military sense of the purchase.

Russia's current arms procurement program through 2015 does not provide for the construction or purchases of large warships, so the acquisition of a French warship is more likely under a new program, through 2020, which has yet to be developed.

The executive also said that India was displaying interest as well in buying a Mistral-class warship.

NEW DELHI, February 18 (RIA Novosti)

http://en.rian.ru/world/20100218/157926635.html

 

[Agantrope]

India-made stealth submarine to be tested next month

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the ‘eye in the sky’, here is a home-grown spy in the sea. India is all set to test its ‘‘Autonomous Underwater Vehicle-150’’ off the Chennai coast next month. Developed by the Durgapur-based Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), a unit of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the unmanned vehicle, has immense civilian and military potential.

‘‘AUV-150 will be tested for sea-floor mapping and monitoring of environmental parameters, such as current, temperature, depth and salinity,’’ CMERI director Gautam Biswas told TOI. ‘‘Once the technology is proven, it will be customised for military applications, like mine counter-measures, coastal monitoring and reconnaissance. It will also be very useful in cable and pipeline surveys.’’

The project was sponsored by the ministry of earth sciences and had technical assistance from IIT-Kharagpur. ‘‘A full-scale prototype was put to freshwater test in Idukki dam in Kerala recently. All navigational parameters functioned satisfactorily,’’ said S N Shome, group head for robotics and automation at CMERI under whose supervision the AUV took shape.

The prototype weighs 490 kg, is 4.8 metres long and has a diameter of just 50 cm. It packs a wide array of gadgets into its slender frame — depth sensor, altimeter, sonar and GPS and payload sensors — apart from a hybrid communication system that uses radio waves while on the surface and acoustic underwater.
The remote controlled vehicle uses a Lithium polymer battery and can operate up to depths of 150 metres at speeds of 2-4 knots, say sources.

The AUV will leapfrog India to a select group of nations, like the US, Australia, Germany, Russia, Korea and Japan, which are vigorously pursuing autonomous underwater technology and underwater robotics. ‘‘The institute had been working on the project since 2003, but with the stress being on indigenization, it was bound to be time consuming,’’ said S Nandy, a scientist associated with the project.

Link

 

[StealthSniper]

I have heard that India was looking to build (in India) something that is as large as the INS Jalashwa because of how valuable the ship is for wartime and also humanitarian missions. Considering how successful our Navy is at building indigenous warships now, how hard would it be to learn to build something like the Mistral class warship? Considering we are building an aircraft carrier in house, I don't think it's impossible to build a large amphibious command ship and equip it with Indian, Russian, or Israeli electronic systems.


Do you guys think that we should buy these large ships, or do we have the capability now to take on the task ourselves and build it in house considering it's a large asset for our Navy and also it will be considerably cheaper than buying it off the shelf from a foreign supplier.