Officialtn er Avail YOUR COPY NOW! February-March 2020 Volume 17 No. 1 `100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only) Officarial Mediaof P MoD SP’s Military AN SP GUIDE P UBLICATION Yearbook 2019 Defexpo 2020 MEEt us @ SP’s PUBLISHER OF Hall 3 | stall - Q47 DEFEXPOof M 20o DDAILY

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In This Issue >> LEAD STORY

Page 4 Indian Defence Industry Changing Policy Environment Boosting Akash MISSILE In order for India to possess a technologically advanced and self-sufficient defence industry, a lot will depend on ‘Make in India’ maintaining a conducive eco-system for all stakeholders and a robust framework for effective implementation of reforms. The driver for a vibrant ‘Make in India’ will be the presence of a robust Major General Arun Kumar Varma (Retd) ecosystem energised and driven by the industry friendly policies, time

Page 6 stipulated outcomes with accountability and a policy of “Risk Sharing Gain Indian Army Modernisation: An Update Sharing”.

GRAPHIC: SP’s Design Simplification to Core

MBT Arjun Mk II Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has cleared the restructuring of the Army headquarters Relaxation in Conditions Facilitations & Guarantees which involves relocating 206 officers from • Allowing all eligible vendors to • No foreclosure - assured orders. the HQ to field areas participate in the prototype devel- • Provision for Project Facilitation Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) opment process. Team. • No Cap on number of players who • IPR remains with the industry. Page show interest & offer prototype. 9 • Reduces the total time from DefExpo India 2020 • Suo-moto proposals AIP to placing of order. allowed. Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) • Projects with develop- • Start-ups permitted to mental cost of less than Plus supply equipment. three crore reserved for Indian Army Inducts First Lot of MSME. Locally-Assembled M777 Artillery Guns 10 Vishal Thapar

Biggest Make in India Programme for Indian Army Dropped 10 Vishal Thapar Reduced SHQ $930 Million Deal for 6 Apache Documentation Empowerment Helicopter Gunships for Army • No detail project report • SHQ to give all subse- Awaits CCS Approval 11 required - saving of time quent clearances after Vishal Thapar & efforts. AIP. • Option with SHQ to accept single New Assault RiflesA fter 15 Years 11 individual/firm offers on innova- tive solution. • SHQs allowed to hire domain experts/consultants. SiG 716 Assault Rifle

Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd)

The Future of Warfare 14 Vishal Thapar

News in Brief 15 Continued on page 2....

1/2020 SP’s Land Forces 1 >> LEAD STORY

This issue of SP’s Land Forces out by the Government to boost ups over the next five years in most prestigious awards in Aero- coincides with the DefExpo 2020 the defence manufacturing base. seeking new technologies. The space Media and the number of and thus the lead article is on the Some key initiatives are Strategic development of Defence Cor- nominations for finals, received nuts and bolts of ‘Make in India’ Partnership Model; iDEX Initia- ridors is another key initiative to by us, are amongst the high- initiative pertaining to defence. tive and Start-ups; and develop- boost manufacture and encour- est by a publishing company, ‘Make in India’ is a visionary ini- ment of defence corridors. To age including by MSMEs. Two which includes global leaders tiative, mooted by Prime Minister harness the strength of private defence corridors are coming and heavyweights. Details of Narendra Modi which identifies 25 industry and to foster Govern- up, one in Uttar Pradesh and the the nominations can be seen on key manufacturing sectors includ- ment Private Sector partner- other one in Tamil Nadu. pages 8 and 9 inside. ing defence. The aim is to boost ship, DPP 2016 introduced the Modernisation is an ongo- This issue just about wraps domestic defence manufactur- Strategic Partnership Model to ing process for any army and up with the usual News Digest ing and achieve self-reliance develop strategic weapon sys- involves structural and hardware and flag postings.Your favourite and strategic autonomy. The tems. Strategic Partners from the changes. The Indian Army is at defence publishing house – ’SP Government plans to make India private sector would be identified the brink of structural changes Guide Publications’ will be at the a $5 trillion economy by 2025. to become partners with the MoD with Integrated Battle Group DefExpo 2020 so if you are in Such economic growth requires in their deliberations under Gov- planned to be formed after being Lucknow, do pay us a visit at Hall foundational pillars of matching ernment to Government negotia- tested in two corps – one in the 3 Stall Q47.

R IAL EDITO defence capabilities energised tions with foreign Original Equip- east and one in the west. The Wish you happy reading and by a strong indigenous defence ment Manufacturers (OEMs) for hardware changes are being a Happy New Year! industrial base. The key to growth collaboration in production. For carried out slowly but steadily. is sustained and evolved indigeni- iDEX, the Government has ear- Read all about this in an article sation programmes. marked funds for innovations with on Army modernisation. The lead article is followed the aim of trying to bring together SP Guide Publications is up by an overview of India’s innovators with public and private proud to share that 7 articles by defence manufacturing base sector industry and the Armed our journalists, in four categories, which includes the Defence Forces to find new technology have been shortlisted for finals in PSUs and the private sector solutions. Plans are also afoot to the upcoming Aerospace Media Jayant Baranwal along with the initiatives carried fund at least 250 defence start- Awards - Asia. These are the Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Photograph: PIB  Lt General A.B. Shivane (Retd) potential and outcomes. Thus, there exists a gap between expectations and deliverance T HAS bEEN NEARly six years since due to a myriad of reasons including budget- the ‘Make in India’ initiative was ary constraints, lacklustre implementation announced by Prime Minister Naren- of policies, pervasive technological back- dra Modi. Defence manufacturing is one wardness, bureaucratic lethargy, skewed off- of the 25 key sectors identified under set policies and evasive foreign direct invest- I‘Make in India’ initiative to boost defence ment (FDI), among other issues. Above all manufacturing and achieve self-reliance there has not been any cultural shift or major and strategic autonomy. India is poised to restructuring for making the present Make become a $5 trillion-dollar economy by in India initiative and defence procurement 2025. Such economic growth requires to outcome oriented. A glaring example is the be on the foundational pillars of a match- failure and loss of credibility of “Make” proj- ing defence capability energised by a strong ects to take off essentially due to weak and indigenous defence industrial base. India is wavering support by decision makers. The thus striving for self-sufficiency by promot- apprehensions of foreign investors toward ing ‘Make in India’ initiative in its defence ‘Make in India’ in defence could be reversed through focused, sustained and evolved by a sound offset policy. Offsets’ discharge by indigenisation programmes. foreign OEMs is a standard practice world- India has also moved up two spots to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressing at the ‘Def-Connect’ under the aegis of Innovations for wide and have been leveraged to overcome become the seventh most valuable ‘nation Defence Excellence (iDEX), in New Delhi on November 11, 2019. technological barriers by effectively absorb- brand’ 2019 in the world. The Indian defence ing foreign capital, technological transfers market is set to grow at an CAGR >4 per cent with top preference to IDDM. The policy ini- l Ease of Doing Business in Defence Pro- and know-how. DPP 2016 also needs to be with the base year as 2018 and prediction tiatives have resulted in: duction. simplified and made more outcome oriented year as 2024. Its brand value has increased l Enhanced Ease of doing Defence busi- l Simplification of licensing Process - with aspects such as ATP included in RFP, by a whopping 19 per cent in the last one ness - MSME have been given a boost Validity of Industrial quality cum cost based model, joint inspec- year to $2,562 billion, according to the with nearly 70 per cent licences issued to Licence extended to 15 years with a pro- tion and self-certification rather than an annual report on the world’s most valuable MSMEs with 52 per cent in land systems. vision of further three years extension. archival DGQA organisation, etc. nation brands compiled by Brand Finance. l Defence Investor Cell being established l Liberalisation of FDI Policy- FDI up to set on in January 2018 nearly 100 74 per cent under automatic route will Conclusion Envisaged Defence Production Target investors facilitated in 100 days. be allowed in niche technology areas. The driver for a vibrant ‘Make in India’ will India plans to spend $130 billion on mili- l De-Licencing of 65-70 per cent of items l Modification of Offsets - New investment be the presence of a robust ecosystem ener- tary modernisation in the next five years, as including parts, components etc for linked avenues for discharge of offset gised and driven by the industry friendly achieving self-reliance in defence production manufacturing by private industry. obligation. policies, time stipulated outcomes with is a key target for the Government of India. l Green Channel Policy 2017 which l Involving Start-ups in Technology accountability and a policy of “Risk Sharing The Government has opened up the Defence allowed deemed registration status, Development eg. iDeX. Gain Sharing”. ‘Make in India’ is also depen- industry for private sector participation to waiver of pre-despatch inspection, l Export Promotion - Defence exports dent upon R&D including industry-driven provide impetus to indigenous manufactur- acceptance of stores under supplier’s have witnessed a tremendous growth local R&D and production factors, product- ing. The department of defence production warranty and renewal of registration from `1,521 crore in 2016-17 to technology and manufacturing machine has set itself a target of producing equip- on self-certification basis. `10,745 crore in 2018-19. technology. In addition a vibrant competi- ment worth `90,000 crore in the financial l Opportunity for Industry to propose l Innovation and R&D. tive defence industrial base and an eco-sys- year 2019-20. Exports worth `15,000 crore products/service Suo Moto. l Focus on Vendor Development and Out- tem would enable utilization and consoli- have been envisaged from the total quantity l Protection for foreign exchange rate sourcing. dation of existing capabilities in fostering of equipment produced. The target set by variation. a constructive, long term partnership with the department for 2019-20 is nearly 12 per l Simplified Make II. Energising Make In India global OEM to be part of global supply chain cent higher than the production achieved in l Setting up Defence Innovation Organ- ‘Make in India’ is not just a sound economic and augment the role of Indian private sec- the previous financial year. In the financial isation and task force on AI. option but a strategic imperative in promot- tor companies to develop capabilities and year 2018-19, the department had pro- l Setting up of two defence industrial cor- ing India as global hub of manufacturing, capacities through JV and partnerships. The duced equipment worth `80,502 crore. ridors namely in Tamil Nadu and Uttar particularly in the strategic sectors such as focus must be on creating an environment Pradesh. defence. As of now the domestic defence that makes Indian firms to be world com- Recent Policy Reforms: Defence industry lacks critical technologies, manu- petitive and where all enterprises can flour- Manufacturing Sector Draft Defence Production Policy facturing ecosystems for integration of ish with levers of IPR in their control. ‘Make The Indian Government has initiated sev- The policy aims to promote domestic pro- large platforms, supply chain and logistics. in India’ is indeed the enlightened strategic eral key reforms to encourage ‘Make in duction by public sector, private sector and This must gain greater focus. path which requires patience, resilience and India’ in the Defence Sector. These have MSMEs by facilitating faster absorption The recent defence policy reforms and support by all stake holders. SP resulted in the rise in the procurement from of technology and create a tiered Defence speeding up of acquisition process as part of private Sector with nearly `17000 crore industrial ecosystem in the country. It’s ‘Make in India’ strategy is laudable, but have The author recently retired as Director

www.spslandforces.com contracts placed with Indian Private Sector highlights include: not commensurately paid off in terms of its General, Mechanised Forces, Indian Army.

2 SP’s Land Forces 1/2020 KALYANI GROUP ADVANCING towards making India self-reliant.

With a comprehensive portfolio of Artillery, Protected vehicles, Armored vehicle upgrades, Ammunition, Missiles and Air defense and Defense electronics, we have developed indigenous components and sub-systems based on the parameters set by the Indian Army. Our in-house capabilities and R&D facility enables us to be innovative and self-reliant. We are a strong believer of Made in India and have successfully implemented it. KALYANI GROUP - proud to be a strong arm of the Armed Forces. >> MAKE IN INDIA Indian Defence Industry In order for India to possess a technologically advanced and self-sufficient defence industry, a lot will depend on maintaining a conducive eco-system for all stakeholders and a robust framework for effective implementation of reforms.

Photograph: PIB  Major General Arun Kumar Varma of MSMEs. Unfortunately governmental (Retd) focus on MSMEs appears to have diminished despite all the talk about their importance Background and future contribution towards India In 1956, the revised Industrial Policy Resolu- becoming a super power. tion reserved the arms and ammunition indus- Make in India – a reality check. try with the public sector and the ordnance The Government’s ‘Make in India’ policy factories set up under the British rule became and increase in the FDI cap was seen as a the core group of industries. India focused on major step to revitalise the defence indus- its capability to indigenously produce equip- try. Accordingly, a number of committees ment with little technical know-how, leaving under retired bureaucrats were set up by the advanced equipment requirements to be the government to review the problems addressed through imports. being faced, and recommend suitable solu- Reverses in its conflict with China in tions to improve the business environment 1962 and the embargo imposed by the USA in India. However, very little has changed on the export of arms to India post 1965 on the ground, be it the negative fiscal envi- war with Pakistan gave an impetus to India’s ronment (including taxation), the lack of defence industry. This also heralded an era infrastructure (roads, water and power) and of defence ties with the Soviet Union, and, antiquated labour laws. The biggest chal- to this day, bulk of requirement of advanced lenges to ‘Make in India’ policy are: weapon platforms has been supplied by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the K9 VAJRA-T Gun at L&T Armoured System Complex l Decision making in defence procurement Soviet Union/Russia. India even commenced at Hazira in Gujarat is bureaucratic whose primary focus is manufacturing of equipment, albeit by way adherence to procedures and not on the of license. Although the nation received often to thwart the entry of private sector in Defence Corridors. In pursuance to end product. Like the Atomic and Space advanced weapons, manufacturing/assem- defence, and, its contribution was restricted the budget speech of 2018-19, the Govern- sectors, Defence procurement needs to bling via the license route led to stagnation to supplies of raw materials, semi-finished ment decided to develop two defence corri- report directly to the Prime Minister. in India’s domestic capabilities in terms of products, parts and components to OFB and dors, one in Uttar Pradesh and the other one l The existing R&D infrastructure is anti- research, development and production. DPSUs. However, post liberisation, and the in Tamil Nadu. Subsequently, six nodes have quated with severely constrained design Towards the onset of the 21st century, relative lacklustre performance of the pub- been identified for Uttar Pradesh Corridor capability and limited support, both India opened its doors to liberalization and lic sector, led the Indian defence industry to and five for Tamil Nadu Corridor. Although scientifically and financially. It con- progressive economic reforms. The pri- open its gates to private sector. Since then sops have been offered to the public and pri- tinues to suffer from low investment, vate sector was given access to the defence the private sector has performed remark- vate sector to set up manufacturing units, concrete plans and timelines for execu- industry and introduction of the ‘Make’ ably well, and today, the private sector is an the progress has been slow, since, assured tion. What India needs is a research and type of procurement in the Defence Pro- integral part of the defence industry. Nota- orders for defence items is the primary driv- development institution like the Defence curement Policy (DPP) 2006 allowed the ble players in India’s private defence sector ing force for investments to materialise. Advanced Research Projects Agency industry to develop and produce advanced are the Tata group, the Mahindra group, (DARPA) in the USA. defence equipment. However, lack of focus Bharat Forge and l&T. large defence proj- Concerns l Complete side lining of the Indian pri- and funding for research and development ects are witnessing increasing private sec- India, aspiring to be a world power, has long vate sector by DRDO, OFB and DPSUs in (R&D) in the public sector, coupled with tor involvement. Examples are the develop- harboured a dream of possessing a tech- design, production and maintenance. absence of an enabling eco-system for flour- ment of the Battlefield Management System nologically advanced and self-sufficient Continued reliance on licensed produc- ishing of foreign direct investment (FDI) (BMS), Pinaka Rocket Systems and the Avro defence industry. While its economic power tion has compromised the domestic and the private sector, prevented India from Replacement Programme. Various global has expanded, and its technological prow- competence and capability to develop building its indigenous defence capabilities. defence companies like Airbus, BAE Systems, ess in certain areas such as nuclear, space a product from scratch. Moreover, the Thus, India continued its reliance on import Lockheed Martin, boeing, Israel Aerospace and information technology has grown, it monopoly enjoyed by these entities of advanced weaponry. Industries, Raytheon and Dassault have has not been able to create a globally com- has bred complacency, arrogance and In an attempt to boost domestic pro- increased their investments into India by the petitive defence industry. Consequently, incompetency. With increased compe- curement, the Government changed the way of joint ventures with the private sector. India is still saddled with a bloated, non- tition from the private sector in terms order of preference in procurement under Strategic Partnership Model. To har- competitive, non-responsive defence indus- of productivity, resources and capacity DPP 2013, making it a preferred choice ness the strength of private industry and try, capable of producing technologically utilization, the public sector needs to be to develop, design or manufacture defence to foster Government Private Sector part- inferior military equipment, and that too completely overhauled and corporatised. equipment indigenously. Apart from sim- nership, DPP 2016 introduced the Strate- never on time and mostly exceeding their l Foreign OEMs have developed sensitive plifying the licensing policy and providing a gic Partnership Model to develop strategic original cost estimates. The result is that and strategic technologies over several level playing field to the private sector vis a weapon systems. These will be created over India still imports 70 per cent of its defence decades, investing billions of dollars. It vis the public sector, DPP 2016 introduced and above the capacity and infrastructure requirements and the armed forces con- is a fallacy that these can be handed over Buy (Indian IDDM)) and buy and Make that exists in Public Sector units. Strategic tinue to grapple with the outdated, vintage to India without a majority control. (Indian) categories of procurement to pro- Partners from the private sector would be and obsolete weapon platforms. mote the ‘Make in India’ initiative. identified to become partners with the MoD Periodic CAG reports point to sub-stan- Conclusion in their deliberations under Government dard products, exorbitant prices, inability to For improving defence manufacturing and Industrial Overview to Government negotiations with foreign meet demands of the Armed Forces, as also becoming self-reliant in the near future, a India has the third largest armed forces Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) rampant corruption which is hardly pos- lot will depend on how this sector is handled in the world, however, has remained the for collaboration in production. However, sible without complicity of the Department of in terms of management, accountability, world’s largest importer of major weap- procedures for identification of strategic Defence Production (DDP) and MoD officials. politicized unions, strikes, work culture, ons with 13 per cent share in the global partners with the private sector need to be Ironically, both MoD and DDP lack defence output and transforming limited successes import of arms. In 2015, India was rec- streamlined. specialization and accountability. Govern- to the required across the board excellence. ognized as the seventh largest military iDEX Initiative and Start-ups. The ment’s decision to turn the OFB into a public With global defence spending experienc- spending nations, after USA, China, Rus- Government has earmarked funds for inno- sector corporate for increasing exports, self- ing a slowdown in the last few years, global sia, Saudi Arabia, France and UK. In 2019, vations under the iDEX initiative with the reliance, and latest technologies and inno- defence firms have increased focus on seek- India moved up to the third largest military aim of trying to bring together innovators vations announced in May 2019 appears to ing growth opportunities in markets such as spending nations in the world. with public and private sector industry and have run into rough weather. India. Armed with substantial budget, and Public Sector. India has a huge defence the Armed Forces to find new technology Role of Micro, Small and Medium an executive will to integrate the domestic industrial base with 41 Ordnance Factories solutions. Plans are also afoot to fund at Enterprises (MSMEs). Many OEMs industry with its global counterpart, the under the Ordnance Factory board (OFB) least 250 defence start-ups over the next five including the OFB and DPSUs are offload- Indian defence industry has placed itself and nine Defence Public Sector Undertakings years in seeking new technologies for pro- ing manufacture of components and sub- on a trajectory of growth and challenge- (DPSUs), collectively forming the public sector viding a cutting edge to the Armed Forces. assemblies to MSMEs, but shortage of skilled driven production. Like every industry, the component. In addition, the Defence Research This is a good development but whether manpower is forcing MSMEs to employ success of the defence industry will largely and Development Organization (DRDO) have these start-ups will be ‘unofficially’ forced mix of semi-skilled and unskilled workers, depend on efforts to maintain a conducive over 50 laboratories under its aegis. to tie up with DPSUs or given free hand to which has resulted in low productivity. The eco-system for all stakeholders and a robust Private Sector. The sensitive and strate- tie up with private sector industry and the ‘Skill Development’ program is unable to framework for effective implementation of

SP www.spslandforces.com gic nature of the defence industry was cited Armed Forces will be important. meet the requirement of skilled manpower the reforms.

4 SP’s Land Forces 1/2020 IMPENETRABLE INDIAN AIR DEFENCE WITH HYBRID BIHO

+ 30mm twin-gun and missile system to defend + Hundr eds of Hybrid BIHO units currently against various low-altitude aerial threats with operated by the ROK Army agile mobility + H igh technology transfer and localisation, + Automatic target detecting and tracking full logistics support capability in any type of weather, day or night + Operation and maintenance training programs + P recise gun and missile system with real-time utilizing comprehensive simulation system fire control >> MODERNISATION Indian Army Modernisation: An Update

Defence minister Rajnath Singh has cleared the restructuring of the Army headquarters which involves relocating 206 officers from the HQ to field areas

Photographs: DRDO, Rosoboronexport, SP Guide Pubns  Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) generation, can engage targets in ‘fire-and- forget’ and ‘fire-observe-and-update’ modes ODERNISATION IS AN and meets the operational requirement of ongoing process for any the IA as it is looking for third-generation army and involves structur- ATGMs with a longer range than that of its al and hardware changes. existing Milan-2T and Konkurs. The Indian Army (IA) is also Mgoing such transformation-albeit slowly but Mechanised Forces steadily. brief details are given in succeed- T-90. During April 2019, the Cabinet Com- ing paragraphs. mittee on Security had approved the pur- chase of 464 T-90 MS tanks. The T-90MS Structural Transformation version has improved electronics and defen- IA had ordered four transformation stud- sive systems compared with the earlier T-90 ies in order to meet the modern battlefield tanks. The future plans visualise a force of milieu as follows: over 1,600 T-90 tanks by 2020. The older l Reorganisation of the Army HQ. T-72 tanks will be replaced by upgraded l Reorganisation and Rightsizing of the versions of T-90. IA which is the key operational issue Future Infantry Combat Vehicle involving reorganizing existing brigades (FICV) and Future Ready Combat into Integrated battle Groups. Details Vehicle (FRCV). These were very ambi- are yet not known. tious projects under ‘Make in India’ with l Cadre Review of Officers. large financial outlays to replace current l Review of Terms of Engagement of the inventory of infantry combat vehicles and Rank and File. tanks but both have been shelved probably Defence minister Rajnath Singh has for want of budgetary support. FICV itself cleared the restructuring of the Army head- involves 2600 vehicles with about plus $8 quarters which involves relocating 206 offi- billion budgetary support. cers from the HQ to field areas, the creation of a separate vigilance cell under the COAS, and Artillery a new branch under the Vice Chief that will Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP) focus on human rights issues. It is estimated was formulated during 2000 in which that the implementation of the four studies 155mm calibre was made the standard gun would reduce troops by about 100,000. system for Artillery and involved the acquisi- tion of about 3000 plus guns by 2025 at an Infantry estimated cost of $8 billion. These included: The Indian Army (IA) had started with l 1,580 towed gun systems (TGS) its ‘Future Infantry Soldier as a System’ l 814 mounted gun systems (MGS) (F-INSAS) programme over ten years back l 100 self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) which involved equipping the infantry sol- l 145 bAE Systems M777 155mm/39 dier with advanced weaponry, situational calibre lightweight howitzers for the awareness and communications, to be com- mountains. pleted by 2020. In January 2015, the IA Except for M777, all other gun systems split the F-INSAS programme in two sepa- were of 155mm/52 calibre or 45 calibre. rate projects; one arming the modern infan- try soldier with the best available assault Current Status of FARP rifle, carbine and LMG, and personal equip- BAE Systems’ M777 155mm/39 Calibre ment such as the helmet and Bullet Proof Ultra Lightweight Howitzers (ULH). The Vest (BPV); and the second component was contract for procurement of 145 guns of the Battlefield Management Systems (BMS) 155mm/39 calibre ULH was signed with US which included the computer and com- Government in November 2016 under the munications. However, due to high cost of FMS Programme. As per the contract 25 fully BMS, it was foreclosed in 2018. At present formed howitzers from USA/UK were to be the focus is on modernisation of personal imported and balance 120 howitzers were to weapons and protection. Brief details are: be assembled in India by BAE Systems in part- nership with Mahindra Defence. The first regi- Personal Weapons and Protection ment is equipped with 15 imported guns and (Top) 155mm x 52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS); Assault Rifles. India had signed a `700 (middle) T-90MS tank; (above) Dhanush 155mm 45-calibre gun. three guns have been made in India to com- crore deal to buy 72,000 of these rifles from plete the inventory of 18 guns per regiment. the US under Fast Track Procedure (FTP). 2019 to Bulgaria (Arsenal Company); Israel improved selectively through indigenous Dhanush. Ordnance Factories board The first lot of 10,000 SiG716 assault rifles (Israel Weapon Industries) and South Korea effort and foreign collaboration. (OFB) had been contracted to produce a arrived in India on December 1, 2019 and (S&T Motiv Co.). Currently the Army is 45-calibre 155mm howitzer based on the another batch of 10,000 rifles will arrive looking for 16,400 LMGs under FTC. Anti-tank capability Transfer of Technology obtained from soon. The SIG716 uses the more powerful Sniper Rifles. Limited numbers of two There are plans to buy more than 3,000 Bofors in the 1980s. The Defence Acquisi- 7.62x51mm cartridge. new advanced sniper rifles e.g. the Barrett Milan 2T anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) tion Council (DAC) approved the manufac- Carbine. The contract with UAE based M95 .50 bMG and beretta Scorpio TGT from France which are to be produced under ture of 144 pieces of 155mm/45-calibre Caracal International llC for providing ‘Victrix’338 Lapua Magnum have been pro- licence by Bharat Dynamics Limited. Milan howitzers with the option to acquire another 93,895 close-combat weapons has run vided selectively to troops along the LoC. is manufactured by Euromissile which is a 400 provided the prototypes are success- into trouble due to cost factors. Meanwhile, BPV. The shortage of bullet-proof jackets consortium originally set up by Aerospa- ful. After successful trials the OFB received there are plans for a joint venture between for armed forces is being met through pro- tiale-Matra of France and DaimlerChrysler a bulk production order for 114 Dhanush India and Russia to produce seven lakh curement of 1.86 lakh such jackets by April Aerospace of Germany, now a subsidiary guns. The OFB has already handed over AK-203 assault rifles in India which will be 2020 for nearly `639 crore. SMPP Pvt Ltd, of the EADS. The IA also operates Russian six Dhanush guns to Artillery during April modified for carbine role. which has developed these indigenous bPV origin 9M113M Konkurs-M ‘AT-5b Span- 2019. Dhanush is the first indigenously LMG. The IA has started its search for a claim that their BPV can withstand hardcore drel-B’ ATGMs. India has procured Israel’s built 155mm x 45 calibre long-range artil- new LMG with the calibre of 7.62x51mm steel ammunition fired from an AK-47 rifle. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Spike LR

www.spslandforces.com by sending a delegation during April/May Night Vision Capability. This is being (long-range) ATGM system which is fourth- Continued on Page 8...

6 SP’s Land Forces 1/2020 >> Marketing feature B05YA01 COMBAT MODULE FOR ARMORED VEHICLES UPGRADE

The light-weight category combat vehicles (IFV, air- borne assault vehicles, APC) are able to determine the com- bat potential of a country’s armed forces due to their appli- cation versatility. Infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1, BMP-2, BMP-3) and airborne assault vehicles (BMD-3, BMD-4) are the most common hardware of land forces and airborne troops. Currently a huge fleet of such combat vehicles is in service both with the Russian army, as well as abroad. These vehicles have been produced for several decades and pres- ently their weapon systems do not meet modern require- ments. However, their life cycle is quite long and reaches 30–40 years. Many countries keep on upgrading the main fleet of their combat vehicles. In Russia, a BMP-2 mechanical mod- ule was selected as a basis for designing a uniform combat module weighing below 3 tons for upgrading Russian com- bat vehicles. In-service BMP-2 CVs were upgraded by installation of B05Ya01 combat module Russian infantry fighting vehicle BMP-2, being the main combat vehicle of many countries’ land forces, was adopted for service in 1980 and used to exceed most of its foreign counterparts in terms of combat capabilities. Nowadays BMP-2 still basically meets the modern requirements. However BMP-2 weapon system is falling be- hind the modern level a number of parameters: • guided weapon firing is possible from stationary position only due to wire command link of Konkurs anti-tank guided missile (ATGM); • Konkurs ATGM has low penetration capability and is not effective against modern tanks; • Konkurs ATGM has low firing rate due to manual reload- ing of the launcher; New combat module is also meant for upgrading other combat vehicles • at night the system may fire only automatic cannon or The weight of add-on equipment installed does missile. At the same time the missile cost is significantly PKT machine-gun at range not exceeding 800 m; not exceed 500 kg, including around 260 kg of extra am- lower than that of a missile with a seeker which fulfills • the BMP-2 fire control system is not automated and does munition: 30 mm grenades and ATGM. the function of the auto-tracker; not allow for accurate firing, limiting the effective range of The specifications of BMP-2 with new B05Ya01 • laser guidance mode of the ATGM with orientation of 30 mm cannon to 1100–1400 m. when firing on the move combat module are improved as a result of KBP-offered the missile within the laser beam provides for high jam- the system does not provide for required accuracy of line of upgrade package. ming-immunity against all types of active jamming; sight stabilization; Due to introduction of day/night FCS the system • effective firing range of a 30-mm projectile isin- • 30 mm projectiles flat trajectory firing is not efficient provides accurate firing with all types of weapons, includ- creased from 1100–1400 m up to 1800–2000 m; against prone or entrenched manpower; ing guided, at moving and stationary targets, round-the- • air defense firing effectiveness is increased significant- • firing at aerial targets carried out using center rings of clock engagement of all types of targets from stationary ly: kill probability by automatic gun when firing against 1PZ-3 sight, actually delivers only a psychological effect, position, on the move and afloat at the range up to 4000 “helicopter” and “low-flying attacking aircraft”-type target since the typical aerial target hit probability is hardly one m with automatic cannon, up to 2100 m with automat- increases dramatically and its value approaches that of percent. ic grenade launcher, up to 5500 m with 9М133-1 ATGM. specialized gun and missile air defense systems of closed The firepower of a combat vehicle is determined by Besides, 9М133М-2 ATGM with tandem shaped-charge ranges with much lesser expenditure of ammunition. its weapon system, thus, the increase of combat efficiency warhead and 9М133FM ATGM with HE warhead and Thus, the principle of ICV versatility is fulfilled by adding may be achieved by weapon system modernization. BMP-2 9М133FM-3 ATGM with HE warhead and proximity fuse air defense capacities without additional expenditures; has a high weapon system upgrade potential. The challenge recently designed by KBP allow firing at range up to 8 km. • еffective engaging of personnel is provided at ranges of increasing the firepower of existing BMPs providing their Kornet-E ATGM penetration capability, increased up up to 2100, including that behind the accidents of ground superiority over other modern vehicles has been successful- to 1100–1300 mm, allows reliable engagement of mod- and in trenches due to the implementation of low ballis- ly met by KBP Instrument Design Bureau. ern advanced tanks fitted with add-on ERA. Besides, HEF tics armaments (AG-30M automatic grenade launcher) The upgrade was implemented on a serially pro- warhead of the missile is able to destroy concrete fortifi- with new GPD-30 rounds; duced BMP-2 turret with 2A42 automatic cannon (without cations and strongpoints. Due to stand-off range targets • the scope of combat tasks which can solved by the changing the mechanical module and turret internal layout). engagement capability the upgraded BMP-2 are sure to CV commander is increased due to installation of night The design concept implies the following: prevail in combat with enemy tanks and IFVs. vision panoramic sight with technical view, implemented • mounting two Kornet-E ATGM launchers on the turret The improvements implemented in Kornet ATGM on ICVs for the first time. sides, each launcher equipped with independent electro- (9М133М-2, 9М133ФМ-3) provide for considerable en- BMP-2 upgrade meets the requirements towards mechanical vertical drive and carrying two ready for fire hancement of its performance without increasing weight future infantry combat vehicle for the nfuture 20–30 missiles; and dimensions. These improvements ensure: years, and upgraded BMP-3 ICV can be successfully • replacement of standard BPK-2-42 sight with combined • engagement of modern and advanced tanks taking used till year 2030–2040. The carried out upgrade gunner’s sight equipped with independent LOS stabilization into account their armor protection growth tendency; features a systematic approach and leads not simply system and incorporating optical, IR and laser range-finding • engagement of armored vehicles at stand-off range; to enhancement of separate technical specifications channels, as well as missile guidance channel; • engagement of low-altitude assault and reconnais- of the system, but has enabled to create a vehicle • installation of onboard digital computer with sensors sance aircrafts, including drones; with qualitatively new features, which can successful- system, as well as TV-IR target auto-tracker; • increase fire rate when firing ATGMs is provide by in- ly compete with foreign counterparts on the weapon • installation of 30 mm grenade launcher with indepen- stallation on two stabilized launchers of BMP-2 ICV of market. KBP mastered serial production of upgraded dent electromechanical vertical laying drive and 300-rds four ready-to-launch guided missiles significantly; BMP-2 combat compartments. feed magazine; • implementation of TV-IR-auto target tracker enables • installation of commander’s panoramic sight with inde- to increase the accuracy of target tracking 3–6 fold in The advertorial is based on the article of pendent LOS stabilization system and incorporating optical comparison with manual tracking. Automatic target N.I. Khokhlov, L.M. Shvets, I.A. Matveev, O.A. Borovykh. and laser range-finding channels; tracker adds the FCS a qualitatively new feature, putting • installation of high-precision digital weapon stabilizer. to life the “fire-and-forget” principle when firing a guided For more information please visit www.kbptula.ru

1/2020 SP’s Land Forces 7 >> MODERNISATION

Indian Army Modernisation...Continued from Page 6

lery gun with strike range of 38 kilometres. with the enhanced range/advance version Aerospace Industries (IAI) for all three produced under the Indo-Russia joint ven- It is also a major success story of the ‘Make likely to be inducted in the near future. services. Army’s version is under devel- ture will be earmarked for AAC for replac- in India’ initiative. The advanced version will have “trajectory opment and the Naval and Air Force ing Cheetahs and Chetak LUHs. The infra- 155mm/52 calibre Towed Howitzer. manoeuvre and steep-dive capabilities” for versions are in service. structure Kamov 226 is being established by Nexter of France had offered their gun Trajan mountain warfare. The hypersonic version l Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. and had tied up with Larson & Toubro (L&T). is currently under joint development by (QRSAM) is being developed by DRDO Light Combat Helicopters. The Elbit of Israel has offered their gun ATHOS DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia. in association with bharat Electronics AAC needs 114 Light Combat Helicopters. 2052 and had tied up with Kalyani Group/ Limited and bharat Dynamics limited. Weapon System Integrated (WSI) has been Bharat Forge. Howitzers of both Nexter and Army Air Defence (AAD) It has a range of 25-30 km. carried out successfully with Mk-IV variant Elbit Systems underwent competitive tri- Current Systems. The AAD holds a mix of l L/70 gun, 23mmTwin Gun and Schilka of the Dhruv Advanced light Helicopter, als in November 2015. It was then reported guns, shoulder fired missiles, self propelled have been upgraded indigenously and called the Rudra. Various versions of Dhruv that fresh trials have been ordered for both missile and gun systems. The key weaknesses are in service. are already in service in the Army. the systems but it appears that Elbit Systems are the successor to 40mmL/70 gun which Apache AH-64Es Armed Helicopters. has won the competition as the Elbit-Bharat is almost 50 years old, replacing old shoulder Army Aviation Corps (AAC) During June 2018, six Apache AH-64Es Forge bid for the Athos 2052 howitzer was fired missile systems and self propelled gun/ Light Utility Helicopters (LUH). For armed helicopters were contracted from found significantly lower than that of Nexter. missile systems. Progress is as follows: many decades the AAC is somehow car- the US at approximate cost of `4,168 crore In fact it is understood that it is even less than l IGLA-M is being replaced by IGLA-S rying on with Cheetah and Chetak which (about $600 million). Deliveries are expected Dhanush. The Ministry of Defence has the from the Russian Federation. need immediate replacement. Periodic acci- to be made in 2020. The AAC has plans to choice of opting for the indigenous Advanced l The Medium-Range Surface-to-Air dents are an urgent reminder of the same. procure 39 AH-64E helicopters which would Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), being Missile (MRSAM) is being developed There are also indications that a large num- be adequate for three AAC squadrons ear- developed by the DRDO in partnership with by DRDO in collaboration with Israel ber of 200 Kamov 226 T helicopters to be marked for the three Strike Corps. SP Tata Power SED and Bharat Forge. Self Propelled Howitzers (SPH) K9 Vajra-T. According to industry sources, the K9 (South Korean self-propelled 155mm howitzer manufactured by Hanwha Defense) is being procured under the DPP2012 ‘Buy Global’ category. L&T had won the contract in 2017 to supply 100 units of K9 Vajra to For the First Time in 2019, the IA under the Centre’s ‘Make in India’ ini- tiative. The K9 is expected to contain some SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS 13 major indigenous subsystems, including offered its submissions to the organisers of its fire control, ammunition handling etc. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh flagged off the Aerospace Media Awards, 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from L&T Armoured a prestigious platform that offers the recognitions to the System Complex at Hazira in Gujarat on Jan- uary 16, 2020. Excellence in Journalism in the arena of Aerospace & Truck-mounted guns. The Acquisi- Defence around the Globe. tion of 814 truck-mounted Guns has been approved by the DAC in November 2014 Honoured in sharing the fact that a total of seven articles and will be undertaken under the ‘buy written by SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS’ journalists and make in India’ category with trans- fer of technology. While the first 100 guns have been short listed as the will be imported, the remaining 714 will be produced in India. Tata Power SED with Finalists in the categories of: its 155mm truck mounted gun system and l&T-Ashok leyland-Nexter with their 155mm gun are among the private compa- nies in India that are reported to be inter- Best Best Best Best ested but at present the acquisition appears Business Aviation Military Aviation MRO Propulsion on low priority. Meanwhile the OFB has Submission Submission Submission Submission announced that they will produce two more versions of the Dhanush, one of them being a truck mounted version. 155/52 Calibre Self Propelled How- itzer. It was earlier reported that Bhim self- “It’s an honour for having been selected as at the least seven finalists propelled howitzer was being developed as a private venture of the South African com- in at the least four categories by one of the most renowned and the pany Denel in collaboration with DRDO but most prestigious Aerospace Media Awards’ platform in the world. This no details are known. It is also reported that clearly reflects and reinstates our commitments towards Excellence L&T is expected to develop this system. through Enlightening, we have been following since last 56 years and 155mm/52 Calibre Advance Towed are poised to rigorously following the same for coming years and Artillery Gun System (ATAGS). ATAGS is India’s first indigenous 155mm/52-calibre coming decades.” towed gun system which is being developed —JAYANT BARANWAL, EDITOR IN CHIEF, by DRDO along with Tata Power SED and the CHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR, SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS Kalyani Group/Bharat Forge. During January 2017, two ATAGS prototypes had been made and were under trials. Finally there will be 8 a requirement of 1,500 towed guns costing about $4.5billion but the initial order is for 7 the immediate requirement of 114 guns. Catapult. The current system of 6 mounting the 130mm gun onto the 5 extended chassis of an OFB-built Vijayanta number of short (Vickers Mk 1) MBT is being replaced by 4 mounting a 130mm gun on the chassis of listed finalists: the locally designed Arjun MBT. SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS 3 The Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket versus Launching System (MLRS). Pinaka is 2 developed by DRDO and manufactured by global leaders L&T and Tatas. It has now been upgraded 1 with an improved range of 60 km. In April 2017 a proposal for acquiring six additional 0 regiments of Pinakas was cleared. The Mk II SP Guide FlightGlobal IHS Aviation version of Pinaka would have guided muni- Publications Jane’s Week Group tions with ranges of 60 - 80 km. BrahMos Cruise Missile. brahMos

www.spslandforces.com programme is also proceeding at smoothly

8 SP’s Land Forces 1/2020 >> INDIGENISATION DefExpo India 2020

 Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the governmental defence-industrial organ- launched the DefExpo 2020 website on researchers and investors is the size of the isations are stonewalled by trade unions sup- efExpo India 2020 IS being September 30, 2019 enabling the exhibi- Indian defence market. ported by political parties due to vote-bank organised for the very first tors to register and book space online as The Indian government is looking at politics. between 2015-16 and 2018-19 time at lucknow in Uttar per their requirements on a first-come- achieving a turnover of `1.7 trillion in mili- (April-October), out of total of 188 contracts, Pradesh. It is the 11th edition first-serve basis, make online payments, tary goods and services by 2025 and the SP 121 contracts were signed with Indian ven- of DefExpo with SP Guide Pub- book conference halls and venues for model is envisaged to capitalise this opportu- dors including Defence Public Sector Under- Dlications as official media partner and Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings. nity and contribute to ‘Make in India’ pro- takings (DPSUs)/Public Sector Undertakings the largest ever held. The exhibition is Concurrently, Defence Minister Rajnath gramme. The target also is to achieve export (PSUs)/Ordnance Factory board (OFB) and scheduled from February 5 to 8. The Singh had also launched mobile app for of `350 billion ($5 billion approximately) in private vendors for capital procurement of theme for DefExpo India is ‘India: The DefExpo 2020. DefExpo India 2020 is defence goods and services by 2025. As per defence equipment. The equipment to be Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’. the largest showcase for new and future the military’s acquisition plans for next 10 procured included helicopters, naval ves- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, defence technology providing opportunity years, industry is expected to acquire capital sels, radars, ballistic helmets, artillery guns, ­“DefExpo will provide opportunity to to defence companies to display their land, assets worth `15 trillion. Defence production simulators, missiles, bulletproof jackets, elec- professionals and industry to find new sea and air capabilities at a single venue. in India is heading towards private sector tronic fuzes and ammunition. meeting grounds for developing military What will attract Original Equipment participation but at a very slow pace because DefExpo 2020 offers an excellent oppor- industrial enterprises”. Manufacturers (OEMs), Defence Micro of vested interests. Attempts to corporatise tunity for the Indian defence industry to showcase its capabilities and promote its export potential. Though the main theme of the exhibition is ‘India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’, the focus will be on ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’. Uttar Pradesh already has four units of Best Business Aviation submission Hindustan Aeronautics ltd at lucknow, Our Journalist: Kanpur, Korwa and Naini (Prayagraj), nine Ayushee Chaudhary ordnance factory units, including Kanpur, For the article: Korwa, Shahjahanpur, Firozabad and one unit of Bharat Electronics Limited at Gha- “Coming Full Circle Pole to Pole in Less Than 48 Hours” ziabad. One of the two Defence Industrial Our publication: Corridors (DICs) of India is also planned in Uttar Pradesh. The Corridor will encourage BizAvIndia Best Propulsion submission Defence Micro Small and Medium Enter- Our Journalist: prises (MSMEs), including Indian defence industry and promote Defence Public Sec- Rohit Goel Our Journalist: tor Undertakings (DPSUs). The other DIC is Sudhir Rajeshirke For the article: proposed in Tamil Nadu. DPP 2018 was a For the article: “Electrical Propulsion to Shake up Aviation” step towards creating an industry-friendly “6 Reasons Why it Benefits All” Our publication: structure to facilitate better contract nego- tiations and improve the pace of contract Our publication: SP’s awards. breakthroughs like Make proce- dure, strategic partnership (SP) model, lib- AIRBUZ Civil Aviation eralisation of FDI norms and creation of a Yearbook 2019 level-playing to private industry have been introduced. However, the strategic partner- ship (SP) policy has several shortcomings Best Military Aviation submission Our Journalist: which might create barriers in realizing the Our Journalist: A.K. Sachdev goals. Additionally, the offset policy encour- S.B. P. Sinha For the article: ages foreign vendors to engage in the com- For the article: “Engine leasing” plete transfer of technology arrangements with Indian offset partners has remained Our publication: “India Finally Uses Military Option Against largely unmet. Terrorists in Pakistan” As per the India Infrastructure Research, Our publication: SP’s nearly $13.5 billion worth of defence offset obligations would be discharged in India by SP’s aviation foreign OEMs in the eight to 10 years. India’s defence sector has been growing at a modest aviation Our Journalist: pace for the past few years. However, mod- Murali Sundaram ernisation of the Armed Forces and indi- Best MRO submission For the article: genisation of manufacturing is emerging Our Journalist: as focus areas. These segments are receiv- “Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuels” ing the much-needed push under the ‘Make Byron Bohlman Our publication: in India’ programme. This is an opportune For the article: time to embark upon a new phase of self- “MRO Asia Competition Heats Up” BizAvIndia reliance in the sector by manufacturing Our publication: technologically advanced equipment within India; providing attractive opportunities for co-development and co-production of AIRBUZ defence equipment and systems not only for our defence forces but also for export to the world. Events in DefExpo are conducted * The first Asia Aerospace Media Awards will be presented in Singapore on the evening of at an international level, which not only February 11, 2020, in conjunction with Singapore Airshow 2020. facilitates Business-to-Business (B2B) inter- action with senior foreign delegations but also Government-to-Government (G2G) Following consistently and relentlessly meetings and signing of Memorandums of the path of Excellence in Enlightening since 56 Years Understanding (MoUs). DefExpo will provide an opportunity to the major foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to col- laborate with the Indian defence industry and help promote ‘Make in India’ initiative. Ministerial level delegations from the foreign countries and visitors from across India as well as abroad are expected to visit DefExpo 2020 and witness India’s emergence as a major manufacturing hub. SP

1/2020 SP’s Land Forces 9 >> SPECIAL REPORTS Indian Army Inducts First Lot of Locally-Assembled M777 Artillery Guns

Photograph: PRO Defence Nagpur  Vishal Thapar is a fundamental part of the M777 produc- tion line. A domestic Assembly, Integration he Indian Army HAS inducted and Test facility will enable the Indian Army the first lot of Indian-assembled to access maintenance, spares and support 155mm, 39 calibre M777A2 ultra- for the M777 locally,” Dr Joe Senftle, Vice light howitzers (ULH). This also President & General Manager, Weapon Sys- coincides with its first M777 regi- tems, BAE Systems, said earlier. Tment getting its full complement of 18 guns. “This arrangement involves the Trans- These artillery guns are meant to pro- fer of Capability to the AIT facility in India... vide rapid response, 30-km range sustained This is a fundamental part of the M777 pro- firepower capability for mountain warfare. duction line, and the only AIT facility for the The commencement of supply of these M777 outside of the UK,” he said. combat proven titanium artillery guns from At 4,200 kg, the M777 is half the an M777 Assembly Integration and Test weight of a conventional 155mm towed (AIT) facility at Faridabad is a big landmark gun, enabling it to be slung under helicop- in the estimated $750 Million programme to ters for airlift to distant mountainous fron- equip the Indian Army’s mountain warfare tiers. The ultra light howitzer is intended to formations with light artillery. The facility has provide the principal artillery firepower to been set up by BAE, the original equipment the Indian Army’s Integrated Battle Groups manufacturer, in partnership with Mahindra deployed in the mountains. Defence & Aerospace and forms the core of It was used in the recent high-altitude the Make in India element for this deal. exercise codenamed Himvijay, conducted After l&T’s Hazira establishment, the in Arunachal Pradesh to validate new con- BAE-Mahindra AIT is only the second artil- M777A2 ULH at Firing Range Devlali in Nashik cepts for mountain warfare. The principal lery manufacturing facility in the Indian external military challenges to India’s secu- private sector. rity and territorial integrity are along its dis- Under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) regiment,” SP’s Land Forces has learnt from the M777 offsets commitments. puted mountainous frontiers. Government-to-Government contract reliable sources. The gun barrel is being supplied by the The Excalibur precision munition signed with the US in 2016, 25 ready-built Relocated from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, US Army’s Watervliet Arsenal facility in recently acquired for the Indian Army can guns are to be imported while 120 are to in the US, the AIT facility was set up in dis- New York. Under the Berry Amendment of also be combined with the M777, which is be assembled and partly manufactured in charge of offsets obligations in this deal the US Congress, the barrel of an American combat proven in Afghanistan. The Excali- India. The estimate of the long-term Indian worth over $200 Million. The Hattiesburg gun cannot be made outside of the US. bur reportedly extends the range of this requirement is 450 ultra light guns. facility was shut down after manufactur- The bAE-Mahindra AIT facility is also ultra light gun to about 40 km. “The first lot of 3 Indian-assembled guns ing about 1,100 howitzers in use by the meant to ensure that life cycle support The first M777 guns were inducted in were accepted last month as part of a batch forces of the US, Canada and Saudi Arabia. is available locally for the Indian Army the Indian Army along with L&T-Techwin’s of 6. This completes the delivery and induc- A reported 40 Indian companies have been M777s, thereby increasing operational K-9 Vajra self-propelled tracked artillery in tion of the first 18 guns in the first M777 brought into the BAE supply chain to meet availability of these weapons. “The facility November 2018. SP Biggest Make in India Programme for Indian Army Dropped

Photograph: SP Guide Pubns  Vishal Thapar Government for the development of a pro- totype - with an invitation to the same set he biggest Make in India pro- of companies to compete,” an official dis- gramme for the Indian Army to closed. produce 2,600 Futuristic Infan- Those running the programme felt try Combat Vehicles (FICVs) at an a proposal which involved the saving of estimated cost of `60,000 Crore `3,000 Crore to the Government could not T($8.5 billion) under the Make-1 procedure be overlooked and send the case back to the has been dropped. Ministry of Defence for reconsideration. “Development Agencies could not be But the Ministry refused to “migrate” shortlisted as the financial and technical cri- an ongoing programme to a different pro- teria were found to be subjective in the selec- curement process, nor restrict itself to the tion process,” Minister of State for Defence same set of bidders and has instead decided Shripad Naik stated in a written reply to a to consider the FICV programme de novo, question in the Lok Sabha on December 11. holding that the older process was no longer The mega procurement case, which is in valid. the works since 2009 to replace the Soviet This effectively means that the pro- vintage bMP-IIs, has been pushed back to curement has been pushed back to Square the Ministry of Defence for a de novo look Tata’s FICV mock up 1, where the case would have to be moved for re-initiation under a different procure- afresh under a different category, and ment category, SP’s Land Forces has learnt development of prototypes by the Ordnance & Toubro, Pipavav (later Reliance), Titagarh perhaps with revised Army Staff Quality from official sources. Factory Board (OFB) and two other private Wagons, Tata Motors, bharat Forge, Tata Requirements (ASQRs). While “subjective criteria” is the official companies shortlisted as Development Power SED and Mahindra. Tata Motors and The ASQRs drafted in 2015 while ini- version cited for the derailment, sources Agencies through a selection process. The Bharat Forge teamed up for a consortium bid. tiating the Make-1 programme sought a have revealed that it was an attempt by a development cost to the Government was “One of the companies in contention compact, tracked and amphibious FICV, not competing company to alter the terms of the estimated to be about `3,000 Crore. made an unsolicited offer to develop the pro- heavier than 18-to-20 tons to enable trans- competition which tripped the programme. While the OFB would be assured of an totype on its own cost. Following this, two port into combat zones. It also specified a The FICV procurement was approved by order, the other two Development Agencies other contenders too offered to do the same. requirement of firing anti-tank guided mis- the Ministry of Defence in 2015 under the were required to compete for a tender after These three companies sought a migration sile at a range of 4 km, and space for a crew Make-1 category, under which the Minis- the development of prototypes. of the competition to the Make-2 category of three and eight combat-kitted infantry

SP www.spslandforces.com try was to have funded 80 per cent of the The companies in the fray were larsen - in which no funding is required from the soldiers.

10 SP’s Land Forces 1/2020 >> SPECIAL REPORTS $930 Million Deal for 6 Apache Helicopter Gunships for Army Awaits CCS Approval

Photograph: IAF  Vishal Thapar

$930 Million deal for 6 AH- 64E Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army is awaiting approval of the Cabinet Commit- tee on Security (CCS). AThe acquisition is intended to be on the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route with the US. The Indian Army, which wrested for itself the attack helicopter role after a bit- terly-waged turf war with the Indian Air Force (IAF), had reportedly made a case for 39 Apache gunships for close air support to ground formations, particularly its strike corps. It will have an integral attack heli- copter capability parallel to that of the IAF. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the case for the first lot of 6 for the Army Aviation Corps in August 2017. The subsequent acquisition process File photo of an IAF AH-64E Apache attack helicopter included US Congressional approvals. The Congressional approval for this sale in June this year had indicated an upper price limit lot of 8 of these gunships were inducted provided for acquiring another 11 but the The induction of the attack helicopters of $930 million. into the IAF earlier this year and based at Government approved only 6 for the Army. will mark a significant scaling up of the The first lot of 6 Apaches for the Pathankot. Delivery of all 22 will be com- Both the IAF and the Army are also Army Aviation capability and inventory. So Army will be a follow-on order to the 22 pleted in 2020. awaiting contracts for the indigenous Light far, it has operated the Cheetah-Chetak fleet contracted for the IAF in 2015. The first The options clause in the 2015 contract Attack Helicopter (LAH) built by HAL. and the Advanced Light Helicopter. SP New Assault Rifles After 15 Years

PhotographS: Rosoboronexport, Sig Sauer  Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) was possibly delayed to enable procurement of the SIG assault rifles simultaneously, not EDIA REPORTS OF Decem- only keeping both the US and Russia happy, ber 14 indicate that soldiers but also MoD bureaucrats with imports deployed on the borders with being the lucrative option. It also avoided Pakistan and China have final- possible accusations of favoritism towards ly started receiving new assault the Adani Group, and gave a fillip to the Mrifles after a wait of almost 15 years. These OFB which has not been able to produce a happen to be ex import from US firm Sig single state-of-the-art small arm over past Sauer, which is a slap on the indigenous gov- 72 years, though established in 1802 and ernmental defence-industrial complex, par- presently having 1,64,000 employees. by ticularly the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), getting OFB involved in this venture, MoD who despite spending enormous amount of also could deflect from the rising concerns money in terms of crores of rupees over AK-203 for the need to downsize the governmental decades have not been able to produce a defence industrial complex (DRDO-OFB- single small arm for the Armed Forces which DPSUs), which are sucking hugely on tax- could truly be classified state-of-the-art. payers money with grossly poor outputs The Army has received the first con- despite MoD overseeing their functioning signment of 10,000 Sig Sauer assault and joint secretary level MoD bureaucrats rifles. A total of 72,400 of these rifles were appointed to all the boards of these entities. contracted in February 2019 at the cost of Most of the balance of the Army or rather 638 crore under the fast track procurement the military is to be equipped with the AK-203 (FTP) route. The delivery of balance rifles is assault rifle being produced in India with expected to be completed by February 2020. SiG 716 Assault Rifle Russian collaboration. Ordnance Factory at Of these 72,400 rifles, Army is to get 66,400, Korwa in Uttar Pradesh is to manufacture Air Force share is 4,000 while Navy will get 7,45,000 AK-203 rifles, with effective range 2,000. These 7.62x51mm caliber Sig Sauer ary 2018. Out of the 72,400 x 7.62x51mm to establish a joint venture in India. It may of 300 meter, in collaboration with Russia; a rifles with an effective range of 500 metre SIG716 assault rifles, Indian Army would be recalled that in September 2018, media joint venture that may be worth over `12,000 have been imported to meet the immediate receive 66,400, while Indian Air Force and reported India rejected the “Russian” pro- crore. The Army is to get over seven lakh of operational requirement. These rifles incor- Indian Navy would get 4,000 and 2,000 of posal to produce AK series of rifles in India these AK-203 rifles, Air Force 29,000 and the porating modern technology are compact these rifles respectively. The Armed Forces in joint venture with the Adani Group. By Navy 13,600. The final contract with Rus- and easy to maintain in field conditions. The require 8.1 lakh assault rifles for the three then the government was already under sia is likely to be signed in early 2020. Army 7.62x51mm SIG716 rifles are an advanced services, out of which Army alone needs 7.6 severe pressure due to the Rafale contro- Chief General Bipin Rawat had earlier stated assault rifle platform with a 16 inch barrel, lakh rifles to replace the INSAS rifles. versy. When Kalashnikov actually made the that The entire Army cannot be equipped M-LOKTM handguards and a six position According to Alexey Krivoruchko, Chief offer to Adani Group was kept under wraps with state-of-the-art assault rifles because of stock. The SIG716 is currently available Executive Kalashnikov Concern (formerly but had it been accepted, the need for go for budgetary constraints. Since supply of seven in patrol and DMR configurations. India is Izhmash), the firm had been interested in the SIG716 assault rifles would probably lakh plus AK-203 will take some time, per- procuring the patrol rifle configuration in producing AK series of rifles in India since not have risen. but MoD told Russia that haps Army could review the decision unless it line with the request for information (RFI) 2008 and had been having earnest discus- Kalashnikov would have to tie up with a wants to continue with the 5.56 INSAS with that the Indian Army had issued in Febru- sions with Indian companies from 2015 government entity i.e. OFB. The rejection bit a variety of faults. SP

1/2020 SP’s Land Forces 11 >> Marketing feature KORNET-EM NEW CAPABILITIES OF ANTITANK GUIDED WEAPONS

Development and manufacture of antitank guid- “expendable” part – a missile with a seeker causing The main part of ALU is its sighting and guid- ed weapons have been carried out for half a century significant financial expenditure to equip equal army ance module (SGM) with televiewer and thermal all over the world. Within this period these guided units. imager channels (TV/IIR sight), four missile launch- missile systems have turned out to be in the demand With a financial factor in mind and to solve the ing guides and independent elevation and azimuth and most popular type of high precision weapons due above tasks, JSC “KBP named after Academician A. Shi- drives. SGM is fixed on a special frame which togeth- to combination of such advances as simple operation, punov” has created the Kornet-EM multi-purpose mis- er with a sliding roof is installed in the opening on reliability, pin-point guidance and affordability. High sile system which realizes stat-of-the-art capabilities the carrier roof. The frame has a lifting mechanism popularity of antitank guided weapons is easily ex- using breakthrough engineering solutions which al- provided to put SGM up for firing and to return it plained by its capability to cause damage to the en- lowed to obtain advanced ATGW with quite a number back for travelling. This frame also houses various emy that shall be crucially higher than friendly force of new attractive features (Figure 2). electronic components which control SGM and ALU expenditures. In fact one-two antitank guided mis- operation in general. siles shall be enough to kill the enemy tank, missiles Main Technical and Performance Data On the move ALU has its travelling configu- prices being by ten or even hundred times lower than Firing range by day and night, m ration with SGM located horizontally inside the ve- that of MBT. - 9М133М-2 ATGM 150-8000 hicle and thus being invisible from outside. To fire, Initially antitank guided missile systems were - 9М133FМ-3 GM 150-10000 SGM shall be raised outside with the help of the lift- developed to fight tanks. However modern battlefield - 9М133-1 ATGM, 9М133F-1 GM 100-5500 ing mechanism, put vertically and fixed to provide a scenario has greatly changed - large-scale hostilities Guidance automatic, remote control firing position. between tank armadas have given way to scattered in direct laser beam Two ALU carried by the vehicle are indepen- fights in local conflicts. And on this new battlefield (beam rider technology) dent in operation and yet do not require one more ATGW have appeared to be attractively effective not Jam-proof capability high operator. It offers the following advantages: only one only against MBT but also against other small-size Ammunition load, pc 16 operator is required to control both ALU; the weap- targets including lightly armored and soft vehicles, including ready-to-fire missiles 8 on system can simultaneously engage two targets cars, fortifications, manpower, enemy infrastructure, Firing modes 1 missile from 1 launcher with different azimuth, range and elevation; 2-fold fire points and snipers. against 1 target increase in the rate of fire and target engagement The Kornet-E weapon system developed by JSC 2 missiles from 1 launcher rate; capability to deliver fire to the one target and “KBP named after Academician A. Shipunov” in the against 1 target to search for another one simultaneously. early XXI century remains to be one of the mostly 2-4 missiles from 2 launchers The ALU control is to be provided by the Op- demanded antitank missile systems in the world mil- against 2 targets erator from the Operator’s station inside the carrier, itary market. Due to availability of a shaped-charge Possibility to fire Kornet-E ATGM yes and it comprises a control console and LCD monitor. warhead primarily designed to engage heavy armor Using this monitor the Operator observes the out- contributed by a thermobaric high explosive warhead Advancement of science and technology at the side situation, searches for targets and provides tar- of blast effect Kornet-E ATGW has become an effec- beginning of the XXI century gave birth to innovative get tracking. The operator can select a surveillance tive defense and attack weapon capable to destroy a technologies and new materials and thus allowed to mode – using TV or IIR channel and either in a wide wide range of targets on the modern battlefield. realize “fire and forget” or “fire, see and adjust” princi- or in a narrow field of view. He shall use console Open media read that the Kornet-E system, in- ples without using a seeker onboard the missile due to controls to produce the following commands: to put cluding self-propelled home-made versions, is being alternative solution to have a target auto-tracker add- ALU up into a firing position and to return it back in- used intensively and effectively in the current local ed to the ground-based equipment installed on board side, to start ALU laying vertically and horizontally; warfare in the Middle East against all and any military the vehicle. This approach allowed transfer seeker for the TV/IIR sight control and target tracking; for armaments, equipment and manpower (Figure 1). functions from an “expendable” part of the weapon selected target tracking (in an automatic mode as However the current development trends put system into its “constant” multiple-use part. well), missile selection, missile launch and guidance. forward new tasks to be provided by this type of the Machine vision plus the target auto-tracker in- The main smart component of the ALU equip- weapon, including: extended effective firing ranges; creases target tracking accuracy by 5 times compared ment is an information-management system which improved mobility; guidance automation to reduce to the previous ATGW generation and thus provides for integrates the Operator’s console with SGM to pro- operator’s influence on the engagement success; “fire high fire accuracy at ranges up to 10 km. vide a single system, delivers Operator’s commands and forget” or “fire, see and adjust” features; capability Availability of an automatic target engagement to ALU actuating components and registers/controls to fight various aerial targets. mode shall reduce the Operator’s psychophysical prob- ALU parts operational resource. Oversea designers prefer to meet these require- lems, simplify requirements to his skills and thus shall In the combat process the Operator shall de- ments by mounting different guided weapon modules cut the time required for training. tect a target on the monitor display, aim SGM at this on lightly armored carriers. Herewith they mainly use The crucial part of the new weapon system is its target so as to put a target image inside a target missiles equipped with IR or TV seekers. automated launching unit (ALU) designed on the prin- auto-tracker gate, produce a target acquisition com- This approach has advantages and drawbacks, ciple of modular approach which have been always mand to the target auto-tracker, select a missile type and the most serious trouble is high price of the traditional for the Kornet family (Figure 3). to be fired, and launch a missile when the auto-track-

www.spslandforces.com Figure 1 Firing Kornet-E ATGW from a vehicular platform Figure 2 Kornet-EM on Tiger-M Vehicle

12 SP’s Land Forces 1/2020 >> Marketing feature

Figure 3 Automated launching unit (ALU) 1 – sliding roof; 2 – TV/IIR sight; 3 – missile guides; 4 – SGM; Figure 5 Kornet-EM tripod version 5 – frame with lifting mechanism; 6 – electronic components; 7 – monitor; 8 – operator’s console

Figure 4 9М133М-2 ATGM Figure 6 9М133FМ-3 guided missile er is ready. When these steps are done the Operator’s fuse, i.e. one and the same missile can be used as is easier to use and to provide services to, has 2-3 job is finished: SGM shall be tracking a target and against ground-based targets (proximity fuse is times less price for its guided missiles being an ex- guide a missile to the target automatically by target switched off – explosion shall be on impact) so as pendable part of the weapon system and thus a cru- auto-tracker commands. But if the Operator detects against aerial targets (proximity fuse is switched on cial factor which determines weapon system service a more vital target he can stop automatic guidance – explosion shall be near the target). costs when it is in the army. and send the missile to a new target. Thus the Kor- The missile with a proximity fuse and a flight Moreover Kornet-EM is available as a tripod net-EM system offers “fire and forget” and “fire, see range of up to 10 km contributed by machine vi- version with the 9P163М-2 launching unit. In this and adjust” principles realization. sion, high guidance accuracy and target auto-tracker configuration Kornet-EM enjoys all the advantages New missiles have been developed to be used available with ALU makes Kornet-EM obtain the in- of the Kornet-E system with the latter high capabil- with this weapon system: the 9М133М-2 antitank novative feature – capability to engage low velocity ities that have been proved in the recent local con- guided missile with a flight range up to 8 km and the aerial targets (helicopters, UAV). flicts (Figure 5). 9М133FМ-3 guided missile with a flight range up New capabilities of the Kornet-EM weapon sys- The design of the Kornet-EM launching unit is to 10 km. Moreover this weapon system has a “long tem are well combined with the attractive features practically identical to the one used with Kornet-E arm” advantage, i.e. capability to effectively fight the borrowed from its predecessor – Kornet-E ATGW ATGW. Main upgrade efforts were undertaken to- enemy remaining safe beyond the enemy return fire. based on the Kvartet Launching Unit – among them wards modernization of the sighting and guidance In general the 9М133М-2 antitank guided mis- possibility of a salvo fire, i.e. engagement of a single unit (SGU) and the latter was developed to have a sile (ATGM) has borrowed the design solutions from target by two missiles riding in one and the same new sighting channel with adjustable magnification its predecessor used with the Kornet-E system. But laser beam. This firing mode is very helpful to fight (12х and 20х) and thus to provide more convenient it outperforms the latter in range being extended hard armor and the targets provided with an active operation for the User at long target ranges. To en- from 5500 m to 8000 m due to aeroballistics opti- protection system. Two missiles shall be launched sure high guidance accuracy at 10 km range, the la- mization, and also has a modernized shaped-charge from the same launching unit with a short time in- ser guidance channel has been also modernized. warhead which provides 10% increase in armor pen- terval (less than 2 s), one missile shall initiate ERA Moreover, a new thermal sight – 1PN79M-3 etration up to 1100 – 1300 mm. With this enhanced and the second missile shall hit the target. – was designed to be of the third generation and missile the Kornet-EM weapon system has obtained By now Kornet-EM ATGW has been proved in configured for a closed-loop operation without cool- capability to engage all modern MBT enjoining pos- all required tests and is being serially manufactured ing bottles as those used with the earlier Kornet-E sibility of high potential growth to counter future and installed on the Tiger-M vehicle against the con- thermal sight. tanks with increased armor protection (Figure 4). tract with the overseas Customer. Yet the ALU mod- High design similarity between the Kornet-EM The 9М133FМ-3 guided missile turns out to ular design allows integrate the Kornet-EM system and Kornet-E launching units provides for minimized be radically new in the class of missiles used with with practically any vehicle, of foreign manufacture Customer’s costs of old system replacement by the ATGW (Figure 6). It has an extended flight range up as well, provided the carrier load capacity and inside upgraded one – practically there is no need to pro- to 10 km, thermobaric WH of blast effect and it is volume are enough to do it. In case a carrier load vide fresh training for users and technicians. equipped with a proximity fuse. The 9М133FМ-3 capacity is 1.0-2.0 tons single ALU shall be installed, Pioneering technical solutions together with guided missile has been designed to engage var- if a load capacity is 1.7-1.9 tons it shall be possible high guidance accuracy, formidable warheads, op- ious lightly armored and soft targets such as cars, to install two ALU. eration reliability and simplicity shall ensure high buildings, bunkers, manpower, fortifications, infan- The comparative analysis of the mobile Kor- market demand worldwide as for the self-propelled try fighting vehicles and armored personnel carri- net-EM version and its foreign equivalents shows version so as for the tripod variant of Kornet-EM ers as well as small size low level air targets like that in traditional missions Kornet-EM outperforms ATGW for the next 10-15 years. helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and the weapon systems, which use ATGW with a seeker others. In accordance with the selected target the to provide homing, by 3-5 times estimated on the The advertorial is based on the article of Operator can switch off or switch on the proximity basis of cumulative factors, and yet the Kornet-EM N.I. Khokhlov, O. Y. Yastrebov, M.I. Andreev, N.V. Solovyev

1/2020 SP’s Land Forces 13 >> TECHNOLOGY The Future of Warfare From disruptive capability to increased survivability, the Indian Army seeks new technologies for a military edge

Photograph: Boeing  Vishal Thapar relatively homogenous individual systems which can operate in a coordinated swarm midst a general view that it for a common objective without any cen- may have missed the bus on the tralised guidance and control. Revolution in Military Affairs The activity of the ‘swarm’ is charac- (RMA), the Indian Army has terised by self-organising group behaviour listed some of its modernisation based on simple rules. Interaction between prioritiesA to India’s evolving Defence Indus- the systems or agents comprising the swarm trial eco system in terms of key capabilities is through exchange of information either it needs to face future challenges. There is directly or via the environment. a realisation that superior technology will win future wars, and capability delivered COUNTER-REMOTELY PILOTED by a balanced Defence ecosystem will deter- AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (CRPAS) mine India’s military options. An asymmetric and indeed disruptive threat is posed by the rapid proliferation of small, LIQUID ARMOUR slow and low-flying Remotely Piloted Air- Ceramic-based armour plates used in con- craft (RPAs) which provide even poorly temporary body armour are heavy and equipped combatants with aerial command bulky, restricting troop movement and caus- of the battle space. ing fatigue. Liquid Armour - or Smart Fluids, There are lessons from Syria and Iraq, when integrated with standard Kevlar body where about half-a-dozen militias used armour, reduces overall thickness by almost RPAs to lethal effect, confounding battle 50 per cent, offering troops increased pro- hardened commanders. More recently, tection with reduced mass, wider coverage RPAs were used to deadly effect in Saudi area and greater ease of movement. Arabia to cripple a major crude refinery. Liquid Armour with unique proper- Traditional air defence systems which ties of shear thickening or dilatant fluids are geared to detecting fast moving manned that ‘lock’ together when subjected to bal- Counter-electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile Project aircraft or missiles are found to be ineffec- listic force, enhances energy absorbing tive against RPAs. That’s the critical void capacity of materials like Kevlar. When try combat loads up to 40 per cent and LONG RANGE MUNITION TECHNOLOGY for the CPRAS to fill. CRPAS can be hand- integrated with Kevlar-like materials, the increasing lethality. Unlike traditional brass The Extended Range Guided Munitions held, ground based and even mounted on Liquid Armour restricts the motion of the casing, the new technology places a bullet (ERGM) involves artillery rockets with inde- UAVs. The last category is meant to inter- fabric yarn in relation to each other, result- inside a light weight polymer casing and pendent motor propulsion for greater range, dict unmanned threats from the air from ing in an increase in the area over which the fully encloses it in plastic. Also, the length speed and accuracy. Guidance can be based close proximity. impact energy is dispersed. Consequently, of the polymer encased round is 30 per cent on the Global Positioning System (GPS) or For CRPAS detection systems to be use- this is far less likely to distort than conven- shorter than the brass-encased bullet. the Intertial Navigation System (INS) or ful, these must trace all RPAs but not be so tional body armour, which generally bends But this new age ammunition is not use- could also use Radio Frequency (RF)-based sensitive that they confuse even birds for a inwards when a bullet strikes, which pre- able in weapons that use brass shell casings. sensors to home in on the targets. target. An overwhelming number of false vents fatality but causes great pain. Prototype rifles and machine guns have Due to high costs of ERGMS, a desirable positives can render the system unusable. The Smart Fluids used as Liquid Armour been developed by the American company ammunition mix can involve dumb bombs In future scenarios where legitimate – Shear Thickening Fluids and Magnetorhe- Textron to showcase the new technology. fitted with a Course Correction Fuze. This UAV use is common and widespread, CRPAS ological Fluids – are non-Newtonian. Publicly available accounts of the test- adaptation can provide accuracies better detection systems would be required to dif- ing of these prototypes at the Kvarn land than 50m using GPS or INS, representing ferentiate between legit drones and poten- STEALTH CAMOUFLAGE Warfare Centre in Sweden suggest a 20 a big leap over accuracy expectations from tial threats. The Defence Advanced Research Projects per cent tighter shot grouping and 30 per dumb bombs. Agency (DARPA) has been working on cent less ammunition to accomplish fire DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS visual deception for long. It is reported to missions compared to the existing Swedish LONG ENDURANCE NEAR-SPACE RPAs Among the non-contact weapons which have made a breakthrough with ‘Invisibility light machine gun. The prototypes were Long Endurance Near Space RPAs which will define the future of warfare, Directed Suits’. China and some other countries, too, also rated higher in burst control fire, recoil can fly long-duration sorties at heights Energy Weapons (DEWs) for non-kinetic are working on stealth camouflage. reduction, trigger operation and ease of of above 65,000 feet have been termed destruction of targets will have a key place. Active or adaptive camouflage pro- maintenance. ‘Quasi Satellites’. Meant to fly in the DEWs comprising high power lasers, high vides concealment from visual detection ‘Death Zone’ which is too high for fuel power microwaves, charged particle beams by adapting to the surroundings in order EXTREME ACCURACY TASKED powered manned jets and too low for sat- look set to be used to destroy a wide spec- to achieve near invisibility for the person- ORDINANCE ellites, these are intended to be low-cost trum of targets spanning the tactical, oper- nel or objects to be concealed. This optical The US Defence Advanced Research Proj- alternatives to satellites. ational and strategic domains. technology works by placing a thin screen ects Agency (DARPA) has developed self- Prototypes are being developed by These weapons will generate electro- between the observer and the concealed guiding maneuverable sniper bullets with Google Titan Aerospace Solara (US), Zephyr magnetic energy that can be precisely objects. Research in this field has reportedly real time guidance that can change course (UK) and CH-T4 (China). It is meant to be directed over long distances to disable or been validated in concealment of tanks, air- in flight while tracking a moving or acceler- powered by electric engines in combination destroy targets. These will enable lethal craft and ships. ating target. This promises to revolutionise with solar panels. With envisaged improve- direction of force at the speed of light. Tactical adaptive camouflage suits have rifle accuracy and range with the objec- ment in technology of solar panels, light Unconstrained by gravity or atmospheric reportedly been in use by US special forces. tive of improving sniper effectiveness. The weight materials and increased battery drag, directed beams will be an extremely Current capability is reported to hide objects Indian Army is looking at acquiring this capacity, the endurance of the RPAs is likely accurate weapon. from microwaves or infrared waves. Cloak- capability. Accuracy is vital for sniper firing to increase from weeks into months and DEWs are expected to redefine futuristic ing devices or Invisibility Suits are capabili- because if a target is missed, the sniper risks even years. The coverage swathe for these Air Defence Systems to protect Vulnerable ties of the future. giving away his position, thus endangering Near Space RPAs would be about 7,00,000 Areas & Vulnerable Points, with the use his own life and that of his fellow troops. sq km, which for the reader’s reference is of static and mobile laser or high-power CASED TELESCOPE AMMUNITION The new ‘Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordi- more than the size of Myanmar. microwave weapons to intercept missiles The ideal load an individual soldier should nance’ (EXACTO) appear to function in a simi- These could be used as a communica- and hostile aircraft. carry is one-third of his body weight. On lar manner to laser-guided bombs. A real time tions hub and an instrument to keep per- These transformational weapons also a mean case basis, it should not exceed guidance system for .50 calibre manoeuvre- sistent surveillance over high stakes areas have an application in sub-conventional 25 kg. The actual battle load lugged by an able bullets allows the bullet to change course like the Line of Control. Other likely uses are warfare and counter-terrorist operations. Indian soldier today is about 35 kg, includ- during flight as a corrective to any factor that as an Electronic Warfare platform and real The world’s leading military power is ing that of the personal weapon and Bullet may lead to missing the target. time monitoring of disasters. known to have used High Power Micro- Proof Jacket. EXACTO bullets are fitted with optical wave to neutralise or disable communi- The Indian Army believes that current sensors positioned on the nose, which can SWARM INTELLIGENCE cations and electronic systems and IEDs small arms technologies have plateaued, guide mid-course correction for the projec- With drone swarming set to define the used by terrorists. The kill mechanism is and no game changing technologies have tile in flight through a series of external fins. future of warfare, the Indian Army is seek- Microwave energy rather than explosion been introduced over the past 50 years. These are intended to “greatly extend the ing Swarm Intelligence capability to over- as with conventional weapons. The foot- But a new small arms concept based day and night time range over current state- whelm an enemy. print of Microwave munitions is said to be on Cased Telescope Ammunition is set to of-the-art sniper systems” and dramatically While the concept is in its nascent stage, at least 100 times greater than conven-

SP www.spslandforces.com provide a breakthrough in reducing Infan- reduce misses. the basic principles are woven around tional weapons.

14 SP’s Land Forces 1/2020 >> News in Brief

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh flags engines to be re-exported to Pakistan and TAI H-drive, three steering axles, HITFIST tur- off 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from L&T is now looking to Tusas Engine Industries, its ret with 25 mm cannon and advanced Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Armoured System Complex in Gujarat sister company, to develop a new, indigenous Command, Control and Communications Jayant Baranwal Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh flagged off engine to replace the T800. systems by leonardo, the “Freccia” VBM Deputy Managing Editor 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from Larsen & Tou- assures crews excellent mobility, protec- Neetu Dhulia bro (L&T) Armoured System Complex at Quick Reaction Surface to Air tion and firepower. The contract marks the Senior Editorial Contributor Hazira in Gujarat on January 16, 2020. Missile (QRSAM) Successfully resumption of the supply of 381 vehicles to Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) This was the 51st one delivered out of the flight-tested the Italian Army. Senior Technical Group Editor total of 100. Addressing a gathering on the Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) occasion, Raksha Mantri called for active BAE Systems $2.68 billion contract Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) participation of the private sector in defence for APKWS laser guided bombs Group Executive Editor manufacturing, reaffirming the Govern- Vishal Thapar ment’s commitment to make India an Staff Correspondent arms manufacturing hub and net defence Ayushee Chaudhary exporter. While Rajnath Singh acknowl- Contributors edged the increasing participation of the India private industry in defence production, he General V.P. Malik (Retd), Lt General Vijay stressed that a lot still needs to be done to Oberoi (Retd), Lt General R.S. Nagra (Retd), Lt General S.R.R. Aiyengar (Retd), make India a global defence manufacturing QRSAM system developed by Defence Major General Ashok Mehta (Retd), hub. Rajnath Singh also listed out various Research and Development Organisation Major General G.K. Nischol (Retd), far reaching reforms introduced by the Gov- (DRDO) was successfully flight-tested from Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd), ernment under the ‘Make in India’ initiative Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the Brigadier S. Mishra (Retd), Rohit Sharma to achieve $26 billion defence industry by Odisha coast on December 23, 2019. The BAE Systems announced that the US Navy Chairman & Managing Director 2025 and provide employment to 2-3 mil- missile was flight-tested with full configu- has signed a $2.68 billion indefinite deliv- Jayant Baranwal lion people. “We wish to create an ecosys- ration in deployment mode intercepting ery/indefinite quantity contract for the pur- Executive Vice President tem that provides a platform to both public the target mid-air, meeting the mission chase of thousands of additional APKWS (Planning & Business Development) sector and private sector to work together objectives. The entire event was moni- Laser-Guided Rockets which are combat- Rohit Goel and contribute to nation building through tored by Ground Telemetry Systems, Range proven and low-cost precision muni- Manager – HR & Admin their strengths and experiences,” he added. Radar Systems, Electro Optical Tracking tion. APKWS rockets fill the gap between Bharti Sharma System etc. The QRSAM weapon system, unguided rockets and large precision muni- Assistant Manager – HR & Admin India and Finland ink MoU to which operates on the move, comprises tions, and are the US government’s only Pooja Tehlani enhance bilateral defence of fully automated Command and Control programme of record for 2.75” laser-guided Deputy Manager – Circulation cooperation System, Active Array Battery Surveillance rockets. APKWS guidance kits are compat- Rimpy Nischal Radar, Active Array battery Multifunc- ible with new inventories of rocket motors, Group Research Associate tion Radar and Launcher. Both radars are warheads, and launchers, and easily trans- Survi Massey four-walled having 360-degree coverage form unguided rockets into precision muni- Creative Director with search on move and track on move tions with little training. The APKWS laser- Anoop Kamath capability. The missile is single stage solid guided rocket is used by the Navy, Marine Design propelled missile has midcourse inertial Corps, Air Force, and Army of the US. It is Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Singh Bisht navigation system with two-way data link also available to allied nations via FMS. Group Director – Sales & Marketing and terminal active seeker developed indig- Neetu Dhulia enously by DRDO. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Pentagon (DARPA) contract for Deputy Director – Sales Singh and other senior officers congratu- Lockheed Martin Rajeev Chugh lated the teams involved in the flight trials Lockheed Martin Corp., Missiles and SP’s Website Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and Per- and development of QRSAM. Fire Control, Texas, has been awarded a Sr. Web Developer: Shailendra P. Ashish manent Secretary, Ministry of Defence of $31,938,845 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract Web Developer: Ugrashen Vishwakarma Finland Jukka Juusti have signed a Memo- The CIO consortium signs contract to support the Operational Fires Integrated Published bimonthly by Jayant Baranwal randum of Understanding (MoU) to further for 30 “Freccia” 8x8 Medium Weapon System Phase 3 programme, which on behalf of SP Guide Publications Pvt defence cooperation between India and Armoured Vehicles will enable capabilities for a mobile, ground- Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this Finland on January 16, 2020. The MoU on launched tactical weapon delivery system publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form co-operation in the field of Production, Pro- capable of carrying a variety of payloads to or by any means, photocopying, recording, curement, Research and Development of a variety of ranges. Work is estimated to be electronic, or otherwise without the prior Defence related Equipment and Industrial completed by January 2021. written permission of the publishers. cooperation has been inked on the sidelines Printed in India of Raisina Dialogue 2020. Under the broad Boeing gets a FMS contract for by Kala Jyothi Process Pvt Ltd ambit of the MoU, cooperation between Apache AH-64E © SP Guide Publications, 2020 Finnish companies and Indian Defence Pub- Boeing won a $564.5 million FMS to the Subscription/ Circulation lic Sector Undertakings could be explored. Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and the Annual Inland: `600 • Overseas: US$180 UK for the remanufacture of Apache AH- Email: [email protected] Pakistan extends deadline for The contract for the purchase of 30 “Frec- 64E aircraft. AH-64 Apache is used by the US [email protected] delivery of T129 ATAK Helicopters cia” 8x8 Medium Armoured Vehicles (5 in Army and a growing number of international Letters to Editor Pakistan has agreed to extend the deadline for Combat version and 25 in Anti-tank ver- defence forces. In July, the US Army revealed [email protected] the delivery of 30 T-129 ATAK attack helicop- sion) with ten years integrated logistics its plans of granting the company a multi- For Advertising Details, Contact: ters by one year, to allow Turkish Aerospace support was signed Italy’s General Secre- year contract to remanufacture up to 600 [email protected] Industries (TAI) to work around a US veto tariat of Defence and National Armaments Apache AH-64E helicopters, although no [email protected] on the re-export of their turboshaft engines. Directorate. The “Freccia” VBM is an 8x8 value was disclosed with the news. Boeing’s SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD TAI in 2018 signed a $1.5 billion contract Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) AH-64 Apache has widely been accepted by Corporate Office A 133 Arjun Nagar, Opp Defence Colony, to provide an initial batch of 30 T129 ATAK of proven reliability in its various versions several militaries across the world. This com- New Delhi 110003, India attack helicopters to Pakistan, assuming the (Combat, Anti-tank, Mortar Carrier and pany secured major orders for this product Tel: +91(11) 24644693, 24644763, US government would allow the re-export of Command Post). Due to a hull designed to from the Netherlands, the UAE and the UK, 24620130 their US-made lHTEC T800-4A turboshaft provide maximum protection, a powerful earlier this year. Work is estimated to be com- Fax: +91 (11) 24647093 Email: [email protected] engines. However, the US is not allowing these Iveco engine coupled with the traditional pleted by March 1, 2025. SP Representative Offices Bengaluru, INDIA Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) >> Show Calendar APPOINtMENTs 204, Jal Vayu Vihar, Kalyan Nagar, Bengaluru 560043, India. 4–5 February Lt General Satinder Kumar Saini Tel: +91 (80) 23682204 Asia Defence Expo & Conference Series Assumes Appointment of VCOAS MOSCOW, RUSSIA (ADECS) Before assuming the appointment of Vice Chief of the Army Staff, the Gen- Marina Bay Sands, Singapore LAGUK Co., Ltd, Yuri Laskin eral Officer was heading the Southern Command of the Indian Army. Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., www.asia-decs.com/about-adecs 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia. Lt General Satinder Kumar Saini is an alumnus of the National Defence Tel: +7 (495) 911 2762, 5–8 February Academy and the Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned into the Fax: +7 (495) 912 1260 DefExpo 2020 7th Battalion, The JAT Regiment in June 1981. He brings with him an enormous amount www.spguidepublications.com Vrindavan Yojna, Sector 15, Lucknow, of experience in serving in the most challenging areas. In his last appointment as GOC-in- www.spslandforces.com Uttar Pradesh, India C, Southern Command, he steered transformation of the Operational Philosophy of the RNI Number: DELENG/2008/25818 https://defexpo.gov.in Southern Army to overwhelm the emerging threats and validation of many new concepts during training exercises. 20–23 April Defence Services Asia Exhibition and The General Officer is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff Course at the Staff Conference (DSA 2020) College, Camberley in UK and has studied at the Royal College of Military Science, Shriven- MITEC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ham, UK. He is also a graduate of the Higher Command Course and the National Defence www.dsaexhibition.com College, Bangladesh.

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