Indian Navy Developments & Discussions

Prashant12

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Indian Navy's submarine-hunting Kamov-28 choppers to get major upgrade after Parrikar intervention



Briefcase

  • Indian Navy to enhance the effectiveness of ten submarine hunting helicopters.
  • Contract signed between the Ministry of Defence and Russian manufacturer.
  • All ten copters will be modernized with upgraded sensors.

Enemy submarines lurking in waters of India's interest will soon find their stay to be uncomfortable.

Overcoming eight years of stalling and stagnation, Indian Navy (IN) has finally signed on the dotted line to enhance the effectiveness of its ten submarine hunting helicopters, the Russian Kamov-28.

India Today has learnt that after a personal intervention and push by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, a contract to that effect was signed yesterday between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Russian manufacturer Rosoboronexport. All ten copters will be modernized, sensors upgraded and delivered at regular intervals over the coming five years.

The total value of the contract is believed to be upwards of Rs 2000 crore.

The manufacturer, contract says, will amalgamate these copters with state of the art sensors and equipment it will procure from a slew of European firms. It was learnt that such an effort has been attempted for the very first time. Towards that, the helicopters will be first sent to Kumertau in Russia at the facility of Russian Helicopters where they will undergo a technical overhaul to enhance the aircraft's life and performance.

Once done, copters will be brought to Vizag, home of IN's Eastern Naval Command (ENC). At Vizag, naval air station Dega has been selected as the place where the sensors will be fitted and final assembly done. From that point, the copters will be available for the IN. Since Russia does not allow the import of European equipment, personnel from Russian helicopters will carry out the job in Vizag.

Of the ten Kamov-28 helicopters that were procured from the then Soviet Union, in the mid-80s, only four are in flying condition today. The remaining have been mothballed for spares, it was learnt.

"We are today making do with the technology of mid-80s, carrying out Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) roles to detect modern enemy submarines. The importance of this chopper can be understood by the fact that they can operate from the five Rajput class destroyers, the Talwar and Teg class of frigates and are designated to perform ASW role for aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya," said a source.

The biggest threat to India's maritime interests and its own fleet comes from enemy submarines. While every warship has a hull-mounted sonar for tracking submarines beneath, experts believe that few can match the potency of an ASW helicopter.

It is also the case that in the waters of Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, due to composition and currents, hull-mounted sonar often lose their edge, a point where ASW helicopters with their dunking sonars come in handy. Another reason why helicopters are favoured is because while they can hunt a submarine, there is no way a submarine can detect, far less hunt down a chopper.

The other helicopter that the Navy has for ASW roles is the Seaking Mk.42B which is rapidly ageing and is stretched.

The case for the Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of Kamov 28 was moved by the Navy in 2008, bids for which were opened in 2012. One of the reasons for the case staling was the VVIP helicopter scandal. As one of the firms which was to supply the radar, Selex Galileo, was a subsidiary of the tainted firm Finmeccanica, the MoD was careful about progressing.

Following long-winding, inter-ministerial consultations the MoD moved ahead as Selex Galileo was a sub contractor of the Rosobornexport. "The MoD has nothing to do with them. This is as per the guidelines which have been promulgated by the ministry," explained a source. In fact, the MoD even sought a clearance from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for progressing in this case and managed one.

WHAT DOES KAMOV 28 BRING TO THE NAVY?
  1. Maximum height achieved in flight 5000m
  2. Maximum range 900km
  3. Maximum flight speed 250km/hr
  4. Maximum take-off weight 12000kg
  5. Can person search and attack roles and to do so, it can carry bombs, torpedos and missiles on board

NAVY'S HELICOPTER WOES

Navy suffers from a massive gap in its ASW capabilities. But that is not it.

There has been no sizeable acquisition in over a decade to boost its helicopter arm. With a requirement of over 100 helicopters across different categories, and yet going nowhere, the Navy's predicament is clear.

The Indian Navy had to get 16 choppers as a direct replacement for Seaking Mk.42A helicopters which came with the INS Viraat in 1987 and were decommissioned by the end of the century. Categorised as 'Multi Role Helicopter' acquisition, it is yet to take off.

Then there is the Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) deal to replace the Chetaks, introduced to the Indian armed forces in the 60s, with choppers of 4.5 ton class. In addition, Indian Navy is also looking at Naval Multi Role helicopters of a larger tonnage. It is all hanging in balance, for now.

As a result of this, modern warships, often built at a staggering expense to the exchequer, are roaming the seas without vital helicopters on board. Many warships, which have two hangars on board are steaming past without even a single helicopter on board. "Overall availability of choppers is less than 20 per cent in the Navy".

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/...arine-hunting-kamov-28-choppers/1/727853.html
 

Yumdoot

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Only solution to Indian Navy's ASW helo needs is to force HAL to refine the ALH Dhruv even further. Indian Navy had some very genuine requirements but the bulk orders from IAF and IA have made the HAL complaisant. Only recently they have offered solutions when in fact it could have been done faster. Even now the pricing is dragging on.

Also HAL should either leave it some other private sector entity or display some product beyond the ALH category now.

Its really sad that even of the Ka-28 only 4 were left functioning. At some point we have to make sure that foreign platforms are left for foreigners and Indian platforms for Indian Armed Forces.
 

Prashant12

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Indian Navy Initiates Steps to Acquire Predator B Guardian and EMALS
- Letters of Request sent for both systems to US Government




New Delhi. The Indian Navy has initiated the first steps towards acquiring the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) as well as the long range surveillance drone Predator B Guardian by sending Letters of Request (LORs) to the Pentagon under government-to-government deals.

The LORs, requesting price and availability for 22 Guardians and three EMALS catapults, are now under consideration by the US Department of Defense (DOD) for clearance under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme and according to sources in Washington, a positive view is likely to be taken and discussions between the two countries should begin soon. Once the process is through, the US Government (USG) will confirm by sending Letters of Acceptance (LOAs).

The Predator B Guardian is a naval version for long range surveillance over the waters while the EMALS is being considered by the Indian Navy for its second indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vishal, due out by 2028. EMALS has been adopted by the US Navy as its next generation aircraft launch system, and again significantly, for its new generation aircraft carriers beginning with CVN 78 Gerald R Ford, due for delivery this year.



Dr Vivek Lall, Chief Executive Global Commercial Strategic Development for the San Diego-based General Atomics which makes these two systems, declined comment but told India Strategic: “As far as General Atomics is concerned, we will be opening an office in the Indian capital to assist both the Governments as required.”



Notably the Guardian is a high performance Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, and could only be sold to India after it cleared the Missile Technology Control regime (MTCR) regulations. Powered by a high performance Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine, it operates from a high altitude of 50,000 feet and can fly for 27 hours before returning to its base.

Guardian
Characteristics

  • Wing Span: 66 ft (20m)
  • Length: 36 ft (11m)
  • Powerplant: Honeywell TPE331-10
  • Max Gross Takeoff Weight: 10,500 lb (4763 kg)
  • Fuel Capacity: 3,900 lb (1769 kg)
  • Payload Capacity: 850 lb int. (386 kg)
  • 3,000 lb ext. (1361 kg)
  • Payloads: MTS-B EO/IR
  • Raytheon SeaVue multi-mode maritime radar
    Inmarsat (SATCOM)
    Automated Identification System (AIS)
    SIGINT/ESM system
    Dual-ARC-210 radios
    Dual-Wulfsberg radios
    Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
  • Power: 11.0 kVA (redundant)
Performance

  • Max Altitude: 50,000 ft (15240m)
  • Max Endurance: 27 hr
  • Max Air Speed: 240 KTAS
Features

  • Triple-redundant flight control system
  • Redundant flight control surfaces
  • Remotely piloted or fully autonomous
  • MIL-STD-1760 stores management system
  • Seven external stations for carriage of payloads
  • C-Band line-of-sight data link control
  • Ku-Band beyond line-of-sight/SATCOM data link control
  • Over 90% system operational availability
  • C-130 transportable (or self-deploys)
It is equipped with day-night sophisticated sensors including Raytheon’s SeaVue multi-mode maritime radar to identify and track vessels of different sizes, signals and electronic intelligence systems, satellite communication and even the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS).

The EMALS uses the propulsion power of electromagnetic energy, and the advantage of the system is that it can adapt to launch different sizes of aircraft from a carrier deck with the flick of a switch. Using Direct Current electricity, it is also being devised to launch satellites in the coming years.

The existing generation of aircraft launch steam catapults, developed decades ago, are much slower.

The Indian Government has acted fast to acquire these assets towards securing the Indian waters against terrorist and hostile intrusions. The LORs in fact were sent by the Navy soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Washington in June, just as the US also anchored India's entry into MTCR and declared India to be a Major Defense Partner (MDP).

There are no confirmed financial figures for either the drones or the EMALs, but according to industry sources, the list price for the 22 Guardians should be around US $ two billion.

Overall though, General Atomics, the biggest privately-held US defence company, could land with big multi-billion dollar deals in the coming years as the Indian Air Force (IAF) has also expressed interest in acquiring more than 100 Predator C Avenger attack drones. IAF had sent a communication in September last year, and significantly during Mr Modi's visit, this requirement was mentioned at the highest levels.

The jet-powered Avenger is a high performance next-generation drone, or Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), for time-sensitive strike missions. It fires missiles to neutralize multiple hostile targets with precision with the flick of a command sent through satellites.

As the procedural paperwork for this drone could also begin only after the MTCR clearance, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MOD) should clear the proposal in due course. (India has just become the 35th Member of MTCR).

Notably, FMS deals require government-to-government (g-to-g) negotiations but with active support from the industry which manufactures every system in the US. The process ensures reasonable pricing, largely in accordance with what the US armed forces would pay for similar systems. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the Department of Defense (DOD) however charges a fee within a band of 2.5 to 5 percent to facilitate the process.

For instance, in the case of Boeing C 17 heavy lift transport aircraft, this was fixed at 3.8 percent. The fee varies for different deals, but will be the same for every country that buys the same system from the US.

The EMALS system is accompanied by Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) to assist in secure landing of aircraft.

http://www.indiastrategic.in/Indian..._to_Acquire_Predator_B_Guardian_And_EMALS.htm
 

Yumdoot

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Notably the Guardian is a high performance Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, and could only be sold to India after it cleared the Missile Technology Control regime (MTCR) regulations.
<snip>
The LORs in fact were sent by the Navy soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Washington in June, just as the US also anchored India's entry into MTCR and declared India to be a Major Defense Partner (MDP).
http://www.indiastrategic.in/Indian..._to_Acquire_Predator_B_Guardian_And_EMALS.htm
Only two things worth knowing for a nationalist in that whole report.
 

Sabru Foxtrot

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Indian Navy's Republic Day Non Stop Cycling and Kayaking Expedition

Rear Admiral SN Ghormade, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Area meeting the team members of nonstop Cycling-Kayaking team which will open a National Flag on 26 January 2016 on the Korlai Fort

The Western Naval Command is commemorating the 67th Republic Day, by undertaking a challenging and adventurous nonstop Cycling-Kayaking event from Mumbai to Korlai Fort via Kolad from 25 to 27 Jan 2016. The enthusiastic team of 14 officers and sailors from the Indian Navy was flagged off at 06:00 AM this morning by Rear Admiral SN Ghormade, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Area.

Flagging Off of the expedition by Rear Admiral SN Ghormade

The team will cycle 134 km from Naval Base to Kolad, and thereafter proceed to Korlai Fort, Raigad on Kayaks down the famous Kundalika river. To celebrate the 67th Republic Day, the team will kayak a distance of 67 km from Kolad to Korlai Fort. This is the first time a Naval team will be Kayaking through the complete course of Kundalika River that exists into the Arabian Sea through the Revdanda Creek. The intrepid kayakists on existing from Revdanda creed will land at Korlai Island beach to unfurl a really large national flag of dimension 67 feet by 44 feet at the Korlai Fort in the morning of 26 January 16 having cycled and kayaked without a break for more than 24 hours.

The motto of this Naval team led by Lt Cdr Vinit Doshi, 42785N is ‘Unite India’ spreading the message far and wide to the citizens of the areas being traversed, thereby arousing a fervour of national pride and unity. Indian Navy had achieved a similar feat on 15 Aug 15 when a large national flag was unfurled at Mt Kalsubai, the highest peak of Maharashtra and received standing ovation from the local population who joined the event spontaneously.

The Western Naval Command commemorated the 67th Republic Day, by undertaking a challenging and adventurous nonstop Cycling-Kayaking event from Mumbai to Korlai Fort via Kolad from 25 to 27 Jan 2016. The team of 14 officers and sailors from the Indian Navy was flagged off at 06:00 AM on 25 January 2016 was received by Rear Admiral SN Ghormade, Flag Officer Commanding Maharashtra Area on return to Mumbai on 27 Jan 16.

The team members cycled 134 km from Naval Base to Kolad, Maharashtra and thereafter proceed on Kayaks down the Kundalika River to arrive at Korlai Sea Fort, Raigad on 26 January 2016. Celebrating the 67th Republic Day, the team kayaked a distance of 67 km from Kolad to Korlai Fort through the night of 25 and 26 January 2016. The challenging feat of kayaking through the Kundalika River that exists into the Arabian Sea through the Revdanda Creek was successfully completed and the team arrived on Korlai Island beach on Republic Day. The team thus reached Korlai Fort on 26 January 16 after having cycled and kayaked without a break for more than 24 hours.

The team was received with the warm welcome at Colaba Military Station in the evening on 27 jan 16.






 

Indx TechStyle

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Manufacturing of Special Operations Vessels
Manufacturing of Special Operations Vessels
Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. (HSL) is a Defence Public Sector Undertakings (PSU). The shipyard has been nominated for some of these projects mentioned below:-
Fleet Support ship under Buy Indian on nomination to HSL categorization (Qty 05).
Landing Platform Docks under Buy Indian on nomination to HSL categorization (Qty 02). Two LPDs are to be built by an Indian Shipyard on competitive basis under ;Buy & Make (Indian) and the balance two are to be built by M/s HSL at L1 cost on nomination basis.
Special Operation Vehicle under Buy Indian on nomination to HSL categorization (Qty 02).
No decision with regard to Project 75 (India) has yet been taken.
Details of the steps being taken to increase the present capacity of Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. are as follows:-
Placing orders on HSL to ensure break even order of Rs.5000 Crore.
HSL is being encouraged to take commercial orders.
Feasibility of off-loading of work from other DPSU shipyards to HSL is being examined.
Strategic partnership is being conceived to help modernize the yard, enhance its technology and equipment, and improve its capacity to produce specific technology intensive Naval vessels.
Grant of aid for restoration work post cyclone Hudhud in October 2014 is under active consideration.
Private shipbuilding industry is being encouraged to participate in construction of ships for the Indian Navy on a competitive basis.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Mohd Ali Khan in Rajya Sabha today.
DM/NAMPI/RAJ
 

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Only solution to Indian Navy's ASW helo needs is to force HAL to refine the ALH Dhruv even further. Indian Navy had some very genuine requirements but the bulk orders from IAF and IA have made the HAL complaisant. Only recently they have offered solutions when in fact it could have been done faster. Even now the pricing is dragging on.

Also HAL should either leave it some other private sector entity or display some product beyond the ALH category now.

Its really sad that even of the Ka-28 only 4 were left functioning. At some point we have to make sure that foreign platforms are left for foreigners and Indian platforms for Indian Armed Forces.
Can ALH be used or modified as a ASW asset?
 

Yumdoot

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Can ALH be used or modified as a ASW asset?
That is what they are doing. Indian Navy has been the most patient of the arms. The earlier ALH versions offered to IN had troubles with undercarriage & rotors and both have now been resolved. The only requirement that may not be fulfilled regarding time on target, will most likely be compromised by the IN because their requirement was simply too much. IN is already negotiating with HAL for the closing the order.

The S-70B and the renovated Ka-28 will give you a total of 26 ASW heavy helos which would be more than enough for the heavier ships of Indian Navy. The S-70B contract comes with an option for 8 more ASW helos so these should take care of our ASW needs quite well.

The gaps will remain in the Indian Navy because of 3 main reasons:
1) Smaller ships also carry helos and S-70B and Ka-28 will not fit these smaller ships in a sensible manner. We have a lot of corvettes, OPVs and mid sized frigates distributed between the Indian Navy and Coast Guards. If you station larger helos on these smaller ships, they will also provision for that large a quantity of consumables and servicing space and servicing personnel. A home grown product rationalizes on these dependencies.

2) Littoral ASW capability will force ALH Dhruv deployment. This type of warfare will require an increase in the number of sensors deployed and will have little to do with the range of the helicopter. A S-70B or even a Ka-28 would not bring any meaningful improvement in this area.

3) The future LPD/LHD will also force you to acquire ASW assets. And here again you simply cannot afford to have an only S-70B based force. S-70Bs are is simply too expensive - outlandish pricing. So you will have to mix match with ALH-ASW versions. ALH-ASW will in any case be important because these LPD/LHD are not supposed to be ocean vessels. Earlier the Aircarft Carriers of Indian Navy used to have beach landing capabilities. Not anymore - not there on INS Vikramaditya or IAC Vikrant. An LPD/LHDs primary task will be to support beach operations. So S-70B on these things are very very difficult to justify.

ALH-ASW version will being along a great radar and a good enough Sonar with folding/segmented rotor capability. The Indian Navy will have to compromise on the number of sonobouys deployable but that is not such a big headache since an ASW helo works in conjunction with the main ship it is based on. The time on target will also not be such a big compromise. Dhurv has an endurance of 3+ hours only about 20% lesser than an S-70B. S-70B scores in terms of payload compared to a Dhruv.

My wishlist is to see a 3 engined Dhruv variant too which would essentially put a full stop to all foreign platforms in ASW roles.
 

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India set to ink deal with Korean yard to build minesweeping ships

India is on the verge of closing a deal with a South Korean shipyard to build 12 minesweeping ships locally, a project that is likely to cost more than Rs 32,000 crore.

The mine counter-measure vessels (MCMVs) will be built at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in collaboration with Korean yard Kangnam Corporation under the government’s Make in India programme.

Speaking exclusively to Hindustan Times, GSL chairman Rear Admiral Shekhar Mital (retd) said, “We are in the final stage of concluding the contract. It should be done in three to four weeks.”

The navy needs to fill gaps in its mine warfare capability. Its existing mine counter-measures force consists of six vessels bought from the erstwhile Soviet Union in the late 1970s. It requires 24 minesweepers. Mital said infrastructure was being scaled up swiftly at the shipyard to kick off the construction of the ships.

In December 2015, the defence ministry approved Rs 480 crore for infrastructure expansion to build MCMVs. Facilities are being created for construction of glass-reinforced plastic hulls. Such a design reduces the ship’s magnetic signature and allows for safer navigation through waters that may have been mined.



Mines are deployed to limit the enemy’s ability to use the sea. What makes these underwater weapons dangerous is that they can detonate on contact or be activated by magnetic and acoustic signatures.

The ships will use minehunting sonars to be supplied by French firm Thales, mine counter-measures combat management systems and sophisticated equipment to detonate a variety of mines.

Swedish firm Saab will be involved in the project, possibly providing remotely operated vehicle-based mine hunting solutions.

The ships are expected to have 60% indigenous content. Mital said the South Korean firm was selected for the project as it was the only yard that met the navy’s requirements. Italian shipbuilder Intermarine competed for the project, too.

The construction of the first vessel is expected to begin in April 2018, with deliveries being completed between April 2021 and April 2026.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...eping-ships/story-3hvnV31pFDJmpuyOFvR11L.html
 

Prashant12

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Keltron bags Rs 2-cr order from Indian Navy

State-owned Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KELTRON) has bagged a Rs 2.11 crore order from the Indian Navy for manufacturing and supply of Advanced Indigenous Distress Sonar System.

The device is used in submarines to generate alert signals in case of an emergency, Keltron said in a statement.

The Sonar system was developed by Keltron with the support of Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory, Kochi, it said.

http://www.business-standard.com/ar...cr-order-from-indian-navy-116081801004_1.html
 

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Sharing Of Military Bases Between India and US to Soon Become Reality
After much dilly-dallying, India and the US are set to sign an agreement which would pave the way for sharing each other's military bases for logistic and humanitarian assistance. The draft of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) is ready and is likely to be signed during the forthcoming visit of India's Defense Minister to the United States. The three day visit of Manohar Parrikar, India's Minister of Defense, will begin from August 29. The agreement, however, will not give access to Indian bases for the deployment of US troops. India and the US had agreed in April this year to conclude the LEMOA soon.

After extensive discussions, both countries have agreed upon the draft of the LEMOA. The draft agreement says that the LEMOA will not grant the deployment of US troops on Indian soil' under any circumstances. Both nations will have to seek advance permission to use the facilities, which are mainly for training, exercises, port calls and humanitarian assistance.

Sources says that India has taken care that the agreement with the US will not adversely impact relations with other friendly nations, as every request will be considered on a case by case basis. The LEMOA is slightly different from the Logistic and Supply Agreement (LSA) which is signed between the US and its military allies.

While the agreement seems innocuous enough, some voices of dissent have been raised, predicting that that the deal is likely to disrupt India’s existing security alliances.

“Its implication is far greater because we are giving access to people who require access from us more than we will get. This actually put us in a very vulnerable position because we are strategically going against regional security alliances (China & Pakistan in this particular case)," said a senior Indian political analyst, Nilanjan Mukhopadhya.

The Indian government has made assurances that India will never sign an agreement which will project India as a military ally of the US.

http://www.defencenews.in/article/S...ween-India-and-US-to-Soon-Become-Reality-7711
 

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India, US rush to ink logistics pact; Parrikar’s trip rescheduled to help deal
WASHINGTON: Any residual doubts about the intensity of the strategic engagement between India and the United States should dissipate with the meeting next week in Washington DC between the American Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and his Indian counterpart Manohar Parikkar, their third pow-wow in nine months.

The meeting will be book-ended by the US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue in Delhi involving Secretary of State John Kerry and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker (and their Indian counterparts Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman), and the visit to the US of Home Minister Rajnath Singh for the homeland security dialogue later in September.

Prime Minister Modi is also expected to meet President Obama at the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China on September 4-5, for what will possibly be their last meeting as heads of government.

All these exchanges are happening around the time of the NAM summit in Venezuela on September 17-18, where Prime Minister Modi may be a no-show+ .

The flurry of bilateral visits and exchanges will conclude the Modi government's engagement with the Obama administration as the US Presidential election campaign enters the final stretch in America's winter of discontent.

One of the few bright spots in an otherwise bleak world outlook is what both Washington and New Delhi agree has been a constructive and productive engagement between the two countries, and inasmuch as it is expected to continue into the next U.S administration regardless of who heads it, the two sides want to conclude as much business as possible before the impending changes in Washington DC.

Officials familiar with the engagement said the defense minister's visit to the US Capital was advanced in part to conclude unfinished business before the makeover in Washington, which will also see personnel changes at the Indian Embassy.

The long-awaited and intensely-negotiated agreement pertaining to bilateral military logistics cooperation is just one item that is expected to be ticked off in a US-India defense agenda that has gotten more extensive with each passing year.

Customized to India's specific needs, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) is the centerpiece of three foundational agreements that the US sees as the basis of long-term military cooperation - the expression ''alliance'' being anathema to India.

The Scorpene snafu+ will likely be the opening that Washington will use to persuade India to move the on two remaining agreements -- Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) although New Delhi has been leery of such arrangements precisely because of the risk of such leaks.

But given the intense military engagement -- the US is now India's #1 defense partner in terms of hardware supplies and operational exercises -- such agreements are inevitable although New Delhi has sought customized versions specific to its unique status as a ''major defense partner,'' albeit as a ''non-ally.''

It is in this spirit that India is testing the frontiers of the American word that just about anything it has is on the table for India -- from the most advanced jet fighters to aircraft carrier technology to drones.

Indeed, the General Atomics-manu,factured Predator Drones are the next item on India's military shopping list in the U.S. that has already ticked off heavy strategic lift aircrafts, anti-submarine warfare aircraft, and Harpoon Missiles, among other items

Parikkar was initially scheduled to head out to the west coast to visit some of US manufacturing facilities but it now appears he will stay in the Washington DC area and perhaps visit local affiliates.

The US-India engagement comes even as there is a sharp decline in Washington's patronage of Pakistan, now seen as a terrorist state in all but formal designation.
Pakistan's attempt to impute an Indian hand in its domestic turmoil, including in Balochistan and Karachi, has had no perceptible impact in Washington (or at the UN in New York), aside from the standard salutary advise to both sides that they should keep talking, with the pace, scope, and character of the dialogue to be decided by them.

The fact that Pakistan continues to host terror groups+ and has not given up its policy of using them as proxies in the neighborhood, despite protestations to the contrary, has not gone unnoticed in Washington, particularly after the latest attack on the American University in Kabul, which the Afghan government has blamed squarely on Pakistan.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...heduled-to-help-deal/articleshow/53877997.cms

 

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Indian Navy provides relief to fire disaster-hit Madagascar


Indian Naval Ship Trikand of the Western Fleet came as a rescue to fire disaster-hit Ambilobe during its visit to East Africa and Southern Indian Ocean. The ship was at Antsiranana from August to September 3 enhance bilateral ties with Madagascar.

The recent calamity at Ambilobe, a region about 140 Km from Antsiranana, saw bush fires resulting in extensive damage to property and livelihood. In support of the government and the people of Madagascar, the Indian Navy swung into immediate action to provide succor to more than five thousand affected citizens.

INS Trikand donated essential food items and medicines to the affected populace. The ship is well equipped to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) during such eventualities. Storage of HADR bricks on ships is a SOP and all operational ships carry it at all times. The ship provided rice, jam, tinned fruit, tea, milk, essential medicines etc to the Malagasy authorities at Antsiranana today.


The helping hand by the Indian Navy is in line with the Indian government's and the Navy's policy of immediate and sustainable assistance to all its neighbours in times of need.


http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/...to-fire-disaster-hit-madagascar/1/756127.html
:india::india::india::india:
 

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Already posted where must be.
http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/posts/1199491/
Indian Navy provides relief to fire disaster-hit Madagascar


Indian Naval Ship Trikand of the Western Fleet came as a rescue to fire disaster-hit Ambilobe during its visit to East Africa and Southern Indian Ocean. The ship was at Antsiranana from August to September 3 enhance bilateral ties with Madagascar.

The recent calamity at Ambilobe, a region about 140 Km from Antsiranana, saw bush fires resulting in extensive damage to property and livelihood. In support of the government and the people of Madagascar, the Indian Navy swung into immediate action to provide succor to more than five thousand affected citizens.

INS Trikand donated essential food items and medicines to the affected populace. The ship is well equipped to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) during such eventualities. Storage of HADR bricks on ships is a SOP and all operational ships carry it at all times. The ship provided rice, jam, tinned fruit, tea, milk, essential medicines etc to the Malagasy authorities at Antsiranana today.


The helping hand by the Indian Navy is in line with the Indian government's and the Navy's policy of immediate and sustainable assistance to all its neighbours in times of need.


http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/...to-fire-disaster-hit-madagascar/1/756127.html
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Prashant12

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GSL buys weapons suite for 12 MCMVs

PANAJI: Even as Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) continues discussions with South Korean shipyard Kanganam Corp, the Vasco-based defence public sector unit has gone ahead with the purchase of the weapons and sensor suite for the 32,000 crore project to build 12 mine counter measure vessels (MCMV) for the Indian Navy.

GSL is simultaneously working on infrastructure augmentation for the ambitious project to indigenously build mine counter measure vessels and with phase 3A of the expansion complete, it will now go in for phase 3B and phase 4, chairman and managing director Shekhar Mital said.

"We have already floated a tender for the mines as well as the weapons and sensors part. These will be integrated with the vessel. For timely readiness of the vessel, it is very important that these weapons and equipment are received on time. That is why we are working concurrently. On one side we are working on the technology transfer, on the second side we are working on the weapons and sensor suite," Mital said.

The anti-ship mines and weapons suite is part of the equipment shortlisted by the Indian Navy for the 12 mine sweepers that will be built at the shipyard. Swedish firm SAAB, Atlas, Thales, BAE, Mahindra Defence and Bell are some of the companies that are participating in the 3,000-4,000 crore tender to supply the mines and sensor suite for the MCMV vessels.

The Vasco-based shipyard is currently in discussion with Kangnam Corp regarding the technology transfer for minesweepers. "We had expected that we will be able to conclude the contract but somehow that has not happened. We are in the last stages. For the last two months, we are waiting to agree on the terms. We will sign the technology transfer with Kangnam

On the financial front, Goa Shipyard has notched up higher profits backed by high capacity utilization and quicker delivery timelines.

The yard saw its operating profit jump by 349% from 15 crore in 2014-15 to 68 crore in 2015-16.

"The good part is that we have carried on with that momentum and we have done significantly better. Our turnover has moved up by 27% within a year," Mital said.

The MD expects the yard to clock over 900 crore in turnover in the 2016-17 against the 725 crore in 2015-16.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...s-suite-for-12-MCMVs/articleshow/54037515.cms
 

Arjun25

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India-Japan $1.6 billion Deal For ShinMaywa US-2 Aircraft To Be Back On Track

 

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