First made in India battle tank set to roll out

India's first indigenously produced main battle tank will roll out of its production hub in southern India on Saturday, the defence ministry said.

The Arjun tank, which was conceived in 1983 but has faced many hurdles, will be officially handed over to the army by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the ministry said in a press release Tuesday.

Designed and developed by India's Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment, the 3.5 billion dollar project is the most prestigious conceived by the Indian defence establishment.

However, the project had been mired in one controversy after another as many experts questioned its viability. The army also found that Arjun lacked many vital features during tests in Rajasthan in 1994.

Announcing Arjun's official launch, the ministry said the tank has a "high degree of mobility, superior firepower and excellent protection."

It said the tank's computer-controlled fire control system provides accurate and faster target acquisition capability day and night and in all weather.

http://www.newsonair.com/Top_stories/Top_stories03.html

no slopes? :o

armor plating is optimized if it is angled at 60 degrees, making the armor 133% ? more effective against horizontal/linear attack. This principle operates on right angles, since the thickness of the armor is determined not by its breadth or normal vertical thickness but by its hypotenuse - the longest side of its right traingle.



I dont see any slopes on this tank... maybe this principle is outdated... with the current introduction of modern armor such as chobham or depleted uranium, or armor supplements like reactive surface coating, etc. but still, NO SLOPES???
look at the boxy turret

I think the designers saw no need for a turret slope, look at that glacis plate - its at least a foot thick . I don't know if the Indians have access to Chobham or Dorchester armor tech but its certainly special composite armor because of the thickness.

dorchester? is this a new armor type bos alamid?

if i may... :)

dorchester armor is 4th generation chobham armor..its found on chally 2 and leo 3 mbt's

The secretive military research facility that developed the Chobham armor is located in the British village of Chobham Common, hence the name. I don't know why the upgraded Chobham is called Dorchester, maybe the Brits are just fond of designating their miltech after place names.

The exact composition of Chobham and Dorchester armor is not known but it is basically a composite of different metals, ceramics, plastics, rubber that are layered in a certain sequence, with spacings between some of the layers. Each layer material is best suited to stop a particular type of attack. By layering all the various materials, excellent protection can be offered against HEAT, HESH, and Kinetic projectiles of all kinds.

The US M1 Abrams MBT uses a variation of the Chobham and current SEP upgrades have DU plates/layers added..

Alamid, the Arjun's armor is indigenous composite designated Kanchan, it is made of composite steel, titanium and ceramic embedded together. The Kanchan is said to be as capable as Chobham but then this claim is yet to be proven true in combat.

:exactly: unless proven in combat, such claims are purely hypothetical. The Chally 2 is supposed to have the best armor but then only a direct hit in combat situation can affirm this.

against Pakistan's Al Khalid or China's T MBTs, the Arjun will probably smoke em. :pistols:

Chinese tanks(which are based on russian design) have had the reputation of having their turrets knocked off the vehicle after a side hit. This negates any possibility of a counterattack.

The new type 98 tank is of no exception to this "Chinese tank sickness." this time, its weak spot is at its front, [QUOTE]To accommodate more equipment and rounds, the Type 98's turret is slightly larger than that of the Type 90, which has resulted in a gap between turret and the hull in the front. This could be a major disadvantage in the battle as the whole turret might be blown off if the gap is hit.

more info here

The IAF showing the USAF some tricks :armysmile:

Jaguar thunder rips US shield

Indian Air Force bombers returned to base today after war games hosted by the US in Alaska in which they claimed to have penetrated through US air defence twice, it was disclosed at a “hot debriefing” at their base in Ambala this afternoon.

The IAF had deployed six Jaguar deep-penetration strike aircraft to Alaska for the fortnight-long Exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder 04-01 that ended on July 30. The IAF had also sent two IL-76 heavy-duty transporters, its two new IL-78 refuellers and more than 200 personnel led by Group Captain S. Nanodkar.

Air force sources said the Jaguars had penetrated through defensive cover and scored “direct hits” on ground targets in ranges in Alaska. The war games involved sorties from the Eielson and Elmendorf air force bases. The war games are hosted by the US Pacific Command Air Force.

In February this year, in war games hosted by India named Cope India, IAF MiGs gave the US air force F-15Cs a hard time. It was acknowledged by a US military journal, Inside the Air Force, and by a general of the US Air Combat Command, Hal Hornburg, that the exercise had revealed that the US air force capabilities were not as vastly superior as had been presumed.

Details of war games are slow to emanate because participants do not want to comment before analysing the experience. The team was taken for the “hot debriefing” as a routine in Ambala, the home base of the Jaguars that were deployed, for the IAF top brass to assess the results of the war games.

Exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder 04-01 was a multinational Dissimilar Combat Training Exercise that involved air forces from Asia-Pacific and Nato countries — Canada, the UK, Germany, Mongolia, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia among others. Not all countries deployed fighter aircraft.

The Indian Air Force began an intensive series of international exercises with Exercise Garuda with the French in Gwalior last year. That was an eye-opener for the IAF which took a beating in the drill with French Mirages, some flown by pilots who had seen action in the skies over Kosovo. The French had superior avionics with ability to strike Beyond Visual Range.

In the India-US exercise in February this year, the Americans had deployed ageing aircraft that are part of the US air force frontline but cannot be said to be at the cutting edge, technologically.

The Indian Air Force is now preparing contingents for fresh international exercises in September and October. Next month, an IAF contingent comprising four Mirage 2000 multi-role aircraft from their home base in Gwalior will fly to South Africa for another multinational exercise hosted by the South African Air Force called Exercise Golden Eagle.

The contingent, to be led by Group Captain T.S. Ahluwalia, will leave Gwalior on September 11 and include an IL 79 heavy transporter and an IL 78 refueller. Gwalior is the base for two IAF Mirage squadrons and the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment that draws up plans for drills and war games. The contingent will fly to Thiruvananthapuram and is likely to touch down in Mauritius and Madagascar.

The South African Air Force is also known to fly a different variant of Mirage fighters. Also participating in Exercise Golden Eagle will be elements of the US, German and the British air forces.

In October, the IAF will engage six F-16 fighters being brought over by the Singapore Air Force.

The IAF does not have the American F-16s in its inventory but the Pakistan Air Force flies the aircraft. The exercises with the Singapore force will include sorties over Kalaikunda, Gwalior and Pokhran in mid-October.
-------------------------

telegraphindia

:demon: Upping the ante...

August 30, 2004

BHUBANESHWAR, India: India on Sunday successfully tested its indigenous Agni-II ballistic missile, the military said as it announced it was armed with a shorter-range version of the nuclear-capable missile.

The medium-range Agni-II (Fire), with a maximum range of 2500km, was fired from a mobile launcher on Wheeler Island off eastern Orissa state, officials said.

Agni-II has been flight-tested three times since 1999, the previous occasion being in January 2001.

"The launch of Agni II from its rail mobile launcher met all the mission objectives, including achieving the high accuracy in guiding the payload to the designated target at a 12,00km range," project chief R.N. Agarwal said in New Delhi.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...5E31477,00.html

Goa Shipyard begins work on CG vessels (Aug 16-31, 04)
By Prashant C. Trikannad

Goa Shipyard Ltd is building an Advance Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Coast Guard. The keel of the 105-metre offshore patrol vessel, the first of its class to be built by the shipyard, was laid in July. The vessel has been indigenously designed. The AOPV is scheduled for delivery in 41 months.

The AOPV would be the biggest vessel in the series to be designed for the Coast Guard. It is suitable for patrolling and policing the maritime zone, and search and rescue operations. The vessel will have ALH helicopter staging facility for long-range all-time search, rescue and surveillance operations. It will be fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment automated by an integrated bridge system.

The vessel has a deep displacement of 2,250 tonnes powered by two pilestick-20PA6B STC engines developing 7,710 KW each at 1,050 RPM and having a speed of 24 knots. It is centrally air-conditioned and can accommodate 126 persons on board.

Goa Shipyard is also constructing another five Extra Fast Patrol Vessels for the Coast Guard. The EFPVs are to be delivered in 24 months.
These 50-metre long vessels, with a displacement of 260 tonnes, are primarily designed for patrolling, anti-smuggling and anti-terrorist operations. It can also support the Indian Navy during wartime as a coastal convoy escort and a communication link. This vessel is fitted with a 30mm gun forward, and machine guns on port and starboard.
GSL is also expecting orders for building Sail Training Ship, Naval OPV MCMV and ACV project from the Navy. The company has so far built 52 vessels for the Navy and 12 vessels for the
Coast Guard.

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=8058

Dazzling show of Indian military might on R-day:

[India News]: New Delhi, Jan 22 : India's nuclear-capable Agni and Prithvi missiles, cruise missile Brahmos and advanced military hardware will be showcased at the annual Republic Day parade here Jan 26.

A wide-range of high-tech weapons including the indigenously developed ground surveillance system Samyukta, multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka, and the armoured engineering reconnaissance vehicle (AERV) would be offered for public viewing at the parade.

For the first time, a de-mining vehicle, Hyderma, and a Mat Ground Surface (CL-70), an aluminium sheet that allows tanks to traverse marshy surface, would be displayed.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will take the salute at the parade, whose chief guest would be Bhutan's King Jigme Singye Wangchuk.

A large number of contingents from the armed forces, police, paramilitary forces and ex-servicemen will form part of the marching contingents, Parade Commander Major General Thomas Mathew told reporters here.

Maj. Gen. Mathew would lead the parade, which he said would be "grand" as usual. But the parade's duration had been cut to keep the people's interest alive.

Earlier reports had hinted that the Dec 26 tsunami disaster that killed thousands in India had a bearing on the decision.

The reduction was made in the mechanised column (12 compared to last year's 13), state tableaux (22 as against 28 earlier) and children's pageant (eight compared to 12 last year).

But other features of the parade like navy, air force and paramilitary columns would be intact.

Eighteen of the 19 National Bravery Award winners would participate in the parade riding on caparisoned elephants. One recipient will be presented the award posthumously.

An impressive flypast by planes and helicopters of the Indian Air Force would mark the grand finale.

--Indo-Asian News Service

NewKerala

Indian AF Su-30MKIs Nearly Ready

Russia delivered the last 10 Su-30MKI fighters to India in December 2004, completing a contract for 50 of the modern fighter bombers. But this milestone does not mark the end of development for the SU-30MKI, which in the following years will gain new capabilities . The Su-30MKI ranks as one of the worlds most formidable tactical aircraft, and is one of the US Air Force's justifications for procuring the expensive F/A-22 Raptor .

The Indian Air Force recently received the last 10 Su-30MKI fighters from Russia, completing a contract for 50 of the modern fighter bombers. India also has an agreement to build the Su30MKI under license and is expected to produce 140 of the aircraft. Shown here is an Indian Air Force Su-30MKI during the recent Aero India show.

The first eight Su-30Ks, which were not much different from standard Su-27UB aircraft, were delivered to India between March and June 1997, followed by 10 more in 1999 (tail numbers SB001 to SB018). The aircraft replaced MiG-21bis fighters in No 24 Squadron "Hunting Hawks" in Lohgaon, near Pune. The next 32 fighters were Su-30MKI versions, delivered in three batches and gradually upgraded to the full standard.

source

AWESOME AIRCRAFT!

Guyz, i thought the Russian jets are more expensive. :armyroleyes:

How come the Indians seem to favor the Sukhois? :dunno:

because the indians have been loyal russian-made weapons purchaser since the time of the soviets...

and besides we filipinos don't like anything that is not "steytsayd"

yes it is 30 to 35 millions each

while maintain Su 30 you get screwed, expensive

ally of russia

like BD and PAK to China

and PH to USA

but still a whole lot better than chinese clones :demon:

I WANT TO SEE Chinese clone aliens :bow: :specool:

India to begin manufacture of
heavy aircraft carrier

NEW DELHI, (PTI)

India will soon join the select band of three countries making heavy aircraft carriers when Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee launches construction work on the 37,500 tonne displacement indigenous carrier at Kochi on April 11.

The carrier, designed to operate a mix of Russian Mig-29K - naval version of the light combat aircraft, sea harriers, advance light helicopters and anti-submarine and maritime reconaissance Kamov-31 helicopters, is expected to be delivered by the Kochi shipyard by early 2012, said Vice Admiral Yashwant Prasad, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

So far only United States, France and United Kingdom have the expertise in manufacturing aircraft carriers. The Russian Navy after building two carriers of over 40,000 displacement has stopped manufacturing air defence ships.

One of these carriers Admiral Gorshkov is currently undergoing re-fit for the Indian Navy and would be delivered by 2008.

The 252 metre-long indigenous carrier is capable of reaching top speeds of 28 knots and would carry 160 officers and 1,400 sailors having two runways with 200 metre-long ski jumps and a landing deck.

Powered by four LM2500 Gas turbines, the carrier would have an endurance of 7,500 nautical miles staying in high seas for over 45 days at a strech. Prasad said the warship would be capable of carrying a maximum of 30 fighters and 17 of them can be accommodated in the hangars.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=1922

looks like India can build a carrier ahead of PROC >>>

India begins construction of aircraft carrier
Monday, 11 April , 2005, 20:06
New Delhi: India on Monday began an eight-year project to build an aircraft carrier in its most ambitious military programme to date, officials said.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee launched the construction of the 37,500-tonne carrier at the Cochin Shipyard in Kerala, a naval spokesman said.

The carrier will carry 30 British- and Russian-made jet fighters as well as locally-designed light combat aircraft which took India more than 22 years to develop.

Federal Shipping Minister T R Balu said the ship-building yard would complete the project and hand over the carrier to the 137-ship Indian navy by 2012.

"The project is strategically important for our defence and so we will complete it within the target period," Balu said.

The 252 metre-long (831 feet) carrier, which will be powered by four gas turbines and have an range of 7,500 nautical miles, will have a top speed of 28 knots and will carry 160 officers and 1,400 sailors.

It will have two 200 metre-long runways and a landing deck for helicopters.

Several other countries, including China, the United States, France, Russia, Britain, Spain and Italy, have aircraft carriers.

The carrier was designed by the Indian navy but Italian firm Fincantieri will help Cochin Shipyard integrate the main propulsion system and perform other specialised tasks.

The Indian Navy had two aircraft carriers but only the INS Viraat is in operation as the INS Vikrant was decommissioned in January 1997.

Last year India signed a 1.5 billion dollar deal with Russia for a 40,000 tonne aircraft carrier, Admiral Gorshkov, which is slated to join the Indian navy in 2008 after a refit.

Besides the aircraft carrier, India is building 19 other ships, including frigates and corvettes. Last month it unveiled plans to buy patrol boats.

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13715408

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4200812.stm

India was the leading buyer of conventional arms among developing nations in 2004, a report for the US Congress says.

The Congressional Research Service said Delhi agreed the transfer of $5.7bn in weapons, ahead of China.

India was also the leading developing world purchaser over the 1997-2004 period covered in the report, sealing 10% of all such arms agreements.

The US remains the largest supplier - delivering $9.6bn of arms in 2004.

more at the link

India tops China for arms orders

Wednesday, August 31, 2005; Posted: 11:19 p.m. EDT (03:19 GMT)


Combat aircraft are among the arms sold to developing countries by the U.S.
-- India ordered $5.7 billion in weapons last year, overtaking Saudi Arabia and China to become the developing world's leading buyer, a study sent to the U.S. Congress this week showed.

Likewise, with $15.7 billion in orders, India edged out China, with $15.3 billion, to become the developing world's biggest weapons buyer for the eight-year period up to 2004 reviewed by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

The figures are contained in an annual study, dated Monday, of conventional arms transfers that is widely considered the most authoritative of its kind available publicly.

The report illustrates how global arms-trade patterns have changed in the post-Cold War and post-Persian Gulf War years, wrote Richard Grimmett, the study's author.

"India's ongoing defense modernization program reflects its desire to become a significant political-military force in Asia," he added in a telephone interview.

U.S. willingness to consider selling advanced military items to India suggests it may view India as a potential regional counterweight to growing Chinese military power, Grimmett added.

The United States once again topped the trade with developing states with deals worth $6.9 billion in 2004, or 31.6 percent of worldwide contracts, down from a 43.1 percent share in 2003, the survey showed.

Russia was second with $5.9 billion in such arms deals, up from $4.3 billion in 2003. Russia's share of all developing world arms transfer agreements ebbed to 27.1 percent in 2004 from 28.1 percent in 2003.

Russia remained the chief supplier to both India and China, but India has expanded its base, the report said. In 2004, for instance, it purchased Phalcon early warning defense system aircraft from Israel for $1.1 billion.

Saudi Arabia ranked second among developing world arms buyers last year, with deals valued at $2.9 billion, and China was third, with $2.2 billion in agreements.

Asia accounted for the lion's share of Russia's arms-sale agreements in the period surveyed, rising to nearly 82 percent of its total deals worldwide from 2001 to 2004, the study showed.

By contrast, only 26 percent of U.S. arms deals were in Asia during the same period. The bulk of U.S. deals, 66 percent, were in the Near East, including sales to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Israel and the United Arab Emirates

India to Develop ICBM
Agni II
by Antonio Milena/ABr


The Deccan Herald reports that according to sources in India's Ministry of Defence, India will soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a flight range of 9,000-12,000 km based on their experience with the Agni intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM).

While Agni is a two-stage solid fuel ballistic missile capable of delivering a 10-15 kiloton nuclear warhead up to 2,500 km, the ICBM is projected as a three-stage solid and liquid ballistic missile, with solid fuel rockets based on the Agni in the first and second stages, and a liquid propellant rocket in the third stage. Projections include a 2,500-3,500 kg releasable front section with two to three warheads of 15-20 kilotons each, a launch weight of 270-275 tonnes and a CEP impact error of around 2.0-2.8 km.

link

We're really starting a trend here of nuclear powers in the world. :crazy: :sad2: :war:

What else is next?

What's the motive? India's IRBM alone has the range to reach its potential enemies (China and Russia).

What next? Pakistan to develop its own ICBM too...the world is going MADder.

NO WAY are the Americans going to allow this :drunk:

Americans tolerate this ICBM capability? UN must pursue its sanctions with this country. Instead of lifting their sanction in terms of military and economic matter i want to continue them until they will realize the rule.

On this matter also, Pakistan will also push thru to fullfill its dream of developing an ICBM now that they acquired the some chineese military hardware.Its easy for Pakistan also to access some of the military hardware because US lift the sanction that was given to them a decade ago. so this rivalry of this two country may end up in arms conflict, even before they have already established a savage war in kashmire region. So its up to the UN to govern on this matter and to G-8 nations also.

after saying that they will use pre-emptive nukes to prevent terrorists from using weapons of mass destruction?

i doubt america has any moral authority on this matter anymore.....

All set for Scorpene submarine deal
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=3984
Sandeep Dikshit


NEW DELHI: India will sign a $1.8-billion submarine deal with France on Thursday amid a controversy that a company involved in the deal had a `slush funds account'. The French Ambassador Dominique Girard dismissed the allegation as "unfair."

A delegation of the chief executive officers of the companies involved in the contract has arrived here for the signing ceremony with the Defence Ministry. The six submarines to be built at the Mazgaon Docks in Mumbai will augment the Navy's fleet, which will start retiring by the time the first Scorpene submarine is inducted. The deal will also activate the submarine-building facility at Mazgaon that has been largely lying idle for a decade.

The Government decided the deal on a single tender basis. Two other contenders were not looked upon favourably — the German submarine-maker HDW was not reconsidered while desultory discussions were held for the Russian Amur class conventional submarines.

India has 16 submarines, of which two are on the verge of retirement. Phased decommissioning of the other 14 will begin from 2010. The delay in deciding on submarines led to the Navy signing an agreement with the U.S. for rescue systems.

The National Democratic Alliance Government cleared the decks for the contract but approval was held up due to the elections. The United Progressive Alliance Government decided to renegotiate after discovering some problems in the contract, including a clause that required India to pay a penalty of about Rs. 2,000 crores.


"Best non-nuclear submarine"


Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Girard said reports against the deal started appearing in the media around April when the contract started solidifying. "But we were generally very cool because it is the best non-nuclear submarine available. Besides, it was a total transfer of technology operation, and the submarine would be fitted with the best available missiles."

"We were always confident that the deal was just a matter of time. My interaction with the Indian Navy had indicated that delaying it would have been detrimental to the interests of the end users. These allegations would not have helped India," he added.

Mr. Girard said the recent article in a French newspaper about the slush funds was on the basis of a testimony by a dismissed employee of a French company.

France had tighter anti-bribery laws than the framework suggested by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. "Therefore, for the newspaper to suggest that the company had a centralised slush fund account was stretching imagination. Bribery is a criminal offence in France and is not seen lightly by the people," he said.

http://kuku.sawf.org/News/3867.aspx


Indian Navy to procure two Lockheed P-3 Orion Patrol Aircraft
Posted by vkthakur on Monday, November 14, 2005 (EST)


14 November 2005, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to India of logistics support for two leased P-3C aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $133 million.

The two leased P-3 aircraft will replace two existing Indian Navy patrol aircraft, Soviet built IL-38 May aircraft, which are quickly reaching the end of their fatigue and operational service life.

The P-3 is a submarine hunter that has been in service for over 35 years. It can be outfitted with a variety of sophisticated detection equipment. Infrared and long-range electro-optical cameras plus special imaging radar allow it to monitor activity from a comfortable distance. It can stay aloft for upto 16 hours, and its four powerful Allison T56-A-14 engines can fly at almost any altitude. And like all good hunters, the P-3 has no problem carrying weapons.

The timing of the purchase may well signal to the US that India is in right earnest as far as procuring US weapon system goes. The US is due to decide early next week whether to offer the Super Hornet's top-secret AN/APG-79 AESA radar to India. There has been some skepticism here on whether India is serious about purchasing US weapon systems.

The lease of P-3 Orions, instead of their outright purchase, could also be an indication that the deal is a stop gap measure and the Indian Navy's real interest is in acquisition of 737-based P-8A Multimission Maritime Aircraft, which is due to enter service around 2012-2014. The P-8A MMA is capable of operating with long range UAVs like the Herons that India is procuring from Israel.

http://www.army-guide.com/eng/article/arti...php?forumID=341


India To Purchase SMERTCH MLRS From Russia
army-guide.com





INTERFAX news agency reports about signing of contract for supply of two regiment sets of Russian-made Smertch Multiple Launcher Rocket System to India.

As per the contract of 31 December, 2005, two regiments of Smertch Multiple Launcher Rocket System in the most advanced modification will have been supplied to India by the end of 2007.

According to unofficial sources, 28 launchers of Smertch MLRS will be supplied to India.

Smertch MLRS is one of the most powerful and high-performance means of suppression of enemy's troops and means. Their recent modifications can use six types of rockets of various designation, including a 300 mm rocket with cluster head, armed with hollow charge fragmentation combat elements. It is designed to destroy the enemy's man-power at open ground or in shelters, light armored equipment and certain fortifications at the distance from 25 to 70 km. Rocket weight is 800 kg, mass of war-head is 100 kg.

A special 300 mm rocket, armed with anti-tank mines, has been developed to fight armoured equipment. It enables remote laying of minefield at tank hazardous directions (25 mines). Arsenal of Smertch MLRS includes rockets with cluster heads, armed with homing, fragmentation, thermobaric combat elements and detachable high-explosive head.

Smertch MLRS is composed of combat vehicle (on the base of MAZ or Tatra vehicle) with 12 guides, rockets, equipped with control system at the active section of flight trajectory, transportation-loading vehicle, automated fire control complex. Launching time of 12 rockets – is 38 seconds, reloading time is 16 minutes.

that's one awesome looking bitch :wow:

kahit dalawa lang bilhin natin pede na :armyskeptic:

i made a research about the Smerch (Smertch is actually a wrong spelling) MLRS, and here's what i got:


http://www.army-technology.com/projects/smerch/





SMERCH 9K58 MULTIPLE LAUNCH ROCKET SYSTEM, RUSSIA


The 9K58 Smerch 300mm Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is designed to defeat soft and hard skin targets, artillery and missile systems. It is produced by the Splav State Research and Production Association, Tula, Russia, which also manufactures the Uragan, Grad and Prima rocket launchers. Smerch was developed in the early 1980s and entered service with the Russian Army in 1988. It is also in service with Belarus and the Ukraine and has been exported to Kuwait (27 systems) and the United Arab Emirates (six systems). In 2002, the Indian Army carried out a series of firing trials of the modernised Smerch-M system, which features an automatic rocket preparing and launching system and an increased range of up to 90km.

The Russian Army is upgrading Smerch MLRS systems with new navigation and targeting systems.

The Smerch MLRS is composed of the following: launch vehicle, transloader, rockets, training facilities, arsenal equipment.


LAUNCHER

The launch vehicle is based on the MAZ-543M 8 x 8 wheeled truck chassis on which is mounted a 12 tube launcher. The vehicle is manufactured by Minsk Auto Zavod (MAZ). The tubes are arranged as two blocks of four with a single row of four above. The launcher has a crew of four and is capable of single or salvo firing.

A Smerch unit is typically composed of six launchers and six transloaders.


TRANSLOADER

The transloader is based on the MAZ-543A 8 x 8 wheeled truck chassis which carries a further 12 rockets. The transloader provides for mechanised loading of the launch vehicle, by means of a hydraulic crane mounted on the vehicle.


MUNITIONS

Smerch fires the 300mm 9M55K rocket. This has a solid propellant rocket motor. Firing range is from 20km to 70km. The 9M55K rocket is 7.5m long and weighs over 800kg. It is fitted with either a warhead containing 72 HE-FRAG (High Explosive Fragmentation) submunitions or HE-FRAG separable unitary warhead. It can also be fitted with a warhead containing five Bazalt MOTIV-3F anti-armour submunitions. The "smart" submunitions have dual-colour infrared sensors for terminal guidance and kinetic energy fragment warheads which are said to be able to penetrate 70mm of armour at an angle of 30° to the normal.

Splav have also developed a new 9M528 projectile which uses a high-energy composite propellant which will give an increased range of 90km, and a new warhead that scatters 25 anti-tank mines.


FIRE CONTROL

The fire control system for Smerch is the Vivari FCS which can function automatically or under manual control. One Vivari system controls the six Smerch launchers in a unit and is housed in a separate command vehicle. It has either one or two E-175 computers to calculate ballistic and targeting data for each launcher. The command vehicle has both satellite and radio communications systems to link to both subordinate units and headquarters.


RECONNAISSANCE

It has been reported that a miniature aerial vehicle, R-90, containing a stabilised camera is being developed which could be fired from the Smerch launcher, enabling realtime battlefield surveillance data to be relayed to the Smerch commander. The aerial vehicle, which uses GPS (Global Positioning System), has the same 70km range as the 9M55K rocket and can transmit data for up to 30 minutes.


- can we this against the Neps and those pesky Muslim extremists :fire: :demon:

Original subject: New Indian IRBM/ICBM, response to North Korea?

by MSantor Posted on Jul 10 2006, 07:29 AM

========================================


I hope this article hasn't been posted yet on this forum.

India tests new nuclear-capable missile capable of reaching Shanghai. A response to North Korea's foul moves?

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS_FLASH07092006161_6.htm

Speaking of India, shouldn't there also be a PINNED "India Watch/Indian military might thread"?

BMD Focus: Agni failure bad news for India
By MARTIN SIEFF
UPI Senior News Analyst

WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- The failure of two major India missile launches in two days Sunday and Monday proved intensely embarrassing for the nation's prestige and threw major doubt on its military-industrial high-tech capabilities.

An analysis from the Inter-Press Service that was published in the Asia Times Tuesday argued that the problems are deep-rooted in the Indian defense establishment.

On Monday, a $50 million geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle, or GSLV, with a communications satellite on board was ordered to self-destruct as it veered off course soon after liftoff on Monday. Authorities at the civilian Indian Space Research Organization said one of its four strap-on rocket motors had failed.

The day before, the Agni III intercontinental ballistic missile, the pride of India's strategic missile forces, failed shortly after take off. The Agni III was designed to have a range of 2,100 miles to 2,400 miles -- a capability that would have allowed it to deliver a nuclear weapon payload as far as the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai. But on its first, and much delayed test launch, it crashed instead into the Bay of Bengal after flying less than 600 miles.

Of the two unsuccessful launches, "the failure of the Agni III was in some ways more serious because it exposed the political limitations of India's attempts, despite its ambitions, to pursue a military capability which is truly independent of the U.S.'s strategic calculations," analyst Praful Bidwai wrote in the Asia Times.

The Agni-III was originally meant to be tested in 2003-04. However, its first test was repeatedly postponed owing to technological problems. More recently, as we have noted previously in these columns, the Congress Party-led government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deferred a scheduled test launch this year so as not to risk hostile reactions in the United States while the U.S. Congress was considering ratification of India's nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States.

However, committees of both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have given overwhelming approval to the nuclear agreement that was finalized in March and its passage through both main chambers of the U.S. legislature now appears assured. Also, Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, assured Indian officials in New Delhi in June that testing the Agni III would not be viewed as a concern by the Bush administration.

Previously, some tests of the shorter range Agni-II with a range of around 1,200 miles also proved unsuccessful, Bidwai noted. "But what makes the Agni-III's failure significant is that unlike its shorter-range predecessors, it was a wholly new design, developed with the specific purpose of delivering a nuclear warhead," he wrote.

"The causes of the failure of the test flight are not clear," Pridwai wrote. "Scientists at the DRDO (India's super-secret and prestigious Defense Research Development Organization) which designed and built the missile, have been quoted as saying that many new technologies were tried in the Agni-III, including rocket motors, "fault-tolerant" avionics and launch control and guidance systems. Some of these could have failed. Other reports attribute the mishap to problems with the propellant."

"The DRDO isn't the world's most reliable weapons R&D agency," Admiral L. Ramdas, a former chief of staff of the Indian Navy, told Inter Press Service. "The Indian armed services' experience with DRDO-made armaments has not been a happy one. Their reliability is often extremely poor. We often used to joke that one had to pray they would somehow work in the battlefield."

Despite an annual budget of $670 million, comparable to that of India's massive Department of Atomic Energy, "The DRDO has delivered very little,"

Anil Chowdhary of the Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace told Bidwai.

"None of the three major projects assigned to the DRDO has been completed on time or without huge cost-overruns," Bidwai noted. The organization's project to build India's first home-produced main battle tank began more than 30 years ago in 1974. Yet the tank has still failed to meet service requirement tests and is reportedly too heavy and undependable to be used in combat operations, he wrote.

The equally venerable DRDO project to build India's first home-manufactured nuclear submarine is still not completed, despite expenditures on it of nearly $1 billion, Bidwai wrote. And a Light Combat Aircraft, or LCA project, launched in 1983, is also mired because the DRDO has failed to develop the right engine for it, he wrote.

Even if the DRDO can manage a successful test launch of the Agni III ICBM in the next few months, Bidwai's analysis suggests that the structural problems of India's military-industrial sector are widespread and deep-rooted and unlikely to be satisfactorily resolved soon. That condition is likely to give an added impetus to India's efforts to develop ever-closer high tech ties with the United States.

http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligen...15-110433-5060r

India Orders Russian Frigates: Report
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Wed, 19 Jul 2006, 00:13


Russia is to build three warships for India’s navy under a $1.6 billion contract signed July 18, the Interfax-AVN military news agency said, quoting an unidentified defense industry source.

”A contract for building three frigates for the Indian navy was signed on Tuesday in Delhi in the presence of representatives” of the Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport and the Yantar shipbuilding factory of Kaliningrad, the source said.

”The overall value of the contract is in the area of $1.6 billion,” with delivery planned in 2010-2011, the source told the news agency.

Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee had already announced details of the frigate purchase, but quoted a cost equal to $1.1 billion.
Indian defense ministry sources told AFP earlier that an additional $88 million was to be spent on arming the three new ships with BrahMos cruise missiles built jointly by Russia and India.

Other military equipment was also due to be bought from Russia, which accounts for 70 percent of India’s military hardware.

The signing follows a visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Saint Petersburg last weekend to attend a summit of the G8 (Group of Eight) industrialized countries.

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http://www.defencetalk.com/news/publish/article_006939.php

Source(©): AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

India launches submarine production

MUMBAI (AFP) - India this week is set to begin assembling Franco-Spanish Scorpene attack submarines as part of plan to boost its naval power and military-industrial know-how.

Indian navy Vice Admiral S.K.K. Krishnan, the head of Mumbai's Mazagaon Dock naval shipyard, said production is slated to begin on Thursday, with defense Minister A.K. Antony set to formally inaugurate the project the following day.

The 2.4 billion euro deal to build an initial six diesel submarines was signed in October 2005 with Armaris, a subsidiary of France's Thales group and Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN).

The agreement also includes the sale of 36 Exocet-type anti-submarine and anti-ship missiles.

"We hope we can commence the production of the Scorpene on the 14th of December. But this is only phase one. We plan to build 18 more indigenous submarines," Krishnan told reporters.

The Scorpene, jointly developed by DCN and Spain's Navantia, is a 67-meter-long (220 feet) craft designed for attack and interception. Malaysia and Chile have also placed orders.

India's contract covers a 12-year period, and the first craft is scheduled to enter into service in 2012, with an additional submarine following each year.

India's navy currently has 16 submarines, but these are mainly aging Russian and German models. With the Scorpene, India is hoping to bring its fleet up to date to match challenges from rivals Pakistan and China.

The contract also includes the transfer of key technology, with just the first two submarines being built under French and Spanish supervision. The arrangement has been presented as a win-win deal giving new technology to India and a major foothold in the country's huge defense market to the foreign firms.

"It's an innovative technology transfer, with the indigenization of sub-systems, equipment and components," said Amaris' project director Xavier Marchal.

"In the future there will be good deals to be made in India. This serves as a foundation for DCN's industrial relations at a moment when India's defense economy is transforming," he said.

India is the largest arms purchaser among emerging nations and said last month that it will not prune defense spending because of the growing threat from terrorism and ongoing regional tensions.

India annually spends US$14 billion, or 2.34 percent of its gross domestic product, on its military. Since 2004 it has either spent or committed billions of dollars in modernization projects planned until 2010.

But the Scorpene deal has been marred by corruption allegations.

The main opposition party, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleged that around four percent of the contract amount -- or around $100 million -- was paid to Indian intermediaries, one of whom is said to be close to the ruling Congress party.

The charges came after weekly magazine Outlook published a series of articles alleging that French defense giant Thales paid the commission to Indian middlemen to clinch the deal.

Thales as well as the French and Indian governments have denied the allegations.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=59134

Aviation firms descend on India air show

By RAJESH MAHAPATRA, Associated Press Writer 39 minutes ago

BANGALORE, India - Aviation companies from around the world have flocked to the India air show, hoping for a piece of the billions of dollars in defense contracts the fast-growing South Asian country plans to spend in modernizing its military.
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India's defense minister told the gathering on Wednesday that India will soon invite bids from combat aircraft makers for up to $10 billion worth of fighter jets.

"It is in the final stages," Defense Minister A.K. Anthony said Wednesday, without giving a specific timeframe. He was speaking to reporters at the air show in the southern technology hub of Bangalore.

The deal for 126 fighter jets the country's air force plans to buy is estimated to be worth between $6.5 billion and $10 billion.

India — whose economy will likely grow 9.2 percent for the fiscal year that ends March 2007, according to government estimates — also is considering buying nearly 200 army reconnaissance and observation helicopters, Anthony said.

The five-day event at the Yelahanka air base has drawn 500 companies, including 275 foreign companies, more than ever before, Defense Production Secretary K.P. Singh told reporters.

Forty-five foreign delegations and 28 air force chiefs are also attending the biennial show, which comes as India is emerging as one of the biggest buyers of military hardware in the global market.

Inaugurating the air show earlier in the day, Anthony said India's rapid economic expansion in recent years has added to its role in international affairs, which in turn demands that the country also boost its military capabilities.

"India has been called upon to play a more decisive and responsible role in world affairs, particularly in the Asian region. This has led us to rethink our priorities," he said. "We are in the process of acquiring fresh capabilities for all three wings of our armed forces to optimize their operational effectiveness."

The Indian government's decision to allow foreign and private investment has also encouraged many global companies to explore partnerships with local firms to set up manufacturing and research facilities.

It is the first time that U.S. combat aircraft makers Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. will fly the F-16 and F/A-18 Super Hornet at the Bangalore air show. Both companies are vying for orders from the Indian air force.

But they face stiff competition from the Russian Aircraft Corporation, which manufactures the MiG combat jets and will be showing the MiG-35, the latest fighter jet in Russia's stable. Other rivals are the Gripen, from Swedish manufacturer Saab AB, and the Eurofighter, made by BAE Systems PLC, Europe's largest defense contractor.

In September, the Indian government announced a defense procurement policy that requires suppliers to spend or invest 30 percent of the deal value in designing, technology development, co-production and related activities in India.

"We don't want to have a buyer-seller relationship. We will buy, but technology transfer must be there and we must be involved in designing, development and co-production," the Indian defense minister said Wednesday.

India has never bought American planes for its air force because of its frosty relations with Washington during the Cold War, when New Delhi was viewed as a close ally of the former Soviet Union. Russian-made MiGs dominate the Indian fleet that also includes French Mirage jets and British Jaguars.

Despite improving relations in recent years, India has been reluctant to sign deals with U.S. arms suppliers over fears that Washington could impose sanctions as it did in 1998 after India tested nuclear weapons, choking off vital spare parts and technology.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070207/ap_on_...FSwbI3sCh1vaA8F