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Page 5  Lead Story Carrier Battle Group for Force Projection photograph:

Carrier strike groups represent some of the most potent means of force projection in any nation’s military, made up of an and assorted ships tasked with defending and supporting carrier operations. Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) Page 6 Navy’s Quest for Carrier Borne Fighters The Chinese PLAAF and PLAN Aviation continue to field greater numbers of fourth- generation aircraft like J-20 and probably will become a majority fourth-generation force within the next several years. Thus India’s selection of future fighters for the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force has to take this threat into account. Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) Page 7 Landing Platform Docks announced that it would deploy 1,00,000 marines overseas and has expanded its Marine Corps and developed amphibious assault ships and vehicles. With increased Chinese footprints in the INS Vikramaditya operates a combination of MiG-29K fighters and a variety of Naval IOR, amphibious capability assumes critical importance for India. Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) Page 8 Military Modernisation? Decade of the Is That All We Want? Any country faced with adversaries must, based on the resources available, decide on the overall path to take towards conflict resolution, assigning responsibilities to every arm of the state. Thus, capacity building Maritime Air Power for the Armed Forces is just one part of the solution. Commodore G. Prakash (Retd) Maritime Air Power is applied in the maritime theatre to fulfill maritime objectives, as Page 10 well as achieving the necessary degree of air control for maritime operations within Converting Cheetah/Chetak as UAV for Ship Operations this area of interest. Maritime Air Power has undergone historic transition in the With the advancements in drone technolo- decade gone by due to the fundamental shift in its role. gies, there is a large proliferation of drone designers and manufacturers of different sizes and roles in India. There is thus a fair amount of skill set and knowledge available n (Retd) enced by the military and political context in within India alone. which he lived. Now we are into 21st century. It Commodore (Dr) R.K. Rana (Retd) Comprehensive National Air Power is not so anymore. It will be appropriate to mention the writings Civilians were usually absent from theatre Page 12 of Clausewitz, who suggested that war consists or the battlefield either because the battle oc- Aerial Hunters of a trinity; made up of people, the government curred in relatively unpopulated area or they Detection of submarine is done primarily by and the armed forces. War comprises and bal- fled the area prior to onset of war. Today, a Sonobuoy and Magnetic Anomaly Detec- ances between creative forces (symbolized by this linearity has diminished severely. Now tor (MAD) - refers specifically to magne- the armed forces action), rational forces (sym- the civilians and civilian objectives are inter- tometers used by military forces to detect by observing the change in the bolized by the government) and emotional mingled with military objectives. The valid tar- magnetic field forces (symbolized by the people). Essentially gets which could not feasibly be struck in the Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) it means that the Armed Forces are separable past, now become vulnerable. The universe of from the people (who do not take part in fight- strikeable targets multiplies and therefore the Plus ing) and from the government, which leads the potential of collateral damage and incidental News / Appointments 15 war. Obviously Clausewitz’s analysis was influ- injury while still achieving military objectives.

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This issue of Naval Forces rity provider in the Indian Ocean guard India’s maritime interests. luck. It is a de-novo approach is a Special Issue for Region in the changing security Then there is an article for to modernisation and capacity 2021 thus the lead article appro- challenges and construct. the selection of Multi Role Car- building, and worth a read. priately gives an overview of a In his annual Navy Day- rier Borne Fighter (MRCBF). In There are other articles like ‘Decade of Maritime Air Power’ 2020 press conference, CNS, January 2017, the Navy issued a on aerial platforms as hunter of in which the author explains that Admiral Karambir Singh said Request for Information (RFI) for submarines; rotary wing UAVs it has undergone a historic tran- that, “our operations shall revolve 57 MRCBF. The RFI laid out that for the Navy; stealth submarine sition in the decade gone by. around two active Carrier Battle the “The MRCBF are intended as project and so on which give you There has been fundamental Groups (CBG), necessitating a day and night capable, all weather readers an insight of all the hap- shift in the philosophy of mari- force level of three Carriers”. In multi-role deck based combat air- penings in the Navy. time patrol, anti-submarine and an article on the subject of Car- craft”. The article gives you an We as usual wind up this anti-surface warfare processes rier Battle Groups (CBG), the insight into the front runner fight- issue with the News Digest and and carrier borne fighter opera- author attempts to explain the ers for India’s present and future Flag Postings. I hope that you dis- tions. Prospects of strengthening rationale of the Navy Chief’s aircraft carriers. cerning readers will enjoy read-

EDITORIAL anti-submarine rotary wing fleet statement. The role of the CBG In this issue, there is also an ing this special issue. If you are and increasing surveillance in the being to threaten or strike hostile article is on the implications of in Bengaluru do meet us at Aero Indian Ocean by addition of more elements with air power, carry modernisation where the author India 2021, Hall-E, Stall: E-4.6. long range and Medium Range out intelligence, surveillance propounds that history is replete , utility and and reconnaissance and land with examples of how every multi-role helicopters, drones and marines if required. The opera- military ‘modernisation’ was commissioning of the first indig- tional importance of aircraft car- rendered obsolete by counters/ While the world is cancelling a host enous aircraft carrier are very riers in the projection of maritime anti that sprouted. Examples of leading shows, India has gone encouraging. The author then power in the Indian Ocean Region abound of ‘modern’ militaries ahead with unmatched conviction examines these fundamental cannot be denied. A potent CBG biting the dust in the face of and is organising Aero India 2021 shifts in concept and philosophies is required - one on West Coast superior leadership, doctrines, with not even a fraction of change and concludes that India is well and one on East Coast which tactics, brains, deceit, peculiari- Jayant BaranwaL or an effect out of COVID-19. on the way to being a net secu- will provide immense leverage to ties of terrain, or even simple Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

photographs: US Navy, SP Guide Pubns Prime Minister Modi while addressing Long Range Maritime Patrol and Anti- the Combined in 2015 said submarine Warfare “beyond the immediate, we are facing a From the year 1976, IAF relinquished the future where security challenges will be role of long range maritime patrol task to less predictable; situations will evolve and the Navy by transferring the Super Con- change swiftly; technological changes will stellation aircraft. This was first occasion make response more difficult to keep pace for the Navy to operate four engined long with. Threats may be known but the en- endurance aircraft. It was all new experi- emy may be invisible” He further said “full ence for the crew to be flying extended scale war may become rare, but force will long hours and from an air station, main- remain an instrument of deterrence influ- taining alertness on the and visual encing behavior and the duration of con- watch, transfer data information manually flicts will be shorter”. to Maritime Operation Centre, criss cross Effectively, to handle today’s changed number of FIR boundaries, operate close nature of warfare, comprehensive nation- to open airspace of neighboring coun- al power will have to be brought to bear tries and in the process get intercepted by to achieve political objectives in the short advanced mainly of the US timeframe that would be available. While Navy. Aircrew developed the desired skills doing so, nations will ensure least collat- to handle the new ways in the changed eral damage and incidental injury since operational environment. Earlier, carrier military and civilian objectives will be dif- borne Alize provided surveillance in mari- ficult to discern, media will control dis- time patrol role which was adequate for semination and regulate public reaction. domain awareness around the carrier task Clearly, precision engagements will un- force, the MORs played limited role. With derline military tactics and strategy which the induction of Super Constellation air- highlights the centrality of Air Power. It craft, long range maritime patrol became will consist of several systems of systems a reality. The MORs (maritime operations that enable military forces to locate the rooms) were upgraded to handle larger objectives or targets, provide responsive volumes of information over much larger command and control, generate the de- area in the IOR. The IAF also began exercis- sired effect, assess the level of success, ing their role of shore based anti shipping and retain flexibility to reengage with the strike in coordination with the Maritime precision required. It is in this context Patrol aircraft, leaving the Carrier Task that the maritime arm of the National Force to operate further away from EEZ in Air Power has gained significance in the pursuance of power projection and making present decade while the land based Air impact warfare over land in distant lands. Force’s air power has had a much longer It made the Navy truly blue water. How- wait towards sharpening their teeth what ever, shore based and shipborne air ASW is truly desirable in the present changed operation still remained an enigma. nature of warfare. Indian Air Force de- The Super Constellation aircraft was re- serves credit for being the alma mater of (Top): Sea Harrier; (Above): IL-38 placed by IL-38 aircraft which had capabil- all varieties of military aviation in India. ity of both the maritime patrol as well as This article is a tribute to the alma mater duction of Rafael fighters complement of lent atmosphere around us. ASW at long ranges giving the Navy ability to of aviation from one of their frontiers – C-17/C-130 strategic transport aircraft, Mi- Maritime air power has undergone track submarines in far off seas particularly Maritime. 17 VE and Chinook heavy lift helicopters historic transition in the decade gone by. at vulnerable choke points. The aircraft was We are in the new decade, it is still along with Apache attack helicopters in- There has been fundamental shift in the more modern than the Constellation, turbo- counting. Induction of Tejas in Light duction are some important additions. The philosophy of maritime patrol, anti-sub- prop propulsion, had advanced electronics Combat role, additional Su-30 MKIs, in- deliberation on manufacturing of advanced marine and anti-surface warfare processes and ability to attack a submarine if it was fighters under ‘Make in India’ drive is also and carrier borne fighter operations. Pros- confirmed to be hostile (being equipped with in progress. In the absence of newer induc- pects of strengthening anti-submarine torpedoes and depth bombs). It still lacked Precision engagements will tions IAF has done the country proud by rotary wing fleet, increasing surveillance very long legs in terms of endurance given innovating new avenues of application of bubble in the Indian Ocean by addition of the expanse of IOR and anti ship strike ca- underline military tactics and air power; landing of Su-30 aircraft closer more long range and Medium Range Mari- pability. Navy modified the aircraft to carry to NE and Northern borders, Demonstrat- time patrol aircraft, utility and multi-role Sea Eagle anti ship missiles. Also, concept strategy which highlights the ing ability of strategic airlift upto DBO, helicopters (Sikorsky MH-60), drones and of shepherding shore based fighter aircraft supporting fighter operations outside the commissioning of the first indigenous air- for anti ship strike was developed which centrality of Air Power country, large number of HADR operations craft carrier are very encouraging. We ex- kept the adversary further away from areas and maintaining highest levels of surveil- amine these fundamental shifts in concept of our interest. The IL-38 was later supple- lance and response mechanisms in turbu- and philosophies. mented by one squadron of Tu-142 aircraft

Aero India 2021 Special 3  Lead Story

from erstwhile Soviet Union which had very need to develop capability to reach an area from the US. Naval Aviation was moving rejection of tribunal of the PCA verdict in extended endurance and was capable of of concern quickly, locate the adversary ac- from turboprop propulsion to jet engine the SCS are some pointers which indicated much higher speeds to reach the patrol area curately and prosecute with strength. propelled platform. The avionics the times which lie ahead in the IOR. It was quickly and exit as fast. The Bear, as it was The Tupolev 142 and IL-38 were past and weapons are contemporary and most a very well strategised decision to acquire known, was the fastest turboprop aircraft in their prime. After the collapse of the Soviet advanced in the world. Eight aircraft are platforms which gave the Navy capability the world which was difficult to intercept. empire, Russian industry had nothing bet- already in our inventory and four more on of operating in the entire IOR with ease The concept of gambit tactics was developed ter on offer to replace these fuel guzzlers. the way. This has given the Navy capability and the punch which would act as deter- by the Navy to push the adversary further Their industry was unable to support the which she never had before. The anti sub- rence to prevent war. What was required away into their own waters and prevent their inventory that we had. Also, after the fall marine sensors are the best available and was both the aircraft carrier and fighter venturing anywhere close to Carrier task of Soviet Union there were no new proven attack suite extremely compatible. The 360 aircraft, which would have ability to oper- force. The Navy stabilized on sound concept platforms which were joining the Russian degrees radar is backed by very efficient ate in seas of our interests, penetrate deep of reconnaissance ahead of departing fleet Armed Forces. This created a situation fire control system for the Harpoon ASM into adversary’s heartland if required and from harbours and subsequent sanitisation wherein Indian Navy would had to contend giving her very credible anti surface ves- remain on task long enough to counter any in the direction of advance, bringing offen- with older technology and that too at very sel capability. These aircraft deployed at retaliatory action. sive operation in the realm of possibilities. high price tag. choke points e.g. St of Malacca, Hormuz Much delayed decision to acquire So- The Tu-142 was also equipped with better This was the time when Indo US bilat- and Gulf of Aden provide very best of sur- viet era Gorshkov and convert her into sonobuoys which could localise a subma- eral relations were witnessing upswing. veillance and if required offensive capabil- aircraft carrier was a major shift in car- rine with much greater accuracy, a prereq- Simultaneously the presence of Chinese ity against hostile/threatening surface or rier operation philosophy of the Navy. The uisite against nuclear powered submarines. nuclear submarines in the IOR was becom- nuclear powered sub surface platforms. Gorshkov, renamed Vikramaditya, was to Higher endurance gave it the capability to ing more frequent. There was necessity to This capability was needed considering become STOBAR (short take off but ar- keep much larger areas of IOR under sur- enhance Navy’s maritime domain aware- the increasing presence of Chinese nucle- rested recovery) carrier thereby shifting veillance. The combination of Sea Harrier ness to next higher level and therefore to ar submarines and decision of Chinese to back to Tailhook fighters from STOVL Sea fighter jets operating from two aircraft car- find Maritime Patrol/ASW aircraft which arm Pakistan with eight submarines pos- Harriers. The aircraft chosen was MiG-29K. riers i.e. Vikrant and Viraat gave the Navy had precessional ability to locate and pros- sibly AIP powered. The P8-I is fast and The aircraft was in very prototype form in capability to intercept MPA and adversary’s ecute hostile surface and sub surface tar- has long loiter time on task. It extends and therefore essentially a develop- maritime strike aircraft, conduct deep pen- ment aircraft. There were large number of etration strike into enemy heartland as also photographs: Indian Navy, MoD differences from similar sounding Russian shepherded strike on surface targets which variant MiG-29 which the IAF flies. The air- were out of strike radius of the shore based craft chosen had fly by wire flight control aircraft. These three decades witnessed the system, more modular engine requiring Navy truly ruling the waves in the IOR, be- lesser maintenance thereby increasing air- coming net security provider to friendly na- craft availability on account of saving time tions and littorals. Navy was frequently be- on servicing. The aircraft was truly super- ing called upon by number of countries for sonic, which would give the Navy ability their EEZ surveillance and escort assistance to react quickly and intercept any hostile any where and everywhere in the IOR. intruder. Endurance being high, MiG-29K also gave the capability to strike deep into Arrival of Vikramaditya and MiG-29K adversary’s heartland giving relief to the The Naval planners were sanguine of the IAF in performance of their task of anti emerging security paradigm in the Indian shipping strike both within and outside the Ocean and limitations of Sea Harrier strike radius of shore based fighters. Vikrant/Viraat combination towards fulfill- The pilots and engineers adapted very ing the role of the Navy in the future. The well to Tailhook operation and handling Sea Harrier was nearing obsolescence and of supersonic flight regime. Vikramaditya so were the two aircraft carriers. By select- arrived from Murmansk in Russia and an- ing the Sea Harrier as replacement to Sea chored off her home port on January 7, Hawk, Navy had drifted away from tailhook 2014. That was the day when the reach fighter aviation operational philosophy, pri- and power of India in the maritime do- marily because our carriers were of smaller main increased manifold. A new squad- size and no tail hook aircraft similar to Sea ron called Black Panthers (303 Squadron) Hawk was available which could see through was commissioned to embark the carrier. the life of the carrier. STOVL Sea Harrier met Later, on May 11, 2016, the STOVL fight- those national aspirations in the IOR in addi- ers Sea Harriers were de-inducted from tion to the jump in technology, both power the Navy and White Tigers (300 Squadron ) plant and avionics/weapons that it brought were also armed with the MiG-29K aircraft, in the Navy. Naval Aviators adapted to the making India Navy capable of embarking maintenance and operational philosophy of two embarking fighter squadrons for the STOVL very professionally and maintained first time since independence. This would Indian supremacy in the IOR for thirty also keep the Navy ready with an opera- years. This was aided by the second aircraft tional fighter squadron when indigenous carrier Viraat from 1986. Later, Vikrant was carrier Vikrant gets commissioned. There modified with 9.75 ski jump giving the Sea was a time when Navy had one Sea Har- Harrier slightly longer legs. Since, both the rier squadron and two aircraft carriers and carriers have been decommissioned at the now we have two MiG-29K squadrons for end of their technical life. (Top): MiG-29K; (Above): P8-I one aircraft carrier! The aircraft can also The geopolitical dynamics was alter- operate from air stations ashore in sup- ing its character in and around IOR. Indian gets. US was in the process of developing the maritime domain awareness bubble port of maritime tasks. This points at the economy was doing better and so was the Boeing P8 Poseidon aircraft for MPA/ASW to virtually entire IOR. The real time data reach of air power that Indian Navy has need to protect it and the SLOCs in far role for their Navy. Given our improved link through own communication satellite acquired when it is seen in conjunction off seas. Gradually, India was becoming a bilateral relations and convergence in se- GSAT-7 has made the Maritime Operations with much enlarged MDA made possible major regional player in the Comity of na- curity perceptions with the US in the IOR, Centres much inclusive in warfare, mak- with the induction of P8-I and UAVs. There tions. Soviet empire had collapsed. Terror- the Navy convinced the government of the ing it possible for Commanders ashore to is possibility of inducting Predator armed ism had become order of the day. US, the day to look westwards for acquiring this monitor the local surface picture of far off UAVs now that fundamental agreements sole superpower, was engrossed in war on capability. It was this foresight that lead to seas and provide valuable inputs to the LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA have been terror against Al Qaida and associates in signing of contract and induction of P8-I aircraft in prosecution. It has signed with the US. and around Afghanistan. This preoccupa- aircraft which now forms the backbone of also given India the ease of operation in The government’s look/act east policy tion of the US and down slide in Russian all operations in the IOR today. This was support of IOR littorals from their airfields along with existing threat packed western economy gave China adequate opportunity first major Defence platform acquisition given that Boeing is a commercial platform seaboard, gets confidently addressed by to rise, both economically and militarily. and majority of nations can support their creation of these abilities. It also helps the Indian Naval planners were watching these operations. IAF in utilising the fighter assets commit- developments as also the growing complic- There was necessity to ted for maritime role for many other op- ity between China and Pakistan which could enhance Navy’s maritime Return of the Tailhook Fighters erational tasks in a time when their assets hurt Indian National interests in the future. As mentioned earlier, the VSTOL tech- are needed for deterrence against two front Therefore, there was need to strengthen domain awareness to the nology had seemingly peaked as far as threat of conflict. We are well on the way maritime offensive capability to keep the ad- ordnance carrying capability and radius to being net security provider in the IOR versary’s assets under pressure far off from next higher level with of action was concerned. Navy saw this in the changing Indo Asia Pacific security our areas of interest and act as deterrence coming. Coupled with this was the need challenges and construct. Creation of CDS against any misadventure on land borders the ability to locate and for increasing India’s area of influence to (Chief of Defence Staff) and Theatre Com- as well as along SLOCs. This necessitated commensurate with her growing stature mands on the cards we are likely to see two fundamental conceptual changes both prosecute hostile targets in the developing geopolitical landscape. many changes in our war fighting philoso- in Maritime Patrol/ASW and fighter opera- The Chinese assertion in the South China phy which could lead to making maritime

SP www.spsnavalforces.com tion domains. In the MR ASW task, there was Sea, Commissioning of Liaoning and their air power even more robust.

4 Aero India 2021 Special  Force Projection Carrier Battle Group for Force Projection

Carrier strike groups represent some of the most potent means of force projection in any nation’s military, made up of an aircraft carrier and assorted ships tasked with defending and supporting carrier operations

photograph: Indian Navy n Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) capable of operating an aircraft mix of the Russian MiG-29K and LCA (Navy) fighters Early Days being developed indigenously by HAL. Its HMS Ark Royal was the first ship designed component will include the Ka- and built as a seaplane carrier and launched mov 31 and the indigenously developed in 1914. The term ‘Fleet Air Arm’ came into ALH helicopters. The progress of Vikrant being in 1924 and HMS Hermes became the was reviewed by the Empowered Apex first ship to be designed, built and com- Committee (EAC) headed by Ajay Kumar, missioned as an aircraft carrier. The first Defence Secretary, on January 20, 2020 at aircraft carrier commissioned into the US CSL. This was the 13th EAC Review Meeting Navy was USS Langley (CV-1) on March 20, of the Project. 1922. In his annual Navy Day press confer- Since then there was no looking back ence, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Karam- and US has led the development of super- bir Singh mentioned that “Our operations carriers. Currently the US Navy is develop- shall revolve around two active Carrier ing only two classes of super carriers - the Battle Groups, necessitating a force level of Nimitz-class and the modern day post-cold three Carriers”. war Gerald R. Ford-class. The ten-ship Nim- After the Navy Chief’s statement, the itz-class has been built and are on active second carrier IAC-71 namely Vishal is duty. In the Gerald R. Ford Class, three are very much on the cards. CNS’ statement ready and the seven are under construc- was made in light of the emerging threat tion. All US aircraft carriers have nuclear from China which mandates two operation propulsion. sea worthy CSGs at a time and the third one INS Vikramaditya under going major refit/ maintenance. Concept of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Vishal. Vishal aircraft carrier is planned CSG is an operational formation conceived in Mar 1961 and decommissioned it in converted from the Russian Navy’s decom- to be built by CSL for the Indian Navy. It is by the US Navy composed of an aircraft January 1997. During 1971 War, Eastern missioned Admiral Gorshkov vertical take- intended to be the second aircraft carrier to carrier, at least one cruiser, a Fleet was formed which consisted of INS off and landing (VTOL) missile cruiser car- be built in India after Vikrant. A new design squadron of at least two or frig- Vikrant, the two Leopard-class INS rier. INS Vikramaditya was commissioned has been proposed for the second carrier, ates, a carrier air wing of 65 to 70 aircraft Brahmaputra and INS Beas, the two Petya into service in November 2013. It was op- featuring significant changes from Vikrant, and about 7,500 personnel. It implies the III-class INS Kamorta and INS erationally deployed with full complement including an increase in displacement. An same as a carrier battle group (CBG). The Kavaratti, and one submarine, INS Khand- of MiG-29 aircraft in May 2014. The vessel Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (E- role being to threaten or strike hostile eri. This could be called India’s first CBG / can carry about 30 long-range multi-role MALS) and a displacement of about 60,000 elements with air power, carry out intel- CSG. Vikrant performed admirably by car- fighters with anti-ship missiles, air-to-air tonnes is planned. This is a very ambitious ligence, surveillance and reconnaissance rying out a blockade of then . missiles, guided bombs and rockets. The projects and the air element will also be and land marines if required. The US Navy Its aircrafts carried out strikes on shipping aircraft aboard the carrier include MiG- upgraded thereby raising the cost. maintains nine carrier strike groups. struck in and Cox’s Bazar har- 29K/Sea Harrier combat aircraft, Kamov 31 bours, Khulna and the Port of Mongla. On Airborne Early Warning (AEW) helicopter, Maritime Force Projection Joint CSG of US and Britain December 14, the Sea Hawks attacked the Kamov 28 naval helicopter, Sea King heli- Each country with a navy has its own per- The US and Britain jointly declared form- cantonment area in Chittagong, destroying copter, ALH-Dhruv and Chetak helicopter. ception of maritime power projection ing a CSG 2021 deployment to be led by several Pakistani army barracks. Simulta- depending on its maritime threat and Britain’s aircraft carrier HMS Queen Eliza- neous attacks by Alizés continued on Cox’s Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-71) envisaged role of its navy. One commonly beth which has a displacement of 60,000 Bazar. The crew of INS Vikrant earned two CCS approval for IAC was accorded in 2003 used definition is - ‘The strategic offensive tonnes and can carry up to 60 aircraft. Maha Vir Chakras and twelve and Cochin Limited (CSL) com- role of a navy is projection of force into The deployment will include a detachment gallantry medals for their part in the war. menced construction in 2005. Meanwhile, areas beyond a country’s shores (for exam- of US Marine Corps, F-35 Lightning II air- INS Viraat. The second aircraft car- the nomenclature of the carrier project had ple, to protect sea-lanes, deter or confront craft and the Navy’s USS Sullivan. The HMS rier was INS Viraat. It was a Centaur-class changed from Sea Control Ship (SCS) to Air piracy, troops, or attack other navies, Queen Elizabeth leads the Strike Group, aircraft carrier in service with the Indian Defence Ship (ADS) and finally to Indig- ports, or shore installations). The strategic which includes nine ships, 15 British and Navy. INS Viraat was the flagship of the In- enous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-71). The first defensive purpose of a navy is to frustrate US fighter planes and 11 helicopters. dian Navy, the oldest carrier in service and IAC-71 was named Vikrant after India’s seaborne projection-of-force by enemies. one of two aircraft carriers based in the In- first aircraft carrier and was expected to The strategic task of the navy also may China dian Ocean Region. Viraat was completed enter service by 2015 but the project is incorporate nuclear deterrence by use of In December 2019, China commissioned and commissioned in 1959 as the Royal delayed and will undergo sea trials in 2021 submarine-launched ballistic missiles. its first domestically built aircraft carrier, Navy’s HMS Hermes and was transferred to and then commissioned. The second IAC- Shandong, which was launched in 2017 India in 1987. On July 23, 2016, INS Viraat 71 has been named Vishal. Requirement of Force Projection and completed multiple sea trials during made her final journey from to Ko- Vikrant. Vikrant marks a special feath- India and Vietnam have decided to step 2018-2019. The new carrier is a modified chi before retiring. er in indigenous defence capabilities- this up defence and oil exploration to boost version of the Liaoning (Soviet Kuznetsov) INS Vikramaditya. INS Vikramaditya is being the first ever aircraft carrier to be their bilateral ties. They also reaffirmed design and also uses a ski jump for takeoff the Indian Navy’s largest short take-off, but designed by the Directorate of Naval De- the importance of freedom of naviga- for its aircraft. China continues to work on assisted recovery (STOBAR) aircraft carrier sign of the Indian Navy, the first warship tion, over-flight and unimpeded economic its second domestically built aircraft car- to be built by CSL and the first warship to activities in the South China Sea (SCS), rier since 2019, which will be larger and be built entirely using indigenously pro- amid China flexing its muscles in the Indo- fitted with a catapult launch system. It is A potent Carrier Battle Group duced steel. It has a displacement of about Pacific region. India’s 55 per cent trade expected to be operational by 2024, with (CBG) is required - one on 40,000 tonnes and the take off and landing passes through SCS. China has intruded additional carriers to follow. is of STOBAR (Short Take-Off but Arrested on the LAC in Ladakh since May 2020 and West Coast and one on East Recovery) configuration. Other major as- amassed large number of troops. Navy Indian Perspective semblies/components like the Main Switch Chief Admiral Karambir Singh, in his press Early years Coast which will provide Board, steering gear, water tight hatches, conference said, that his force is alive to INS Vikrant. Indian Navy’s (IN) first air- high capacity air conditioning and refriger- various threats in the maritime domain craft carrier was INS Vikrant (formerly immense leverage to guard ation systems, pumps, Integrated Platform including from China and is fully ready to HMS Hercules) which was a Majestic class Management System; the massive gear deal with them. A potent CBG is required - aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. India India’s maritime interests box, tens of thousands of electrical cable, one on West Coast and one on East Coast purchased the INS Vikrant from the United ship’s anchor chain cable and many more which will provide immense leverage to Kingdom in 1957 and commissioned it are all Indian manufacture. Vikrant will be guard India’s maritime interests. SP

Aero India 2021 Special 5  Naval Fighter Aircraft Navy’s Quest for Carrier Borne Fighters

The Chinese PLAAF and PLAN Aviation continue to field greater numbers of fourth-generation aircraft like J-20 and probably will become a majority fourth-generation force within the next several years. Thus India’s selection of future fighters for the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force has to take this threat into account.

photograph: Dassault Aviation n Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) model based systems engineering practices perfected by Saab, dedicated teams have uring December 2016 the worked over a number of years to achieve then Chief of Naval Staff Admi- certification of the maritime version. Grip- ral , announced that en has a small footprint, about the same as the Indian Navy (IN) intended the Sea Harrier, allowing more fighters to to forego the acquisition of be embarked in current and future Indian Dthe Naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and Navy carriers. look for global platforms. Accordingly in Mikoyan MiG-29K. Indian Navy had January 2017, the IN issued a Request for contracted for acquisition of 16 MiG-29K/ Information (RFI) for 57 Multi Role Carrier KUB carrier based fighter aircraft with RAC Borne Fighters (MRCBF). The RFI laid out MiG on January 20, 2004 which were deliv- that the “The MRCBF are intended as day ered in 2009. A contract for additional 29 and night capable, all weather multi-role aircraft was signed on March 8, 2010, and deck based combat aircraft which can be were delivered by the end 2016. This is a used for Air Defence, Air to Surface Opera- proven aircraft which is in service with the tions, Buddy Refuelling, Reconnaissance, Indian Navy for the last 12 years and if con- EW missions etc from IN aircraft carriers. tracted will create no problem for training, Apart from other procedural aspects, maintenance and inventory management. the RFI also made it clear that transfer of HAL Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). LCA technology and license production will be has not found favour with the Indian Navy required as part of the acquisition of the thus DRDO has decided to develop a Twin fighters. It also asked the following:- engine fighter instead. zz As how many engines the aircraft had Rafale M in operations Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter and can it operate from both STOBAR (TEDBF). The Aeronautical Development (Short Take-off But Arrested Recovery) engage the cable with the hook. At the same Boeing. F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet will Agency (ADA) under the DRDO will develop and CATOBAR (Catapult Take-off But time he has to maintain exact speed and offer the Indian Navy advanced warfighter a TEDBF for the Indian Navy instead of per- Arrested Recovery) aircraft carriers heading for a perfect landing. All this when technologies, superior economics and en- sisting with the development of a Mk2 vari- without any modification to the aircraft? the set back forces on the pilot are maxi- hance naval aviation cooperation with the ant of the LCA-Navy (NLCA) design. Navy zz Is the Nose Landing Gear designed mum. Normally a carrier has three arrestor US Navy. Ankur Kanaglekar, Head India Chief Admiral Karambir Singh had said on and capable of undertaking Catapult wires and the pilot aims for the middle one Fighters Sales, Boeing Defense, Space and December 3, 2019 that DRDO had offered Launch from contemporary Steam however if he misses all the three wires, Security said that, “the first successful to develop a new twin-engine deck-based and Electro Magnetic Aircraft Launch then he has to do a bolter (or instantaneous and safe launch of the F/A-18 Super Hor- fighter aircraft for the Navy based on the (EMAL) systems? take-off from the deck) as per the standard net from a ski-jump begins the validation experience of the Naval LCA and it should There were many more details in the operating procedure (SOP). To carry out process to operate effectively from Indian be ready by 2026. Considering trials and RFI and it caused quite a ripple within the a bolter, the aircraft has to have immense Navy aircraft carriers”. Boeing is offering series production it may go upto 2030. Fol- global aerospace industry. power to be able to accelerate fast enough the F/A-18 Super Hornet in single seater (E- lowing the success of trial landings of the to enable a take off. This is the reason the Variant) and two-seater variant (F-Variant). Tejas-N fighter on board INS Vikramaditya, Possible Choices Navy rejected the single engine version of He added that it can interface with (Navy’s) ADA gave the go ahead in June 2020 for the Possible choices were Boeing F/A-18E/F the LCA. The other challenge is related to P-8I aircraft. The Indian and US navies train development of a twin engine Made-in-India Super Hornet Block III, Dassault’s Rafale design. The aircraft is designed to suit the jointly in the Indian Ocean region and a fighter jet. ADA, the principal designer of M, SAAB’s Gripen Maritime and MiG-29K. If aircraft carrier or the other way round. Cur- joint working group (JWG) for aircraft car- the Tejas fighter mentioned the indigenous India had deep pockets then it could con- rently the aircraft have to suit the existing rier cooperation was set up in 2015. US growth of the brand new fighter in a meet- sider Lockheed Martin’s F-35B/C Lighting- INS Vikramaditya and soon to be commis- Navy designers have helped in framing ing chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath II. Twin engine version fighter based on sioned Vikrant. There is a bit of uncertainty specifications for India’s proposed third Singh and attended by the Navy and Air LCA was also in the run especially in the regarding the future design of Vishal and carrier. Indian Navy’s team was to visit the Chiefs. Following this meeting, the Opera- Atamnirbhar environment. whether timely fiscal support will be pro- US Naval Air Station in Maryland to witness tional Requirements (ORs) for the brand vided to fructify the project. a demonstration by Boeing on the compat- new fighter were issued by the Ministry of Challenges for a Carrier-based Aircraft Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block ibility of its F-18 Super Hornet but the visit Defence. This development matches with Carrier borne fighters are naval aircraft spe- III. Boeing has been pushing the Super got postponed due to the COVID-19. the Government’s announcement of At- cially designed for operations from aircraft Hornet for many years. Recently they M. The Air Force sin- manirbhar (Self reliance). Based mostly on carriers. Majority of them have been derived demonstrated at Naval Air Station Patux- gle-seat Rafale C, the Air Force two-seat the Tejas fighter, the brand new Navy fight- from the air force fighters. Their main attri- ent River that the Super Hornet would do Rafale B, and the Navy single-seat Rafale M er is supposed to complement MiG-29s. bute should be that they are capable of well with the Indian Navy’s Short Take-off feature maximum airframe and equipment Lockheed Martin’s F-35B/C Lightning being launched and landed within a short but Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system commonality, and very similar mission ca- II. It is a single-seat, single-engine, all- distance and be sturdy enough to withstand and validate earlier simulation studies by pabilities. The Rafale M is suitably modi- weather, stealth, multirole combat aircraft. the sudden forces leashed on the aircraft fied for operating from an aircraft carrier. The F-35B entered service with the US Ma- during launch and recovery on a pitching It features a greatly reinforced undercar- rine Corps in July 2015 and the F-35C in deck. Their wings should be able to ‘fold The aircraft is designed to riage to cope with the additional stresses the US Navy during February 2019. The air- up’ to cater for lack of space on the aircraft of naval landings, an arrestor hook, and craft has three main variants: the conven- carrier. Landing an aircraft on a carrier deck suit the aircraft carrier or the “jump strut” nosewheel, which only ex- tional take-off and landing F-35A (CTOL), is a very complex manoeuvre as the land- other way round. Currently tends during short takeoffs including cata- the short take-off and vertical-landing F- ing runway is about 95m and thus is too pult launches. The naval modifications of 35B (STOVL), and the carrier-based F-35C short for an aircraft moving at a speed of the aircraft have to suit the the Rafale M increase its weight by 500 kg (CV/CATOBAR). about 250 km/h to stop on its own. Thus compared to other variants. Its advantage Some of the above fighters like the an arresting gear mechanism is provided on existing INS Vikramaditya is that the Air Force version of Rafale is al- Super Hornet and MiG-29K are already in the aircraft carriers with steel cables and an ready in service with the Indian Air Force. service thus may not require elaborate tri- arresting hook is provided on the aircraft. and soon to be commissioned SAAB Gripen Maritime. Gripen Mari- als but other fighters including the TEDBF On touchdown, the aircraft hook has to time has been designed to provide the will require detailed trials and Vikrant is engage the cable and then the arresting gear Vikrant maximum multi-role day/night capabil- likely to be in service by 2022 thus there can stop the aircraft in about 95m. Thus the ity and performance from both STOBAR will have to be some suitable fighter short-

SP www.spsnavalforces.com pilot has to touch at a very precise spot to and CATOBAR carriers. Utilising the latest listed for it.

6 Aero India 2021 Special  AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS Landing Platform Docks China announced that it would deploy 1,00,000 marines overseas and has expanded its Marine Corps and developed amphibious assault ships and vehicles. With increased Chinese footprints in the IOR, amphibious capability assumes critical importance for India.

photograph: Navantia n Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) been languishing for the past seven years. With Reliance Naval and Engineering Lim- hina’s 2020 aggression in ited (RNEWL) gone bankrupt, Larsen & Tou- Eastern Ladakh has been accom- bro was left as the lone bidder – single ven- panied with mobilisation along dor situation. The news report added that the Line of Control and building government is monitoring possible revival villages in Bhutan and Arunachal of RNEWL even as at least three of India’s CPradesh. In addition, China is using its private sector have gone bust in hydrographic vessels for operational under- the last decade due to bad management or water research in the Indian Ocean along being short of orders that did not match with underwater drones. China’s first Type their production capabilities. Another op- 075 landing helicopter dock ship (of total tion being considered was to go for fresh eight planned) is to be commissioned in tender to avoid single vendor situation. As 2021. The Type 075, which recently complet- it is with years wasted, the `20,000 crore ed sea trial in South China Sea, is designed to planned for the four amphibious ships will carry 900 Marines with some 12 amphibious shoot up by the time the contract is signed. assault vehicles, 20-30 transport aircraft and It is not the money alone but the time short take off and landing (STOVL) aircraft Model of the LPD on offer to the Indian Navy by L&T and Navantia delay in boosting the combat potential of with ability to launch six helicopters simul- the Indian Navy which is vital. Since the taneously, or carry 30 helicopters. the previous vessel, which was launched and Make (Indian)’. The L&T-Navantia offer Navy’s tender in 2013, the project had been China’s indigenous amphibious air- in June 2017, fitting out alongside. PLAN is under ‘Make in India’ with ToT. Initially, given a green signal from the Defence Ac- craft AG600 ‘Kunlong’ has an operational has 56 amphibious ships including the three Indian firms (L&T, ABG and Reliance quisition Council (DAC) headed by then range of 4,500 km and is reportedly de- Type 071. China announced in 2017 that Defence) were selected but ABG was dropped Defence Minister Arun Jaitley in May 2017. signed to take off and land in two-meter it would deploy 1,00,000 marines overseas. due financial issues, after which MoD ac- Following that approval, the two compet- high waves. In 2018, Chinese companies China has expanded its Marine Corps and corded in-principle approval for developing ing shipbuilders had submitted revised and government departments had placed developed amphibious assault ships and the program in December 2017. The ship of- commercial bids to build all the four LPDs, 17 orders for the aircraft, which were ex- vehicles. Chinese marines are already de- fered by L&T-Navantia is designed to launch though the 2013 tender had envisaged con- pected to be delivered by 2022. The fact ployed in ports like Djibouti and Gwadar. six medium sized helicopters or four heavy struction of only two of the warships at a that each AG600 can carry 50 passengers With increased Chinese footprints in the lift helicopters (like CH-47 Chinook) simul- private shipyard and the other two at the and China is importing four Russian Beriev IOR, amphibious capability assumes impor- taneously and has 12 degree ski-jump ramp state-run Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL). Be-200 Altair with each capable of carry- tance for India. India Navy’s amphibious ca- to launch short take-off and vertical launch Logically, the government should take the ing 72 passengers provides considerable pability consists of nine older tank landing (STOVL) aircraft. It can carry 12 helicopters decision to sign the contract with L&T-Na- flexibility at sea. China’s first 20,000-tonne ships (LST) of various sizes and capabilities. and 12 STOVL aircraft and can operate at sea vantia under ‘Make in India’ with Transfer Yuzhao-class (Type 071) landing platform The Shardul class ships are latest ones which without replenishment for 50 days. However, of Technology (ToT). When ways are found dock (LPD) vessel entered service with the are hybrids of LST and Landing Platform there are two contenders for the program to accommodate single vendor situation for People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in Dock (LSD) design that can carry 10 armored and when the construction will begin at the state-run entities, this should also be appli- late 2007. The Type 071 can hold up to vehicles, 11 armored personnel carriers and Indian shipyard and in what time-frame the cable for private sector where operational four x Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) more than 500 troops. Post Navy’s experi- four ships will be built and made available to priority is vital for national security. Surely and four or more helicopters, in addition to ence in the 2004 Tsunami, Navy inducted the the Navy is anybody’s guess. we shouldn’t wait for an incident at sea and armoured vehicles and troops. Two more INS ‘Jalashwa’ (former USS Trenton - Austin- Indian Navy’s case for a Marine Brigade then make a mad rush for boosting combat Type 071 were added in 2011 and 2012; all Class LPD), following which the DAC ap- has been gathering dust in the Ministry of potential, as has happened after the stand- three based at China’s South Sea Fleet base proved construction of four such vessels in Defence (MoD) past two decades. Media re- off with China in Eastern Ladakh. Issue of in Zhanjiang. On January 20, 2018, China India. In July 2018, L&T in conjunction with ports of June 2020 stated that that Indian fresh tender implies more bidders and that launched its sixth Type 071 vessel at the Navantia had offered an LPD to the Indian Navy’s tender issued in December 2013 much additional delay. Finally, whatever Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai. Navy as follow up to the Request for Infor- for building four amphibious warships at the decision, the government must take it It is the sixth ship of the class and joins mation (RFI) sent out in 2011 under ‘Buy a cost of `20,000 crore ($2.65 billion) has fast in the interest of national security. SP

GRSE delivered IN LCU L-58 (Yard 2099)

arden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., last two projects have been won on competitive bidding. (GRSE), tops off year 2020 with “Delivery” of the Today is also the ‘Start Production’ Day for the First of G“Last of Eight LCU Project” & “Start Production” of Eight ASWSWCs which is the first ‘Milestone’ in shipbuild- the First Ship of Eight ASWSWC Project. ing and signifies commencement of vessel construction GRSE delivered IN LCU L-58 (Yard 2099), eighth and after design engineering phase. The compact and complex last in the series of Landing Craft Utility Ships to the Indian stealth crafts are designed by GRSE. The platforms will Navy. This ship is the 106th Warship built and delivered be packed with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors like by GRSE so far, since its inception in 1960, the highest no. Hull Mounted , Towed Sonar, Torpedo Launchers and of warships delivered by any Indian Shipyard till date. Rocket Launcher to interdict and destroy sub-surface tar- The LCU is the third ship delivered by GRSE in 2020, no gets in coastal waters. The crafts are capable of ‘Search & mean feat considering the operational constraints imposed Rescue’ and ‘Low Intensity Maritime Operations’ and are by the global pandemic of COVID-19. The Shipyard has de- close to 90 per cent indigenous equipment fit and multiple propelled by water-jets capable of doing high speeds. livered 14 ships in the last 42 months which clocks an aver- innovations. Since its takeover by the Government of India in 1960, age of three months per ship. The complete design of the LCU L-58 being delivered by GRSE today to the Indian GRSE has delivered high-end warships ranging from Fast LCU Mark IV ships has been developed in-house by GRSE Navy shall join the fleet of ships at Andaman & Nicobar Patrol Vessels, Survey Vessels, LSTs, LCUs, Fleet Tanker, as per requirements specified by the Indian Navy which ne- Command. The Andaman & Nicobar Archipelago whilst Frigates and Missile & ASW Corvettes. The shipyard also cessitate a unique design with no precedence worldwide. acting as the extended arms of India, straddle one of the has the distinction of achieving over 90 per cent indig- The 62.8 m long and 11 m wide LCU has a displacement of busiest trade routes in the world leading into the South enous content, onboard ASW Corvettes, a significant ad- 830 tonne and can achieve a speed of 15 knots. The LCU is China Sea and keeping the islands safe is one of the chief vancement towards self-reliance in state-of-the-art war- designed to accommodate 216 personnel and is equipped responsibilities of the Indian Navy. The Eight LCUs with ship design and construction. Having modernised its with Two Indigenous CRN 91 Guns to provide Artillery Fire high military lift capabilities built by GRSE, shall form the infrastructure facilities, GRSE is using Advanced Modular support during landing operations. The ship is fitted with backbone of the Maritime Security Cover and HADR activ- Integrated Shipbuilding Technology in line with the best State-of-the-Art Equipment and Advanced Systems like the ity in the A&N Archipelago. in the world. This has helped enhance its capacity to the Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and the Integrated Platform GRSE is also currently executing three major projects present level of constructing 20 warships concurrently. Management System (IPMS). In line with the Govt. of India’s of the Indian Navy pertaining to the construction of 03 On December 14, 2020, GRSE created history with the ‘Make in India’ Initiative towards Self Reliance & Indigenisa- Stealth Frigates, 04 Survey Vessel (Large) ships and 08 Anti- launching of first of three Stealth Frigates, “Himgiri” under tion efforts, the LCU Mark IV Class of Ships are fitted with Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWCs). The prestigious Project 17A. SP

Aero India 2021 Special 7 xxxxxModernisation

Military Modernisation? Is That All We Want?

Any country faced with adversaries must, based on the resources available, decide on the overall path to take towards conflict resolution, assigning responsibilities to every arm of the state. Thus, capacity building for the Armed Forces is just one part of the solution.

photographs: Indian Navy, US Navy n Commodore G. Prakash (Retd) for superiority in technology is not ame- nable to being monopolised by any entity. cringe every time I hear that we need to ‘modernise’ our armed What History Offers forces. That is because what is not Fortunately, history is replete with exam- ‘modern’ must be old, ancient, anti- ples of how every military ‘modernisa- quated, obsolete or outdated. The tion’ was rendered obsolete by counters IIndian Armed Forces that I served for that sprouted. Examples abound of ‘mod- three and a half decades till very recently, ern’ militaries biting the dust in the face does not deserve to be described by any of superior leadership, doctrines, tactics, of those antonyms of ‘modern’. Then why brains, deceit, peculiarities of terrain, or the clamour for ‘modernisation’? Are we even simple luck. As for counters, how talking of continually ensuring the capa- quickly counters came up and how effec- bility to take on our adversaries? Is stay- tive they were, depended simply on how ing ahead of adversaries all the time in badly the side looking to develop counters, deployed technology the theme? wanted them. In times of war, or when war The atmosphere is saturated with was imminent, counters would pop up in all sorts of discussions on the need for double quick time. But history has other ‘military modernisation’. The concept has lessons too. The more ‘modern’ side is seen it all. It has been discussed, anal- expected to be stronger than the other. But ysed, dissected, lamented, celebrated, re- victories have not always gone to the stron- jected, doubted et al. All the purported ger side. David and Goliath stories abound. villains in the way of its successful reali- We only have to see the failure of the sation too have been ‘identified’, vilified, mighty US, in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghani- derided or threatened. Various Govern- stan to get the drift. ments down the line, the Bureaucracy, It is not just ‘modernity’ in fighting ma- our diplomacy, Government R&D agen- chines that matters. Even in the face of nu- cies, the military themselves, unsteady merical superiority, when even combined and inadequate budgetary support, lack with modern fighting machines, inferior of industrial base, lack of technology, forces have succeeded. The Franco Spanish lack of private enterprise, lack of a strate- Fleet of 41 ships that lost against the 33 gic view etc have all figured in this some ship Fleet of Nelson at Trafalgar in 1805 time or the other. presents one example. So does, the failure Taking a closer look, is it ‘military mod- of Admiral Jellicoe to register a conclu- ernisation’ that we want? Are there inher- sive win against a definitely inferior Ger- ent traps in the choice of words? Traps that man Fleet in the Battle of Jutland. So then, would forever condemn us to not getting where does this take us? what we want or not getting where we want to get? The ‘us’ and ‘we’ in the above sen- A Signalling Problem tence being Indians. It is an established fact that the Indian Armed Forces are capable of taking on What ‘Modernisation’ Aficionados their operational challenges, especially if would Say they are left alone to focus their energies The theme ‘Military Modernisation’ as and resources, on their actual charter. Any ‘along pending dire need’ is so deeply extraneous task that goes beyond its char- entrenched into minds, that any question- ter needs to be completed quickly, so that ing of the concept draws immediate fire. focus can return to core responsibilities. All sorts of questions will be asked, and (Top) Ships of the participating in the Operational Readiness Review; Any protracted involvement in non-core all sorts of justifications made. Come on! (Above) Indian Navy Submarine INS Khanderi areas is harmful. The Armed Forces exist in Who wouldn’t want military modernisa- a paradox. They are preparing all the time tion? If you don’t modernise, won’t you how ordinary bows and arrows and later, Other lines of attack would follow. See for an exam, hoping that the exam never become backward? Won’t you be left Crossbows, became redundant when Long- what happened to even the most powerful gets scheduled. Taking subsidiary exams behind? Look what history shows us? See bows entered the scene. In fact the com- Infantry when Elephants entered the scene? does not help in any way in facing the main ing of the Longbow allowed England to See how the steady march of technology exam. That said, there is a signalling prob- become the dominant power in Europe for has continually altered the paradigms of lem to handle. What is meant as an appeal What is modern today, isn’t over 100 years. This happened as a result fighting down centuries. Leave all those old for national support in developing capabili- of the Battle of Crecy of 1346, where Eng- stories. Let us jump right to our (mostly fu- ties current enough to ace the enemy, must modern tomorrow, because lish Longbowmen prevailed over mounted ture centric) present, they would say. See not end up conveying wrong perceptions French knights. The ferocious French how the most formidable weapon systems among our own and the enemy. Wrong per- ‘modern’ is a relative knights would fall to English arrows much on ground today are vulnerable to lurking ceptions can lower own morale and elevate before they could get within striking dis- weaponised UAVs high up in the sky? the enemy’s. term. The cycle of shifting tance using long spears or swords from It is pointless to point out the fact atop their mounts. that Elephants became helpless when they Nations, not Militaries, Go to War superiority between competing As they pause to spot the degree to faced Artillery. That UAVs are easy fodder Chaotic democracies often forget that it which their target has been converted, for any half decent Anti-Aircraft weapon is the whole country that goes to war, and sides will go on for ever, for aficionados will not remember, that the system, is not acknowledged. That even not just the Armed Forces. Why I reserve superiority in technology dominance that Longbows brought to the a disruption of communication or cyber this comment for democracies is because, English lasted only till 1453, when French meddling could take the sting out of a in autocracies, no one is allowed to think is not amenable to being cannons and handguns slaughtered the weapon carrying UAV, is ignored. anyway. The Armed Forces are not some English Longbow men. Six centuries ago, it What is modern today, isn’t modern national team in a sporting duel. War, is one monopolised by any entity took long for new technologies to unseat tomorrow, because ‘modern’ is a relative area, where failure, though a possibility, is the older ones. Today, this could happen in term. The cycle of shifting superiority be- not an option. Since the entire nation goes

www.spsnavalforces.com a matter of hours. tween competing sides will go on forever, to war, every organ of the nation should be

8 Aero India 2021 Special xxxxxModernisation

involved in preventing or fighting a war. develop the necessary weapons well in the required sensors had been developed, The worldwide tendency There is a place for defence and offence time for them to be available for use at the and their operational clearances complet- for even the strongest power in the world. time of the upgrade. ed, including that of a new low frequency to view national security Any country faced with adversaries must There are other challenges to upgrad- dipping SONAR. This kind of progress was arrive at their National Military Objectives ing weapons and sensors. There is the possible because the countries involved in primarily through the prism of and then, based on the resources available, need to figure out the kind of threat they the project had, among them, the capability decide on the overall path to take towards should be capable of overcoming in their to conceptualise, design, develop, test and military affairs, that existed conflict resolution, assigning responsibili- lifetime. This calls for elaborate analysis of produce the technology and equipment ties to every arm of the state. Thus, capac- where the enemy is headed and any study they needed and the acquisition processes in the period around the two ity building for the Armed Forces is just can at best throw up only moderately ac- of the concerned Governments didn’t come World Wars, changed many one part of the solution. curate answers.There is the need to figure in the way. out the degree to which fore warning or decades ago Getting it Right information is required against every rel- Need for Change Several factors are salient while work- evant target for a sensor. There is also the The prevailing malady echoed in the words ing towards finding the best solution need to figure out upgrades being pursued of General Naravane, the Army Chief, at for capacity building and force structur- by the enemy to their equipment. With all an event organised recently by CII and the this narrative is what throws up Govern- ing, that ensures meaningful war fighting this, there is no surety that at the end of Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers. ments. This process may also contribute to capabilities. Defining what modernisation an ‘upgrade’ ascendancy is achieved over According to the wide reporting of the enhancing the understanding of national must mean, is important. Modernisation is the enemy. event on January 22, 2021, among other security among those involved in politics, achieved through fresh inductions as well An over arching consideration in the things, he remarked as to how procedures bureaucracy, industry, R&D, HR develop- as periodic upgrades. There are fundamen- Force Building/Capacity Creation process, were holding ‘modernisation’ hostage. He ment and academics. This understanding tal problems that afflict both these - pro is the costly, time consuming, requirement also said that “there are certain proce- comes best, when the myriad aspects of cesses, which are revealed by a closer look of building the necessary administrative dural lacunae in the procurement process, national security are imbibed from senior at any one of them. Let us take upgrades as structures and the infrastructure needed which primarily arise due to the overbear- school stage. No one can become an expert the example - to take on Training, Maintenance and Lo- ing nature of our rules and guidelines in with a few briefings and some limited read- Most military equipment, mainly plat- gistic requirements that will sprout with trying to ensure zero error.” As per him, ing, after reaching a position of influence. forms, undergo two types of ‘modernisa- every new induction. Since these consume the problem “is also aggravated by our own The worldwide tendency to view national tion’. One is a rejuvenation of its body a lot of our resources, there is prudence interpretation of rules.” He while stating security primarily through the prism of parts, hardware etc, which would suffer in choosing the technology as well as the that India was still dependent on imports military affairs, that existed in the period degradation from use and the effects of equipment required for every planned up- for several niche technologies, also admit- around the two World Wars, changed many age. This is akin to the denting, painting grade well in advance, so that the system ted, that “considering the quick pace of decades ago. Today, national security is kind of jobs on a car, which happen may can get around to acquiring it. defence modernisation undertaken by our associated with anything that can rob be once during the lifetime of a car. In a citizenry of their ability to lead a peace- warship or a big aircraft, with a designed photograph: US Navy ful, day to day life, without strife of any age of say, 25 to 35 years, this process kind. So, anything that prevents internal needs to happen once or twice during its turmoil too, is a mitigating factor that lifetime. Let us take the example of a large reduces national vulnerabilities, as any aircraft with a designed age of 30 years. half intelligent enemy would attempt to This aircraft would need a ‘Mid Life Up- exploit internal problems, to further their grade’ in its 15th year to its airframe, con- agenda. Then there is the need to moder- trol surfaces, controls, shafting, gearing nise mindsets that are still influenced by and such parts that would have suffered anything between the antiquated conflict wear and tear. This will ensure that the of the World War era and the unproven, aircraft remains healthy till the end of its promise filled world of fast and furious designed life. ‘future’ wars, with Star Wars like influence The other essential part of keeping a from Cyber, Space domains etc. There have platform or equipment healthy and useful to be modernisation of administrative pro- is upgradation of its electronics, sensors, cesses, especially capacity building proce- weapons, software etc. The Government of dures that are made rather narrow by their India officially allows automatic classifica- being known as procurement procedures. tion of electronics that has lived 10 years, Capacity building is way above procure- as obsolete. That means plans can auto- ment. There is also some requirement to matically be made for their replacement in curb the natural human propensity to do the 10th year, without pursuing approvals. old things with new resources. That is a Therefore, for an aircraft with a designed modernisation of the mind. life of 30 years, this part of it’s ‘Mid Life Upgrade’ would happen twice during its Military Preparedness life. This process makes the aircraft capa- The rhetoric of military modernisation ble of catching up with the world, and even Indian Navy aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya while participating in Exercise Malabar 2020 has an inseparable cousin, which is mili- going ahead of it. But it is just a matter of tary preparedness. In the common narra- time, that the enemy too does their own Getting There adversaries, we are lagging behind slightly. tive, what is not modern, is not prepared. upgrade that could unseat our recently up- There is another challenge with respect to The continuous and heavy dependence on Nothing can be farther from reality. graded aircraft from its position as numero the length of time required, for any new equipment of foreign origin needs to be The military functions around a core of uno in ‘modernity’. thought to materialise into a physical addressed in right earnest through indig- competence and adaptability to circum- While sensors, software etc can also be equipment on ground. In India, this period enous capability development.” stances. The highest Officer in uniform to upgraded in the same fashion, it may not is typically a minimum of 10 years. This Understandably, the reason behind the youngest soldier knows that all talk be possible for every weapon to be upgrad- automatically necessitates early planning extensive rule making and extra cautious of what hardware the future promises to ed. This is because a platform’s ability to and freezing of the requirements for the rule interpretation that General Naravane bring, is of no use to man or beast, when carry and deploy weapons is dependent on next upgrade, well in time. As an exam- refers to, is brought on by the real world conflict occurs. Every moment, the mili- the dimensions, weights etc of the weapon ple, since an aircraft might need its first requirements of our own brand of democ- tary is prepared to fight, with what it has as well as the location or capacity of inter- upgrade of electronics in 10 years from racy. Under our circumstances, erring on in its hands. They have no other option. nal storage spaces, or external hard points its entry into service, and since it takes at the side of caution is a practical recourse Down history, it was not modernity on the platform. The only way to ensure a least 10 years for the planning process to for Governments. However, it is also true brought on by technology that mostly smooth weapon upgrade is to design and see fruition, hypothetically, the planning that any amount of procedural caution has ensured victory. It was mostly more for the first upgrade must begin right at not prevented any Government from get- human factors that helped prevail over an the time the aircraft enters service. This ting stones cast at them. So, what do we enemy. Inspired military leadership at all What really needs sounds ridiculous, because who knows do? And at what cost do we do what we levels, relentless training with what was what planning factors would be relevant do? Many manifestations are out there, available at hand, high morale emanating modernisation are many for 10 years ahead and who would know crying for serious attention. For the Navy, from the confidence, people in uniform what technology would be available 10 MCMVs, Training ships, Multirole as well had about their own competence, the things beyond hardware. For years ahead? This is where the need for as utility helicopters are some of the lon- inner strength that people gained from telescoping the time taken from thought to gest pending ones. the conviction that they were engaged in instance, as a nation, the action, into two or three years, stand out fighting just conflicts and above every- as a dire need. This is possible only if the What needs ‘Modernisation’ thing else, their own raw courage, deter- common man’s understanding country has the necessary technological, What really needs modernisation are many mination and sacrifice. The above set of of what really constitutes industrial and fiscal capabilities. things beyond hardware. For instance, as a attributes, remain intact in us. We only An example from the multi country nation, the common man’s understanding need some modernisation in the atmo- national security, needs some NH90 programme of the erstwhile Euro- of what really constitutes national secu- sphere that surrounds this important pean Aeronautic Defence and Space Com- rity, needs some ‘modernisation’. This is constituent of national security. An atmo- ‘modernisation’. pany (EADS), is interesting. By the time the important because, in a true democracy, it sphere, where we all pull together, so that aircraft, after its first flight in 1995 was is the aspirations of the common man that the ship that the state is, attains the secu- ready for system integration around 2000, sets the narrative for domestic politics and rity it desires and deserves. SP

Aero India 2021 Special 9  UPGRADES

Converting Cheetah/Chetak as UAV for Ship Operations

With the advancements in drone technologies, there is a large proliferation of drone designers and manufacturers of different sizes and roles in India. There is thus a fair amount of skill set and knowledge available within India alone.

n Commodore (Dr) R.K. Rana (retd) in the Government of India; an ever grow- Naval Rotary Unmanned Aerial ing startup eco system and platform inte- Introduction gration capabilities acquired over a period Helicopters have been one of the important Vehicle (NRUAV) of time are the key drivers for the growth assets in the inventory of navy, coast guard in this sector. ships, offshore support vessels, offshore Conversion of Chetak to NRUAV zz Structures - Light weight, yet strong and rigs etc in a marine environment provid- • Fly-By-Wire controls durable metals as well as composites • Auto Take-off and Auto Landing TM333-2M2 Engine ing ability to quickly look at the situations zz Propulsion - Jet engines, Turbofan en- • High Power Engine - TM333-2M2 beyond the visual range. A highly agile and • Specific Payloads gines, DC motors, Fuel cells rapidly deployable resource, needing a • Safety Feature - Return Home Mode zz Batteries - Li-Ion small footprint to operate onboard ships, zz Advanced control algorithms because of its ability to vertical take-off zz Navigation - GPS, Inertial Navigation and land; move laterally as well as hover. zz Communications These characteristics have made them zz Sensors - an electro-optical/infrared New Hydraulics very useful in providing aerial observation, sensor/camera, maritime search radar, reconnaissance, surveillance and fighting and communications and electronic in- capabilities (anti submarine warfare, mine- ESM Communication Intelligence telligence sensors sweeping and mine countermeasures); zz New materials - Composites, nano ma- temporary forward listening posts; search terials and rescue missions; transfer of people zz Additive manufacturing or 3D printing Additional Fuel Tank and stores; evacuation during medical and zz Computer vision other emergencies; disaster management; Electronic Support Measure (ESM) zz Image processing - normal, thermal and law enforcements and many more. IR footages Electro Optical Pod Chetak (Alouette III) and Cheetah Maritime Patrol Radar zz Artificial Intelligence, Deep machine (LAMA SA 315-B) range of helicopters have learning been the backbone of Indian Armed Forces, Additional Electrical Systems zz Robotics Source: with the first delivery made by Hindustan zz Terrain mapping Aeronautics Ltd. way back in 1965 (Chetak) zz Swarming and in 1976 (Cheetah). Chetaks were built Helicopter UAVs can be operated in with technology transfer from SUD-AVI- Helicopter UAVs manual mode, with an expert piloting the ATION (former Eurocopter and presently UAV or autonomous mode, programmed to Airbus, ), in 1962 and Cheetah, from perform a specific task. But today’s tech- SNIAS in 1970. Northrop Grumman MQ-8 nology with manual drone is challenging HAL has till date produced over 350 Fire Scout, USA since it requires heavy pilot training and Chetaks and 275 Cheetahs with Indian needs constant attention during the op- Navy’s share of 80 Chetaks. Presently, 51 erations; limited support to any outages, Chetaks are in operation with Indian Navy. unless one has a trained technician/engi- Though these helicopters have per- neer onboard; prone to cyber attack. Global formed well in their prime, their replace- spending on UAVs is likely to reach more Schiebel Camcopter S-100, ments have been planned by all three wings than $100 billion in the next decade, with Austria of the armed forces. It is understood that the US government leading the spending. Army and Airfoce combined have given a requirement of 400 helicopters and the Global Initiatives Indian Navy is actively pursuing purchase Some of the companies have chosen helicop- of 111 Naval Utility Helicopters. Though a ters as their base platforms for building up Government to Government agreement has Boeing A160 Hummingbird, UAVs as they find them to be highly maneu- been signed for 200 Ka-226T Russian heli- USA verable and ability to fly in constrained copters in 2015, certain contractual issues spaces, though this maneuverability and are still being resolved. versatility comes at the expense of compli- Being of vintage and proven designs, a cated system dynamics and mechanisms. case of converting these light weight (ap- Some examples of the helicopter based proximately 2 to 2.25 tonnes) Chetaks and UAVs are as shown in the table. Cheetahs to operate as an Unmanned Aer- Airbus Helicopters VSR700 ial Vehicles (UAV) needs to be looked into, (under development), France Indian Initiatives as it offers many advantages (most impor- Development of UAVs started in India with tant being avoiding putting the pilot and the onset of practice targets (Pilotless Tar- aircrew in harm’s way). The solution to the get Aircrafts) by DRDO couple of decades challenges for shipboard operations will ago, which are the main stay for training emerge after detailed study, since similar of weapons crew of Indian Armed Forces. Saab Skeldar, Sweden examples do exist globally. Recognising the need and the benefits of UAVs, HAL in collaboration with Israel Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Aerospace Industries (IAI) Malat had sought With the advancements in drone technolo- to develop helicopter based Naval Rotary gies, there is a large proliferation of drone UAV (NRUAV) for the Indian Navy, way designers and manufacturers of different back in 2008. The aim was to leverage on sizes and roles, across the globe and in AR 500C, China the strength of an existing and well proven India. There is thus a fair amount of skill and robust helicopter Chetak, with more set and knowledge available, be it aca- powerful Turbomeca TM 333-2M2 engine, demia, DRDO, startups, public and private replacing Chetak’s avionics with the flight sector industry (numbering more than 500 control system from IAI’s Heron UAV. drone manufacturers) within India alone. The system was to have been designed Deep understanding of the following Black Eagle 50/60, Israel to carry a variety of ISR payloads including technologies in India, combined with in- SAR, EO, and SIGINT and was aimed to be tent, positivity, forward looking approach capable of missions of 6 hours in duration

www.spsnavalforces.com and support from the top most leadership and a range of 120 km from the launching

10 Aero India 2021 Special  Naval modernisation Boeing: Committed to Supporting Indian Aerospace and Defence photographs: Boeing

Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India, Surendra Ahuja, Managing Director, Michael Koch, Vice President, Ankur Kanaglekar, Director, India Fighters Lead, Vice President, Boeing International Boeing Defence India Boeing Defence, Space & Security, India Boeing Defense, Space & Security n SP’s correspondent Patuxent River, Maryland, demonstrating its compatibility with Indian Navy carriers. ith over seven decades of presence in India, Boeing Mission-readiness and modernisation of has supported the develop- Indian Navy ment of indigenous aero- Boeing plays an important role in the space and defence capa- mission readiness and modernisation of bilitiesW in the country. Through the years, Indian Navy. Boeing has invested in partnerships with zz India has 9 P-8Is with 3 more on order. players in the Indian aerospace ecosystem zz When we talk about Boeing and India, in diverse areas including skilling, research we are talking about several firsts. & technology, and manufacturing. – India is the largest and first interna- tional customer for P-8I aircraft. Strengthening partnerships for Make in – The Harpoon is the first US weapon India integrated on an Indian fighter Boeing has been steadily increasing its zz Boeing is working with the Indian Navy sourcing from India for its global manufac- (IN) to provide exceptional operational turing and supply chain. capability and readiness for the P-8Is zz Sourcing from India stands at $1 billion through sustainment contracts. a year from more than 250 suppliers zz India’s P-8I fleet is also supported that are manufacturing critical systems through Boeing’s services business and components for some of Boeing’s Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets Block Iii have been proposed for the Indian Navy by providing spares, ground support most advanced products. Its invest- equipment, and field service represen- ments in India are creating jobs and F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-15 Strike as a strategic destination for aerospace tative support. Boeing’s integrated lo- bolstering India’s manufacturing sector. Eagle engineering, maintenance, repair and sus- gistics support has enabled the highest zz Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited in Hy- zz Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) man- tainment services. state of fleet readiness at the lowest derabad – Boeing’s joint venture with ufactures F/A-18 gun bay doors possible costs. Tata Advanced Systems Limited, is Boeing continues to grow a globally Naval Fighters zz Since induction, the Indian Navy P-8I manufacturing Apache fuselages for competitive supplier base in India, with At a Boeing India news conference held in fleet has surpassed 29,000 flight hours. customers around the globe strong partnerships that are aligned with New Delhi, Boeing discussed the advan- zz Boeing’s training and support package zzDynamatic Technologies manufac- the government’s vision of an Aatmanirb- tages of the F/A-18 Block III offering for for the P-8I promises to increase pro- tures the ramp and complex aft pylon har Bharat (Self-Reliant India). the Indian Navy. The Super Hornet’s unique ficiency in a shorter time, while reduc- for Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. differentiators for the Indian Navy include ing the on-aircraft training time result- Rossell Techsys manufactures wire BIRDS Hub its two-seater carrier-compatibility capa- ing in increased aircraft availability for harness and electrical panel for the As part of the shaping and strengthening bility which provides operational flexibil- mission tasking. A 60,000 sq. ft. Train- AH-64 Apache, and the harness for al- the services strategy for the country, Boe- ity, and opportunities to integrate future ing Support and Data Handling Centre most all BDS platforms including V-22 ing has launched the Boeing India Repair technologies related to manned-unmanned is being set up at INS Rajali, Arakkonam Osprey Development and Sustainment (BIRDS) interface from aircraft carriers. The F/A-18 (the base for P8I fleet), with a secondary zz SASMOS HET Technologies manufac- Hub. BIRDS Hub is an initiative to bring Super Hornet recently successfully con- centre at Naval Institute of Aeronauti- tures electrical panel assemblies for the together ecosystem partners to shape India cluded ski-jump tests at Naval Air Station cal Technology (NIAT), . SP

The future of military ship. Chetak would have sported ELTA EL/ this project, as is evident from the figure Faster we adapt ourselves to the chang- MM-2022 as its multi mission radar pay- projected during Defexpo. The latest status ing paradigm of autonomous control of operations seems destined load for detection of small naval targets in of the same is not known. airspace in naval warfare, better it will be high sea states; provided ground moving In a fresh push towards ‘Make in In- for India. to get fought with machines targets indication (GMTI); strip and spot dia’, HAL, in cooperation with Aeronauti- Government of India and the Indian SAR modes; inverse synthetic aperture ra- cal Development Establishment (ADE) of Armed Forces have already realised this like drones and other dar (ISAR), range signature (RS) and many DRDO and IIT Kanpur is coming up with a fact and are eagerly inducting such plat- more features. This project somehow did smaller version (200 kg) of helicopter UAV, forms, which is very heartening and the autonomous systems not take off and was closed in 2017 ow- Rotary (RUAV- way to go forward to ensure technological replacing human beings. ing to the technological roadblocks. It is 200), a full scale model (as shown in the superiority. Recent demonstration of indig- understood that the main reason was IAI’s diagram) of which was showcased in Aero enous swarming technology on the Army Faster we adapt ourselves inability to prove the flight control system India 2019. Day parade in Delhi on January 15, 2021 is to take care of roll and pitch during land- a case in point. to the changing paradigm, ing and take-off on a naval ship in rough Conclusion Converting reliable and proven Chetak/ weather conditions. The future of military operations seems Cheetah helicopters for autonomous op- better it will be for India. It is understood that Aeronautical De- destined to get fought with machines like erations will provide much needed edge to velopment Establishment (ADE) of DRDO drones and other autonomous systems the Indian Navy and hence it is important has been taken onboard to continue with replacing human beings. to support such programme. SP

Aero India 2021 Special 11  Anti Submarine Warfare Aerial Submarine Hunters Detection of submarine is done primarily by a Sonobuoy and Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) - refers specifically to magnetometers used by military forces to detect submarines by observing the change in the magnetic field

photographs: Boeing, US Navy n Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) US Navy is working with Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) General Atomics Aeronautical Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) is aimed at locating, tracking and damaging/destroy- Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to ing a submarine. ASW measures can also deter a hostile submarine from entering develop ASW capability for prohibited zones. ASW can be carried from sub-surface, its new MQ-9B SeaGuardian surface and aerial platforms. Here the fo- cus will be on aerial platforms to include Unmanned Aerial System fixed wing, rotary wing and unmanned aer- (UAS). ial platforms. Detection of submarine is done primar- ily by a Sonobuoy and Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) - refers specifically to mag- netometers used by military forces to de- marines, conduct daring at-sea rescues and tect submarines by observing the change in engage undersea threats. the magnetic field. The weapon of choice The primary missions of the ‘Romeo’ is a torpedo apart from depth charges and helicopter are anti-submarine warfare and mines - all that can be launched from air. anti-surface warfare. Secondary missions in- clude search and rescue, logistics support, Fixed Wing Aircraft personnel transport, and medical evacu- P-8I. P8’s Indian variant is named P-8I. It can ation. The MH-60R avionics includes dual carry out long range Maritime surveillance, controls and instead of the complex array ASW, Anti Surface warfare and Search and of dials and gauges used in other versions, Rescue. Indian Navy has nine aircraft and it has four fully integrated 8” x 10” night three are expected to join the fleet soon. vision goggle-compatible and sunlight-read- Its speed is 490 knots (789 km/h), range is able colour multi-function displays, all part 1200+ nautical miles with 4 hours on the of glass cockpit produced by Owego Helo station (2,222 km) and ceiling is 12,496m. Systems division of Lockheed Martin. The P-8I features an international version of the onboard sensors include AN/AAR-47 Mis- Raytheon’s APY-10 radar, APS-143C(V)3 sile Approach Warning System by Northrop multimode radar with MAD. The internal Grumman (ATK), Raytheon AN/AAS-44 weapons bay can house Mark 54 torpedoes, electro-optical system that integrates FLIR depth charges and free-fall bombs. The and laser rangefinder AN/ALE-39 decoy under-wing hardpoints can be armed with dispenser and AN/ALQ-144 infrared jam- air-to-surface missiles. For ASW India has mer by BAE Systems and many more sen- purchased AGM-84L Harpoon Block II mis- sors. It has a digital communications suite, siles and Mk 54 All-Up-Round Lightweight common programmable keysets soon to torpedoes. For carrying out ASW High be replaced with trackball, fully integrated Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Global Positioning System and Inertial Navi- Capability (HAAWC), Air Launch Accessory gation System, Mass memory data storage (ALA) is required which turns the Mark 54 and rugged integrated mission computer. torpedo into a glide bomb for deploying For operations the helicopter is equipped from up to 9,100 m. The Harpoon Block II with a sonobuoy launcher, forward-look- carries a 226 kg blast / fragmentation war- ing infrared radar, multi-mode radar, dip- head and can be fired against land and sea ping sonar, integrated self-defence suite targets. Indian Navy participated in ASW and four weapon stations to carry hom- exercise Sea Dragon 2021 along with QUAD ing torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. The nations and Canada in Guam, flagging the type of sensors and other avionics the IN importance of ASW. has asked for is not known. The MH-60R C295. Derived from CN-235, propeller- Seahawk is the next generation of sub- driven tactical transport aircraft saw the marine hunters and anti-surface warfare twin-turboprop system revised into the helicopters. For naval combat missions, C295 with a lengthened fuselage. CASA (Top) Boeing P8-I; (Above) Lockheed Martin MH-60R Sea Hawk the MH-60R can be armed with AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles to perform has since fallen under the EADS brand on the ship and operate from its deck on as anti-surface warfare missions. It can be The primary missions of the which is now, itself, under the Airbus required basis. Some examples are:- also be armed with Northrop Grumman Military. The aircraft are manufactured Lockheed Martin MH-60R. The Indian (ATK) Mk50 or Mk46 active/passive light- ‘Romeo’ helicopter are anti- from the Airbus Military facility located Navy is in the process of acquiring 24 MH- weight torpedoes to conduct ASW. For its in Spain. A maritime patrol variant exists 60R helicopters to replace its Sea King ASW defence, the MH-60R is equipped with pin- submarine warfare and anti- as the C295 MPA “Persuader” and features fleet. The MH-60R is a multirole maritime tle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun. It has surface warfare. Secondary six hardpoints for the anti-submarine role. helicopter having a twin turboshaft engine a maximum and cruise speed of 267 km/h The model may be acquired by the British based on the US Army UH-60 Black Hawk and 168 km/h respectively, with a maxi- missions include search and and is already in service with the Chilean and a member of the Lockheed Martin mum flying range of 834 km. Navy with another deal to an unnamed (Sikorsky) S-70 family. It is the most ca- NH90 NFH (Naval Helicopter). rescue, logistics support, NATO member in the works. All fixed wing pable naval helicopter available today de- The NH90 NFH, offered by NH Industries, maritime patrol aircraft will have some signed to operate from frigates, destroyers, is an advanced ASW helicopter built by personnel transport, and form of ASW capability. cruisers and aircraft carriers. The US Navy Thales. The helicopter is operated by the was the first to adopt the MH-60R maritime Italian Navy, French Navy, Royal Nether- medical evacuation. Rotary Wing ASW Platforms helicopter in 2006. Since then, the Navy’s lands Navy, Norwegian Navy, and Belgian Rotary wing platforms are a very popular fleet has grown to 300 MH-60Rs that com- Navy. The NH90 NFH features a wide cabin

www.spsnavalforces.com choice for ASW as they can easily be carried plete missions like search for enemy sub- to accommodate special operation troops

12 Aero India 2021 Special  Unmanned Aerial Systems

Schiebel’s state-of-the-art CAMCOPTER S-100 UAV — Latest Missions and Current Capabilities

Manned-Unmanned Teaming Equinor cargo delivery in Norway

Red Bull Air Race Arctic, Norway Pacific Ocean, Australia

chiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 Ver- strated in cooperation with Airbus and Nordic Unmanned carried out the world’s Schiebel’s alternative option to its current tical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) its H145 helicopter. The S-100 achieved first full-scale offshore UAV delivery from propulsion unit. Unmanned Air System (UAS) is a Level of Interoperability (LOI) 5, which shore to an active oil and gas installation Another client of note is the European currently in use on five continents means it can be fully controlled from the for Equinor. The demonstration simulated Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). Schiebel with 33 customers. More than 350 operator in the helicopter, from takeoff to the scenario of an urgent requirement for was awarded a contract from EMSA back SUnmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) have flown a landing, receiving all information on board spare parts at the gas production Troll A in 2018 and has flown many missions for total of 100,000 hours so far. The S-100’s the manned aircraft. in Norway. The CAMCOPTER S-100 suc- them so far. The operations include mari- small footprint makes it the ideal solution Most recently, the French Navy ac- cessfully carried out the long-range deliv- time surveillance, coast guard functions, for small ships and it has operated from quired four additional S-100 UAVs, which ery and the demonstration also included search and rescue as well as emission more than 30 different ships with 10,000 will be integrated on their Mistral-class am- an aerial platform inspection as well as a monitoring. In 2020, the S-100 was oper- maritime flight hours and 2,000 deck land- phibious helicopter carriers Tonnere and simulated search and rescue mission. ated for EMSA in France, Denmark, Croatia ings to date. Mistral. The initial two S-100s were already Meanwhile in Australia, the Royal Aus- and Finland. The overall maximum payload capac- fully integrated on their helicopter carrier tralian Navy (RAN) has been operating the The proven system is ideally suited for ity is 50 kg and the multi-role, multi-do- Dixmude. This was the first time in Europe, CAMCOPTER S-100 since 2018. Currently, land and maritime operations and its flex- main asset has the ability to carry multiple a rotary wing UAS was fully operational the RAN UAVs are fitted with Schiebel’s ible and versatile capabilities allow Schieb- sensors or other payloads such as cargo. and connected to the defence system of an proprietary heavy fuel engine, the S2. Giv- el’s customers to utilise the UAV for nu- One of its capabilities includes Manned- amphibious helicopter carrier. en the single fuel policy adopted by the merous different operations, be it at land Unmanned Teaming, which was demon- In August 2020, Schiebel together with world’s navies, the heavy fuel engine is or at sea. SP

or wounded personnel along with ASW/ aircraft carrier. The Z-18F is equipped buoys as well as search radar. The Ka-27M MQ-9 drone successfully tracked a small ASuW systems such as mission consoles, with an electro-optic/infrared sensor, a is a recent version that is being tested and submersible target for three hours us- Sonobuoys, electronic support measures dipping sonar, and a chin-mounted sur- evaluated by the Russian Navy. The heli- ing 10 sonobuoys dropped from it. On (ESM) and countermeasures. It has a take- face search radar. It can carry up to 32 so- copter is capable of firing torpedoes and November 24, 2020, GA-ASI successfully off weight of 11 tonne and can operate nobuoys and four Yu-7 light-weight ASW anti-submarine missiles and can also be demonstrated an ‘A’ size sonobuoy car- from a variety of vessels day and night torpedoes or YJ-9 anti-ship missiles. Z- armed with PLAB-250-120 anti-submarine riage, release, process and control from and in all weather conditions. The helicop- 18F ASW helicopter can attain a top speed bombs and OMAB bombs. The Ka-27 has a a company-owned MQ-9A Block 5. GA-ASI ter is installed with FLASH (Folding Light of more than 330 km/h and a maximum flight range of 900 km. first demonstrated a sonobuoy remote Acoustic System for Helicopters) dipping range of 900 km. processing capability in 2017 from an sonar/sonics systems to detect quiet sub- Ka-27/Ka-28. The Kamov Ka-27 heli- Unmanned Systems MQ-9A. Since then, GA-ASI has added a So- marines operating in the open ocean and copter was developed for the Soviet Navy General Atomics’ SeaGuardian. The Indian nobuoy Management and Control System in littoral waters. The helicopter can be and was inducted in 1982. The first pro- Navy has taken on lease two SeaGuardian (SMCS) to monitor and control deployed armed with two MU90/Mk46 or Stingray duction variant was the Ka-27PL. Its export drones to enhance surveillance over the sonobuoys and has developed a pneu- ASW torpedoes, has a range of 982 km, version is the Ka-28. Currently it is in ser- Indian Ocean Region (IOR) but they can matic sonobuoy dispenser system (SDS) and can conduct ASW missions for up to vice with various countries. The Ka-27 re- also be deployed in the Ladakh region if capable of safely carrying and deploying four hours. tains Kamov’s well-proven contra-rotating the need arises. The two non-weaponised 10 US Navy compliant ‘A’ size or 20 ‘G’ Z-18F. The Z-18F is an anti-submarine co-axial rotor configuration. This helicop- MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones have been size sonobuoys per pod. In a standard variant of the Z-18 medium-lift helicopter ter has no tail rotor, which allows to reduce leased for one year with an option of Maritime ISR and ASW configuration, Sea- developed by the Changhe Aircraft Indus- footprint on ships. This ASW helicopter is extending the period by another year. Guardian’s endurance exceeds 18 hours, try Group (CAIG). The helicopter, with a extremely stable and easy to fly with au- The US Navy is working with General having a mission radius of 1200 nauti- maximum take-off weight of 13.8 tonne, tomatic height hold, automatic transition Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA- cal miles with eight hours of on-station can be deployed on smaller surface com- to and from the hover, and auto hover are ASI) to develop ASW capability for its new time for submarine detection and track- batants of the People’s Liberation Army possible in all weather conditions. The Ka- MQ-9B SeaGuardian Unmanned Aerial Sys- ing, providing a low-cost complement to Navy (PLAN). It forms a part of the heli- 27PL has all the usual ASW and ESM equip- tem (UAS). GA-ASI stated on January 20, manned aircraft for manned-unmanned copter wing aboard the Liaoning (CV-16) ment including dipping sonar and sono- 2021 that during recent tests, the Navy’s teaming (MUM-T) operations. SP

Aero India 2021 Special 13  Unmanned systems The Year of Heron TP

(Left to Right) IAI Heron TP UAS significantly enhances mission capabilities

he proliferation of drones in India” and “self-reliance” policy. The to the water and transmit sonar data to the soon become the second op- in conflict areas highlight the role strategic partnership with the Indian cor- aircraft. With this equipment the Heron can erator of Heron TP, following the award of of large un manned aircraft sys- porations will allow the implementation detect submarines underwater and track €1 Billion contract to Airbus in June 2018. tems (UAS) have in modern con- of optimal solutions for the needs of the them at periscope depth. On such missions The contract funds operational leasing of flicts. The USA, China and Israel Indian forces based on their specific tech- Herons are launched from land bases but five Heron TP drones, for a period of nine- Tare currently the sole providers of large UAS, nologies and needs. can be controlled from ships at sea. At year. The project will have a two-year set- platforms that offer long mission endurance twice the speed of other drones, and long up phase, followed by an operational phase and missions versatility. One of the largest, New Mission Capabilities mission endurance, the TP can cover larger lasting a further seven years. most advanced systems is the Heron TP Heron TP is well configured to carry multi- areas, deep at sea. Flying higher than other “This project will provide the from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). ple payloads in a large internal payload bay, drones and using EO payloads covering ex- Bundeswehr with an even more efficient Equipped with the most advanced avi- universal payload attachments and under- tremely long range, Heron TP significantly system that will better protect soldiers in onics, line of sight and satellite commu- wing hardpoints. Such payloads include enhances mission capabilities of maritime a wide range of threat situations as well as nications and multiple mission payloads, electro-optical systems, SAR and maritime surveillance and ASW, in its ability to move the at-risk civilian population,” Jana Rosen- Heron TP climbs up to 45,000 ft, high search , COMINT and ELINT sys- quickly to new positions and recognize mann, Head of Unmanned Aerial Systems above commercial air traffic routes, where tems and persistent surveillance systems targets without descending to a lower alti- at Airbus said. HERON TP will also get mili- it can operate on missions spanning over designed for operation from standoff range. tude, or from stand-off range. tary certification from the German Armed 30 hours, carrying more than 1,000 kg of In addition to the payloads integrated Forces aviation authority in accordance payloads. The robust structural design fea- into the aircraft Heron TP can also carry A Good Year for Heron TP with STANAG 4671 allowing the system to tures double boom, twin-tail design that mission payloads in underwing pods. Such Operationally deployed with Israel’s Air be used around the world. are most suitable for such missions, of- EO pods can deliver in real-time a 3D im- Force (IAF) since 2010 Heron-TP per- A month after the German announce- fering better antennae separation, optimal age of the ground scene, other sensors de- formed countless missions extended far- ment the Indian government approved coverage, and a stable platform necessary signed for persistent surveillance, provide ther and longer than any other manned the procurement of Heron-TP platforms to for precision signal measurements. continuous coverage of large areas, moni- or unmanned aerial combat system. “90 augment the fleet of Heron Is operated by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed toring all movements over time, enabling percent of our activity covers the northern the Indian Air Force. Similar to the German at DefExpo 2020 a strategic collaboration analysts to follow objects of interests by theater, where we are required to provide configuration, these platforms will offer MOU (memorandum of understanding) specific parameters, such as vehicles type, persistent surveillance and real-time intel- enhanced mission capabilities, address- with a focus on UAVs with India’s Hin- shape and color, define life patterns and ligence” 210th squadron leader, Lt. Colonel ing an urgent Indian requirement for un- dustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and identify anomalies from such patterns. S. said, “Heron TP enables us to operate manned weapon carrying platforms. The Dynamatic Technologies Limited (DTL). A new capability supported by the farther and extend our vision even longer”. new Heron TP platform will further extend The MOU will reflect existing capabilities Heron TP is maritime anti-submarine sur- In 2018 the IAF took delivery of additional these capabilities of current Heron I, en- developed by IAI over the years and pro- veillance, integrating maritime surveillance Heron TPs that significantly increases the able the Indian operators to fly missions mote the production of Indian UAVs, in radar, EO payload, magnetic anomaly detec- UAV fleet size and contribute to increase higher, farther and with more versatile, line with the Indian Government’s “Make tor (MAD) and sonobuoys that are dropped operational flight hours by 70%. heavier loads. SP

 bi-lateral India, Singapore to Cooperate in Submarine Rescue

n Ranjit Kumar expressed commitment to further elevate tenance support service. South China Sea maritime power. Though the scale of defence engagements between After the induction of this rescue sys- Singapore Navy is not a big naval force, it s Singapore Navy augments the armed forces as well as in the areas of tem, the then Indian Navy Chief Admiral has a robust capability to deter any aggres- its underwater war fighting defence technology and industry. During Sunil Lanba had said, “The DSRV induction sion in its waters. assets, it has entered into a the dialogue the two ministers discussed is a landmark event and it marks the culmi- Singapore Navy possesses four pow- significant agreement with the the new areas of potential cooperation and nation of years of focussed efforts of the erful submarines, two of which belong to Indian Navy, which will come articulated their vision in this direction. Navy, in acquiring niche submarine rescue Challenger and two to Swedish Archer Ato the rescue of Singaporean submarines in Indian Navy has, in recent years, ac- capability. With these capabilities, the Indi- Class. With these capabilities, the Singapore times of crisis or a major accident. Similarly, quired much desired new capabilities in an Navy has joined select league of navies Navy is one of the more capable maritime Indian Navy can also count on Singaporean submarine rescue. In 2016, Indian Navy that operate such systems. forces among South East Asian countries. submarine rescue capabilities while roaming had entered into a 193 million pound Since, Singapore is India’s strongest In recent years, Singapore has been look- in South China Sea. This cooperation agree- agreement with the British firm JFD to sup- strategic ally in South East Asian region, it ing to further boost its fleet by inducting ment for submarine rescue, will also enable ply two third-generation fly away rescue is significant that the two maritime powers new attack submarines from Germany’s Indian Navy to enhance submarine patrol in systems and both were delivered in late have joined hands to allow seamless opera- ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The new the South China Sea region. 2018. Since then Indian Navy has complet- tions of each other’s underwater platforms. submarines of the Invincible class are ex- An agreement to this effect was signed ed final sea acceptance trials. Prior to this Singapore already has a deep rescue vessel pected to be delivered starting this year. In on January 20, 2021 after the conclusion Indian Navy had an arrangement with US named MV Swift Rescue, which was induct- this backdrop, Singapore’s move to enter in of India-Singapore defence dialogue led Navy to provide rescue and support ser- ed in 2008 which helped Singapore emerge submarine rescue cooperation agreement by Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh vices to Indian submarines. Only a select as the first maritime power in South East with Indian Navy is significant. and Singaporean defence minister Dr Ng few countries have this kind of capabilities. Asia to possess submarine rescue facility. The navies of the two countries have Eng Hen. Jointly chairing the virtual fifth The contract with JFD included Deep The agreement with Indian Navy will sup- developed intimate relations over the de- defence ministers dialogue, Rajnath Singh Search and Rescue Vehicles (DSRV), Launch plement both navies capabilities in rescue cades and presently the two navies are an- and Dr Ng Hen expressed satisfaction at the and Recovery Systems (LARS) equipment, of submarines in deep distress. nually conducting anti submarine warfare growing defence ties between the two coun- Transfer Under Pressure (TUP) systems As Indian and Singaporean Navies al- exercises called Singapore – India bilateral tries. Both sides reviewed the progress of and all logistics and support equipment re- ready enjoys strong navy to navy coopera- maritime exercises (SIMBEX). Besides, the various bilateral defence cooperation initia- quired to operate the service. The contract tion, this latest agreement will go a long two countries are also cooperating in the

SP www.spsnavalforces.com tives being pursued over the last year and includes a 25 year all encompassing main- way in further strengthening links with a domain of Air Force and Army.

14 Aero India 2021 Special  News / appointments

Indian Navy Conducts Joint Exercise the DAC under the new regime of Defence the limitations imposed by COVID-19. They with Army and Air Force Acquisition Procedure 2020 and these are also exchanged views on the plan of action Publisher and Editor-in-Chief the first set of Acceptance of Necessity that has emanated from the recently con- Jayant Baranwal (AoNs) accorded with majority AoNs being cluded Virtual Summit between Prime Minis- Deputy Managing Editor Neetu Dhulia accorded in the highest categorization of ter Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of the Senior Technical Group Editor Buy Indian (IDDM). 6 of the 7 proposals, Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. Nguyen Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) that is, `27,000 Crore (about $3.6 billion) Xuan Phuc in December 2020. New areas of Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) out of `28,000 crore will be sourced from defence cooperation were also discussed. Principal Correspondent the Indian industry. Modular Bridges are Ayushee Chaudhary being acquired for the Army and the rest is Indian navy ships to be fitted with Contributors for the Navy and the Air Force. Laser Dazzler India Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has signed Admiral Sunil Lanba (Retd) FOC-in-C a contract with the Indian Navy for the Vice Adm Shekhar Sinha (Retd) Vice Adm K.N. Sushil (Retd) A large-scale tri-service joint amphibious (ENC) reviews operational readiness supply of 20 Light Amplification by Stimu- Vice Adm Anup Singh (Retd) exercise AMPHEX – 21 was conducted in Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain FOC-in-C lated Emission of Radiation Dazzlers (Laser Vice Adm Satish Soni (Retd) Andaman & Nicobar from January 21–25, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) reviewed the Dazzlers) on December 31, 2020. BEL had Cmde G. Prakash (Retd) 2021. The exercise involved participation operational preparedness and combat-readi- earlier won the contract beating global Saloni Salil of Naval ships, amphibious troops of the ness of Eastern Fleet at sea over four days. 22 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) Europe Alan Peaford, Doug Richardson, Andrew Brookes Army and different types of aircraft from ships of the Eastern Fleet participated in the in buy global category. The Laser Dazzler (UK) the Air force. It was aimed at validating Operational Readiness Inspection. During the is used as a non-lethal method for warn- USA & Canada India’s capabilities to safeguard the territo- review, force protection against asymmetric ing and stopping suspicious vehicles/ Lon Nordeen (USA), Anil R. Pustam (West Indies) rial integrity of it’s island territories. It also attacks, weapon firings, anti-submarine drills boats/aircrafts/UAVs/pirates etc. from West Asia/Africa sought to enhance operational synergy and including torpedo firings and fleet manoeu- approaching secured areas during both H.R. Heitman (S. Africa) joint warfighting capabilities amongst the vres were demonstrated under realistic con- day and night. It is capable of dazzle and Chairman & Managing Director three Services. ditions. The fleet was put through paces to thereby suppress the person’s/optical sen- Jayant Baranwal The exercise involved multi-faceted showcase the multi-dimensional warfare sor’s action with disability glare in case of Executive Vice President maritime operations by synergised employ- capabilities in protecting the vast maritime non-compliance to orders. Laser dazzler (Planning & Business Development) Rohit Goel ment of amphibious assault ships, surveil- borders and offshore assets of the country. technology was developed by DRDO. lance platforms, execution of maritime air Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, Manager – HR & Admin Bharti Sharma strikes and complex manoeuvres at sea. the Eastern Fleet has maintained a very high Global Naval ISR market to reach Assistant Manager – HR & Admin Airborne insertion of Marine Commandos ops tempo to meet all national tasking in and $15. 9 Billion by 2027 Pooja Tehlani of Navy and Special Forces of the Army, beyond the Indian Ocean Region, including Reportlinker.com announced the release Deputy Manager – Circulation naval gunfire support, amphibious land- events in wake of the Galwan crisis. of the report “Global Naval ISR Industry Rimpy Nischal ing of forces and follow-on operations also on January 22, 2021. Global Naval ISR mar- [email protected] formed part of the exercise. Ex KAVACH Coastal Defence Exercise Sea Vigil 21 ket to reach $15. 9 Billion by 2027. Surface Group Research Associate for defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Naval Vessels ISR, one of the segments anal- Survi Massey formed a part of AMPHEX – 21. A joint in- ysed in the report, is projected to record 3.2 Design telligence, surveillance and reconnaissance per cent CAGR (Compound annual growth Vimlesh Kumar Yadav, Sonu Singh Bisht exercise under the aegis of HQ Integrated rate) and reach $10.5 Billion by the end of Group Director – Sales & Marketing Defence Staff was also run concurrently the seven years . This analysis has taken Neetu Dhulia to achieve Maritime Domain Awareness by into account the business implications of Deputy Director – Sales Rajeev Chugh employment of a multitude of sensors. the pandemic. Growth in the Underwater SP’s Website Naval Vessels ISR segment is readjusted to Sr. Web Developer: Shailendra Prakash Ashish Launch of ‘Himgiri,’ First Ship of a revised 2.2 per cent CAGR for the next Web Developer: Ugrashen Vishwakarma Project 17A 7-year period. The US market is estimated Published bimonthly by Jayant Baranwal on at $3.9 billion, while China is forecast to behalf of SP Guide Publications Pvt Ltd. All Exercise Sea Vigil 21, the two day coastal grow at 2.7 per cent CAGR and reach $2.8 rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, defence exercise was conducted on Janu- billion. Competitors identified in this mar- or transmitted in any form or by any means, ary 12-13, 2021. The conceptual and geo- ket include are Atlas Elektronik GmbH, BAE photocopying, recording, electronic, or otherwise graphical expanse of Sea Vigil included Systems PLC, General Dynamics Corpora- without the prior written permission of the the entire coastline and EEZ of the coun- tion, Harris Corporation, Leonardo DRS, publishers. try and contingencies from Peace to War- Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Printed in India time were exercised. In addition, mitigation Grumman Corporation and Raytheon Com- by Kala Jyothi Process Pvt Ltd measures, on shore, in case of any breach pany apart from other companies. © SP Guide Publications, 2021 in coastal security were also validated. The Subscription/ Circulation Annual Inland: `600 • Overseas: US$180 exercise involved deployment of the entire Delivery of Tsirkon hypersonic E-mail: [email protected] Himgiri, the first of the three Project 17A coastal security apparatus and more than missile to its armed forces in 2022 [email protected] ships being built at Garden Reach Ship- 110 surface assets of Indian Navy (IN) and In November 2020, the Project 22350 frig- Letters to the Editor builders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Coast Guard (CG) participated in the exer- ate Admiral Gorshkov had successfully test- [email protected] Kolkata, was launched on December14, cise. In addition, a large number of Marine fired a Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile For Advertising Details, Contact: 2020 with CDS General Bipin Rawat being Police and Customs assets were also from the White Sea. The Tsirkon hypersonic [email protected] the Chief Guest Madhulika Rawat, wife of deployed. This exercise also validated the missile can be fired by warships and sub- [email protected] CDS, launched the ship to the chanting of technical surveillance infrastructure called marines of projects 885 and 885M. Bastion SP GUIDE PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD invocations from the Atharva Veda. The the National Command, Control, Commu- coastal launchers can also carry new hyper- POSTAL ADDRESS Corporate Office ship has taken its name and crest of the nication and Intelligence (NC3I) Network. sonic missiles. The Tsirkon hypersonic mis- A 133 Arjun Nagar, Opp Defence Colony, second Frigate of the Leander Class of The Information Management and Analysis sile, also named 3M-22 was designed by New Delhi 110003, India ships, which incidentally was launched 50 Centre (IMAC) at Gurugram and its various NPO-machinostroeniya. The missile can fly Tel: +91(11) 24644693, 24644763, 24620130 years ago in 1970. Under the Project 17A nodes across IN and CG stations were exer- at a maximum speed of Mach 9, an altitude Fax: +91 (11) 24647093 E-mail: [email protected] programme, a total of seven ships, four at cised for coordinating the surveillance and of 30-40 km, a payload from 300 to 400 kg Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) information dissemination mechanism. and a length of 8-10 meters. It is capable of Representative Offices BENGALURU, INDIA and three ships at GRSE are being built hitting both ground and naval targets up Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd), 204, Jal Vayu Vihar, with enhanced stealth features, advanced 13th India-Vietnam Defence Security to a distance of 1,000 km. The missile will Kalyan Nagar, Bengaluru 560043, India. indigenous weapon and sensor fit along Dialogue have a conventional warhead but specula- Tel: +91 (80) 23682204 with several other improvements. Since its tion abounds that it could carry a nuclear MOSCOW, RUSSIA inception, Project 17A has upheld India’s warhead in the future. According to military LAGUK Co., Ltd, Yuri Laskin, Krasnokholmskaya, Nab., vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat. Project 17A sources, the Tsirkon missile will have a light 11/15, app. 132, Moscow 115172, Russia. ships are sourcing 80 per cent of the mate- version that will be air-deployed, likely from Tel: +7 (495) 911 2762, rial/ equipment required for the project a Tupolev Tu-160/M/M2 jet. SP Fax: +7 (495) 912 1260 from indigenous vendors and with employ- www.spguidepublications.com ment generation for over 2000 Indian firms www.spsnavalforces.com and MSMEs within the country. Appointments RNI Number: DELENG/2008/25836 Vice Admiral Sandeep Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, co- Naithani, assumed charge approves proposals to procure chaired the 13th India-Vietnam Defence as the Controller Warship MEMBER / PARTNER OF equipment worth `27,000 crore Security Dialogue along with his Vietnam- Production and Acquisition The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) ese co-chair Sr Lt General Nguyen Chi Vinh, on December 21, 2020. held under the Chairmanship of the RM Deputy Defence Minister, Socialist Republic Surg Vice Admiral Naveen approved Capital Acquisition proposals of Vietnam on January 12, 2021. During Chawla, has assumed of various Weapons/Platforms/Equip- their virtual interaction, Defence Secretary appointment of Director ment/Systems for the Defence Forces at an and the Deputy Defence Minister expressed General Medical Services approximate overall cost of `28,000 crore satisfaction at the ongoing defence coopera- (Navy) on January 28, 2021. on December 17. This is the first meeting of tion between the two countries in spite of

Aero India 2021 Special 15 over 10 000 maritime flight hours over 2 000 deck landings operated from 30+ ships powerful heavy fuel engine EXTENSIVEEXTENSIVE SHIPBOARDSHIPBOARD EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE UNMANNED MARITIME ISR

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