A swap deal between Russia and Israel in 2008 provided the Russian military with secret codes for Georgian drones, while Jerusalem obtained access to information on Iranian missile systems, according to fresh publications by Wikileaks.
Georgia purchases its unmanned aerial vehicles from Israel, which later gave Moscow the "data link" code in exchange for codes for Tor-M1 missile complexes that Russia sold to Iran, said a leaked letter attributed to Stratfor private intelligence company.
Whistleblowing site Wikileaks announced on Sunday that it started to publish some five million emails by Stratfor, or Strategic Forecasting Inc., a Texas-based intelligence company founded in 1996 and attested by media as the “shadow CIA.”
Stratfor said that at least some emails could be authentic, but did not elaborate. The company’s website was hacked in 2011 by a group of politicized hackers known as the Anonymous.
Stratfor’s alleged email on the Russian-Israeli swap cited an unnamed source described as a “former Mexican cop, Latam military analyst.”
Georgia tried to purchase new drones from a private defense contractor in Mexico in hopes of replacing those compromised in July 2008, a month before its five-day war with Russia over the breakaway province of South Ossetia, in which Russia emerged victorious.
Georgian officials also sought to purchase additional ammunition and helicopters, but the deal fell through because the supplier, Idra, was “advised that it would raise a lot of political complications between Mexico and Russia,” the source said.
“The Georgians were pretty much looking for anyone who would sell to them and were willing to pay top dollar,” the letter said, adding in parantheses: "(This shows how frantic the Georgians were in July knowing that war is coming.)"
Tbilisi later tried to sell the compromised drones to neighboring Azerbaijan, but it remains unclear whether the deal was completed, the source said.
No governments implicated in the deal have commented on the leak as of Wednesday afternoon.
Stratfor’s alleged emails disclosed earlier also named Russian Prosecutor General Yury Chaika as an informant of the company, saying he supplied it with data on turf wars in the Kremlin. Chaika’s office dismissed the report as “provocation.”
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Get Your Act Together, Says Anthony to HAL
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today asked the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to realign its business processes for strategic alliances and joint ventures, as also, to step up R&D efforts to remain globally competitive.
Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry, Shri Antony said HAL should partner with design laboratories like DRDO and CSIR for the development of indigenous aircraft, engines and systems. He said, what is more, HAL should adopt best practices followed by the global leaders in the field of project management, quality control systems, vendor deployment and supply chain management.
HAL, the leading Defence Public Sector Undertaking, has a turnover of over Rs.13,000 crores and is set for a quantum jump with the planned acquisition and production of Light Combat Aircraft, Light Utility Helicopter, Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft, Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, Multirole Transport Aircraft, Basic Trainer Aircraft in its assembly lines in the coming years.
Shri Antony said the opening of defence production to the private sector and the introduction of offset clause in defence procurements should provide the necessary fillip to the entry of several players from the private sector into the aircraft industry.
Keeping in mind the mammoth role that the HAL would assume in the coming years in the aerospace industry and the challenges that it would face, the government has set up an expert group under the chairmanship of Shri BK Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission to suggest measures to strengthen and restructure HAL.
The expert group has already met twice and is expected to submit its report soon. Among other things, the Group will suggest how best the spin offs from HAL order book can be earnest to ensure better involvement of the private industry in the defence sector. It will also suggest measures to enhance the synergies between HAL, the private defence sector and the civilian industry. The expert Group will assess the future technological and human resource requirements of HAL keeping in view the upcoming and emerging futuristic aeronautical technologies.
Taking part in the discussion the Members of Parliament appreciated the role played by HAL in the defence arena of the country over the years. They, however, pointed out certain shortcomings such as the delay in the induction of the Light Combat Aircraft in the Indian Air Force, delay in the development of Kaveri Engine, delay in phasing out of Mig-21 aircraft and lack of an aggressive strategy to export HAL products.
Replying to queries, Shri Antony said the government has taken a number of measures to acquire the most modern aircraft for the Indian Air Force in the coming years. Some of the aircraft have already been inducted into IAF and others are in pipeline. Shri Antony was optimistic that from 2020 onwards most of the airframes and platforms of the Indian Air Force would have incorporated new technology. Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju said HAL today faces multifarious challenges. He said while the organisation has evolved over the last 70 years by producing some of the finest human resources and products, in future, HAL would increasingly play the role of system integrator.
The Members of Parliament who attended the meeting included Shri Manish Tewari, Shri Naveen Jindal, Shri Suresh Kalmadi, Shri Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, Shri Kalkesh N Singh Deo, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Shri SS Ramasubbu, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Shri Balwant alias Bal Apte, Dr. Mahender Prasad, Shri HK Dua and Shri Ishwar Lal Jain.
Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry, Shri Antony said HAL should partner with design laboratories like DRDO and CSIR for the development of indigenous aircraft, engines and systems. He said, what is more, HAL should adopt best practices followed by the global leaders in the field of project management, quality control systems, vendor deployment and supply chain management.
HAL, the leading Defence Public Sector Undertaking, has a turnover of over Rs.13,000 crores and is set for a quantum jump with the planned acquisition and production of Light Combat Aircraft, Light Utility Helicopter, Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft, Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, Multirole Transport Aircraft, Basic Trainer Aircraft in its assembly lines in the coming years.
Shri Antony said the opening of defence production to the private sector and the introduction of offset clause in defence procurements should provide the necessary fillip to the entry of several players from the private sector into the aircraft industry.
Keeping in mind the mammoth role that the HAL would assume in the coming years in the aerospace industry and the challenges that it would face, the government has set up an expert group under the chairmanship of Shri BK Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission to suggest measures to strengthen and restructure HAL.
The expert group has already met twice and is expected to submit its report soon. Among other things, the Group will suggest how best the spin offs from HAL order book can be earnest to ensure better involvement of the private industry in the defence sector. It will also suggest measures to enhance the synergies between HAL, the private defence sector and the civilian industry. The expert Group will assess the future technological and human resource requirements of HAL keeping in view the upcoming and emerging futuristic aeronautical technologies.
Taking part in the discussion the Members of Parliament appreciated the role played by HAL in the defence arena of the country over the years. They, however, pointed out certain shortcomings such as the delay in the induction of the Light Combat Aircraft in the Indian Air Force, delay in the development of Kaveri Engine, delay in phasing out of Mig-21 aircraft and lack of an aggressive strategy to export HAL products.
Replying to queries, Shri Antony said the government has taken a number of measures to acquire the most modern aircraft for the Indian Air Force in the coming years. Some of the aircraft have already been inducted into IAF and others are in pipeline. Shri Antony was optimistic that from 2020 onwards most of the airframes and platforms of the Indian Air Force would have incorporated new technology. Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju said HAL today faces multifarious challenges. He said while the organisation has evolved over the last 70 years by producing some of the finest human resources and products, in future, HAL would increasingly play the role of system integrator.
The Members of Parliament who attended the meeting included Shri Manish Tewari, Shri Naveen Jindal, Shri Suresh Kalmadi, Shri Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, Shri Kalkesh N Singh Deo, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Shri SS Ramasubbu, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Shri Balwant alias Bal Apte, Dr. Mahender Prasad, Shri HK Dua and Shri Ishwar Lal Jain.
Thursday, 23 February 2012
US Gifts Pakistan Two More Spy Planes
The Pakistani navy took delivery Tuesday of two state-of-the-art, US-made surveillance aircraft nine months after Islamist militants destroyed two similar planes, officials said.
Pakistan said the P3C aircraft, modified with the latest avionics, are designed to improve surveillance in the North Arabian sea, one of the world's most important shipping routes deeply troubled by Somali piracy.
"The two aircraft have been delivered to the Pakistan navy. These aircraft have been provided under the foreign military funding programme," a spokesman for the US embassy in Islamabad said.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States were severely damaged last year by a covert American raid that killed Osama bin Laden and air strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, and the alliance remains tense.
The navy said the aircraft would help "maintain requisite vigil in our vital area of interest in the North Arabian Sea", which it said was "home to intense maritime activity both legal and illegal and thus warrants continuous guard".
Pakistan is to receive six P3C aircraft from the United States in three batches. The first two, received in 2010, were destroyed during a 17-hour siege of a key naval base in Karachi last May blamed on the Taliban.
The attack killed 10 personnel and deeply embarrassed the military, just three weeks after bin Laden was killed in the garrison town of Abbottabad.
Monday, 20 February 2012
Tel Aviv To Deploy Iron Dome
“Iron Dome is being incorporated into the heart of the Israeli military. As part of this process, the system is deployed in different sites and will be in the Gush Dan region (of Tel Aviv) in the coming days,” he said in a statement that clarified the deployment would begin Feb. 20.
This deployment “is part of the annual training plan for this system”, he added.
The decision to site an Iron Dome battery at Tel Aviv comes amid heightened regional tensions and speculation about a possible Israeli attack targeting Iran’s controversial nuclear program.
Israel has denied that a decision has been taken to launch a pre-emptive strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The first battery of the unique multi-million-dollar Iron Dome system was deployed last March 27 outside the southern desert city of Beersheva, after it was hit by Grad rockets fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. On April 4, the system was also deployed around the southern port city of Ashkelon.
The first of its kind in the world and still at the experimental stage, it is not yet able to provide complete protection, but it has successfully brought down several rockets fired from Gaza.
Designed to intercept rockets and artillery shells fired from a range of between 4 kilometers and 70 kilometers (3 miles and 45 miles), Iron Dome is part of an ambitious multi-layered defense program to protect Israeli towns and cities.
Two other systems make up the program — the Arrow long-range ballistic missile defense system and the so-called David’s Sling, or Magic Wand, system, intended to counter medium-range missiles.
The Cowards And The Heroes Of 1962
In our scriptures it is written वीर भोग्य वसुंधरा meaning the brave shall enjoy the pleasures of earth. I wonder how true that quote is ?? The following article shows the two faces of Indian Army during the 1962 war. At one end were the cowards known as "Kaul Boys" on the other were people like Shaitan Singh and Hoshiar Singh. On one end of the spectrum was fear, panic, mendacity and pure cowardice on the other end was cool calculated, pure unadulterated bravery.
The following article only just touches upon the stories of those men who died fighting for India and of those cowards who lived happily to be rich and prosperous, with their son's and daughters enjoying all the comforts of this world. Please read this article.
The following article only just touches upon the stories of those men who died fighting for India and of those cowards who lived happily to be rich and prosperous, with their son's and daughters enjoying all the comforts of this world. Please read this article.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Rantings Of The Chinese Communist Media Blames Indian Democracy For All Evil
Beijing: Blaming India and its multi-party political system for the delay in solving the vexed Sino-India border issue, Chinese state media on Wednesday said the two sides were "far away" from reaching a "fair" agreement due to "suspicion and distrust", which is also impeding progress in bilateral ties.
Though the 15th round of border talks were concluded last month leaving a "good trend" in the bilateral relations, some contradictions and issues are still severely disturbing the normal development of the China-India relations, a write up in the People's Daily online said today.
"The first issue is the China-India border negotiation. China and India have held 15 meetings of special representatives for the border issue.
"Although the meetings have made many positive achievements, it is still far away from reaching a fair, just and reasonable agreement," the write up in the opinion page said.
The main barrier still comes from the Indian side as Indian media insist that the border line between China and India should be based on the "McMahon Line" left by British colonists, it said also India believes that the border dispute between the two countries covers not only the eastern region of 90,000 square km but also 30,000 sq km in the western region.
"This wrong argument, which totally disregards the history, still has supporters in India," it said.
Yet another reason that delaying the agreement was India's multi-party political system as well its society which is extremely complicated, it said.
"Various Indian political parties have different understandings on the China-India border issue, and therefore, it is hard for them to reach an agreement on the issue," it said.
The Daily also referred to India's concerns about China-Pakistan ties.
"There are still misunderstandings about the China- Pakistan relations. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Indian government for the most part believes that China has adopted an "equal justice" policy in handling India-Pakistan relations, not only attaching importance to developing relations with Pakistan, but also paying attention to the bilateral relations with India," it said.
There were concerns about Gwadar port and Chinese navy coming to India's door step and "inflow of nuclear technology from China to Pakistan", it said.
Referring to India's concerns about Chinese troops in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), it said they were the personnel sent by China to assist Pakistan in the earthquake relief work.
"The China threat theories like these are quite popular in India. Indian public opinion still holds that at present China is looking for a balance in relations between India and Pakistan to seek the best interest in South Asia and that once the India-Pakistan situation has changed, China will give full support to Pakistan and use Pakistan to curb and combat India," it said.
"Through the above contradictions and problems between China and India, the information passed to the people is that China and India do not have enough mutual trust.
"Suspicion and distrust are still the biggest obstacles to developing friendly relations between China and India," it said.
The governments of China and India should both "stand on a higher level, and take a broader perspective, to enhance mutual trust and eliminate the problems and give full play to the wisdom and talents of the people of China and India, to creatively draw a beautiful blueprint for the final settlement of the China-Indian conflicts and problems," it said.
Though the 15th round of border talks were concluded last month leaving a "good trend" in the bilateral relations, some contradictions and issues are still severely disturbing the normal development of the China-India relations, a write up in the People's Daily online said today.
"Although the meetings have made many positive achievements, it is still far away from reaching a fair, just and reasonable agreement," the write up in the opinion page said.
The main barrier still comes from the Indian side as Indian media insist that the border line between China and India should be based on the "McMahon Line" left by British colonists, it said also India believes that the border dispute between the two countries covers not only the eastern region of 90,000 square km but also 30,000 sq km in the western region.
"This wrong argument, which totally disregards the history, still has supporters in India," it said.
Yet another reason that delaying the agreement was India's multi-party political system as well its society which is extremely complicated, it said.
"Various Indian political parties have different understandings on the China-India border issue, and therefore, it is hard for them to reach an agreement on the issue," it said.
"There are still misunderstandings about the China- Pakistan relations. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Indian government for the most part believes that China has adopted an "equal justice" policy in handling India-Pakistan relations, not only attaching importance to developing relations with Pakistan, but also paying attention to the bilateral relations with India," it said.
There were concerns about Gwadar port and Chinese navy coming to India's door step and "inflow of nuclear technology from China to Pakistan", it said.
Referring to India's concerns about Chinese troops in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), it said they were the personnel sent by China to assist Pakistan in the earthquake relief work.
"The China threat theories like these are quite popular in India. Indian public opinion still holds that at present China is looking for a balance in relations between India and Pakistan to seek the best interest in South Asia and that once the India-Pakistan situation has changed, China will give full support to Pakistan and use Pakistan to curb and combat India," it said.
"Through the above contradictions and problems between China and India, the information passed to the people is that China and India do not have enough mutual trust.
"Suspicion and distrust are still the biggest obstacles to developing friendly relations between China and India," it said.
The governments of China and India should both "stand on a higher level, and take a broader perspective, to enhance mutual trust and eliminate the problems and give full play to the wisdom and talents of the people of China and India, to creatively draw a beautiful blueprint for the final settlement of the China-Indian conflicts and problems," it said.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Sukhoi T-50 Better Than Raptor And J-20 So Says Russia
The number of Russia's Sukhoi T-50 5th generation fighters involved in test flights will be increased to 14 from three by 2015, Russian Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin told RIA Novosti on Monday.
“There are three fighters already in tests, another three are expected to be tested in the nearest future. The entire number of aircraft planned for test flights is 14,” Zelin said.
The T-50, developed under the program PAK FA (Future Aviation System for Tactical Air Force) at the Sukhoi aircraft design bureau, made its first public appearance at the MAKS-2011 air show near Moscow on August 17, 2011.
The fighter, which is being developed in partnership with India, made its maiden flight in the Russian Far East in early 2010. Zelin also said that Russia’s T-50 outstripped its U.S. and Chinese analogues.
“After a comparative analysis of the fighter’s characteristics with the U.S. F-22 Raptor and Chinese J-20 stealth aircraft, we can conclude that PAK FA exceeds the foreign analogues in maximum speed, flight range, maximum takeoff weight and the maximum overload value,” Zelin added.
Russia has been developing its fifth-generation fighter since the 1990s. The country's top military officials have said the stealth fighter jet, with a range of up to 5,500 kilomeeters, should enter service with the Air Force in 2015.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Tejas Naval Version Is An Unfortunate Necessity For India
Tejas Naval version was recently in the news for all the wrong reasons. Specially when the Navy Chief took on DRDO for failing to meet the deadlines for the Naval version. It is indeed true that in the Royal mess of the whole Tejas saga, Naval version ia a glorious chapter of missed deadlines, unfulfilled promises and general lackadaisical attitude typical of Indian Government Sector
This is not the only time Tejas Naval version has come in for criticism. Even IAF officer's have been highly critical of the program and expect it to be scrapped.
The naval variant will feature
Arrestor hook
Drooped nose for better cockpit visibility
LEVCONS and fore plane to reduce landing speed
Auxiliary air-intakes
Strengthened undercarriage and fuselage and a fuel dump system.
Auto throttle function reduces pilot load by maintaining constant angle of attack during the critical phase of a flare-less carrier landing
Fuel Dump System enables safe landing by reducing weight in event of an emergency landing immediately after launch from Carrier
Maximum T/O from a carrier will be restricted to 12.5 tons, with the max external load being reduced to 3.5 tons.
LCA Naval Problems
At the roll-out of the first Naval LCA NP1 AT Bengaluru on July 6, 2010, ADA Director, Dr P.S. Subrahmanyam, said the aircraft aircraft still needs to shed 400 kg and the landing gear has to be perfected.
Looking at this kind of pessimism many of my readers have emailed me their opinion that we should scrap the naval version of Tejas and go for modern air-crafts from western countries or Russia. The readers choice is with F-35(B/C), Grippen, Mig-29K, Naval Typhoon. While these planes are extra-ordinary in their advertised potency, unfortunately they are all "DREAM MACHINES" except for Mig-29K(outdated) none of the planes exist except on paper.
Lets take the example of F-35B. The US Navy does not want it and they are only accepting this air-craft due to the immense pressure being put by the civilian administration. It's gained weight during development, but more importantly, the Navy isn't sure that the capabilities it provides are what they want to spend more money on. It's tempting to scrap it and go with an alternative, from a company with recent carrier-jet experience. The obstacle is a headstrong Secretary of Defense who's staked his reputation on the joint program, but the signals are clear: the moment he's gone the Navy's going to bail.
Problem with going in for either F-35B or F/A-18 is the binding and humiliating contract which we will have to sign. Basically it will be the US command which will give us permission to operate these machinery if it fits in their strategic view. Unfortunately that is not something which is acceptable to India thus you can forget about any American fighters coming to India in the near future.
The second problem we have forgotten is the problem with STOVL and STOBAR vs CATOBAR configuration. India does not have any operational STOBAR Aircraft Carriers but the next generation will be all STOBAR including the GORSHKOV. While the current AC in service is STOVL.
There are three main configurations of aircraft carrier in service in the world's navies, divided by the way in which aircraft take off and land:
Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) - these carriers generally carry the largest, heaviest, and most heavily armed aircraft, although smaller CATOBAR carriers may have other limitations (weight capacity of aircraft elevator, etc.). Three nations currently operate carriers of this type: the United States, France, and Brazil for a total of thirteen in service and potentially two more when the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth class is complete.
Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) - these carriers are generally limited to carrying lighter fixed-wing aircraft with more limited payloads. STOBAR carrier airwings, such as the Sukhoi Su-33 and future Mikoyan MiG-29K wings of the Admiral Kuznetsov are often geared primarily towards the air superiority and fleet defense roles rather than strike/power projection tasks which require heavier payloads (bombs, air-to-ground missiles). Currently, only Russia possesses an operational carrier of this type, with India and China each preparing a similar carrier.
Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) - limited to carrying STOVL aircraft. STOVL aircraft, such as the Harrier Jump Jet family and Yakovlev Yak-38 generally have very limited payloads, lower performance, and high fuel consumption when compared with conventional fixed wing aircraft; however, newer STOVL aircraft such as the F-35 have much improved performance. This type of aircraft carrier is operated by India, Spain, and Italy with five in active service; the UK and Thailand each have one active carrier but without any operational STOVL aircraft in inventory. Some also count the nine US Amphibious Assault ships in their secondary light carrier role boosting the overall total to sixteen.
Now we have limited options... F-35B which is still going through trials and is a bloody costly machine...comes with dog collar and leash, Mig-29K are out-dated and not in production anywhere. Or go for Rafale-M which again works on CATOBAR carrier De-Gaul.F/A-18 are too heavy for STOVL/STOBAR carriers.
So my friends you tell me if we can afford to scrap Naval Tejas when we have only one aircraft available for all our future AC's?
|
This is not the only time Tejas Naval version has come in for criticism. Even IAF officer's have been highly critical of the program and expect it to be scrapped.
The naval variant will feature
Maximum T/O from a carrier will be restricted to 12.5 tons, with the max external load being reduced to 3.5 tons.
LCA Naval Problems
At the roll-out of the first Naval LCA NP1 AT Bengaluru on July 6, 2010, ADA Director, Dr P.S. Subrahmanyam, said the aircraft aircraft still needs to shed 400 kg and the landing gear has to be perfected.
|
Looking at this kind of pessimism many of my readers have emailed me their opinion that we should scrap the naval version of Tejas and go for modern air-crafts from western countries or Russia. The readers choice is with F-35(B/C), Grippen, Mig-29K, Naval Typhoon. While these planes are extra-ordinary in their advertised potency, unfortunately they are all "DREAM MACHINES" except for Mig-29K(outdated) none of the planes exist except on paper.
Lets take the example of F-35B. The US Navy does not want it and they are only accepting this air-craft due to the immense pressure being put by the civilian administration. It's gained weight during development, but more importantly, the Navy isn't sure that the capabilities it provides are what they want to spend more money on. It's tempting to scrap it and go with an alternative, from a company with recent carrier-jet experience. The obstacle is a headstrong Secretary of Defense who's staked his reputation on the joint program, but the signals are clear: the moment he's gone the Navy's going to bail.
|
Problem with going in for either F-35B or F/A-18 is the binding and humiliating contract which we will have to sign. Basically it will be the US command which will give us permission to operate these machinery if it fits in their strategic view. Unfortunately that is not something which is acceptable to India thus you can forget about any American fighters coming to India in the near future.
The second problem we have forgotten is the problem with STOVL and STOBAR vs CATOBAR configuration. India does not have any operational STOBAR Aircraft Carriers but the next generation will be all STOBAR including the GORSHKOV. While the current AC in service is STOVL.
There are three main configurations of aircraft carrier in service in the world's navies, divided by the way in which aircraft take off and land:
Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) - these carriers generally carry the largest, heaviest, and most heavily armed aircraft, although smaller CATOBAR carriers may have other limitations (weight capacity of aircraft elevator, etc.). Three nations currently operate carriers of this type: the United States, France, and Brazil for a total of thirteen in service and potentially two more when the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth class is complete.
Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) - these carriers are generally limited to carrying lighter fixed-wing aircraft with more limited payloads. STOBAR carrier airwings, such as the Sukhoi Su-33 and future Mikoyan MiG-29K wings of the Admiral Kuznetsov are often geared primarily towards the air superiority and fleet defense roles rather than strike/power projection tasks which require heavier payloads (bombs, air-to-ground missiles). Currently, only Russia possesses an operational carrier of this type, with India and China each preparing a similar carrier.
Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) - limited to carrying STOVL aircraft. STOVL aircraft, such as the Harrier Jump Jet family and Yakovlev Yak-38 generally have very limited payloads, lower performance, and high fuel consumption when compared with conventional fixed wing aircraft; however, newer STOVL aircraft such as the F-35 have much improved performance. This type of aircraft carrier is operated by India, Spain, and Italy with five in active service; the UK and Thailand each have one active carrier but without any operational STOVL aircraft in inventory. Some also count the nine US Amphibious Assault ships in their secondary light carrier role boosting the overall total to sixteen.
Now we have limited options... F-35B which is still going through trials and is a bloody costly machine...comes with dog collar and leash, Mig-29K are out-dated and not in production anywhere. Or go for Rafale-M which again works on CATOBAR carrier De-Gaul.F/A-18 are too heavy for STOVL/STOBAR carriers.
So my friends you tell me if we can afford to scrap Naval Tejas when we have only one aircraft available for all our future AC's?
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Coward Evil Communist Attack Again
Four BSF officers, including a Commanding Officer, were today killed in an IED blast by suspected Maoists in Malkangiri district of Odisha.
The BSF squad was targeted at around 1 PM in the Janbai area of the district, under Chitragonda police station area, 465 kms from here, and its jungles are a Naxal hotbed as it touches the borders of two other states-- Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, making it a corridor for Maoists.
According to initial reports, the officers were returning in their vehicle after attending a meeting with the district administration.
The victims have been identified as Commandant (107 battalion) G R Khaswan, his Second-in-Command Rajesh Sharan, Inspector Ashok and Assistant Sub-Inspector and radio operator of the squad Jitendra.
A Border Security Force (BSF) company is located in the area where the blast occurred.
The area witnesses a huge inter-state movement of armed Maoist cadres, a senior official said.
The BSF squad was targeted at around 1 PM in the Janbai area of the district, under Chitragonda police station area, 465 kms from here, and its jungles are a Naxal hotbed as it touches the borders of two other states-- Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, making it a corridor for Maoists.
According to initial reports, the officers were returning in their vehicle after attending a meeting with the district administration.
The victims have been identified as Commandant (107 battalion) G R Khaswan, his Second-in-Command Rajesh Sharan, Inspector Ashok and Assistant Sub-Inspector and radio operator of the squad Jitendra.
A Border Security Force (BSF) company is located in the area where the blast occurred.
The area witnesses a huge inter-state movement of armed Maoist cadres, a senior official said.
Friday, 10 February 2012
Interceptor Missile For India' Ballistic Missile Shield Tested Successfully
As part of its plan to deploy a two-layer ballistic missile defence system, India on Friday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed supersonic interceptor missile from the Integrated Test Range off Orissa coast.
A surface-to-surface target missile - a modified 'Prithvi' – was first lifted from the launch Complex-III in ITR at Chandipur, 15 km from here around 10:13 hours, defence sources said.
The missile tracking network consisting of long range and multi-function radars and other range sensors positioned at different locations detected and identified the incoming missile.
The interceptor missile at Wheeler Island, about 70 km across the sea from Chandipur, with a directional warhead was launched at about 10:16 hour and ground and on board control guided it to the target, the sources said.
The last flight of interceptor missile was conducted on March 6, 2011.
(Press Release)
DRDO AIR DEFENCE MISSILE AAD-05 HAS SUCCESSFULLY HIT BALLISTIC MISSILE AND DESTROYS THE BALLISTIC MISSILE AT A HEIGHT OF 15 KMS OFF THE COAST OF ORISSA NEAR THE WHEELERS ISLAND. A MODIFIED PRITHVI MISSILE MIMICKING THE BALLISTIC MISSILE WAS LAUNCHED AT 1010HRS TODAY FROM ITR CHANDIPUR. RADARS LOCATED AT DEFERENT LOCATIONS HAVE TRACKED INCOMING BALLISTIC MISSILE. INTERCEPTOR MISSILE WAS COMPLETELY READY TO TAKE OFF AT WHEELERS ISLAND. GUIDANCE COMPUTERS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY COMPUTED THE TRAJECTORY OF BALLISTIC MISSILE AND LAUNCHED AAD-05 INTERCEPTOR MISSILE AT A PRECISELY CALCULATED TIME. AAD-05 INTERCEPTOR MISSILE INITIALLY GUIDED BY THE INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH THE TARGET TRAJECTORY CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED BY THE RADAR, THE ON BOARD GUIDENCE COMPUTER GUIDED THE AAD-05 INTERCEPTOR MISSILE TOWARDS THE TARGET MISSILE. THE ONBOARD RADIO FREQUENCY SEEKER IDENTIFIED THE TARGET MISSILE AND GUIDED THE AAD-05 INTERCEPTOR MISSILE CLOSE TO THE TARGET MISSILE AND HIT THE TARGET MISSILE DIRECTLY AND DESTROYED IT. WARHEAD ALSO EXPLODED AND DESTROYED THE TARGET MISSILE INTO PIECES.
RADAR AND EOTS SYSTEMS HAVE TRACKED THE MISSILE AND ALSO RECORDED THE FRAGMENTS OF TARGET MISSILE FALLING INTO THE BAY OF BENGAL. IT IS ONE OF THE FINEST MISSIONS WHERE THE INTERCEPTOR HAS HIT THE INCOMING BALLISTIC MISSILE DIRECTLY AND DESTROYED AT A 15 KMS ALTITUDE. INDIA HAS JOINED A VERY FEW ADVANCED COUNTRIES, WHO HAVE THESE BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE CAPABILITIES. INDIA IS THE FIFTH NATION TO HAVE THESE CAPABILITIES IN THE WORLD. THE MISSION WAS CARRIED OUT IN THE FINAL DELIVERABLE USER CONFIGURATION MODE.
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR TO RAKSHA MANTRI DR. V.K. SARASWAT HAS REVIEWED THE TOTAL CONFIGURATION AND MISSION AND ALSO WITNESSED THE LAUNCH. SHRI AVINASH CHANDER CHIEF CONTROLLER R&D (MSS) AND SHRI P VENUGOPALAN DIRECTOR DRDL CARRIED OUT THE FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW OF BOTH THE TARGET MISSILE AND INTERCEPTOR MISSILE.SHRI DS REDDY, PROGRAMME DIRECTOR AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM ALONGWITH HIS TEAM HAVE CARRIED OUT ALL THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE LAUNCH SUCCESSFULLY. SHRI SP DASH DIRECTOR ITR, DR SK CHAUDHURI DIRECTOR RCI AND SHRI SATISH KUMAR DIRECTOR SPIC AND OTHER TOP DRDO SCIENTISTS WERE PRESENT DURING THE MISSION. THE MISSION WAS ALSO WITNESSED BY THE SENIOR OFFICIALS OF TRI-SERVICES.
RAKSHA MANTRI SHRI AK ANTONY HAS CONGRATULATED ALL THE SCIENTISTS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION OF BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE.
A surface-to-surface target missile - a modified 'Prithvi' – was first lifted from the launch Complex-III in ITR at Chandipur, 15 km from here around 10:13 hours, defence sources said.
The missile tracking network consisting of long range and multi-function radars and other range sensors positioned at different locations detected and identified the incoming missile.
The interceptor missile at Wheeler Island, about 70 km across the sea from Chandipur, with a directional warhead was launched at about 10:16 hour and ground and on board control guided it to the target, the sources said.
The last flight of interceptor missile was conducted on March 6, 2011.
(Press Release)
DRDO AIR DEFENCE MISSILE AAD-05 HAS SUCCESSFULLY HIT BALLISTIC MISSILE AND DESTROYS THE BALLISTIC MISSILE AT A HEIGHT OF 15 KMS OFF THE COAST OF ORISSA NEAR THE WHEELERS ISLAND. A MODIFIED PRITHVI MISSILE MIMICKING THE BALLISTIC MISSILE WAS LAUNCHED AT 1010HRS TODAY FROM ITR CHANDIPUR. RADARS LOCATED AT DEFERENT LOCATIONS HAVE TRACKED INCOMING BALLISTIC MISSILE. INTERCEPTOR MISSILE WAS COMPLETELY READY TO TAKE OFF AT WHEELERS ISLAND. GUIDANCE COMPUTERS HAVE CONTINUOUSLY COMPUTED THE TRAJECTORY OF BALLISTIC MISSILE AND LAUNCHED AAD-05 INTERCEPTOR MISSILE AT A PRECISELY CALCULATED TIME. AAD-05 INTERCEPTOR MISSILE INITIALLY GUIDED BY THE INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH THE TARGET TRAJECTORY CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED BY THE RADAR, THE ON BOARD GUIDENCE COMPUTER GUIDED THE AAD-05 INTERCEPTOR MISSILE TOWARDS THE TARGET MISSILE. THE ONBOARD RADIO FREQUENCY SEEKER IDENTIFIED THE TARGET MISSILE AND GUIDED THE AAD-05 INTERCEPTOR MISSILE CLOSE TO THE TARGET MISSILE AND HIT THE TARGET MISSILE DIRECTLY AND DESTROYED IT. WARHEAD ALSO EXPLODED AND DESTROYED THE TARGET MISSILE INTO PIECES.
RADAR AND EOTS SYSTEMS HAVE TRACKED THE MISSILE AND ALSO RECORDED THE FRAGMENTS OF TARGET MISSILE FALLING INTO THE BAY OF BENGAL. IT IS ONE OF THE FINEST MISSIONS WHERE THE INTERCEPTOR HAS HIT THE INCOMING BALLISTIC MISSILE DIRECTLY AND DESTROYED AT A 15 KMS ALTITUDE. INDIA HAS JOINED A VERY FEW ADVANCED COUNTRIES, WHO HAVE THESE BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE CAPABILITIES. INDIA IS THE FIFTH NATION TO HAVE THESE CAPABILITIES IN THE WORLD. THE MISSION WAS CARRIED OUT IN THE FINAL DELIVERABLE USER CONFIGURATION MODE.
SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR TO RAKSHA MANTRI DR. V.K. SARASWAT HAS REVIEWED THE TOTAL CONFIGURATION AND MISSION AND ALSO WITNESSED THE LAUNCH. SHRI AVINASH CHANDER CHIEF CONTROLLER R&D (MSS) AND SHRI P VENUGOPALAN DIRECTOR DRDL CARRIED OUT THE FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW OF BOTH THE TARGET MISSILE AND INTERCEPTOR MISSILE.SHRI DS REDDY, PROGRAMME DIRECTOR AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM ALONGWITH HIS TEAM HAVE CARRIED OUT ALL THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE LAUNCH SUCCESSFULLY. SHRI SP DASH DIRECTOR ITR, DR SK CHAUDHURI DIRECTOR RCI AND SHRI SATISH KUMAR DIRECTOR SPIC AND OTHER TOP DRDO SCIENTISTS WERE PRESENT DURING THE MISSION. THE MISSION WAS ALSO WITNESSED BY THE SENIOR OFFICIALS OF TRI-SERVICES.
RAKSHA MANTRI SHRI AK ANTONY HAS CONGRATULATED ALL THE SCIENTISTS FOR THE SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION OF BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Ancient F-7PG Flown By Pakistan Air Force Crashes Killing The Pilot
A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilot was killed on Wednesday when his aircraft crashed in Pashin district, some 70 kilometres north of Quetta. A statement from the Air Headquarters Islamabad said the fighter jet F-7 PG was on a routine training mission when it crashed 24 nautical miles north of Quetta.
“It was a Chinese-made F-7PG training aircraft,” Air Commodore Anis Mirza told AFP.
Sources said the aircraft crashed in the mountains between Tora Shah and Band Khushdil Khan area, 10 kilometres from Pashin. They said the pilot had been identified as Tauseef Ahmed.
No loss of civilian life or property on ground had been reported, the statement said, adding that an inquiry had been ordered to determine the cause of the accident.
It was the fourth air force jet to crash in training in over three months.
Two pilots were killed in the other incidents and a helicopter crash last June killed four military personnel.
Pakistan is currently the largest non-Chinese F-7 operator, with ~120 F-7P and ~60 F-7PG. The Pakistan Air Force is to replace its entire fleet of F-7 with the JF-17 multirole fighter, all F-7P are planned to be retired and replaced with JF-17 Thunder aircraft by 2015.
Grand-Daughter And Great Grand-Daughter Of Baloch Nationalist Leader Slaughtered
Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was once governor of Balochistan, a former interior minister, and eventually a rebel killed in a military operation in August 2006 by then president Pervez Musharraf's regime. While Jhumar (34) is Brahmadagh's daughter who was married to Balochistan member of provincial assembly Mir Bakhtiar Domki, Jaana Domki was their daughter. They were both shot dead near Gizri flyover of Karachi.
The driver of their vehicle was also killed. According to an eyewitness, a helper of the Domkis, who survived the attack, the attack took place a short distance from Jhumar's maternal uncle's home in the heavily policed Clifton area. A police unit was looking on, reported Baloch nationalist website, Balochwarna, quoting the eyewitness.
It reports that a black car intercepted Jhumar's car in Clifton around midnight. A man in black salwar kameez, wearing a black face mask, jumped out of the car and shot the driver, Barkat Baloch, as they tried to get away. The driver was killed on spot.
Then the assailant opened the rear door when two bikes accosted the car. Jhumar offered her jewellery, phone and valuables to the man thinking he was a robber. In response the killer said he didn't need her valuables; he was there to kill her and her daughter. Jhumar was then made to witness the brutal killing of her daughter, Jaana. Jhumar was then shot over a dozen times in the head, face and neck at point blank range and was left in a pool of blood.
US to support an independent Balochistan; congressional hearing convened for discussion Washington: (Wednesday, February 08, 2012) Completely disregarding the currently deteriorated state of affairs between the two countries, the United States is all set to support an independent Balochistan. According to the news, the US committee on Foreign Affairs has convened a congressional hearing today to hold an exclusive discussion on state of human rights affairs in the largest province of Pakistan.
US to support an independent Balochistan; congressional hearing convened for discussion
Russia completes trials of new Talwar class stealth frigate
The final trials of a new Talwar class stealth frigate for the Indian Navy has been completed in Russia. The frigate, whose testing was held at the Yantar shipyard in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, is armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Ria Novosti reported.
Russia and India signed a USD 1.6 billion contract on construction of three modified Krivak III class (also known as Talwar class) guided missile frigates for India in 2006.
Two other Talwar class frigates, the Tarkash and the Trikand, are at various stages of construction and testing at the Yantar shipyard, and their delivery dates are unknown.
The three frigates are each armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
Russia has previously built three Talwar class frigates for India - INS Talwar (Sword), INS Trishul (Trident), and INS Tabar (Axe).
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Marines practice amphibious war, storm US beaches
A small group of Marines trudged onto the beach sands in pitch-black night with an armada of US Navy warships sailing just off the shore. Their mission: root out insurgents that threatened to attack another American force to the south.
Military officials say the operation being conducted in Virginia and North Carolina is the largest amphibious training exercise they've attempted in at least a decade. Marines have been fighting wars in landlocked countries like Iraq and Afghanistan for years, and many have never even set foot on a Navy ship. That's of particular concern as the military shifts its strategic focus toward the coastal regions of the Middle East, such as Iran, and the Pacific, where North Korea and China are drawing increasing attention from the US.
Military officials say the operation being conducted in Virginia and North Carolina is the largest amphibious training exercise they've attempted in at least a decade. Marines have been fighting wars in landlocked countries like Iraq and Afghanistan for years, and many have never even set foot on a Navy ship. That's of particular concern as the military shifts its strategic focus toward the coastal regions of the Middle East, such as Iran, and the Pacific, where North Korea and China are drawing increasing attention from the US.
Rickety Pakistan Air Force Gets New F-16
The Dawn reports the primary consideration for purchasing the new aircraft was to improve the fighting capability of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) vis-à-vis the Indian Air Force.Though the stated aspect was IAF yet these F-16's were conspicuous by their absence during Kargil war when IAF carried out heavy bombing of Pakistani Army on the Line Of Control. PAF did not raise a finger to help its own men while they were being slaughtered.Some might call it cowardice but I call it excellent practical approach of PAF. Instead of having their assets destroyed they kept them safe. This strategy had two fold advantage one the general public was assured that PAF is ready and will protect them as and when needed plus kept the foolish western countries wary about nuclear strike.(Which again was a royal bluff)
The last F-16D Block 52 aircraft as well as the first two of the upgraded fighter jets have arrived in the country.
The fighter aircraft is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics suite and latest weapons with night precision attack capability.
"One F-16D Block 52 and two F-16 Block 15 MLU (Mid Life Upgrade) aircraft arrived today from the US at PAF Base Shahbaz (Jacobabad)," PAF said in a statement.
The F-16 programme included purchase of 18 new jets, upgrade of 35 older aircraft and those purchased from the US under Excess Defence Articles (EDA) programme, and procurement of munitions.
The F-16 aircraft sale to Pakistan was announced in 2005.
WikiLeaks expose of leaked US diplomatic cables show that the deal was meant to assuage Pakistan's fears of an "existential threat it perceived from India".
The diplomatic cables suggest that the purpose of the sale was to divert Pakistan's attention from "the nuclear option", and give it "time and space to employ a conventional reaction" in the event of a conflict with India.
How can a handful of old air crafts with no chance in hell of matching Indian Fighters keep PAF safe is beyond me but it seems to keep the gullible Pakistani people happy. These aircrafts can be used to bomb the living daylights out of innocent Balochistani Freedom Fighters. So I guess the F-16's will cover itself in laurel by destroying every village every herd and every village school in Balochistan.
US Congressional hearing may spell trouble for Pakistan
The United States (US) Committee on Foreign Affairs is set to convene a congressional hearing on Wednesday (February 8), for an exclusive discussion on Balochistan.
The extraordinary event has generated great interest among followers of Pakistan-US relations, as the allies’ mutual relationship seems to be deteriorating. The powerful House of Representatives committee oversees America’s foreign assistance programs and experts believe it can recommend halting US assistance to Pakistan over human rights violation in Balochistan.
Calls for ‘independence’
While Islamabad has strictly treated Balochistan as an internal matter, the debate on such a divisive topic by the powerful committee has highlighted the level of American interest in Balochistan and its support, if any, for the nationalist movement. On its part, Pakistan has kept Washington at arm’s length on the Balochistan issue, by refusing to grant it permission to open a consulate in Quetta.
The extraordinary event has generated great interest among followers of Pakistan-US relations, as the allies’ mutual relationship seems to be deteriorating. The powerful House of Representatives committee oversees America’s foreign assistance programs and experts believe it can recommend halting US assistance to Pakistan over human rights violation in Balochistan.
Calls for ‘independence’
While Islamabad has strictly treated Balochistan as an internal matter, the debate on such a divisive topic by the powerful committee has highlighted the level of American interest in Balochistan and its support, if any, for the nationalist movement. On its part, Pakistan has kept Washington at arm’s length on the Balochistan issue, by refusing to grant it permission to open a consulate in Quetta.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Russia Will Complete Air-Launched Missiles for T-50 by 2014
Russia will complete development of advanced tactical air-launched missile systems for the Sukhoi T-50 fifth-generation fighter within the next two years, the head of the Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV), Boris Obnosov, said
“The development of Kh-35UE (AS-20 Kayak), Kh-38ME, Kh-58UShKE (AS-11 Kilter), and RVV-MD (AA-11 Archer) class missiles will be completed in 2012-2013,” Obnosov said, adding the missiles were currently being tested.
By the time the T-50 fighter enters service with the Russian Air Force in 2014, its missile systems will be fully operational, Obnosov said.
Some of the missiles intended for the fighters – such as Kh-31PD (AS-17 Mod 2) class missiles – have already been tested using Sukhoi Su-34 (Fullback) fourth-generation strike aircraft and put into serial production, he added.
According to KTRV, the Kh-35UE tactical anti-ship missile has a maximum range of 260 kilometers; the supersonic Kh-31PD anti-radiation missile for use against air defense systems, can fly up to 250 kilometers; the Kh-58UShKE missile, designed to destroy pulse radars, can hit targets within 245 kilometers, and the short-range RVV-MD air-to-air missile has a maximum range of 40 kilometers.
The T-50, developed under the PAK FA (Future Aviation System for Tactical Air Force) program by the Sukhoi OKB, is Russia's first new major warplane designed since the fall of the Soviet Union. The jet made its maiden flight in January 2011 and two prototypes have since been undergoing flight tests.
Indian Republic Day Videos
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This video is courtesy of Ashish Divay. Please support the original author by visiting his blog at http://ashsworldonline.blogspot.in/
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Rafale The New Indian Air Force Fighter
Sunday, 29 January 2012
NACRA: Smart phone technology takes leap to battlefield
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| (copyright www.navair.navy.mil) Using commercially available "smart phones," NACRA project coordinator Ashley Morgan sends and receives streaming video, voice and text across an encrypted/tactical 4G network during a recent demonstration of digital interoperability technologies hosted by NACRA and the NAWCAD's Surface-Aviation Interoperability Lab. Hovering near him, NACRA's testbed helicopter provided the 4G "cell tower in the sky" for the demo. |
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- A joint demonstration involving multiple defense agencies and several aerospace companies proved that smart phone technology can be used to improve battlefield awareness.
A tactical digital network, featuring advanced digital radios, hand-held cellular smart phones, a helicopter-mounted “cell tower in the sky” and a boarding party in the Chesapeake Bay recently completed a joint interoperability demonstration.
“This is a big deal because until recently, we’ve not been able to communicate between devices in a tactical networked environment without extensive preplanning and coordination,” said Cmdr. Chris McMahan, Naval Aviation Center for Rotorcraft Advancement demonstration coordinator. “Today’s data links are mostly point-to-point networks where ad hoc connections aren’t possible."
Participating teams displayed ad hoc data sharing on a simulated battlefield in a December exercise by using hand-held cellular smart phones to send and receive real-time video, voice and text sharing between a small-boat team on the Bay and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Surface/Aviation Interoperability Laboratory.
The participating teams included NACRA, SAIL, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and aerospace companies Northrop Grumman and Rockwell Collins. “It’s the same idea as accessing the Internet from a smart phone or a Wi-Fi-capable notebook to share email or a video with a friend,” explained McMahan. “The Internet doesn’t care what your device is as long as it uses the right protocols. This is the same thing, only we’re doing it encrypted in a tactical environment where we have to bring our own mobile cell tower mounted on the helicopter.”
And while that might seem routine for civilian Internet users, it’s challenging in a secure tactical arena.
“We’re trying to achieve ‘platform agnosticism,’ where you don’t have to preplan participation,” McMahan added. “Much like how we’re able to access the Internet via any number of available devices and modes, we wanted to demo an encrypted tactical network where the data is important and the devices are relatively transparent.”
Specific network capabilities included Quint Networking Technology, 4G/LTE wireless networks, L band, C band and UHF radios, PRC-117G radios, Blue Force Tracker and a 3G/4G LTE transmitter mounted on one of NACRA’s testbed helicopters.
Key to the demo was DARPA’s Tactical Targeted Network Technologies -- an Internet Protocol (IP) based, high-speed, dynamic, ad hoc network hosted by the Rockwell-Collins QNT networking radios. The Naval Air Warfare Center’s SAIL acted as a ship, providing a sea-based node to the network, demonstrating the ability to access an IP-based network from the sea.
Indian Army To Hold Several Military Exercise
Indian Army will hold around 15 exercises this year with friendly foreign countries including the who's who in the global arena, army officials said.
In its immediate neighbourhood, Indian Army will conduct these joint training exercises with Bangladesh and Singapore.
'Bold Kurukshetra' with Singapore army will kick-off the war games in Babina near Jhansi in March. The two sides will field their mechanised forces in the training engagement.
The schedule and nature of exercises with other countries are yet to be decided, but anti-terrorism drills and urban warfare is going to be an important part of all of these war games, officials said.
The army troopers will also engage the American mechanised forces in the deserts of Rajasthan in the exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' which will see the US fielding its tanks there.
The US had participated in exercise 'Yudh Abhyas-2009' with the Indian Army, when it had taken its Stryker infantry armoured vehicles outside of its operational area to a foreign land.
Indian Army had participated in the exercise with its mechanized infantry battalions. Similar exercises have also been planned with the armies of France and Russia.
Last year in October, troops of Indian and French armies had conducted a joint exercise-'Shakti-2000' in the hills of Ranikhet in Uttarakhand.
The fourth round of 'INDRA' series of joint exercise between Indian and Russian armies was also conducted in 2010 in Uttarakhand.
Friday, 27 January 2012
Successful test-flight of Lakshya-II
Two days after a successful trial, the advanced version of pilotless target aircraft (PTA) Lakshya-II was again successfully flight- tested at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) near here today.
The 11th flight demonstration was held from a mobile vehicle at launch complex-3 of the ITR, about 15 km from here.
A similar trial had been conducted on Wednesday. "The entire flight was pre-programmed and was totally successful," defence sources said.
Lakshya-II flew at sea skimming height of about 15 metres. "In a flight lasting over 30 minutes, it was made to dive down from an altitude of around 800 m to just 12 m and maintained the requisite altitude for the specified time before demonstrating auto climb-out," they said.
It demonstrated various technologies and sub-systems to prevent loss of mission, engaging and flying in way point navigation mode while carrying tow targets.
During the flight, one of the tow targets was released and the other was deployed while way point navigation was on.
Lakshya-II has been designed and developed by Bangalore- based Aeronautical Development Establishment, a premier DRDO lab specialising in UAVs and flight control systems, they said.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Carrier Vikramaditya Ready for India After Eight Year Wait
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| © RIA Novosti. Sergey Safronov |
The purchase of the Soviet-built Admiral Gorshkov was agreed in 2004 with delivery initially due for 2008. The delivery date slipped on numerous occasions and the final price for the ship has more than doubled.
The cost of refurbishing Gorshkov, to be renamed INS Vikramaditya, has gone up from $947 million to $2.3 billion. “The vessel is expected to undertake sea trials at the end of May,” Sergei Novosyolov, deputy director of the Sevmash shipyard in the far northern port of Severodvinsk, which is refitting the 45,000-ton ship which Russia took out of service in 1992.
Russia is one of India’s largest suppliers of military hardware. Ninety-six Indian specialists are currently being trained to operate the ship, Novosyolov said, adding that the final number of those to be trained is 1,401.
Last week, a Russian military source said Russia would hand over the nuclear-powered Nerpa submarine to India by the end of the month.
The Day Of Hindu Genocide In India
Aftab, a local Urdu newspaper, publishes a press release issued by Hizb-ul Mujahideen , set up by the Jamaat-e-Islami in 1989 to wage jihad for Jammu and Kashmir's secession from India and accession to Pakistan, asking all Hindus to pack up and leave. Another local paper, Al Safa, repeats this expulsion order.
Russian Air Force Has A New AWACS
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| © RIA Novosti. Denisov Anton |
The aircraft, which has an advanced onboard computer, satellite communication and radar systems, was delivered to the Air Force in October and started flight tests.
It will participate in all major military exercises this year, the spokesman added.
The aircraft now has the capability to detect various types of flying targets, including helicopters, cruise missiles and supersonic aircraft, he said.
The Beriev A-50, based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport, first flew in 1978. It entered service in 1984, with about 40 produced by 1992.
The A-50 can track up to 10 fighter aircraft for either air-to-air interception or air-to-ground attack missions.
Britain Using Rocks To Spy on Russia
Footage showing the alleged spies using the device was aired on Russian TV in January 2006. The FSB described it as “absolutely new spy technology.”
The UK Foreign Office then denied the claims.
But in a BBC documentary due to be broadcast later today, Jonathan Powell, then Prime Minister Tony Blair’s chief of staff, admitted the footage was genuine.
“The spy rock was embarrassing,” Powell said, adding that the Russians “had us bang to rights.”
“Clearly they had known about it for some time and they had been saving it up for a political purpose,” he said.
That purpose was to justify the adoption of a controversial new law giving the authorities increased powers to monitor the activities and finances of non-governmental organizations, the documentary alleges.
Then President Vladimir Putin said NGOs were being used as a cover by foreign spies and argued that the measure was necessary for state security but critics said it cracked down on human rights and democracy.
Chinese Virus Targets American Department Of Defense
The technique though is not new it targets the civilian workers in DoD through email with a PDF attached,once that PDF is opened this code infects the system and starts logging in your keystroke, it can easily acquire all kind of personal details.
This strain is modified to target the CAC technology of DoD and geared toward stealing military technology. To lure unsuspecting civilians into a trap this email often has information about the new drone technology or pictures of unnamed vehicle.
Pentagon spokeswoman Air Force Lt. Col. April Cunningham declined to comment on the details published by AlienVault.
“We are aware of reports regarding this matter and take these type of reports seriously. However, due to operational security, we are not able to provide further details,” she told Military Times.
Experts said the virus is linked to a “command and control server” that appears to be based in China; some flaws buried deep in the code revealed Chinese language characters, suggesting that only a Chinese speaker would be able to launch it.
Defense of any kind against this technology is quite bleak but the attack can be rendered useless by better training to troops and civilian employees. Teaching them not to open these emails and performing all the security checks needed.
Many military officials are eager to begin widespread use of smart phones, tablets and other wireless devices, but cyber security experts caution that such technology can be more vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Monday, 9 January 2012
Feeble Resistance By The Indian Army Surprised The Chinese
China did not expect India to give in so easily in the 1962 war, so much so that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) overran Indian posts and reached deep into Tezpur in the plains of Assam, said Colonel (retd) Abhay
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
India's FMBT Plan In A Mess. Is It Tejas & Arjun All Over Again?
By Ajai Shukla
CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai
Business Standard, 2nd Jan 12
India’s Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT), the backbone of the army’s strike power into the mid-21st century, languishes while the army continues an extended debate over its specifications.
A year ago, on 6th Dec 2010, Defence Minister AK Antony told the Lok Sabha that the army had formulated the FMBT’s specifications and the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) was carrying out feasibility studies. Antony, it now emerges, misled parliament. MoD sources say the army remains undecided about the basic features of the FMBT, including whether it should have three crew members or four. Consequently the army has not finalised the FMBT’s Preliminary Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR), essential for sanctioning the project and allocating funding.
CVRDE, Avadi, Chennai
Business Standard, 2nd Jan 12
India’s Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT), the backbone of the army’s strike power into the mid-21st century, languishes while the army continues an extended debate over its specifications.
A year ago, on 6th Dec 2010, Defence Minister AK Antony told the Lok Sabha that the army had formulated the FMBT’s specifications and the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) was carrying out feasibility studies. Antony, it now emerges, misled parliament. MoD sources say the army remains undecided about the basic features of the FMBT, including whether it should have three crew members or four. Consequently the army has not finalised the FMBT’s Preliminary Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR), essential for sanctioning the project and allocating funding.
New Delhi Gets Missile Shield Protection
This could be a game changer folks, so I am very excited to inform you what was told by Ministry Of Defense.According to them Indian version of Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) is ready. Under Phase-1 deployment, the National Capital Region (NCR) will come under the safe shield of programme Air Defence (AD). Sources in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that the entire operations will be linked to the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) in Delhi.
“India’s network-centric warfare capabilities will come to the party with AD cover for NCR first. Once, this module is operational, we can replicate the same to other Indian cities. We have submitted a detailed programme to the government in this regard,” sources said.
In Phase-II deployment, cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata could find a place, though the specifics have not been yet finalised. “Missile launchers, radars, interceptors and network systems have all being readied for NCR. India will now be among the league of nations with BMD capabilities,” sources said.
Surrounded by hostile neighbours possessing nuclear capable ballistic missiles, the threat perception to India has been brainstormed and assessed periodically by New Delhi. The AD system detects an incoming missile hundreds of kilometres away and destroys it outside the atmosphere, and any leakages will be dealt with at lower heights before it could do any significant damage.
Giving the technical challenges of AD, sources said: “We have to detect the missile and should possess the ability to track it at distances of several hundred kilometres. We need to give adequate reaction time to the control centre to analyse the threat, and to interceptors to be launched to take on the incoming missile before it reaches the target. We have the radars now and the plan for improved longer ranges is in progress.”
The size of an incoming missile payload could be just two to three metres and it comes at a speed of approximately 5 km/sec, giving very few seconds to the weapon systems to react. This requires very accurate prediction of incoming missile position as well as control of interceptor path. “The coverage has to ensure adequate number of radars, a highly integrated, network-centric system which can process the inputs from various radars, predict the path of the incoming missile and decide when the interceptor has to be launched,” sources said.
“The coverage is for an entire area consisting of several hundred kilometres and not for a specific building. However, the deployment ensures that key assets are at the centre of the covered area providing highest protection,” sources said.
Once the NCR module is deployed, similar modules can be adopted covering other important regions, and eventually the entire country. “All modules are interlinked in overlapping fashion to generate net worked AD system. Satellites are needed only for time synchronisation of different stations across the country,” sources said.
In future, a need would arise to detect the launch of a ballistic missile thousands of kilometres away, sources said, and added that this would be done by satellites having very high sensitive infrared detectors to detect the plume from boosters of missiles and provide early warning to the AD systems in the powered phase of the potent target.
“It would be possible to use high energy weapons to destroy these systems during launch. These are areas where the country needs to look forward and take a technology initiative to close gaps in defence capabilities,” sources said.
The deliverable version of an endo-atmospheric interceptor missile (protection range or down range will be approximately up to 30 km, and kill altitude approx 20 km) is all ready to be flight-tested. The missile is part of the twin-layered ballistic missile defence that is being developed by the DRDO which engages the enemy missile in the endo-atmosphere.
The interceptor missile is primarily designed for engaging short to medium-range ballistic missiles (SRBM/MRBM) with ranges up to 2,000 km. It has also got the capability to engage quasi-ballistic missiles of medium range. The performance in terms of the kill zone and lethality of
this missile is significantly higher than contemporary missiles like PAC-3.
Later this month (January), the complete deliverable version of this missile will be flight-tested from Wheeler’s Island against an SRBM launched from Chandipur. A significant research has gone into development of highly sophisticated onboard algorithms to enable DRDO scientists in predicting a near hit-to-kill performance in the next mission.
“India’s network-centric warfare capabilities will come to the party with AD cover for NCR first. Once, this module is operational, we can replicate the same to other Indian cities. We have submitted a detailed programme to the government in this regard,” sources said.
In Phase-II deployment, cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata could find a place, though the specifics have not been yet finalised. “Missile launchers, radars, interceptors and network systems have all being readied for NCR. India will now be among the league of nations with BMD capabilities,” sources said.
Surrounded by hostile neighbours possessing nuclear capable ballistic missiles, the threat perception to India has been brainstormed and assessed periodically by New Delhi. The AD system detects an incoming missile hundreds of kilometres away and destroys it outside the atmosphere, and any leakages will be dealt with at lower heights before it could do any significant damage.
Giving the technical challenges of AD, sources said: “We have to detect the missile and should possess the ability to track it at distances of several hundred kilometres. We need to give adequate reaction time to the control centre to analyse the threat, and to interceptors to be launched to take on the incoming missile before it reaches the target. We have the radars now and the plan for improved longer ranges is in progress.”
The size of an incoming missile payload could be just two to three metres and it comes at a speed of approximately 5 km/sec, giving very few seconds to the weapon systems to react. This requires very accurate prediction of incoming missile position as well as control of interceptor path. “The coverage has to ensure adequate number of radars, a highly integrated, network-centric system which can process the inputs from various radars, predict the path of the incoming missile and decide when the interceptor has to be launched,” sources said.
“The coverage is for an entire area consisting of several hundred kilometres and not for a specific building. However, the deployment ensures that key assets are at the centre of the covered area providing highest protection,” sources said.
Once the NCR module is deployed, similar modules can be adopted covering other important regions, and eventually the entire country. “All modules are interlinked in overlapping fashion to generate net worked AD system. Satellites are needed only for time synchronisation of different stations across the country,” sources said.
In future, a need would arise to detect the launch of a ballistic missile thousands of kilometres away, sources said, and added that this would be done by satellites having very high sensitive infrared detectors to detect the plume from boosters of missiles and provide early warning to the AD systems in the powered phase of the potent target.
“It would be possible to use high energy weapons to destroy these systems during launch. These are areas where the country needs to look forward and take a technology initiative to close gaps in defence capabilities,” sources said.
The deliverable version of an endo-atmospheric interceptor missile (protection range or down range will be approximately up to 30 km, and kill altitude approx 20 km) is all ready to be flight-tested. The missile is part of the twin-layered ballistic missile defence that is being developed by the DRDO which engages the enemy missile in the endo-atmosphere.
The interceptor missile is primarily designed for engaging short to medium-range ballistic missiles (SRBM/MRBM) with ranges up to 2,000 km. It has also got the capability to engage quasi-ballistic missiles of medium range. The performance in terms of the kill zone and lethality of
this missile is significantly higher than contemporary missiles like PAC-3.
Later this month (January), the complete deliverable version of this missile will be flight-tested from Wheeler’s Island against an SRBM launched from Chandipur. A significant research has gone into development of highly sophisticated onboard algorithms to enable DRDO scientists in predicting a near hit-to-kill performance in the next mission.
Monday, 2 January 2012
The Red Shadow Grows Darker On Indian Ocean
Slowly but surely the Chinese master plan of colonizing Indian Ocean and its countries is materializing. The signals are unmistakable nobody in his right mind can deny it (except Prime Minister Of India). Some anlayst say it is to protect Beijing's economic interest, I beg to dis-agree. Yes everything at the end boils down to economics but China now see's itself as a superpower and wants an empire similar to what it had few thousand years ago. Thus it does not matter to them if they support tin-pot dictators or terrorist regimes.
In the past three weeks Beijing has committed to supporting Ugandan forces operating in Somalia and to helping the Seychelles fight piracy."It is very clear that the Chinese leaders recognize that military force will play a bigger role to safeguard China's overseas interests," Jonathan Holslag, of the Brussels Institute of Chinese Contemporary Studies said.
"There is a willingness, and even a consensus, in China, that this process will take place."
The Indian Ocean is strategic, Holslag said, noting that 85 percent of China's oil imports and 60 percent of its exports are routed via the Gulf of Aden.
It is believed that China only has three ships in gulf of Aden to fight piracy, and though the number seems insignificant it is the first step toward a larger role. You can say these ships are the Avon guard of a larger colonizing force coming behind. Even though at present the military co-operation is very low profile yet it can be turned up to full fledge bases at any time.
"The mere fact that China has a multi-year naval presence in the Gulf of Aden has great symbolic and diplomatic significance," said Frans-Paul van der Putten, senior research fellow at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael.
"Symbolic because it shows other countries that China is an emerging naval power in the region, and diplomatic because China uses its navy ships for occasional visits to ports along the Indian Ocean rim, which helps it strengthen its diplomatic ties with countries in the region," he added.
The shock came when Seychelles asked the Chinese to set up a naval base in their waters to protect them against the pirates. Does it sound familiar to Indian Readers, this was exactly the same excuse used by the British Colonizers in Indian sub-continent.
"China needs port infrastructure to supply its ships in the Indian Ocean, and covering a wider zone could make sense," said Mathieu Duchatel of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Beijing in its effort to stabilize Somalia where it has a huge economic interest has asked Uganda to use its military might and in return Uganda will get payed 2.3 million USD. It is like China is using these small countries to fight each other and once they are weak enough it can easily exploit them without having to pay any thing.
China has already started building a network to link Ethiopian oil reserves to a port in Somalia. So you can be assured that if war breaks out in Somalia China will do its utmost to keep a friendly government in power irrespective if that government is led by a terrorist.If Ethiopia fails to tow the line as per their liking then China with the help of Ugandan mercenary army and Somalia can engineer some kind of war in Ethiopia to get a better deal.
Though every military expert worth his salt has warned the Indian Government but the pacifist Manmohan Singh government turns a blind eye to the build up in the Indian ocean as it has done to the build up on the India's eastern border. What it fails to realize is that these steps will have a long time impact on the strategic balance.
Pakistan an arch enemy of the Indian Republic and a terrorist state has been cozing up to China just to get some kind of security umbrella, with China dominant in the Indian Ocean it will have no fear from the Indian Navy which is vastly superior to a non-existent Pakistani Navy.
Both Washington and New Delhi, already concerned about China's activities in the Pacific, take a dim view of its ambitions in the Indian Ocean.
In the past three weeks Beijing has committed to supporting Ugandan forces operating in Somalia and to helping the Seychelles fight piracy."It is very clear that the Chinese leaders recognize that military force will play a bigger role to safeguard China's overseas interests," Jonathan Holslag, of the Brussels Institute of Chinese Contemporary Studies said.
"There is a willingness, and even a consensus, in China, that this process will take place."
The Indian Ocean is strategic, Holslag said, noting that 85 percent of China's oil imports and 60 percent of its exports are routed via the Gulf of Aden.
It is believed that China only has three ships in gulf of Aden to fight piracy, and though the number seems insignificant it is the first step toward a larger role. You can say these ships are the Avon guard of a larger colonizing force coming behind. Even though at present the military co-operation is very low profile yet it can be turned up to full fledge bases at any time.
"The mere fact that China has a multi-year naval presence in the Gulf of Aden has great symbolic and diplomatic significance," said Frans-Paul van der Putten, senior research fellow at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael.
"Symbolic because it shows other countries that China is an emerging naval power in the region, and diplomatic because China uses its navy ships for occasional visits to ports along the Indian Ocean rim, which helps it strengthen its diplomatic ties with countries in the region," he added.
The shock came when Seychelles asked the Chinese to set up a naval base in their waters to protect them against the pirates. Does it sound familiar to Indian Readers, this was exactly the same excuse used by the British Colonizers in Indian sub-continent.
"China needs port infrastructure to supply its ships in the Indian Ocean, and covering a wider zone could make sense," said Mathieu Duchatel of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Beijing in its effort to stabilize Somalia where it has a huge economic interest has asked Uganda to use its military might and in return Uganda will get payed 2.3 million USD. It is like China is using these small countries to fight each other and once they are weak enough it can easily exploit them without having to pay any thing.
China has already started building a network to link Ethiopian oil reserves to a port in Somalia. So you can be assured that if war breaks out in Somalia China will do its utmost to keep a friendly government in power irrespective if that government is led by a terrorist.If Ethiopia fails to tow the line as per their liking then China with the help of Ugandan mercenary army and Somalia can engineer some kind of war in Ethiopia to get a better deal.
Though every military expert worth his salt has warned the Indian Government but the pacifist Manmohan Singh government turns a blind eye to the build up in the Indian ocean as it has done to the build up on the India's eastern border. What it fails to realize is that these steps will have a long time impact on the strategic balance.
Pakistan an arch enemy of the Indian Republic and a terrorist state has been cozing up to China just to get some kind of security umbrella, with China dominant in the Indian Ocean it will have no fear from the Indian Navy which is vastly superior to a non-existent Pakistani Navy.
Both Washington and New Delhi, already concerned about China's activities in the Pacific, take a dim view of its ambitions in the Indian Ocean.
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