Transformation of India's Fleet Air
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February-March 2019 Volume 14 No. 1 `100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only) AERO INDIA 2019 SPECIAL MEET US AT HALL E, STALL NO: E1.5 www.spsnavalforces.com ROUNDUP THE ONLY NAVAL MAGAZINE FOR NAVIES ACROSS ASIA-PACIFIC PAGE 5 Significant Developments LEAD STORY in Naval Technologies on Surface Ships PHOTOGRAPH: Lockheed Martin Stealth technology construction techniques result in a ship that is harder to detect by one or more of radar, visual, sonar, and infrared methods. These techniques borrow ROMEO AHOY: A fast track $2 billion from stealth aircraft technology. India-US FMS deal for 24 MH-60R Commodore Samir Advani (Retd) ASW choppers is on the horizon PAGE 6 Interview SeaGuardian Robert Schoeffling, GA-ASI International Strategic Development PAGE 7 Blue Water UAS’ Navy can use all type of UAS’ like mini, micro, small, vertical take off and land- ing (VTUAS’), medium altitude endurance (MALE), high altitude endurance (HALE) and UCAS. They can be employed in dangerous, challenging and sensitive environment. Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) PAGE 9 Exercise Sea Vigil – A Multi-Tiered Patrol and Surveillance Mechanism The scale of the exercise was unprec- edented in terms of the geographical extent, the number of stakeholders involved, the number of units participating and in terms of the objectives to be met. Rear Admiral Sushil Ramsay (Retd) PAGE 10 India Kicks Off $3 billion Programme for Acquiring 111 Naval Utility Helicopters This is the first project under the ambitious Strategic Partnership Model. Vishal Thapar PAGE 10 Generational India Flags Off $5.6 billion Programme to Build 6 Submarines Under SP Model Mazagon Docks, L&T believed to be front- Transformation of runners in competition. Vishal Thapar PlUS INS Kohassa – Forward India’s Fleet Air Arm Operating Air Base 8 News in Brief 11 Acquisition of P-8I, LRMR&ASW aircraft has substantially augmented the long range and long endurance capability to remain on task for surveillance and reconnaissance missions 1/2019 1 Commercial Aircraft Components Commercial Aircraft Components Commercial Aircraft Components Embraer E170/E190- Flap track fairing and Fillet Fairing Airbus A380, A330ceo/neo Wing Root Embraer E170/E190- Flap track fairing and FairingFillet Fairing Airbus A380, A330ceo/neo Wing Root Fairing Embraer E170/E190- Flap track fairing and Fillet Fairing Airbus A380, A330ceo/neo Wing Root Fairing Boeing 777Main Wing Spar Boeing 777 Wing-to-body Fairing Boeing 777Main Wing Spar Boeing 777 Wing-to-body Fairing Boeing 777Main Wing Spar Gulfstream G550(GV - SP) Flaps and other parts Boeing 777 Wing-to-body Fairing Gulfstream G550(GV-SP) Flaps and other parts ShinMaywa Industries India Private Limited Flat No.1010,1011 and 1012, 10th Floor, Narain Manzil, 23 Barakahmba Road New Delhi -110001 URLhtt://www.shinmaywa.co.jpShinMaywa Industries EmailIndia mail@shinmaywa Private Limited-india.co.in Flat No.1010,1011 and 1012, 10th Floor, Narain Manzil, 23 Barakahmba Road New Delhi-110001 Gulfstream G550(GV-SP) Flaps and other parts URLhtt://[email protected] Email [email protected] ShinMaywa Industries India Private Limited Flat No.1010,1011 and 1012, 10th Floor, Narain Manzil, 23 Barakahmba Road Shinmaywa Advertisement Feb 2019.indd 22 New Delhi-110001 12/02/19 5:40 PM URLhtt://www.shinmaywa.co.jp Email [email protected] LEAD STORY This issue coincides with the hensive modernisation plans for there is a marginal increase in be employed in dull, dirty and Aero India Show 2019 being its Fleet Air Arm through a two- Aircrafts and Aeroengines to dangerous missions. An article held at Bengaluru from Febru- pronged approach. Firstly imple- the tune of `500 crores and for on India’s quest for naval UAS’ ary 20-24. The show is one of menting mid-life upgrades and Naval Fleet there is an increase including armed one like the the largest in Asia and mainly the upgrade of existing aerial of `869 crores- the key ele- General Atomics Aeronautical displays military aircraft, heli- platforms and secondly through ments of the Navy. Media had Systems’ Guardian although its copters and unmanned aerial the acquisition of state-of-the- reported that with the 2019 bud- details are not known. The Navy systems. India’s prowess in art aerial platforms. The author get, the Government is unable also lacks in rotary ship based air power and development of reviews all the aerial platforms to pay for committed liabilities UAS’ but there seems to be no aerial platforms is also on dis- held and what the future holds which implies that the past capi- progress. This issue just about play. In all, a total of 57 aerial for them. In technology devel- tal allocations have not kept up wraps up with highlighting some platforms will be on dynamic or opment, India is well on its way with the fiscal requirements thus key acquisitions of 2019 and the static display. Navy is the only to design and launch its home this problem has arisen which usual news digest. Happy read- branch of military which employs grown aircraft carrier but is still requires a very careful review. ing and hope to see you dis- EDITORIAL subsurface, surface and aerial aeons away in developing its During the election year all cerning readers at Hall E, Stall platforms. own carrier based fighter. governments also splurge in Number 1.5. The fleet air arm is a key The article on surface populists schemes. Unmanned component of the Navy’s com- ship naval technologies cov- Aerial Systems (UAS’) are very bat power. Thus the lead article ers stealth, littoral combat ship versatile and can be used in a is on the current and future sta- design, sensors and armament. variety of roles to continuously tus of the Indian Navy’s Fleet Stealth technology construction carrying out of reconnaissance Air Arm. The author argues con- techniques include prevention and surveillance, and acquiring vincingly that a well-balanced or partial prevention of detection of domain intelligence. It can and credible naval air arm plays by one or more of radar, visual, also carry out limited domina- a significant role in building a sonar, and infrared methods. tion with the use of armed UAS’. true-blue water capability and These techniques are a spin of UAS’ can be employed in all strategic reach, thus the Indian technologies use for aerial plat- weather conditions by day and Navy’s Maritime Doctrine has forms. India’s annual Budget is night without endangering any JAYANT BARANWAL rightly incorporated compre- once again here and as usual naval personal. They can thus Publisher & Editor-in-Chief PHOTOGRAPH: Cochin Shipyard n REAR ADMIRAL SUSHIL RAMSAY (RETD) bished INS Vikramaditya. Accordingly, MiG-29K fighter aircraft was selected for ECOGNISING THE IMPERATIVES the two carriers. The induction of MiG-29K, OF a well-balanced and cred- multi-role fighter aircraft with air combat, ible naval air arm’s significant ground attack and maritime strike capa- role in building a true-blue bilities has proved to be a potent combat- water capability and strategic ant for the Carrier Battle Group (CBG). The Rreach, the Indian Navy’s Maritime Doc- aircraft with its air-to-air ‘Infra Red’ and trine has rightly incorporated comprehen- ‘Beyond Visual Range’ missiles, guided and sive modernisation plan for its Fleet Air unguided bombs, anti-ship missiles, data- Arm through a two-pronged approach. link capability, a credible EW suite and The mid-life upgrades and the process of buddy tanking, makes it a versatile and modernisation of existing aircraft, and potent fighter aircraft. MiG-29K has stabi- through the acquisition of state-of-the-art lised as frontline fighter aircraft of Indian and versatile top-end technology-based air- Navy and its operational availability has craft and incumbent capabilities. The criti- steadily improved. cal staff requirements for the acquisition The 40,000-tonne IAC-1, Vikrant which of sophisticated platforms include; state is presently under construction at Cochin of the art sensors, communications and Shipyard Ltd. and expected to be inducted weapons, advanced avionics, aero frames, by 2020, will deploy about 30 combat air- aero engines, ancillary systems, etc. craft mix of MiG-29K and LCA (Navy) in Short Take-Off But Assisted Recovery (STO- Maritime Reconnaissance BAR) configuration. Considering the inordi- This strategy has realised rich dividends as nate slippages in the development process is evident through big-ticket acquisition of and serious technical glitches relating to P-8I, Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance weight to power ratio, Indian Navy has & Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMR&ASW) Undocking of IAC (Vikrant) at Cochin Shipyard, Kerala ruled out LCA (Navy) for IAC-1, Vikrant. aircraft from Boeing through direct Foreign Consequently, Indian Navy has begun a Military Sales from the USA. Post the initial craft segment, a global RFI was floated for Squadrons to be setup in Gujarat and search for a Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fight- order of eight aircraft Indian Navy has exer- Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance Tamil Nadu where sanctioned Do-228 will ers (MRCBF) for IAC-1 and its follow-on. cised the option clause and ordered four (MRMR) aircraft to replace the fleet of 10 be based. Besides, this sanction comprises The RFI for 57 MRCBF had elicited response more P-8I, totalling to an inventory of 12. Islanders. The Defence Acquisition Council requisite manpower for manning addi- from all leading global MRCBF manufactur- Acquisition of P-8I, LRMR&ASW air- of the Ministry of Defence has accepted the tional aircraft in existing Dornier Surveil- ers to answer queries on technical param- craft has substantially augmented the long necessity for procuring nine MRMR aircraft lance Squadrons in Kerala and Andaman eters, budgetary estimates, likely level of reach and long endurance capability to for the Indian Navy.