Quantcast
Channel: Indian Defence News
Viewing all 87677 articles
Browse latest View live

Iranian Nuclear Scientist Executed For Spying For US: Judiciary

$
0
0
Shahram Amiri, an Iranian nuclear scientist

TEHRAN: Iran has executed a nuclear scientist convicted of handing over "top secret" information to the United States, a judicial spokesman said on Sunday.

"Shahram Amiri was hanged for revealing the country's top secrets to the enemy (US)," Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie was quoted as saying by the Mizan Online news site.

Amiri disappeared in Saudi Arabia in June 2009 and resurfaced a year later in the United States. Iranian officials welcomed him on his return to Iran but there has been little information released since.

Amiri said after returning to the Islamic republic that he had been held in the US for more than a year after being "kidnapped" at gunpoint by two Farsi-speaking CIA agents in the Saudi city of Medina.

"America was outsmarted, since he couldn't imagine that (Iranian) intelligence services knew what he was doing and how he was taken to Saudi Arabia," Ejeie said.

Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic ties since 1980, when students stormed the American embassy following the 1979 Islamic revolution.



40 Taliban Insurgents Killed In Afghan Air Strike

$
0
0

KABUL: At least 40 Taliban insurgents, including their commanders, were killed in an Afghan Air Force air strike in northern Kunduz province, said the officials from the 20th Pamir Army Division on Sunday.

Ghulaam Hazrat Karimi, a spokesman for 20th Pamir Army Division, said the airstrike took place in Imam Saheb district yesterday after the Taliban insurgents attacked a police outpost.

"The clash took place for several hours, and Mustafa, the deputy shadow governor, and Asadullah Maszloomyar, district shadow governor of Taliban for Kunduz, were killed," the Tolo News quoted Karimi as saying.

Karimi added that two security force members were also killed and four others injured in the attack.


As Pak Guns Greet Indian Roses, Isolate The Devil Next Door Internationally Like Vajpayee Did

$
0
0

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with former US President George Bush in the summer of 2003 - ABV is hailed as one of the greatest International leaders of this century

by Prabhu Chawla

The primary panacea for terrorism is counter-terrorism. This prescription is especially applicable to rogue nation, Pakistan, which has become a state-sponsored rendezvous for terrorists and international criminals who reside and preside in luxury, plotting against humanity. Seeing Pakistan’s corrupt, sectarian, strife-ridden landscape, the world’s powerful nations and leaders are veering around the idea of using bullet-for-a-bullet and eye-for-an-eye strategies to eliminate terrorism made in Pakistan. A few years ago, such a thought would have created an international furore with breast-beating peaceniks and never-see-wrong types of NGOs foaming at the mouth with tears and fears. But with the rising numbers of innocents in many countries, including in the West, falling victim to fanatical terrorists, even the most tolerant libertarians are coming around to the idea of using force against terrorism.

The civilised world sees Pakistan as the new laboratory of terror. Rising from its soil, youth bearing lethal weapons are hitting various cities in South Asia. Many countries perceived the Indo-Pak conflict as a subcontinent struggle over Kashmir’s political identity. But not anymore. It has become obvious that gun-toting fanatics are laying waste to democratic institutions. Home Minister Rajnath Singh sensed the growing global anger against India’s malevolent western neighbour during his first and short to Pakistan last week.

Not surprisingly, Pakistan was totally isolated at the meeting of SAARC home ministers held in Islamabad. What was worse for the terror-plagued country was no participating member challenged the Indian home minister’s statement. Plainspeak was the theme de jour; the UN spokesperson warned the host country about the futility of romancing terrorism and converting a bilateral issue into an international imbroglio. For the past few months, the US and its European allies have been talking tougher than India ever did. They are living under the fear of a terror strike any time, any place—offices, homes, hotels and markets. They have realised that terror is reared mostly in Pakistan, which was once their darling. It was not cultural or ideological compatibility that motivated their championing of Pakistan. It once was the strategic pivot for the West to destabilise the now-extinct Soviet Union and, until recently, Iran. But the worm turned. The free flow of dollars and weapons from Pakistan’s protectors found way into the hands of the Taliban and other terror groups, which have, for all purposes, taken over every city in that country today. 

Singh drove the nail in Pakistan’s head by telling SAARC delegates that “it needs to be ensured that terrorism is not glorified and patronised by any state. One country’s terrorist cannot be a martyr or freedom fighter for anyone. I also speak for the entire humanity—not just for India or other SAARC members—in urging that in no circumstances should terrorists be eulogised as martyrs. Those who provide support, sanctuary, safe haven or any assistance to terrorism or terrorists must be isolated. Strongest possible steps need to be taken not only against terrorists and terrorist organisations, but also those individuals, institutions, organisations or nations that support them”. He took the extreme step of boycotting lunch hosted by Pakistan’s PM Nawaz Sharif for visiting home ministers. Reflecting India’s new aggressive attitude towards Pakistan, Singh said disdainfully in the Lok Sabha, “I had not gone there to have lunch.” He had no appetite for Pakistan’s buffet of blood.

Usually, the home minister is not the government functionary who defines the nuance and tone of diplomatic engagement with recalcitrant Pakistan. But Singh’s powerful pulverisation of Pakistan on its own soil reflects the new thinking over the devil next door. Singh invoked India’s former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s remark that “we can’t change our neighbours” and went on to add regretfully, “Yeh padosi aisa hai jo manta hi nahi (we have a neighbour who just doesn’t change).” It was a clear message—mend or be ready to get disbanded. Earlier External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Manohar Parriker and other NDA leaders had used even stronger language against Pakistan. Surprisingly, candle-light marchers and party-loving doves are now conspicuous by their retreat into the shadows.

The government’s reversal of soft policy emanates from the increase in direct interference of Pakistan-funded terrorist activities in Kashmir. Top Pak leaders have been praising terrorists like Burhan Wani as martyrs and pledging to provide full support to those fighting Indian forces and killing innocent civilians. Ignoring PM Narendra Modi’s friendly gestures, Sharif termed the “movement of Kashmiris as a movement of freedom”. Radio Pakistan quoted Sharif as saying, “Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support for Kashmiris in their just struggle for right to self-determination. Indian brutalities will give impetus to the freedom struggle and Kashmiri people will get their right to self-determination for which the whole Pakistani nation is standing behind them.”

Pakistan’s naked involvement in Jammu and Kashmir also reflects the complete collapse of its institutions of governance, which are held hostage by extremists. With its economy grinding to a halt, terror is Pakistan’s most lucrative export, bringing in billions from a geopolitically trapped US government. After all peace efforts went off the track, terrorism is Pakistan’s new Track III plan. Modi has minimised the role of Track-II diplomacy dominated by pro-Pak doves, who were interested in keeping their relevance intact by globetrotting at public expense. Some retired diplomats, defence officers and academics are unsuccessfully trying to revive back-door channels by swearing their loyalty to Modi. The current environment is perhaps India’s best opportunity to isolate Pakistan internationally like Vajpayee did. In July 2015, Modi and Sharif met in Ufa, Russia, and agreed to revive Track-II dialogue to explore ways to resolve long-lingering disputes and give peace a chance. Twelve months later, Sharif and his partners in duplicity have given dialogue and accord a bloody burial. It is now for Modi to unleash forces, which can effectively silence and bury those who threaten the idea of India.


Baluchistan Nationalists Held Demonstration Against Pakistan In Berlin

$
0
0
Free Baluchistan Movement: “We should organise ourselves in Europe and inform the world about Baluchistan’s illegal occupation and the human rights violations that followed the occupation,” a pro-freedom Baloch leader said

The Free Baluchistan Movement (FBM) long march reached German capital Berlin on Thursday evening and held a protest demonstration outside the German parliament on Friday. The Baloch activists’ long march kicked off from Germany’s Dusseldorf city on 16 July, 2016 after the pro-freedom Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri had announced an international awareness campaign on 9 July, from the platform of Free Baluchistan Movement. Nearly a dozen pro-liberation Baloch activists took part in the long march and walked for 20 Days to reach Berlin.

The marchers held protest demonstrations and distributed leaflets in different German cities on their way. It is the first ever long march in Europe that Baloch activists have organised and the response of people has been very supportive and appreciative. People in Baluchistan have also showed their support to the long march by wall chalking in support of Free Baluchistan Movement.

On Friday, outside the German parliament, participants in the demonstration strongly condemned the Pakistani state for their genocide policies and human rights violations against the Baloch people. They said that Pakistan was a terrorist state and was violating international human rights laws. They urged the UN and other international human rights organisation to take notice of Pakistan state atrocities in Baluchistan. The speakers also charged that Pakistan was involved in promoting religious extremism in the region and around the world. They held Pakistan responsible for religious terrorism in Afghanistan, Baluchistan, India and in Western countries.

A message of pro-freedom Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri was also read out during the demonstration. Mr. Marri in his message has congratulated the Baloch activists in Germany for the successful long march. “You have shown your true dedication to the Baloch national struggle, and represent the genuine aspiration of the Baloch nation.”

He said that it would have been impossible to organise such a march from one city of Baluchistan to another because Pakistan has turned Baluchistan into a military garrison where a native Baluchistani will be stopped and searched several times before reaching from one town to another. Whereas in Europe and other Western democratic countries people have freedom to exercise their right to freedom of speech and peaceful demonstration.

“We should organise ourselves in Europe and inform the world about Baluchistan’s illegal occupation and the human rights violations that followed the occupation,” Mr. Marri said.

Addressing Baloch Diaspora activists, Hyrbyair Marri said, “Today, there are hundreds of Baloch who are forced to live in exile because of on-going human rights violations by Pakistan. We can and should be the voice of our people on the ground, and expose the Pakistani state barbarism in Baluchistan. Pakistan conducted four major military operations against the Baloch national liberation struggle – since 27 March, 1948 when it forcibly and illegally occupied our sovereign country – Baluchistan.”

Mr. Marri said that the Baloch nation has sacrificed much for the freedom of Baluchistan, but the occupying state of Pakistan are trying to suppress the Baloch voices so that the world doesn’t know about the Baloch national struggle.

“Each one of us now have to be the voice of our downtrodden people, and act as the ambassadors of Baluchistan. The previous four military attacks on Baluchistan, and the countless number of people disappeared, killed and expelled from their home almost went unnoticed because there was no one to speak for the Baloch nation on an international level,” he added.

The Baloch leader said, “Currently, Pakistan is engaged in its fifth attempt to destroy the Baloch freedom struggle, but the present phase of the Baloch liberation struggle is better organised and more widespread, that’s why our enemy – Pakistan – is carrying out increased brutal military operations and attacks against innocent Baloch civilians, it is because they can see their defeat and the success of Baloch struggle. The enforced-disappearances, extra-judicial killing, indiscriminate bombing of Baloch villages and targeted killing of the most conscientious and educated youth in Baluchistan are signs of weakness and frustration of the enemy state – Pakistan.”

Mr. Marri in his message thanked the Afghan and Indian people and their social media activists for supporting the Baloch freedom movement. He also reiterated his previous point that the Afghan and Indian governments, and all other free nations should include Baluchistan in their foreign policy decision making, and support the Baloch national liberation struggle politically, morally and diplomatically at all forums.

Other speakers included Mahgonag Baluch, Rohail Marri son of late Balach Marri, Beebagr Baloch, Abdul Wajid Baloch, Dr. ShahzavarKarimzadi Baloch, Mohammad Azam aka Azum Noor Baloch, German activist Claudia Heidelberg and Nobat Marri who read the message of Hyrbyair Marri.


Nepal’s Former PM Oli Cautions India Against Unnatural Meddling

$
0
0

Nepal’s former prime minister K P Oli said that his party was in favour of maintaining hearty and cordial relations with the neighboring countries

Former Nepal Prime Minister K P Oli on Sunday cautioned India against “any unnatural” meddling in Nepal’s affairs. Oli, who is also the chairman of CPN-UML, met Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae at his party office in Kathmandu and made it clear that “any unnatural meddling in Nepalese affairs would be unacceptable”.

“Such activities would only complicate the situation,” Oli said, adding all sides should remain vigilant towards such activities, according to a statement issued by the party. Oli, however, said that his party was in favour of maintaining hearty and cordial relations with the neighbouring countries.

There were media reports here which blamed India for toppling Oli-led coalition government last week, which India has outrightly rejected.


Allahabad School Bans National Anthem, Says It's Against Tenets of Islam

$
0
0

ALLAHABAD: A school here has refused to allow recital of the national anthem by students and staff members on Independence Day, claiming that its words violated the tenets of Islam, following which eight teachers, including the principal, have quit in protest against the diktat.

Authorities said that a probe has been launched against M A Convent School based in Baghara locality of the city in the matter and maintained that it was not recognised by the education department.

Zia-ul Haq, the school manager, told the teachers that singing of the national anthem could not be allowed as the phrase 'Bharat Bhagya Vidhata' in its first stanza went against the tenets of Islam, according to the teachers who resigned two days ago.

The manager said that if they were not in agreement with this "policy" of the school, they could leave.

"Most of us have been working here for not a very long time. We were shocked to learn from the management that the school has never allowed the singing of national anthem in the last 12 years.

"Since we had been asked to fall in line or leave, we chose a decision based on our conscience," Ritu Tripathi, who was the principal, said.

The school has around 300 students.

She said, "Seven of my colleagues have put in their papers in protest against this attitude of the school management".

Haq, on his part, stuck to his guns asserting "only Allah can be the Bhagya Vidhata, which means the one who decides our destiny. How can we call Bharat our Bhagya Vidhata?"

The Basic Shiksha Adhikari of Allahabad, Jaikaran Yadav, said, "We are surprised to learn that the school is still running.

"It is not duly recognized by the Basic Shiksha department and we had sent its management a notice to close the institution about a week ago."

He said a probe is on in the matter and action will be taken as per law.

"The reported refusal to allow singing of national anthem would amount to yet another offence on part of the school's management," he said.

"We have initiated a probe into the matter. If the allegations levelled against the management are found to be true, action will be taken in accordance with the law," Yadav said.


A Hard Look At The F-16 Block 70

$
0
0

Armed with 4588 orders, 4573 deliveries and 40 years of production experience, US defence major, Lockheed Martin is set at moving the entire production line of F-16 fighter jets to India from its only operational facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

In sync with Make in India, Lockheed Martin is all out to move the production facility of its F-16 next generation fighters to India. ‘We have had a round of discussions earlier this year with the U.S. government, the government of India and the Indian industry partners about this opportunity. At this stage Indian government has been supplied with all data to support an informed decision’ said Abhay Paranjape, National Executive, India of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. He however mentioned, that shifting of the assembly line is conditional to some assured orders from the India.

Randall L Howard - F-16 Business Development, Lockheed Martin & Abhay Paranjape - National Executive, India, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Highlighting the partnership strengths, Randall L. Howard from the F-16 Business Development team at Lockheed Martin added, ‘we have an unmatched Industrial partnership experience and we have established the industrial capability in country after country’. Lockheed had delivered a total of 958 fighters from its partnerships with SABCA-Belgium, Fokker-Netherlands, TAI-Turkey and KAI-Korea apart from 3616 deliveries from its facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

‘In India, we are already making components for the worldwide fleet’, added Abhay. Lockheed Martin has partnered with TATA Advanced Systems Limited.

The C-130J airlifter sold internationally contains major aero structure assemblies manufactured in India and each S-92 medium-lift helicopter built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, has a cabin manufactured in Hyderabad.

Describing the next gen fighter, Randall pointed on the advantages, ‘Block 70 is most advanced F-16 ever and it will be made in India with an Indian company, this next generation fighter is an evolution of the proven design of the mid-life update (MLU) and common configuration improvement programme (CCIP). The fighter is equipped with latest technology in avionics equipment, operational capabilities, joint helmet cueing systems II and has an unparalleled survivability with modern internal electronic warfare system along with certified advanced weapons onboard’.

Jayant Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, SP Guide Publications spoke to Randall L. Howard and Abhay Paranjape of Lockheed Martin. Excerpts:

Jayant Baranwal (Baranwal): Does F-16 Block 70 offer any kind of stealth element?

Randall L. Howard (Howard): True stealth in all aspects has to be designed within the aircraft, that’s not the kind of stuff that comes with any aircraft but for F-22 and F-35. Having said that, F-16 offers a lot of general stealth, as it is a small aircraft and it has a pretty small cross section. There is coding that can be placed on the aircraft. The fighter includes a new radar system, stealth detection capability and threat detection capability; it competes very well in its class being undetectable to the radar.

Baranwal: What exactly is the offer of Lockheed Martin, also in the context of Make in India?

Abhay Paranjape (Paranjape): We are not looking at just assembling India’s aircraft here. We are looking at establishing the complete manufacturing base and the ecosystem here in India. We are looking at transferring our entire production from our existing Fort Worth facility to India and also exporting them from here. So what that means also, is, we now have a vested interest in making sure that it succeeds. Lockheed Martin is going to be selling aircraft made here to the world and we will make sure that it succeeds.

Baranwal: Which particular program of Indian Air Force you are aiming for with the F-16 block 70?

Paranjape: You are very well aware that the MMRCA programme was about 126 odd aircraft. The Rafale is going though in final stages right now and is apparently for much smaller number. The MMRCA proposal came out in 2007 and we are in 2016, so we definitely think there is significant number of aircraft that will be required going forward, how many, what type, what and when exactly, that is up to the Indian Air Force.

Baranwal: Can F-16 compliment the LCA induction?

Paranjape: The induction of an aircraft into the force is obviously the decision of India Air Force’. You saw the briefing from Howard, as far as the capability; you can look it up as far as LCA’s capabilities, the range and the type and compare that with F-16 and you can see.

Baranwal: What will be the turnaround time for the first delivery from the Indian facility post the decision? Can you give an exact timeline?

Howard: I think it is hard to give an exact timeline. The typical delivery period of F-16 is about 36 months range. The challenge we have is to train the workforce and put in place all the facility. We have given a notional time-line to the government on the production. To be very specific in the public forum is very hard, because there are lot of variables and dependencies. But I can say that we have done these many-many times and we have a proven track record of having it done successfully.

Baranwal: As per recent reports, we believe that you are expecting a potential business worth $15 billion in India?

Howard: According to us this is a very conservative figure. We believe if the things fall in place then the potential of business is way too bigger than $15billion.


Terror Group Lashkar-e-Islam Threatens Kashmiri Pandits Asking Them To Leave Or Get Killed

$
0
0
Posters in Pulwama are threatening Kashmiri Hindus to exit the valley of Kashmir. The poster is allegedly been put up by Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) militant

This is not the first time that Kashmiri Hindus have been threatened. In mass rapes and killings in the 90’s, a genocide by Kashmiri Hidus, there was a mass exodus of Hindus from the valley. Initially the government provided security to the population, but the then governor asked the minority population to exit to safety.

The black and white poster flaunts the flag and the logo of the outfit. What has created a flutter is the flag that is similar to the Jamat-ud-dawa, the fountainhead of Lashkar-e-Taiba headed by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Laskar-E-Islam headed by Abdul Qayoom Najar and is a splinter group of the Hizbul Mujaheddin headed by Saeed Salahuddin.

Many in the security establishment are saying that it is a possibility that Hizbul Mujahhedin may be trying to get the Indian police to target Abdul Qayoom Najar, as he has created a new faction and it has hit the financial targets of the collection Hizbul Mujahhedin does. Jammu and Kashmir police has put a bounty of Rs one million on Qayoom Najar’s head.

Police are also saying that the posters seem to be the handiwork of the miscreants and they are in process of identifying the people behind it.

Hitherto unknown, LeI hogged the limelight in May last year when their posters appeared in apple rich township of Sopore asking the telcom operators to wind up business in north Kashmir. Six civilians, mostly telecom operators, former militants and supporters of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani were killed by LeI last year.

LeI operations mostly remained confined to north Kashmir in summer last year. Later this outfit mysteriously slipped into oblivion. However it is for the first time that LeI posters have appeared in south Kashmir.

“This outfit had foot prints in north Kashmir last year. It is for the first time we have heard about this outfit here”, Rayees Mohommad Bhat, superintendent of police, Pulwama, told DNA.

“Fear is palpable because Kashmiri pandits think this is a serious warning to the community to leave the valley. Most of the Kashmiri migrants had shifted to Jammu after the stone pelting following the unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujhadeen comander Burhan Wani", Vinod Pandit, chairman of All Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC), an apex body of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, told DNA

Superintendent of police, Pulwama said "Nobody has been identified so far. We are on it. We are doing our best,. We are trying to identify the miscreants. Security (of pandits) is already in place and in fact it has been doubled since the trouble started”, Bhat said.

Official figures reveal that around 62,117 migrant families from Kashmir mostly Hindus and Sikhs have fled Kashmir and many live in refugee camps.



IDN TAKE: MiG-29K/KUB: Indian Navy’s ‘Super Fighter’

$
0
0
MiG-29K/KUB Multi-Role Strike Fighters of the Indian Navy

The Indian Navy’s latest combat aviation asset, the MiG-29K/KUB multi-role strike fighter were formally commissioned into service with INAS 303 ‘Black Panthers’ on 11 May 2013. The initial contract for their purchase was signed on 20 January 2004, along with the ex-Russian Navy ‘heavy aviation cruiser’ Admiral Gorshkov which has since been modified MiG-29K/KUB: the Indian Navy’s ‘Super Fighter’ into a STOBAR aircraft carrier in service as INS Vikramaditya. The initial contract covered delivery of twelve single-seat MiG-29K and four dual-seat MiG-29KUB fighters, as well as facilities and procedures for training of pilots and technical staff, delivery of simulators, spare parts, and establishment of maintenance facilities at Indian Navy installations. The aforesaid ‘super fighters’ will be operated from the 45,000-tonne INS Vikramaditya as well as the under-construction INS Vikrant (IAC-1) and future carriers.

A MiG-29K Fighter Jet landing on INS Vikramaditya

The MiG-29K was initially intended to fulfill the role of a multi-role strike-fighter operable from aircraft carriers like the United States Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet but financial troubles at the end of the Cold War temporarily terminated the MiG-29K program after nearly 450 flights. Test flights of MiG-29Ks were resumed from 2002 in anticipation of export sales to the Indian Navy.

On board INS Vikramaditya, the MiG-29K/KUBs will make a 14.3-degree ski-jump assisted short take off following attainment of full power thanks to hydraulic restraining blocks that hold the aircraft in place. Three arrestor cables are fitted on the aft part of the angled flight deck along with navigation and carrier-landing aids including the LAK optical-landing system to facilitate STOBAR (short take-off but arrested recovery) operations.

A MiG-29K Fighter Jet parked on the deck of INS Vikramaditya 

The MiG-29K’s exterior airframe is only slightly different from the standard MiG-29, prominent differences being incorporation of Leading Edge Root Extensions (LERX), an arrestor hook and special Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) coatings. Under the skin, however, it is a different aircraft altogether. The MiG-29K boasts a triplex digital Fly-By-Wire (FBW) Flight Control System (FCS) with multiple-redundancy in all three channels and a mechanical back-up in roll-and yaw channels. The cockpit is all-glass and features a ShKAl wide-angle monochrome Head-Up Display (HUD) and MFI-10-7 liquid-crystal Multi Function Displays (MFDs). Additionally, the MiG-29K/KUB flight and navigation system is based on an ‘open architecture’ principle built around the MIL-STD-1553B standard data bus enabling integration of weapons and sensors from a variety of sources, mirroring the architecture of the Sukhoi Su-30MKI.

Enhanced range is a vital attribute of any aircraft carrier based platform and in this respect additional fuel tanks have been accommodated in the dorsal spine and LERX, increasing total fuel capacity by some fifty per cent compared to early variants of the land-based MiG-29. A further combination of ‘combat rated’ drop tanks, Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) capability and the option of a centerline ‘buddy refueling tank is set to enhance the range to considerable extent. While Indian Navy MiG-29Ks may be in a position to refuel from the IAF’s Il-78MKI AAR platforms, ‘buddy refueling’ from fellow MiG-29K/KUBs will likely be the option whilst deployed away from Indian shores.

Phazotron Zhuk-ME Pulse-Doppler Radar
The main sensor, the on-board radar, is the Phazotron Zhuk-ME, an X-band mono-pulse pulse-Doppler radar, with an aerial target detection range of 150 km. It can initiate track beginning at 130 km range, against a target with RCS of 5 square meters and can Track-While-Scan (TWS) 20 targets and simultaneously engage four targets. The passive detection kit consists of an Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) sensor and laser range-finder, an area the Russians are traditionally considered strong at, and perhaps their answer to the emerging stealth designs, particularly those of the United States.

The only weak link in the system lies in the lack of AEW&C support. The E801M Oko (Eye) pulse-Doppler 6x1 meter planar array radar used by Kamov Ka-31 AEW helicopters are capable of providing the much needed support in detecting fighter sized targets at ranges at least up to 110 km, but are unable to guide Indian Navy fighters towards their targets. Lack of endurance of an AEW helicopter platform is also a critical shortcoming. This problem will appear less acute however if the Indian naval planners visualize grand scale naval operations in future as part of Coalition Forces where mutual AEW&C and AEW cover will be available.

The aircraft will also feature Sagem’s Sigma-95 Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS). In future the aircraft are likely to sport an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) set plus encrypted Intra-Flight Data Link (IFDL) to permit networking of multiple MiG-29K/KUB platforms effectively providing AEW coverage of respective sectors alongside vectoring appropriate fighters in pursuit.

The Klimov RD-33MK Turbofan Engine powers the MiG-29K Fighter

The MiG-29K/KUB is equipped with two smokeless Klimov RD-33MK turbofan engines producing 9,000 kg thrust in afterburner, a significant increase over the land-based MiG-29’s baseline RD-33 engines. The direct benefit is in the area of greater payloads stated to be in the region of 5,500 kg, including Russian RVV-AE BVRAAMs, R-73 CCMs cued by the Thales ‘Topsight E’ helmet-mounted targeting system, and variants of the Kh-35 anti-ship missile alongside standard air-to-ground munitions such as unguided rockets.

The R-73 "Archer" was a leap forward for Soviet designs, and cause considerable worry among western air forces. It employs Focal Plane Array seeker technology with target recognition capability and high resistance to infrared countermeasures
However as the MiG-29K/KUB flight and navigation system is built around the MIL-STD-1553B standard data bus, incorporation of the European MBDA Meteor inertial navigation/active-radar homing BVRAAM with 150 km range is a possible option to fulfil the BVR role for ‘outer-air battles’ alongside the dual-mode solid-fueled RVV-BD BVRAAM. The RVVBD weighs 510 kg, has a range up to 200 km and is capable of destroying targets with overload up to 8-g at an altitude from 15 m to 25 km.
A MiG-29K Firing the GSH-301 Cannon
For dogfights the MiG-29K has a handy a 30-mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-301 single-barrel gun, with a capacity of 150 rounds. A robust combination of Russian, Indian and Israeli Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) suites (including Elta’s EL/M-8222 ECM pod) provides a shield around the MiG-29K/KUB platforms against hostile threats.

The primary role of INS Vikramaditya will be to establish local air superiority in open oceans even within the range of enemy fighter and strike aircraft. Thus it will provide the vital integrated air support in terms of fleet area air defense, and also include the strategic oriented defensive postures to protect the Indian Navy nuclear-powered ballistic missile armed submarine (SSBN), in holding areas or ‘bastions’ in and around the Indian Ocean. If necessary, offensive missions can to be undertaken to sweep aside enemy barrier Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) forces in key areas to facilitate transit of Indian Navy SSBN units from one operational theatre to another adequately, to be supported in these roles by Akula II-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN).


Enemy operated Long Range Maritime Patrol/Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMP/ASW) platforms are presently anticipated as the greatest threat to Indian Navy surface units and SSBN platforms especially if guided to their targets by an enemy AWACS aircraft. The MiG-29K/KUBs in conjunction with Kamov Ka-31 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) helicopters will be instrumental in intercepting and destroying enemy strike and LRMP platforms at great distances effectively debarring them from conducting LRMP/ASW operations or before they can close in and fire anti-ship missiles such as the AGM-84 Harpoon or Exocet AM39.

Also a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) or Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) from a ‘forward floating base’ in the Arabian Sea can be established to destroy enemy airborne strike platforms in defense of our vital nuclear and oil installations on the West coast. An added advantage of INS Vikramaditya is its superstructure profile that has the potential to accommodate powerful planar or phased array radar systems with ‘billboard style’ antennae first noted in United States Navy cruiser USS Long Beach along with extensive command and control facilities to conduct an aerial campaign. (Adapted from the works of Sayan Majumdar)

Admin - IDN

Defence Ministry To Discuss Lack of Russian Military Equipment Spares Today

$
0
0
Problem of spare parts most acute for Sukhoi fighter jets

To tide over the problem of non-availability of spares for Russian military equipment, which form the bulk of the country’s defence inventory, the Defence Ministry has called for a meeting of Indian private defence industry on Monday.

The meeting, which will be chaired by Secretary, Defence Production (DP), will also be attended by Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and senior officers from the three defence services.

Since the early 1960s, India is estimated to have acquired military equipment worth USD 45 billion from Moscow which forms more than 60 per cent of the equipment inventory of the three services. But the current serviceability state of this equipment, particularly those with the Air Force and the Navy, is less than 50 per cent, sources said. The problem is particularly acute for Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft.

The state of spares with other Russian origin platforms such as the MiG-29 naval fighters, Kamov and Mi-17 helicopters is also not very encouraging. The IAF and the Navy directly issue contracts for these spares but have complained to the Defence Ministry about the unreliable nature of Russian provisioning.

Meanwhile, HAL has asked local MSME industry to start making these spares. This would, however, need a transfer of technology from Russia and through the Russian government agency, Rosoboronexport Corporation. Most Indian private industry officials are wary of working with Rosoboronexport, because of its “poor track-record”.


Defence Manufacturing Needs Long-Term Strategy

$
0
0

by N V Vijayakumar

The burgeoning demand from Indian defence establishments for aeronautics and defence electronics has really propelled Indian manufacturers to think differently to take on the design-led manufacturing. The Indian defence manufacturers are emulating the great strides made by Indian information and engineering technology to come up with an ecosystem to compete globally. 

As per the Defence Electronics and System Design Policy Recommendations report brought out by the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) and Nasscom, along with global strategy consulting firm Roland Berger, the aeronautics and defence electronics market in India is estimated to be in the range between $70 billion and $72 billion in the next 10-12 years. Almost $53 billion to $54 billion comes from electronics spend as part of platforms.

The just-concluded conclave of aerospace and defence electronics industry players, DEFTRONICS 2016, was an eye-opener of sorts for the Indian defence industry, as Indian manufacturing and software industries found a level playing field to address the global business opportunities at the same time meeting new requirements at the local market.

The Indian defence manufacturing has been under the firm control of ordinance factories and DPSUs (Defence Public Sector Undertakings), supported by research arms like DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), and other leading educational institutes. As defence manufacturing takes long gestation and critical technologies were not accessible, the government played a key role in it. India’s aeronautics and defence demands have increased as there was need for procuring products off the shelf where licensing and upgradations were in the hands of the supplier.

When the ‘Make in India’ and offset clause came into existence, Indian companies came up with continuous efforts of design-led manufacturing. This has opened up opportunity Indian industry to create capabilities. To facilitate the Indian industry to optimise this opportunity and create world-class companies and capabilities, there is a need to integrate Indian companies into global value chains of OEMs (Original equipment manufacturers), and to build an ecosystem.

According to Bharat Electronics (BEL) General Manager (Technology Planning) C P Suresh, support systems are very much required in the defence industry. “But the key issue is that when the product is getting inducted it will become obsolete. We have to look into design-led manufacturing where we should have system level understanding of the process,” he said. Suresh said the full-life cycle of a defence product is 15 to 20 years and for this process to sustain we need a design-led manufacturing. “We should have a collaborative IP development programme. A classic example of this project is Akash missile system where DRDO, DPSUs and a cluster of private firms participated,” he said.

M N Vidyashankar, IESA president, opined that one of the major issues for Indian companies is the lack of visibility in defence manufacturing. “This lack of visibility limits the ability of Indian companies to proactively plan and create competencies knowing that there is a strong government orientation to look at similar segments,” he said.

Delays Distract

It is evident from experience that one of the best ways to help establish a deep and robust industrial base is placing orderers to local OEM players. Electronics is a level 2 industry. The companies in this segment secure contracts once OEMs receive contracts. Delays in an award of contracts distort the abilities of players.

Structural issues must be sorted out in order to streamline the transfer of technology and push manufacturing in India. From the manufacturing perspective, DPSUs have traditionally occupied the entire breadth of the supply chain, and limited outsourcing from DPSUs is depriving the Indian industry of considerable opportunities. On the other hand, the private industry has its own set of issues which includes critical shortages of key infrastructure and talent. The recommendations for each of the above issues have been categorised into short-term, medium-term and long-term action plans.

According to Rahul Gangal, partner of global strategy consulting firm Roland Berger, electronic is a horizontal that cuts across verticals in defence. “The key challenge is to build a local defence electronics industry that can meet the needs of the Indian programme and also be a basis for an export launch-pad,” he said. Gangal said for the creation of a viable defence electronics industry, the creation of common infrastructure is a key aspect. “Such infrastructure can usually not be built by individual companies and globally the norm is for the government to create this infrastructure that private industry can access on a service fee basis. The same model should be replicated in India,” he said.

Robust Industry

For creating a robust industry, it is important to ensure cost base of Indian suppliers, including their profitability expectations are aligned with global needs and norms. 

“Currently, this is difficult as profitability expectations of Indian manufacturers, driven by high cost of capital in India, is much higher than the global average. In such a scenario, it is critical to come up with a structure that subsidises the Indian cost structure. Hence, a model similar to ESDM (Electronic System Design and Manufacturing) can be leveraged to provide incentives for A&D electronics manufacturing. In the case of technology transfer, it is also important for encouraging design by Indian OEMs so as to retain full product IP and future commercialisation potential in India,” said Vidyashankar.

Uma Maheshwar, Executive Chief Consulting Engineer, GE Aviation- India, said “India will have to see the global technological changes in the aerospace and electronics to become the leader in the space.”

“ Since a digital wave is happening globally, all the flying material now onwards will have a hybrid propulsion, combining both electricity and gas turbines. The warfare space will shift from electronics to digital. Additive manufacturing will bring a sea change and there will be no more component manufacturing but only system design and manufacturing,” he said.

Rohit Joshi, co-founder of Logic Fruit Technologies, said “there is a glimmer of hope in the system as the government is pursing I-Highway Programme to secure entire India from digital attack, UAV-based security system and videos surveillance very systematically.

“Indian companies have forgotten the fit and finish in the product development in the aviation and electronics industry. We have seen how our auto industry has been evolved by building the entire ecosystem in the country,” said Joshi.

To cater to the market opportunity, the Indian defence industry should create world-class companies and capabilities that address not only India opportunities but also leverage from integration into global value chains of OEMs. The government should take steps with a long-term vision to make it happen.


United State Can No Longer School Pakistan; The Real Rein Is In The Hand of China

$
0
0

One may be pleased as punch about the United State’s strong statement urging Pakistan to act against terrorists that target its neighbours, but let’s hold the crowing. When push comes to shove, it is China which can actually influence Pakistan on such matters, not the US.

The harsh warning is likely to mean little more than what a passing life guard’s ticking off might mean to a gang of teenagers disturbing others on a beach. It would be foolhardy to think that it will actually cause much change in behavior.

China’s commitment of 46 billion US dollars investments for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has given fresh life to Pakistan’s economy. So India’s strategic concerns hinges on China’s economic prospects far more than on statements the US State Department. The Defence Department has withheld 300 million dollars which had been vouchsafed to Pakistan, but that is not even one per cent of China’s investment.

In any case, defence cooperation between China and Pakistan is so close that substantial numbers of Chinese troops are said to be stationed across the Line of Control between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan and China cooperate closely with each other on defence. In fact, China acknowledges that Pakistan is its closest strategic partner. Indians can forget at their own peril the fact that Pakistan’s military dictator Pervez Musharraf was sitting in Beijing when the Kargil war began.

The sobering fact is that China has gone out of its way to set India against its neighbour. Pakistan has been its leading cat’s-paw.

On the other hand, Pakistan has scant regard for the US and its prescriptions. After all, Pakistan has played both sides with the US for several decades. Since at least the beginning of the 1990s, it has been an ally of the US’s opponents while simultaneously being a political and military ally of the US.

Matters came to a head once more on Friday, when the US Defence department withheld 300 million dollars of its military aid to Pakistan over the latter’s reluctance to act against the Haqqani network.

Pakistan has nurtured the hardline Haqqani group, one of the most important factions within the Afghan 'mujahideen’ since the 1980s. It continues to be based and protected in Pakistan. The group had allied with the Taliban to help take over Pakistan in 1996, and is considered an important player in the Taliban’s internal politics. Indeed, it represents Pakistani priorities within the Taliban.

Given this background, Pakistan is unlikely to be much impressed by the State Department statement noting 'progress’ or adding that 'we want to see more progress on its (Pakistan’s) part.’

If anything, Pakistan is likely to be miffed by the tone and tenor of that statement, which sounded clearly peremptory and judgmental. On the one hand, Pakistan clearly views the US as a fair-weather friend, undependable in crucial times. Since 1995, it has felt betrayed over the US’s growing closeness to India.

On the other hand, Pakistan has long been convinced that its actions, including support, arms and training for militants, with regard to Kashmir are all legitimate. Indeed, these have been at the core of the Pakistan state’s policy for long periods.

Pakistan has already promoted China as the major power in its strategic, counter-terrorism, and economic policy thrusts in Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the northern regions of Jammu and Kashmir state. China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan have formed a counter-terrorism alliance.

China sees Central Asia as well as the route through the northern part of Jammu and Kashmir through Pakistan to the Gwadar port as its modern-day 'silk route'. Oil pipelines, mining for precious metals, and export routes are all crucial to its strategic policies for the 21st century.

Source>>

PAK SCAN: Is Pakistan Isolated?

$
0
0

by Munir Akram

SEVERAL Pakistani commentators have concluded that Pakistan is isolated because its relations with three of its four immediate neighbours are hostile. Some have ascribed this ‘failure’ exclusively to the absence of a fulltime foreign minister and the hydra-headed leadership at the Foreign Office.

Pakistan is far from isolated. It enjoys a very close strategic relationship with its largest neighbour China, the emerging superpower. Relations with Iran are complex, but not hostile, and can become cooperative. Relations with regional neighbours Saudi Arabia, the GCC and Turkey remain friendly, with considerable potential for collaboration. Pakistan enjoys influence within the wider international community due to its size, strategic location, military strength and economic potential.

That Pakistan’s relations with India are tense should come as no surprise. This is almost a historical norm. The hostility of a Hindu supremacist BJP government was anticipated by most Pakistanis, except the purblind. But Modi’s arrogance and belligerence towards Pakistan have outstripped anticipation, partly because of the perceived weakness in Islamabad, but mostly due to the shift in the global and regional strategic environment and India’s growing alignment with the US in the context of its rising rivalry with China.

This emerging US-Indian alliance has not only encouraged New Delhi’s belligerence, it has exacerbated Pakistan’s security challenges, reflected in American support for India’s massive arms build-up; wide-ranging US attempts to contain and neutralise Pakistan’s nuclear and missile deterrence capabilities; and growing US pressure on Pakistan to act against ‘terrorists’.

Our diplomacy has displayed several missteps which illustrate an absence of strategic direction.

The strategic evolution has also complicated Pakistan’s relationship with the ‘unity’ government in Afghanistan. The Obama administration has accepted the Pentagon’s proposal for an indefinite US military presence in Afghanistan. Assured that American and Nato forces will stay indefinitely and prevent its collapse, Kabul has shifted from seeking reconciliation with the Afghan Taliban to demanding that Pakistan join in crushing them militarily. Fighting, rather than reconciling with the Taliban, has always been India’s preferred option.

Pakistan, with China’s cooperation, can meet India’s security challenge and maintain credible deterrence, nuclear and conventional. Pakistan has no compulsion to press for a dialogue so long as New Delhi refuses to address the fundamental issues of Kashmir and peace and security.

What Pakistan does need to reverse at present is, first, India’s long-standing attempts to sow domestic discord and destabilise Pakistan, including in Balochistan, rural Sindh and Karachi; and, second, the attacks against Pakistan’s civilians and security forces conducted by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants and the Balochistan Liberation Army insurgents from the territory of Afghanistan, with the sponsorship of Indian and Afghan intelligence.

Pakistan could respond effectively to these Indo-Afghan sponsored interventions. Kashmir remains India’s Achilles’ heel, as recent events illustrate. Pakistan also has the capability to eliminate TTP safe havens in Afghanistan. However, Pakistan is prevented from recourse to such robust responses by the political and security ‘umbrella’ extended by the US to Kabul and New Delhi. While extending limited help to counter the TTP’s safe havens in Afghanistan, the US is exerting pressure on Islamabad to fight the Afghan Taliban and clamp down on the pro-Kashmiri militants now outlawed as ‘terrorists’ at India’s instance.

Thus, in order to respond to India’s mischief and Kabul’s renewed hostility, Pakistan has to address, primarily, America’s alignment with these two neighbours. Pakistan will have to evolve policies which can neutralise those US positions which are antithetical to Pakistan’s vital interests, while preserving its vital strategic partnership with China. This is the major foreign policy challenge confronting Islamabad. This challenge is likely to become more daunting if, as anticipated, Sino-US rivalry and tensions escalate further.

Confronted by these regional and global strategic developments, Pakistan must formulate and execute its external policies with clarity and imagination. As Einstein said “You cannot solve problems at the same level of thinking where they were created.”

Unfortunately, Pakistan’s diplomacy has displayed several missteps which illustrate an absence of strategic coherence and direction. These include: the prime minister’s participation in Modi’s inauguration and inability to meet Kashmiri leaders; the Ufa declaration, emphasising terrorism and ignoring Kashmir; unwarranted confidence about bringing the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table; uninvited admission of the presence of insurgent leaders in Pakistan; the fumbling response to the Saudi request for military support; the tepid reaction to Afghan and US assertions regarding Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan and the US’ unilateral drone strike in Baluchistan.

Almost all of these missteps have been the consequence of shortsighted and often naive political intervention in the foreign policy process. The formulation and execution of foreign policy, like military policy, must be left to the professionals. The foreign service should be enabled and encouraged to provide objective and independent advice to the political leadership, rather than be whimsically directed from above. According to the government’s Rules of Business, the foreign secretary’s policy recommendations can be overruled by the political leadership, but they cannot be dictated to him.

Obviously, the organisational mess at the Foreign Office needs to be cleared. The government should have a fulltime foreign minister, not only for protocol reasons, but also to serve as a single, credible conduit for the expression and execution of foreign policy. There is an important role for the prime minister’s special assistant: to reconcile external policy with the government’s political priorities. But this role should be exercised, not from the foreign ministry, but the Prime Minister’s Office, where a foreign service official is, exceptionally, absent.

The security dimensions of foreign policy should be integrated through established institutional mechanisms, particularly the high-level National Security Command. If these mechanisms are not utilised, the ‘security establishment’ will find ‘informal’ ways of influencing policies.

Likewise, external economic policy cannot be formulated or conducted without the foreign ministry’s participation. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an example of the nexus between diplomatic, economic and security policies. Unfortunately, at present, development, trade and investment policies are formulated and implemented largely without the benefit of the foreign policy dimension.

A modern state cannot function without competent institutions of governance. For Pakistan, which is compelled to conduct a multi-directional external policy in a strategically challenging environment, a competent, empowered and motivated foreign service is as indispensable as Pakistan’s security forces.

The writer is a former Pakistan ambassador to the UN.


India, China Seek To Reduce Differences During FM''s Visit

$
0
0
In this File Photo External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is seen with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi & Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

The visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to India next week will help to reduce differences that surfaced recently between Beijing and New Delhi, Indian press reported.

Ties between the two countries became strained by some thorny issues, Zee News TV highlighted.

The visit is aimed at rebuilding confidence after differences arising as a result of China's veto on the admission of India in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the source said.

Beijing denied any animosity toward India and said its refusal was because New Delhi is not a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Another event that caused discomfort was China's decision to block in the UN Security Council a draft resolution submitted by India to the UN Security Council to declare Masood Azhar, the leader of the separatist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist.

That organization was responsible for the attack on an Indian army base in January, when 13 people were killed, including seven soldiers.

Beijing said that this issue should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan, where Azhar lives.

Add to this the alleged violation by the Chinese soldiers who crossed the border state of Uttarakhand for a brief period.

During the visit, issues related to the G-20 summit, to be held on September 4 and 5 in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, and the Brics summit, scheduled for October in the Indian city of Goa, will also be addressed, said the spokesperson for India's Foreign Ministry, Vikas Swarup.

When asked about the problem of Uttarakhand, Swarup said on Friday that all international, regional and bilateral issues of mutual interest will be addressed.

However, he added that the Defense Minister has already issued a statement and that there are mechanisms to discuss these topics, such as the army-level contacts.


China Holds First Nuclear Security Emergency Drill

$
0
0

BEIJING: China has successfully held its first comprehensive nuclear security emergency drill as the country embarks on a major expansion of nuclear power, a civilian ministry has said.

Code-named as "Fengbao-2016," the drill was held to test and improve China's security-incident response mechanism, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence said yesterday.

The drill, which was neither scripted nor had a preplanned result, tested the effectiveness of the nuclear security system, the administration said.

The drill was presided over by Wang Yiren, vice director of the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, and vice-chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority.

Representatives from central government agencies, local governments and China National Nuclear Corp observed the drill, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

According to a report released last year, China had 27 nuclear power generating units in operation as of the end of October 2015, with a total installed capacity of 25.5 gigawatts (GW), while another 25 units with a total installed capacity of 27.51 GW were under construction.

The world's second largest economy plans to raise its installed nuclear power capacity to 58 GW with an additional 30 GW under construction by 2020 and build itself into a strong nuclear power country by 2030.



From Missiles To Drones, DRDO Projects Keep Missing Deadlines

$
0
0
The RUSTOM-II Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UAV is delayed

by Rajat Pandit

R & D receives only 5-7% of Defense Funds

NEW DELHI: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) continues to miss deadlines in critical military projects with alarming regularity . Leave alone the much-talked-about Tejas light combat aircraft and Arjun main-battle tank, several projects ranging from spy drones and missiles to radars and artillery guns continue to languish with time and cost overruns.

Official documents, for instance, show that two important projects were to be completed this month but have got "revised dates of completion" now. The first project, launched in January , 2012, was to build an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar, which is the norm in modern fighter jets, at a cost of Rs 445 crore. But the radar called `Uttam' is nowhere near being ready with its deadline now extended to May, 2019.

The second project was for developing a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) called Rustom-II, along with an aeronautical test range at Chitradurga, which was approved in February , 2011, at a cost of Rs 1,649 crore. But its completion date has been pushed to February , 2017.

Absence of an indigenous AESA radar has meant that the first 20 Tejas light combat aircraft - the first two jets were finally delivered to IAF last month under the LCA project approved in 1983 - will have an older mechanically-steered radar.

Moreover, a hunt is now underway to get a suitable AESA radar-EW (electronic warfare) package from global arms majors like Raytheon, Israeli Aerospace Industries, Thales, SAAB and others for the next 100 upgraded Tejas Mark-1A fighters to be delivered from 2020 onwards. Similarly, in the absence of indigenous UAVs, the armed forces continue to induct highly-expensive Israeli drones.

DRDO, of course, has to contend with technology denial regimes, frequent midterm revision in qualitative requirements by the armed forces, problems in absorbing high-end technologies by the production agencies (defence PSUs) as well as continuing scarcity of scientific manpower and funds. "China spends around 20% of its defence outlay on R&D. But DRDO gets only 5-7% of the defence budget," said a scientist.

All this is certainly true, and there is no getting away from the fact that India has to become largely self-reliant in defence to avoid becoming strategically vulnerable in times of crisis. But as of now, revised timelines remain a recurring theme for DRDO projects across the board which, coupled with shoddy performance of the five de fence PSUs, four shipyards and 39 ordnance factories, means India continues to import over 60% of its military requirements.

The much-touted 'Nirbhay' cruise missile, designed to carry nuclear warheads with a strike range of 1,000km, for instance, is already three years overdue and still far from induction. The Astra air-to-air missile is not ready 12 years after it was sanctioned at a cost of Rs 955 crore.


US State Department Spokesperson’s Remarks Are Insensitive, Says Pakistan

$
0
0
Deputy Spokesperson of US State Department, Mark C Toner

Pakistan on Sunday angrily reacted to remarks by the US State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner’s critical remarks that Islamabad is selective in targeting terrorists and does not go after those threatening its neighbours. Toner told a news conference in Washington on Friday that the US has been very clear with the highest levels of the government of Pakistan that they must “target all militant groups, and that includes those that target Pakistan’s neighbours, and they must also close all safe havens.”

Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaraiya said the remarks of the spokesperson are misplaced and are not sensitive to Pakistan’s security concerns. “We have taken a serious note of the remarks made by the US State Department deputy spokesperson, which are self-contradictory and oblivious of the fact that Pakistan has taken concrete measures to counter terrorism in a phase-wise manner keeping in view Pakistan’s national security concerns.”

Zakariya said in a statement that Pakistan has been the victim of terrorism and suffered more than any other country. “The factors behind spread of terrorism in Pakistan and the colossal losses inflicted on Pakistan in terms of loss of over 60,000 innocent lives and billions of dollars loss to the economy is obvious now,” he said.

The US State Department deputy spokesperson said that Pakistan was doing so “selectively, we need to see them go after all groups, even those groups that might not threaten Pakistan itself but threaten its neighbours.” The spokesman referred to last month’s visit to Islamabad by Senator John McCain with some other Senators and Congressmen who were “unanimous in acknowledging the remarkable achievements made by Pakistan in its counter-terrorism drive.”

They visited Miranshah in North Waziristan tribal region and observed the situation on ground for themselves.


Navy Chief Visits Indonesia Today To Bolster Bilateral Ties

$
0
0

Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba will hold talks with his Indonesian counterpart to further strengthen bilateral ties during his five-day visit there starting Monday. The visit aims to consolidate existing maritime cooperation initiatives with Indonesia as well as explore new avenues in accordance with India’s ‘Act East Policy.’

During the visit, Lanba will hold discussions with Indonesian Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Forces, Chief of Indonesian Navy, besides other Senior Dignitaries and Naval Officers.

India and Indonesia have historical linkages which date back centuries. In the modern era, India and Indonesia have been co-founders of the Non Aligned Movement besides mutually beneficial collaborations in multilateral forums such as, ARF, ADMM+, G20 and WTO.

Defence co-operation between India and Indonesia is robust and has seen ascendency through regular ships, aircraft and military delegation visits and training exchanges. Both countries had also signed the Defence Cooperation Agreement in 2001. Indonesia have adjoining Maritime Search and Rescue regions and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and share similar maritime challenges such as long coastline, extensive EEZ, coastal security, large coastal shipping and fishing fleet, wherein both navies have opportunities to learn from each other’s experiences. In addition, common ground exists for cooperation on a number of issues common to both navies.

With shared maritime boundary, Maritime Cooperation between the Indian and Indonesian Navies has been robust and one of the strong pillars of bilateral Defence cooperation. Indian Navy and Indonesian Navy are partners in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a maritime cooperation construct conceptualised and pioneered by Indian Navy in 2008. Both countries have been conducting Coordinated Patrols along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) since 2002 and 27 editions of coordinated patrols have been completed till date. Both countries had also conducted the first Bilateral Maritime Exercise in Oct 2015. Warships of both countries visit each other’s ports regularly.

Both Navies also engage in Navy to Navy Staff Talks which commenced in 2007. The 8th round of staff talks are scheduled to be held in 2017. Indonesian Navy was one of the first countries to confirm their participation in the International Fleet Review 2016 held at Visakhapatnam and participated in the review with a Ship.

The Chief of the Indonesian Navy Admiral Ade Supandi also attended the Review and held bilateral discussions with the Chief of Naval Staff. Indian Navy too participated in the International Fleet Review conducted by the Indonesian Navy in Apr 2016 as well as the Multilateral Exercise Komodo (MNEK) conducted by the Indonesian Navy.


IDN TAKE: China And Islam: Historical Perspectives And India

$
0
0

by Mainak Biswas

History: Decline of Indian Kingdom In Indonesia:

The Ming Emperor in the 15th century started a series of voyages to the Indian Ocean in order to show its power. The Hindu Majapahit of Java was opposed to such incursion in their territory. Their opposition Melaka’s’ were provided sanctuaries, weapons and wealth to develop credible deterrence to the Hindu Majapahit and encouraged to convert to Islam. This resulted in steady decline of the Hindu kingdom in the east and rapid expansion of Islam in Indonesia and surrounding lands. The voyages did not stop here. The Chinese installed a puppet government in Sri Lanka, intervened in Sumatra governance and installed another semi government in Indian city of Kozhikode.

China And Islam

The Godless Chinese have always found Islamists a better tool to rule over others. They only need to buy local maulvis to radicalize youths and arm them. They have found it quite easy then to develop their own propaganda engine. India had seen this tradition from the 15th century onwards while Americans have learnt it the hard way. All countries of the developed world are facing this ugly face of partnership of these two cultures. All advanced weapons jihadis worldwide use are of Chinese make. This partnership is turning on main partner China now. Xinjiang province is now on the permanent nation of jihadis from Pakistan. In a few years China will be broken by the same seeds of destruction it has sown for others.

Indian Challenges 

China and Pakistan has always tried to weaken India. It has continuously funded terrorists in Kashmir and North East. They are providing sanctuaries to these terrorists now like they have done to the ancient Java Kingdom. Ignoring of South China Sea judgment by China has already shown the real intentions. China is already building three aircraft carriers and modern fighter jets, to permanently establish its ownership around South China Sea and then on Indian Ocean. The World is slowly awakening to this evil.

India and World: Actions Required

The solace for India is that it is not alone. USA is slowly understanding the importance and dynamics of the regions around India now. India is now getting all the technical knowledge and advanced weapons denied for several decades from advanced countries. The Chinese now know their allies are only North Korea and other unstable Islamic nations like Pakistan who are in a war with themselves. A total disregard of World opinions will isolate China economically and strategically. China will be cornered and a small democratic movement (the recent Hong-Kong revolt) can and will break China into many pieces.

Mainak Biswas is an ardent fan of IDN and a keen defense enthusiast. This piece on China-was written exclusively for IDN. Views expressed are his own

Admin - IDN

Bomb Targeting Mourners In Pakistani Hospital Kills 53, Causalities Growing

$
0
0

People gather near the bodies of victims of the blast at a government hospital in Quetta, Pakistan


ISLAMABAD: QUETTA: A powerful bomb went off on the grounds of a government-run hospital in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta on Monday, killing at least 42 people and wounding dozens, police said.

The blast took place shortly after the body of a prominent lawyer killed in a shooting attack earlier in the day was brought to the hospital, said senior police official Zahoor Ahmed Afridi, though it was unclear if the two events were in any way connected.

Nearly 100 lawyers and other people had gathered there at the time, he added.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, which struck at the gates of the building housing the emergency ward, on the hospital grounds. Earlier, police had mistakenly said the bomb struck the hospital's main gate.

Sanaullah Zehri, the chief minister in the Balochistan province, said it seemed to be a suicide attack, but police were still investigating.

Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial interior minister, denounced the attack as an "act of terrorism." A Pakistani news channel reported that one of its cameramen was also killed in the blast.

It was also unknown who was behind the killing of the lawyer, Bilal Kasi, who was gunned down on his way to court earlier in the day.

Local TV stations broadcast footage showing people running in panic around the hospital grounds. Afridi said most of the dead were lawyers who had gathered after Kasi's body was brought to the hospital.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast in Quetta and expressed his "deep grief and anguish over the loss of precious human lives" in the attack, in which several senior lawyers were also killed.

"No one will be allowed to disturb the peace in the province that has been restored thanks to the countless sacrifices by the security forces, police and the people of Balochistan," he said in a statement. Sharif asked the local authorities to maintain utmost vigilance and beef up security in Quetta.

He also instructed health officials to provide the best treatment possible to those wounded in the attack.

Balochistan has long been hit by insurgency. There are several ethnic Baluch separatist groups operating in the resource-rich province, but al-Qaida and other militant groups also have a presence there.


Viewing all 87677 articles
Browse latest View live