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Wednesday, December 2, 2015

From Varyag To Liaoning CV-16: The Untold Saga Of A 16-Year Journey

It was in late April 1970 that the PLA Navy (PLAN) had formed a team led by Admiral Liu Huaqing (who later became the PLAN Chief from 1982 till 1988 and was also a CMC member from 1988 to 1997) to explore ways of acquiring aircraft carriers. The Admiral later proposed that China build its own aircraft carrier, but Beijing throughout the 1970s and 1980s was wary of the idea, since such a project would raise the international community’s suspicions over China’s territorial ambitions. 
In any case, China at that time lacked the finances required for undertaking a mammoth R & D effort for developing such a warship and all its on-board sub-systems from scratch. Buying a ready-made vessel was a far more viable option, since this would help China save at least 15 years of cost-prohibitive R & D effort. Thus, when Ukraine officially invited China to bid for buying the Varyag in early 1992, the PLAN sent a delegation that included Maj Gen Zheng Ming, the then chief of the PLAN’s Naval Armament Department. On-site inspections at the Nikolayev South Shipyard in the Black Sea revealed that everything on-board the Varyag was completely new, and its eight turbo-pressurised boilers and four high-pressure steam-turbines (each costing US$20 million) were perfectly grease-sealed. The delegation recommended to the Central Military Commission (CMC) that the Varyag be procured, but Beijing was averse to this idea and declined the Ukrainian offer. For, with the USSR’s breakup and the Tiananmen Square crackdown of 1989 fresh in foreign minds, China’s then-President-cum-CMC Chairman Jiang Zemin was pursuing a US-friendly diplomatic line (such opposition lasted until May 7, 1999, when the US bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia).
It was only in April 1996 that the PLAN first approached 45-year-old Hong Kong-based businessman Xu Zengping, a former PLA basketball player of the Guangzhou Military Region and the owner of Chinluck Holdings (a Hong Kong-based company with interests in trading, catering, culture, entertainment, and property, among others) for help in procuring the Varyag without the official involvement of Beijing. In addition, two Hong Kong-based tycoons had been asked to help, but they declined to be part of this deal. Xu had by then made a name for himself by organising cross-border cultural events, and had also arranged for military troupes from the PLA, Russia and Australia to put on shows in Hong Kong in the 1990s. The PLAN officials, however, warned Xu of two major impediments: the PLAN was severely underfunded and there was no approval from Beijing for this endeavour. Despite such risks, Xu eventually decided to go ahead. Thus was born thee plan to procure the Varyag and it was hatched by one of the top PLAN leaders and was carried out in secret and in defiance of national policy at the time. The PLAN’s Vice Admiral He Pengfei and the then chief of PLAN’s military intelligence directorate Ji Shengde, were the backroom drivers of the covert deal.
Xu and Vice Admiral He met Xu six times before Xu finally agreed in March 1997 to be his proxy. Ji, the real boss behind the deal, came on board in late 1998 to coordinate operations behind-the-scenes. For executing the deal, Xu set up offices in Beijing and Kiev in mid-1997. The Kiev office was staffed by shipbuilding experts from stated-owned, Shanghai-based China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) and the PLA’s Commission on Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defence (COSTIND), some of whom had been sent by Beijing to Ukraine since 1992 to study the possibility of buying the Varyag. The Beijing office, on the other hand, was headed by retired senior Senior Colonel Xiao Yun, who had earlier left his position as deputy head of the PLAN’s Naval Aviation Armament Department, and was now tasked to issue instructions to the Kiev office.
Like Vice Admiral He and Ji, Senior Colonel Xiao is also a ‘princeling’ (his late father, Gen Xiao Hua, was one of the Communist Party of China’s revolutionary founders). Senior Colonel Zhong Jiafei, who was a senior project agency head of the CMC’s Arms Trading Company (ATC), was the middleman between Vice Admiral He and Xu (Zhong retired as deputy head of the PLA General Armaments Department’s foreign affairs bureau in the previous decade). ATC had been created on September 26, 1989, by the CMC’s then vice-chairman, Admiral Liu Huaqing (ATC is now owned by state-owned China North Industries Group Corp, or NORINCO). In addition, one Hong Kong-based business friend lent Xu HK$230 million in 1997 without any guarantee or collateral for initiating the process of buying the Varyag. In addition, a company headed by Admiral Liu’s daughter Helen Liu Chaoying became the major funding vehicle for the deal. In the 1990s, Helen was a senior executive of the state-owned China Aerospace International Holding Ltd (CASIL), a subsidiary of the state-owned space applications satellite developer China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. Hongkong SAR-listed CASIL helped Xu put up the US$50 million demanded by Ukraine as a deposit in an international bank. CASIL’s two interim annual reports in 2007 and 2009 had stated that the company loaned HK$330 million in 1997 at 15% annual interest for two years to Chinluck Properties—Xu’s Hong Kong-based company. Chinluck used a 41,800 square metre block of land on Peng Chau as collateral for the loan. But subsequently, relations between CASIL and Chinluck soured. In June 2004, Chinluck sued CASIL, claiming that the latter only loaned it HK$251 million. The two parties settled the suit in 2007. Xu said it took 14 years but he finally repaid the HK$251 million debt in June 2011 with interest, and regained ownership of the Peng Chau-based property.
By early 1997, Ukraine wasn’t willing to sell the Varyag for refurbishment and re-use as a naval vessel to the PLAN, since it then was concerned about upsetting the US and the European Union. So Xu convinced Kiev that his objective was to convert the vessel into the world’s largest floating hotel-cum-casino. Consequently, in August 1997, Xu set up a Macau-based shell company, Agencia Turistica e Diversoes Chong Lot at a cost of HK$6 million. In early January 1998, Xu flew to Ukraine for contract negotiations, and he first set foot on the Varyag on the snowy and chilly day of January 28. A bargain-basement price of $20 million for not only the Varyag, but also for its design and engineering blueprints, was eventually agreed to. However, in mid-February, Ukraine decided to sell the Varyag through an open auction, since other parties from Australia, Japan, South Korea and the US were interested in purchasing the vessel as well, albeit these parties getting just three days to present their bids. This sudden change worked to Xu’s advantage and he emerged as the sole bidder to present a fully compliant bid. On March 19, 1998, Xu’s bid was declared as the winner and on the following day, Xu began ferrying the 40 tonnes of aircraft carrier design/engineering documentation and some critical manufactured sub-systems and components in eight truck-loads (that also included products like the UDAV-1M 254mm RBU-12000 ten-tube ASW mortar and its KT-153M launcher, plus a few sample mortar rounds) back to China. The consignment also included detailed documentation for building and operating an aircraft carrier deck simulator of the type that existed at (now called Novofedorivka) in the Crimea, plus those related to carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft/helicopter operations, design data on the Su-33 carrier-based H-MRCA, and the training syllabus for carrier-based flight-crew and aircraft/helicopter maintenance crew complements. The final payment tranche, including a $10 million late-charge, was made to Kiev on April 30, 1999.
Ukraine had earlier made it clear that it had no responsibility to ferry the Varyag from the Black Sea through to the Atlantic and onwards to its new homeport of Dalian in China’s Liaoning province. Consequently, Xu enlisted the services of The Netherlands-based International Transport Contractors to tow it all the way and on June 14, 1999, four months after the final payment, the Varyag’s all-Chinese crew and the ITC’s Sable Cape tugboat weighed anchor. It was plain sailing until they reached the Bosphorus Strait, Turkey's maritime boundary between Asia and Europe. By then, US-China relations had taken a downturn following the May 7 bombing of China’s Embassy in Belgrade during NATO’s air campaign throughout Yugoslavia. Consequently, Turkey, a NATO member-state and an ally of the US, refused permission to tow the Varyag through the Bosphorus Strait. The towing team waited a month, but Turkey was adamant and the Varyag had to be towed back to Nikolayev, where it languished for another 15 months before the tide turned in Xu’s favour. In April, 2000, when President Jiang Zemin visited Ankara, he promised to increase Chinese tourist arrivals in Turkey and to open up China’s markets to Turkish goods. In addition, Xu posted US$1 million performance  guarantee bond with Turkey for the towing operation. All these did the trick. On August 25, 2001, Ankara granted permission to have the Varyag towed through to the Mediterranean Sea. Turkish authorities closed the Bosphorus Strait on November 1 to let the Varyag and its escort of 11 towboats and 15 emergency vessels through. But sea-storms snapped the cables connecting the Varyag to the towboats. At one stage, the Varyag drifted unsecured for four days in the Aegean Sea near Skyros Island before the tugs were able to rein it back in. Subsequently, the Varyag inched its way across the Mediterranean Sea, through the Strait of Gibraltar, and out into the Atlantic Ocean. It rounded Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, navigated the Strait of Malacca and on March 3, 2002, five tugboats towed it into Dalian.
It was gratifying but bittersweet for Xu, who was left with a bill for port and towage costs. For, the US$20 million was just the Varyag’s auction price, and he had to foot the bill for another US$120 million for the deal from 1996 to 1999. The total cost of acquiring the Varyag had eventually worked out to more than US$30 million: $25 million to the Ukrainian government for the hull, nearly $500,000 in transit fees, and some $5 million for the towing. To raise this amount up-front, Xu had to sell his palatial home in Hongkong SAR (The Peak at 37, Deep Water Bay Road) in 1999 and mortgage his 280,000 square feet property on Peng Chau. Xu was saddled with the costs because many of the PLAN officials who had first approached him to take on the mission had either died or were in jail, and were therefore unavailable for lobbying on his behalf within the PLAN HQ or the CMC. For instance, Ji Shengde was sacked and given a suspended death sentence in 2000 for his role in a Fujian smuggling scandal. As delays and costs mounted, Xu had to liquidate more of his personal assets and also had to neglect his own businesses. He had to borrow from his acquaintances, including HK$230 million from one friend. He subsequently spent 18 years paying back the debt in full, with interest, with the last payment clearing in 2014. Xu had requested China’s State Council for years to be financially compensated, but Beijing ended up paying him only the $20 million auction price, and insisting that Xu would be compensated for other costs only if he provided expense receipts for project start-up and mobilisation costs, ferrying costs, and costs incurred for the meals, beverages, gifts and stacks of US dollar bills that were used by Xu and his team to buy over the involved Ukrainian parties/officials.
Significant Timelines
· Keel-laying of the aircraft carrier Riga (later called Varyag) at Shipyard 444 (now Nikolayev South) on December 6, 1985.
· On March 31, 1987, Admiral Liu Huaqing, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy commander (1982-1988), submitted an internal memo to the PLA Staff Headquarters and National Defense Technology and Industry Committee on developing the core strengths of the PLAN, which included developing aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines. the Central Military Commission in May 1987 initiated the first and only “Pilot Warship Captain Class” (feixingyuan jianchang ban) at the Guangzhou Warship Academy. The program selected the military’s most talented pilots to undergo surface warship vessels leadership training.
· Designed by the Nevskoye Planning and Design Bureau, the Riga is launched December 4, 1988.

· Riga renamed as Varyag in late 1990.

· Outfitting stops by 1992, with the ship structurally complete.

· A Macau-based company on March 19, 1998 wins the bid to buy the Varyag for $20 million. The following day, COSTIND personnel from China begin ferrying the 40 tonnes of aircraft carrier design/engineering documentation and some critical manufactured sub-systems and components back to China.
· One Su-33 carrier-based H-MRCA prototype aircraft (T-10K-3) is acquired from Ukraine in 2001, along with a fully functional UPAZ-1A buddy-buddy aerial refuelling pod (developed by Russia’s Scientific Production Enterprise Zvezda, or NPP Zvezda), both of which are subsequently back-engineered. The pod is back-engineered by China Research Institute of Aero Accessories Aerospace Life-Support Industries, an AVIC subsidiary.
· The Varyag takes six hours to cross the Bosphorus Strait escorted by 27 vessels, including 11 tug-boats and three pilot boats, 16 pilots and 250 seamen on November 1, 2001. At 11:45am on November 2, she completes her passage.
· Varyag gets caught in a force-9 gale and breaks adrift while passing the Greek island of Skyros on November 3. Sea-rescue workers try to re-capture the hulk, which is drifting toward the island of Evia.

· The hulk is taken back under tow on November 7.

· Varyag is towed through the Straits of Gibraltar, around the Cape of Good Hope, and through the Straits of Malacca. The tugs towing the Varyag maintain an average speed of 6 Knots (11kph) over the 15,200-nautical-mile (28,200km) journey, calling for bunkers and supplies at Piraeus, Greece; Las Palmas, Canary Islands; Maputo, Mozambique; and Singapore en route.
· Varyag enters China’s territorial waters on February 20, 2002.

· The vessel arrives on March 3 at Dalian in northeastern China’s Liaoning province and is moored at the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC), which is owned by China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC).

· Ukraine provides marine propulsion technology in late 2002 to China’s Harbin Turbine Company for restoring the Varyag’s steam-boilers to fully functional configuration.

· A Zinc Chromate primer is applied to the Varyag’s main deck in early 2006 at Dalian.

· China expresses its wish to procure up to 50 Su-33s from Russia in early 2006, but wants to initially buy only two Su-33s for trials-and-evaluation. Russia refuses to make the Su-33 available for export.

· No.112 Factory of Shenyang Aircraft Corp, the 601 Institute (Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute), 603 Aircraft Design Institute (later named the First Aircraft Institute of AVIC-1) and the 606 Institute (Shenyang Aero-engine Research Institute) commence R & D work on developing the carrier-based J-15/J-15S ‘Flying Shark’ carrier-based H-MRCA versions in mid-2006.

· Designs of the J-15 and J-15S are frozen in July 2007.

· Production of the first J-15 and tandem-seat J-15S commences in January 2008.

· The first carrier-based J-15 H-MRCA prototype is assembled by October 2008.
· The Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering of Zhengzhou (also known as 713 Institute) in 2008 succeeds in back-engineering the UDAV-1M 254mm RBU-12000 ten-tube ASW mortar and its KT-153M launcher (both designed by the Kolomna-based KBM Machine-Building Design Bureau and built by Russia’s ‘SPLAV’ Federal State Unitary Enterprise State Research & Production Association) and the 111CZG ASW mortar round. Series production of these cloned products is undertaken by the 2nd Machinery Factory in Baotou, Inner Mongolia.
· The Varyag is moved in late April, 2009 from its pier to a dry dock about 2 miles distant.
· At the Wuhan Naval Research Institute/711 Institute or the China Ship Design Institute, the PLAN in 2009 embarks on building a full-scale deck and island mock-up of the Varyag next to Lake Huangjia near Wuhan.
· A new PLAN air base located at Xingcheng, 28km southwest of Huludao on the shore of the Bohai Sea and 300km north of Qingdao, is constructed between April 2009 and June 2010 to house two ski-jumps each inclined with a 12-degree up curve) and barrier arrested (STOBAR) facility, and 24 carrier-based H-MRCAs, and also serve as the PLAN’s premier naval aviation training facility.
· Brazil and China in mid-2009 sign a contract under which PLAN personnel are to be trained on-board Brazil’s aircraft career NAe Sao Paulo.

· The first J-15 prototype, powered by two Russian AL-31F turbofans, makes its maiden flight on August 31, 2009.
· The J-15’s first takeoff from a land-based simulated ski-jump occurs on May 6, 2010.
· Installation of weapons suites on board the Varyag takes place in April 2011.
· The PLA’s Chief of General Staff Staff, Gen Chen Bingde, confirms on June 7, 2011 that China’s first domestically designed aircraft carrier is under construction.

· Ministry of National Defense spokesman, Senior Colonel Geng Yansheng, states on July 27, 2011 that China is using an old aircraft carrier platform for scientific research, experiment and training.

· The refitted Varyag begins her first sea-trial in the Bohai Sea on the morning of August 10, 2011 after an eight-year-old refitting process.

·  Gen Ma Weiming, a professor at the PLA Naval University of Engineering, states on April 28, 2012 that Chinese engineers are trying to develop an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) for China’s future aircraft carriers.

· The 990 feet-long Varyag is commissioned into service as CV-16 Liaoning on September 25, 2012. The pennant number denotes the 16 years that were spent in procuring and refitting the vessel.

· Liaoning sails out in early November, 2012 for sea-trials.

· The first J-15 bolter trial on the Liaoning takes place on November 20, 2012.
· The vessel receives its first two Shenyang J-15 H-MRCAs combat aircraft on November 23, 2012. The two J-15s undertake the official takeoff and landing trials on November 25, 2012.
· In early 2013, the Liaoning enters its home-port at Dazhu Shan, 30km southwest of Qingdao in Shandong Province. The port occupies a water area of a few million square metres, with a maximum depth of more than 20 metres and a fairway that is several hundred metres wide. It is protected by a breakwater that extends almost 10,000 metres into the water.

· In mid-2013, the Changxingdao Island-based shipyard (owned by Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard Co Ltd) begins hull construction of the PLAN’s first of six 22,000-tonne Type 081 helicopter carriers (LPH).

· The Liaoning makes its first visit to the Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island in September 2013. This is its maiden voyage to the South China Sea.

· The Liaoning CV-16 sails with two Type 051C guided-missile destroyers and two Type 054A guided-missile frigates as escorts to the South China Sea on November 24, 2013 for a scientific and training mission. The convoy arrives at Yulin on November 28, 2013. It takes three days and nights sailing 1,500nm to reach Yulin at an average speed of 20nm/hour.
· In mid-January 2014, Wang Min, a Communist Party secretary of Liaoning province, tells delegates at the 12th Provincial People’s Congress that the first indigenously built aircraft carrier is under construction at DSIC and would take six years to complete. Wang adds that the PLAN needs a total of four aircraft carriers by 2020.

· US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on April 7, 2014 becomes the first foreign visitor to take a two-hour tour of the Liaoning.

· Construction of a 700 metre-long docking pier for the Liaoning is completed at Yulin. The pier’s construction had begun in 2012.
· Admiral Liu Xiaojiang, formerly a political commissar of PLAN; Vice Admiral Ding Haichun, a deputy political commissar of PLAN; and Rear Admiral Ma Weiming, a PLAN expert in “naval propulsion and electrical engineering” confirm in March 2015 that the first China-built aircraft carrier—Type-001A—would be a medium-sized vessel in the 53,000-ton range and its construction has been underway since 2013 at DSIC.
· China is expected to launch the Type-001A, on December 26, 2015 to mark the 122nd birthday of Chairman Mao Zedong. Last August, President Xi Jinping had visited DSIC to inspect the progress of work on the Type-001A.

221 comments:

1 – 200 of 221   Newer›   Newest»
Gessler said...

Any info about the specs of the CV-18 and 19, Prasun ji?

Are they meant to be Nuclear-powered?

Ram Bharadwaj said...

Was the Varyag ever offered to IN? It seemed to have been a better buy considering that its boilers and generators were new unlike the Adm Gorshkov which had suffered due to a fire resulting in rework for which we had to pay through our nose.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To GESSLER: Yes, they will be nuclear-powered. Both will displace more than 65,000 tons & will come closer to 75,000 tons.

To RAM BHARADWAJ: No, it wasn't offered nor was it sought. The decision to acquire the Gorshkov was taken in a knee-jerk manner in 2001 at a time when the IN's DND was already designing the IAC-1!!! Matters would have been a lot better if the IN was given approval for acquiring only the IAC-1, instead of forcing the Gorshkov/INS Vikramaditya on the IN's shoulders. If this was done, then the IN would have had access to the funds reqd for acquiring yet another home-made IAC, & still having enough funds left for undertaking the indigenous design of a homegrown LPH.

buddha said...

http://humansarefree.com/2011/05/scientists-alien-genes-in-human-dna.html

Gopu said...

Another China-related piece of news: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/china-leaves-india-trailing-in-race-for-reserve-currency-status/articleshow/50000771.cms

Economic strength is by far the most potent strategic weapon (both soft power and ability to purchase hard power). And what's annoying is that Indian politicians are bottlenecking India's potential growth.

Also while DPP-2015 is better than its previous iterations, I still find fault with several provisions (since the final version isn't out, I'm basing off of the media snippets). For example, PSU's still are preferred to more qualified private companies. Take artillery products. Indigenous private company solutions already exist, but there is no movement on this. Instead, DRDO is forced to come up with a new system (ATAGS) and give those IP rights to a PSU for free.

What needs to happen is that DRDO becomes a DARPA-like organization, where its more of a technology coordinator rather than the DPSU overlord.

birbal said...

WOW Prasunda..that was really and TRULLY heck of an ANALYSIS....ALL the tits and bits...Truly AWESOME.

Unknown said...

Very nicely written, detailed article.....

But For ins vishal, who will be most likely partners ? US ? Or France ?

Mayur M Manapure said...

http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report-ufo-sighted-hovering-over-gorakhpur-is-it-a-fake-2150527

It's confirmed. Wo chitradukan tha. Very bad Photoshop.
Also some Reddit users have their take on this

https://www.reddit.com/r/india/comments/3ukxgn/alien_sighting_in_gorakhpur_uttar_pradesh/

On a serious note, given the sorry state of our railways, is it possible to revamp at least basic infra like signalling and tracks in 5years. After decades we have a PM who is interested in Revamping Railways and Suresh Prabhu seems better than his predecessors. There was news of a Spanish firm testing its rolling stocks on Indian Tracks( they claimed they can achieve 250 Km/H on current tracks).

CSC said...

http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/02/03/the-long-strange-trip-of-chinas-first-aircraft-carrier-liaoning/

Another good take on the liaoning journey

mavrek said...

Hi Prasunda,

Given that DualPulseMotor is developed by India for Barak-8 , does it mean that if IAI secures purchase order from other navies , india would be recipient for some fraction of the profit ?
Does Barak-8ER kill the prospects of Barak-8 ?

john said...

Can we make nuclear attack submarines based on Arihant design by reducing weight and keeping the same reactor, instead of going for 6 new diesel based attack submarines. In this case we do not have to import technology by paying exorbitant price.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To MAYUR M MANAPURE: Nothing has been proven or confirmed as yet, & will be confirmed ONLY AFTER the photos have been subjected to forensic analysis. What the writer in that news-report you've highlighted has done is engage in oversimplified speculation without offering any forensic analysis as proof of his assumptions. Most importantly, he doesn't explain why a village lad who still wishes to remain unknown would go to such lengths to offer photoshopped imagery, which by no means is easy to produce in a rural area.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To JOHN: Making is the easy part. Who will design such a derivative? That's the most challenging part, followed by hydrodynamic validation of the design. The challenge becomes even greater when an existing double-hulled design needs to be transformed into a single-hulled design. For SSNs & SSKs, single-hulled design is the norm today.

Mayur M Manapure said...

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread1090243/pg1

Sir it can be done using a simple Android app.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

Of course it can be done. But has it been done in this case? That's what needs to be probed.

Anonymous said...

Excellent article Prasunda..as usual very informative and well researched

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To GOPU: If I were the decision-maker at OEMs like Kalyani Group or L & T, I would first & foremost seek clarity from the MoD about introducing or offering imported design solutions that are in direct conflict with the product-lines of OFB or BDL or BEL etc etc. Kalyani Group didn't seek clarity on the issue of 155mm/52-cal towed howitzers & hence is now paying the price of not doing its homework. For, it was known since 2006 itself that the OFB was developing the Dhanush in-house, & weas working with the DRDO on the ATAGS project.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

Later today will be the customary press-conference to be given by the CNS of the IN on the eve of Navy Day. Let's see what new revelations are in store this time & how many 'intelligent' questions are posed by the 'desi' press-corps!

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To BIRBAL/PALLAB/PIYUSH DAS/Anon@10.31PM: VMT.

Meanwhile, the good news is that the MoD has just sanctioned three prototypes of the LEVCON-equipped LCA Mk1 to be built by HAL, using funds from the money saved by not ordering the 2nd tranche of 20 Tejas Mk1s. As I had explained in a few threads earlier, the LCA Mk.1 will in essence be the LCA (Navy) Mk1, but with certain IAF-specified customisations in the arenas of comms radio fitments & PGMs. RFPs will soon be issued for procuring IAF-specified standoff, lightweight air-to-ground anti-armour PGMs. Also, 4 MILDS-F MAWS sensors will be installed on the airframe to cover the frontal & rear hemispheres. AESA-MMR as we all know will be the IAI/ELTA-supplied EL/M-2052.

To MAVREK: Not India in general, but BDL in particular, since BDL is the manufacturing OEM for the propulsion system. So, is IAI secures an export contract for the Barak-2/Barak-8 family of LR-SAMs, then BDL will be contracted for supplying the propulsion system.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

GCC member-states are mulling the purchase of Iron Dome from Israel:

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/17340/iron-dome-purchase-sign-of-quiet-gulf-israel-ties-and-middle-east-flux

While the UAE has assembled a force of Latin American mercenaries to fight its expeditionary battles, thereby signalling to Pakistan that "FO, we don't need you anymore.":

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/26/world/middleeast/emirates-secretly-sends-colombian-mercenaries-to-fight-in-yemen.html?_r=2

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/world/middleeast/15prince.html?action=click&contentCollection=Middle%20East&module=RelatedCoverage&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article

And finally, the Afghan Taliban is disintegrating, thereby denying Pakistan its very last bargaining chip that was meant to be used against Afghanistan:

http://news.yahoo.com/afghan-taliban-leader-seriously-injured-officials-145703104.html

http://news.yahoo.com/taliban-leader-mullah-mansour-wounded-shootout-sources-164440462.html

No wonder NaMo was looking extremely relaxed & confident when speaking to Mian Mohd Nawaz Sharif in Paris, explaining to Mian Sahab that the PA's game was up for good & now was the time for Pakistan's civilian leadership to wrest control of Pakistan's foreign policy-making back from the PA & chart a new course, with the blessings of the US & EU. Also on the chopping block are all the coal-fired thermal power plants (relying on imported coal) that China has proposed under the CPEC package. This now leaves Pakistan with no other option but to increase its dependence on imported LNG.

Arpit Kanodia said...

Sir, isn't that will be end game with sure check mate if Mian Mohd Nawaz Sharif wrestle his muscle against Pak Fauj in this pro Army environment.

In the end he may choose to shift again in "Bartaniya".

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To ARPIT KANODIA: Read this:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/modi-sharif-had-hour-long-secret-meeting-during-saarc-2014/story-oaPYNkJI2sUS09cdHjWnCL.html

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

And here's the Pakistani TV programme aired yesterday that analyses this incident:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p387eKNljMs

birbal said...

".....the good news is that the MoD has just sanctioned three prototypes of the LEVCON-equipped LCA Mk1 to be built by HAL, using funds from the money saved by not ordering the 2nd tranche of 20 Tejas Mk1s."
Great NEWS Prasunda....When do you think the FIRST prototype will FLY??

As I had explained .....the LCA Mk.1 will in essence be the LCA (Navy) Mk1.....PGMs. RFPs will soon be issued for procuring IAF-specified standoff, lightweight air-to-ground anti-armour PGMs.
Your WISHES are coming TRUE Prasunda.....you had already written about them in your previous article in May
http://trishul-trident.blogspot.in/2015/05/missing-woods-for-trees.html
".....lightweight PGMs (typically carried by triple-ejector or dual-ejector racks) like MBDA-built Brimstone, THALES-developed FF-LMM..... IAI-developed MLGB....."
I think the IAF Chief or someone in the MoD is taking your blog seriously...GREAT..

"... 4 MILDS-F MAWS sensors will be installed on the airframe to cover the frontal & rear hemispheres. AESA-MMR as we all know will be the IAI/ELTA-supplied EL/M-2052."
This was also written by you earlier...:):):)
Any news on the ASPJ...Where it will be installed, Whether it will be PODDED version OR INTERNALLY installed and about the RWRs???

The COCKPIT version will be the COCKPIT-NG from ELBIT, right??

Thanks,

Pallab.

rad said...

hi prasun
Can you give us some more dope on the levcon fitted LCA?. You had mentioned earlier that it had better agility and turn radius which pleased the IAF chief.what would be the disadvantages?. increased drag?.The video of the naval version does not show the levcon being used.
More important there has been no mention of the net centric connectivity which is the ace in todays warfare. There seems to be no mention of an integrated irst?.Have they dropped it?.Can the litening pod play the role of an irst in cinch. Is it integrated with the radar and the HMD like the sukhoi?.
Is HAL promise of shaving of about 500kg going to make the LCA a better performer as made out ?.

maverick said...

Now that MOD has pushed for 3 new prototypes, wont it be feasible to test models with larger and stealthier jet intakes or with DSI inlets, and conformal fuel tank ?

Mayur M Manapure said...

Another mass shooting in Uncle Shyaam's California.

http://dailycaller.com/2015/12/03/syed-rizwan-farooks-dating-profile-shows-he-liked-reading-religious-books-and-shooting-target-practice/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/12030481/Syed-Farook-what-we-know-about-the-San-Bernardino-gunman.html

Interesting thing is he is Pakistani. Islamophobia is already on rise. And this is going to make it much more worse. I'm sure there wouldn't be more gun controls but demand to evict all Pakistanis. God save those souls.

Prav said...

What the leaders really talked about from Pak point of view:


http://www.dawn.com/news/1223363/exposed-what-nawaz-and-modi-really-talked-about-in-paris

Hilarious////

mavrek said...

An article by Kashmir expert Radha Kumar:

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/india-could-lose-kashmir-in-next-10-years-warns-former-interlocutor/202948.html

What is your take on this sir?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To MAVREK: If that is indeed the supposition of this person, then I can only conclude that she isn't feeling the pulse of the average Kashmiri, either on the Indian side or the Pakistani side. For, talking of deterioration, which side offers better options? the one where rescue/rehabilitation works are undertaken in earnest after a natural disaster, or the side that has not even been able to rehabilitate those who lost their dwellings throughout PoK after the 2005 earthquake, leave alone the landslides/mudslides of 2010?

To MAVERICK: What you're expecting then is the development of more technology demonstrators or flying testbeds, not prototypes. And the flight-test regime of such aircraft can go on for as much as four years! The 3 LCA Mk.1s approved are prototypes, not technology demonstrators/testbeds. Therefore, no radical airframe modifications are to be expected. If conformal tanks are mounted on the fuselage, then the entire airframe will become unmanoeuvrable like a brick & won't be able to engage in dogfights, just like the F-16C/D/E/F versions when equipped with CFTs.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To PALLAB: ASPJ will be the ELT-568 covering both frontal & rear hemispheres. Cockpit-NG is for the Tejas Mk.2/LCA (Navy) Mk.2, & not for the LCA MK.1.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To SWEET: Here are the photos (which you had asked for in the previous thread) of the Corps-level exercise in which 21 Strike Corps is participating:

http://chinditsdefence.blogspot.in/2015/12/indian-armys-southern-command-exercise.html

But all these photos are taken only in daytime. The actual exercises are carried out between dusk and dawn.

VIKRAM GUHA said...

Prasun Da,

For our benefit will you please explain what the Naval Chief stated about new development and procurement in today's Annual Conference. This is what I have collated so far. I have emboldened the important ones:

(1) DRDO-French Mistral missile project is on track.

(2) MRH (maybe S-92) negotiations at an advanced stage.

(3) Additional Scorpenes to be built in India.

(4) P-75I : Awaiting approval from GOI.

(5) Need at least 3 new 60-65,000 ton aircraft carrier but other aspects of propulsion and launch system still not firmed up.

(6) At least 12 nuclear submarines are projected

(7) Many more fleet support ships on the anvil as well.

(8) A new cruiser design is on the anvil.

(9) Project 15B & Project 17A numbers to be increased.

Regards,

Vikram

RAT said...

Hi Prasun,

Good article once again just want to know how does Vikramaditya look like against the Liaoning in terms of weapons and aircraft carried. And future enhancements awaiting your input. Thanks

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To VIKRAM GUHA: The CNS played it very safe today & to most questions his answer was: the IN has done the requisite paperwork & have forwarded them to the Govt of India for initiating further action. 1) The SR-SAM project (not Mistral) also falls into this category. However, once the CBI closes the Barak-1 case, then most probably more Barak-1s will be ordered. 2) NMRH is the S-70B Seahawk. Delays were due to change of ownership of Sikorsky Helicopters, & Lockheed Martin has now extended the validity period of the offer-price. But a decision on this will be taken next March & a green light given by the Govt of India then as well. 3) Yes, 3 more units, these being the first lithium-ion battery AIP-equipped ones. 4) That’s just an excuse for layman’s consumption. Once any navy starts acquiring SSNs, the number of in-service SSKs automatically starts getting reduced. 5) Launch system for IAC-2 will be the EMALS from General Atomics. Consequently, propulsive power as well as electricity generation will have to come from a PWR. That’s what the laws of physics dictate. 6) That’s right. 6 SSBNs (S-2/Arihant, S-3, S-4, followed by the larger S-5, S-6 & S-7), plus six SSNs. 7) Yes, the five fleet support ships to be built by Indian shipyards. 8) Not cruiser, but a DDG, the Project 18, armed with Nirbhay’s sea-launched LACMs. 9) Not P-15B. But instead of 7 P-17A FFGs, it will be 9.

To RAT: Liaoning has a greater quantum of self-defence weapons like the ASW mortars, off-board countermeasures launchers & the missile-based CIWS. The Barak-2 & Maareech will go on board INS Vikramaditya.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To MAYUR M MANAPURE: What's happening with Pakistanis worldwide, & why their mindsets are convoluted, was explained yesterday by none other than Tarek Fatah:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOb_nenZtu4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAbNwtt5pFk

Leave alone abroad, even in Karachi the targetted assassinations continue. That's because while terrorists are being killed, the factories churning out such terrorists are not being shut down, i.e. the national educational curriculum which promotes deviant extremism conspiracy theories & violent jihad. The only way to reverse this is to revoke the two-nation theory & opt for secularism as the national narrative. But then, if this were to be done, then everyone will ask: why then was Pakistan born in the very first place??? Therefore, like it or not, Pakistan is now between the devil & the deep-blue sea. Salvation can therefore only come if states like KPK, Sindh & Baluchistan become independent countries & chart their own secular courses. Only then will these new countries be able to co-exist in peace with India, just like the US & Canada do. No self-styled Islamic Republic can peacefully co-exist side-by-side with a secular entity like India. It's like mixing diesel with petrol.

SUJOY MAJUMDAR said...

PrasunDa,

1. Is it true that INDIA is interested in purchasing the Brimstone missile?

2. Why are the Ruskies planning to build an oil pipeline from Russia to Porkistan?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Russia-offers-to-build-pipeline-for-gas-exports-to-Pakistan-Report/articleshow/50013032.cms

3. MoD has withdrawn a 2009 tender for procurement of over 1.86 lakh bulletproof jackets for the army because these jackets failed in the trials. What specifically is the IA looking for in bullet proof jackets?

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/tender-for-indian-armys-1-86-lakh-bulletproof-vests-nixed-over-failed-trials/articleshow/50012842.cms

As ever, thank you.



Arpit Kanodia said...

@Vikram Guha You have any youtube or dailymotion link of his speech?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To SUJOY MAJUMDAR: 1) Lightweight PGMs are the norm of the day now. It then boils down to the cost of acquisition. In case the launch aircraft is carrying LDP, then it makes sense to go for laser=guided PGMs, which can also be guided by infantry teams equipped with portable/handheld laser designators/illuminators. In case of absence of such airborne/ground-based target illuminators, then autonomous fire-and-forget PGMs using dual-mode or tri-mode guidance are reqd, especially when operating inside hostile airspace. Therefore, the ideal solution will be to go for a mix of PGMs (laser-guided & MMW radar-guided). 2) Why? LoLz! Obviously to present the IAF with yet another lucrative targetting opportunity! Such overland pipelines are highly lucrative targets for aerial strikes. 3) LoLz! The jackets never failed the trials. The trials procedures were not up to standards & failed to comply with transparency norms & therefore when several potential vendors complained, the competitive evaluation process was discarded & a new set of procedures is now being worked out.

Prav said...

Thank you for the detailed write up Prasun ... Can you go more into detail of this project 18 Destroyer ?One can excused for using destroyer and cruiser interchangbly. Since WW2 the definition of class has blurred . Some corvettes have the displacement of frigates and some frigates are heavier than destroyers . The americans can call their alreigh burke destroyers... cruisers and no one would find that strange.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAD: Here's some 'salivating dope' for your consumption:

During sea-level flight-trials of LCA, it became evident that the drag of the aircraft was so high that the aircraft could not reach supersonic speeds at sea-level. The components contributing to maximum drag rise were identified and improvement methods were worked out. The major component of drag at higher speed is the wave drag. This can be minimised by following the Whitcomb’s Area rule for the aerodynamic configuration design. The adopted solution was the extension of nose-cone by introducing a Plug.

Another area for improvement identified was the pylon reshaping. The leading edge of all pylons are blunt and it can be reshaped aerodynamically for drag reduction. An ADA analysis showed that a drag reduction of 3.7 dm2 at M=1.2 was possible with this modification. Similar exercise for the mid-board and out-board pylons was carried out and the drag reduction was predicted as 0.6 dm2 and 1.54 dm2, respectively.

There was a sudden variation in cross sectional area at the rear end of the fuselage also. This can be minimised by modifications in the trailing edge using Trailing Edge Extension (TEC).

Leading Edge Controller (LEVCON) is a secondary control surface located at the leading edge of the wing and the fuselage. The LEVCON was originally planned for LCA (Navy) Mk.1 for the low landing speed capability and other cruise performance. An important requirement of any MRCA is the Sustained Turn Rate (STR). The Tejas Mk.1 was not meeting the STR requirement of the IAF’s ASQR. The STR is a strong function of the aerodynamic efficiency. From the wind tunnel results it was found that LEVCONs produce higher L/D. A detailed study to implement LEVCONs in LCA Mk.1 and identification of other design constraints was undertaken & the conclusions were validated only after the initial flight-tests from the Goa-based SBTF of the IN’s LCA (Navy) Mk.1’s NP-1 & NP-2 testbeds.

Weight reduction is an important activity in an aircraft programme to improve the performance. Use of high-performance composite materials can considerably reduce the weight of the components and preserving the structural integrity. The airframe of Tejas has already undergone one cycle of weight reduction prior to production of the PV series Tejas Mk.1s, which resulted in a weight saving around 350kg. Some of the components like slat doors, casing & mounting of LRUs and rear fuselage bulkheads and pylons can also be made with composites. This will give further weight reductions.

Tejas Mk.1’s wing components have been manufactured separately and joined together using rivets, fastener and sealant. In the proposed co-cured co-bonded wing for LCA Mk.1, the bottom skin, ribs and spars will be co-cured together. This has advantages from reduced part-counts as well as weight-saving. The weight-saving is mainly due to the elimination of sealants, fasteners and associated components. Further, the wing will have improved stiffness, leak proof and better lightning protection.

When the aircraft in its mid weight (wing tank empty) condition, the aircraft CG is most forward. The aircraft is more stable, but the manoeuvring capability is limited. Hence a passive fuel proportioner was introduced in Tejas Mk.1 by varying the diameter of the fuel pipe. With this modification the maximum fuel travel is within ±0.5%. In future, better CG management is planned through the usage of Active Fuel Proportioner, using the motorised valves. A study was carried out to find out the advantages of passive fuel control by moving the CG aft from the earlier forward position. It is very clear that moving CG aft gives increase in L/D. This will improve the performance parameters considerably.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To PRAV: As far as Project 18 goes, it will be a DDG. Due to miniaturisation of most on-board systems & higher degrees of automation, mass/volume reductions are possible today. Consequently, a DDG today is able to deliver as much offensive firepower as a CG. All that is confirmed about Project 18 DDG so far is that it will be equipped with an integrated mast with varying types of APAR sensors & jammers; it will have an all-electric propulsion system that does away with reduction gearboxes; & that it will have about 32 LACMs on-board along with 60 LR-SAMs. Laser-based CIWS will also be incorporated. It will also be capable of simultaneously controlling up to four autonomous vehicles (each equipped with a dunking sonar & thermal imager) capable of undertaking persistent ASW surveillance.

Anonymous said...

Hi Prasunda,

Some questions:
1) In you reply at 3:26AM you have mentioned that LCA Mk1 will have Aesa ELTA-2052 radar. is that correct, because i thought AESA was earmarked for Mk2 version and ELTA2032 was for LCA Mk1.

2) How does Su-33 or J-15 compared against Mig 29K in terms of air-air and air to ground operations. What is the endurance and range of both these fighters in their air-air mode and air to ground mode?

3) What is dm2 that you have mentioned in your reply above regarding drag reduction. is it a unit of area? If its a unit of area then are you referring to span area or frontal area?

Regards,
Santosh

Prav said...

By the specs you offer I doubt that the project 18 will weighh less than 9500-10000 tons . With laser weaponary and electric propulsion ... is the navy looking to induct this ship in the 2030 timeframe ?Why only LACMs and o ASMs ?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To SANTOSH: 1) EL/M-2032 MMR is only for the 20 PV-series Tejas Mk.1s of the IAF & for the NP-series prototypes of the IN's LCA (Navy) Mk.1. The IAF's LCA Mk.1s & Mk.2s & the IN's LCA (Navy) Mk.2s will both have EL/M-2052 AESA-MMRs. 2) Su-33 had major problems with its all-up weight & MTOW & was therefore discarded by the Russian Navy in favour of the MiG-29K. The J-15 suffers from similar problems even when powered by AL-31Fs & therefore till this day they haven't carried out any takeoffs & landings with their full specified offensive weapons like C-802A ASCMs & YJ-91 supersonic ARMs. They have been seen carrying only PL-12 & PL-8 AAMs. 3) Span area.

To PRAV: Electric propulsion options have been available since the previous decade. ASCMs on board will be the 16 lighter & sleeker BrahMos-NGs. First P-18 DDG could enter service by 2025.

RaviN said...

From your post, what I understood is China got a Aircraft carrier at a garbage price. But it spent some money to retrofit the "garbage carrier" to a war ready carrier. How much would have China spent from purchase to war-ready carrier?
Why didn't any of the western or Indian intelligence understand China is going to get a new aircraft carrier? Isn't it a great achievement for Chinece intelligence that it fooled the world about getting a carrier as "Floating casino"?
I wish Indian leaders have 50% intelligence of that of Chinese military and leaders?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAVI N: Do read these:

China May Be Reverse-Engineering MAHEM, the Pentagon's Handheld Railgun:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a18386/china-mahem-railgun-darpa/

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-02/japan-set-to-test-stealth-jet-as-abe-strengthens-armed-forces

China would easily have spent close to US$1.5 billion in refurbishing & retrofitting the Varyag. Then there's the cost of developing the J-15 & Z-18 helicopter variants & the folding-wing AEW aircraft. So, all in all, close to US$2.5 billion is likely to have been spent on such efforts. In retrospect, it was indeed a coup pulled off by China's naval intelligence directorate. But getting hands on the Varyag was only half the success. The other half is accounted for by the several industrial espionage/theft operations undertaken by China in Ukraine. To me, that was the real & ultimate windfall.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To LACHIT: Everything you wanted to know about the TOS-1 MBRL:

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russias-lethal-thermobaric-rocket-launchers-coming-syria-14493

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To CSC: WRT your query in the previous thread about how to take out Pakistan’s nuclear WMD sites, here’s one example of how the US & Israelis would have done it, & how India would do it too:

If Israel ever launched a preventative strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, what would such an operation actually look like? Israel planned a daring—and, in the US' view, disastrous and even suicidal—SOF raid on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility in 2012. Fordow is home to 2,700 uranium enrichment centrifuges and is housed inside a hollowed-out mountain on an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps base. C-130s would land in Iran with Israeli SOF personnel on-board who would 'blow the doors, and go in through the porch entrance' of Fordow. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) planned to destroy the nuclear facility from inside. At some point in 2012, Israel was apparently serious enough about this plan to violate Iranian airspace in the course of its preparations. Israeli aircraft had flown in and out of Iran in what some believed was a dry run for a SOF raid on the site. The "dry run" could have been doubly aimed at signalling the seriousness of Israeli intentions—and Israeli military capabilities—to a US administration that was then in the process of opening back-channel nuclear negotiations with Tehran. But the US took the possibility of an Israeli AirLand strike seriously enough to alter its defence posture in the Persian Gulf in response to a possible Israeli attack, sending a second aircraft carrier to region for some unspecified period of time. At the same time, a combined SOF detachment comprising Israeli & Israeli SOF personnel were rehearsing somewhere in the Negev Desert similar ways of knocking out Pakistan’s nuclear WMD storage sites.

Until the Iran nuclear deal was signed this past July, an Israeli strike on Iran was one of the most intriguing—and perhaps terrifying—hypothetical scenarios in global politics. In October of 2012, IDF-AF F-15Is destroyed an Iran-linked weapons facility in Khartoum, Sudan, a city almost exactly as far from Israel's borders as Iran's primary nuclear facilities. A September 2010 Atlantic Magazine cover story by Jeffrey Goldberg laid out what were believed to be the requirements of a successful Israeli attack on Iran's facilities. Israel has no strategic bombers; its F-15Is would have to use Saudi airspace in order to make it to Iran while maintaining enough of a fuel load to return to base. Some of its F-15Is might have had to land in Saudi Arabia to refuel, or even use a temporary desert base as a staging area. It wouldn't be enough for Israel just to destroy Iranian facilities. The Israeli mission would also have to have a ground component to collect proof of a successful strike. The consequences of a direct hit on Iran's facilities—something which might require the most sophisticated military operation in Israel's history—are unknowable ahead of time. Perhaps an attack would touch off a devastating escalation cycle in which Iran-linked terrorists attacked Israeli and US assets abroad, Iran launched attacks on Saudi targets to retaliate for their perceived cooperation, and the Iranian proxy militia Hezbollah unleashed its arsenal of 200,000 rockets against Israel. Or maybe a jittery Teheran would hold back, cutting its losses after a superior military's direct hit on one of the regime's most important strategic assets. After all, neither Bashar al Assad nor Saddam Hussein retaliated when Israel destroyed their nuclear reactors from the air in 2007 and 1981, respectively.

Gessler said...

I had a hunch that the next DDG would be called Project-18. Thanks for confirming that (atleast I hope they won't change it...no reason to change it really).

Coming to the point, I would definitely like you to come up with a full objective rundown of how this ship could turn out (I know you said details are sketchy right now but an educated guesswork would do)...

1. I have to say I am surprised they will stick with the designated VLS cell approach (with dedicated cells for SAMs, LACMs and ASCMs) instead of the more flexible Universal VLS approach that is being adopted by USN as well as PLAN (look at new Type-052D and upcoming Type-055)...and even European navies to some extent. Is this a failure of vision/foresight or are the forces genuinely satisfied with the VLS allotted to each missile type as it is now?

Regardless, the numbers you have given add up to a total of 112 missiles onboard (64 LR-SAM, 32 Nirbhay-based LACM, 16 BrahMos-NG --no Brahmos-2??--) which seems nice at first glance but to be honest the inner being in me seems to believe we SHOULD have gone the UVLS approach straight from the beginning....although I agree even if we managed to make one VLS type for all the other missiles, the BrahMos is one bitch that would still need its own type (atleast one that can only be shared with other Soviet-type ASCMs).

2. Hmm. So the I-Masts (dont necessarily mean Thales i-Mast ;D) are finally coming to Indian Navy...however that still leaves space for imagination. What all radar models do you suppose will find their way onto this mast?

Obviously it will be highly customized for IN's needs & wants...I assume it will have to find some way to incorporate MF-STAR system into that mast (don't tell me we'll just have to roll with that single-array rotodome being advertised for the i-Mast). I'm not even sure if that is a stupid question^^.

3. I am more interested in the general design features of the ship. Do you suppose it would be a Trimaran/Tumblehome hull-type design? I heard IN was researching those designs a long time ago. Although personally I'd believe (with the timeframe you have given), it will be a run-of-the-mill hull....an improvement of P-15A/B.

4. Speaking of the other weapon systems. The main gun? Oh how I wish the fools over at DODO & OFB decided to follow up their research on howitzers with versions meant for naval applications. Ideally the ATAGS project should be accompanied by a naval version from the start. Or atleast a plan for a naval version. I believe you have already vented anger on the Dodos to this end.

So this leaves little space for anything other than maybe a 127mm Oto-Melara? A 76mm one, if Shani Graham (Saturn) is still lingering on our heads.

5. About AUVs, I suppose you mean something along the lines of L&T's Adamya or something bigger? Do you?

6. The air component. I suppose additional numbers of the 12-ton NMRH being sought will fly off this vessel, correct me if I'm wrong. I would also assume the possibility of VTOL UAVs calling this ship's hangar home. Maybe a bunch of FireScouts if we're all feeling lucky.

7. At this point worrying about a ship's displacement seems stupid even for jingos like me, one should really be concerned about the tech onboard the ship. A bigger displacement by itself guarantees nothing but a bigger target for your enemies to shoot at. However I am interested in knowing about any of the newer signature-reduction measures being developed? Especially with regard to cavitation. Any light to shine on that area?

Huge thanks in advance, Prasun ji!

rad said...

hi prasun
wow, dil mange more!!.
I am astonished by your knowledge of aerodynamics! do you have a degree in this related area ?. But there seems to be a lot to be done in streamlining the production process and fine tuning . very few jingos understand the center of gravity effects on the fly by wire system.
But them my question is will the LCA better its sustained turn rate? after all these improvements? . ex IAF boss and test pilot Krishnaswamy rightly pointed out that the LCA is best inducted and improvements done in stages.It is argued that the instant turn rate was more important than STR in a dog fight. Was there any question about the instant turn rate of the LCA?.
Who ever designed the wing pylons should be castrated!. Event the j-17 has better designed sleek pylons . Will we have to get outside help to do the co cured co bonded composite manufacturing process.? Recently heard that EADs has agreed to help us with the LCA .What are the areas being talked about?.
The leading edge of the LCA seems to be blunt compared to the f-16 where it is blade thin reducing wave drag.I am surprised that there is excess wave drag in spite of the swept delta wing. DOnt these effects show up in supersonic wind tunnel testing?. Why were they clueless?. Is the active fuel transfer system present on modern ac like the f-16 or is it only on the LCA.
please talk about the IRST, what happend to it? and can the litening pod make do for and irst?.

Pawan said...

Dear Prasunji,

Congratulations! as one more of your assessment regarding additional order of 3 scorpene sub is coming true.

As always I am waiting for the day when you assessment and prediction about India re-claiming PoK back would come ture.

Good Bless.

Pawan.

Mayur M Manapure said...

And they are also buying AC and SSBNs. You know how expensive is to maintain an aircraft that modern. All the Pindi officials would go bald after seeing the bills. A country whose Forex reserves is nothing but international borrowings, considering this it's a laughable stmt made by a COS.

john said...

Do you have details about 'GHATAK' GTRE engine?. For which platform they are developing it?. How long will it take to complete it.?

What is the current status of NAG ATGM?

raw13 said...

@Prasun,

Japanese 5th Gen:

http://atimes.com/2015/12/japan-set-to-test-stealth-jet-as-abe-boosts-defense-focus/

China ready to start testing of J-20, first squadron expected to stand up in 2017:

http://www.popsci.com/2017-prototype-heralds-end-an-era-for-j-20-fighter-jet-testing-start-another-era

All this happening whilst HAL is trying to figure out the aerodynamics of LCA.

I liked your analysis of LCA's aerodynamic issues. Years ago whilst talking to a professor in aeronautical engineering, I asked what he thought of LCA, JF-17 designs. He reply was simple one was a fighter aircraft, the other more of a brick, likening it to the Panavia Tornado. This why I used to laugh when LCA supporters without having basic understanding are always saying how good LCA is. The solutions you suggested to fix the problem are piece meal to say the least. Question is do you think the Mk II will have re-designed frame?

Anonymous said...


is this true sir?

http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2015/12/03/a-modi-led-modi-owned-pakistan-policy-at-last/

RaviN

Unknown said...

https://youtu.be/3wMfM42R_r4

Great news !
Mullah akhtar mansour killed in gunfight !!!

Arpit Kanodia said...

Maybe instead of laughing on LCA, @raw13 this time laugh on this too.

http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/us-shooting-suspect-had-pakistan-passport-officials-1250864

The days are coming when all world powers sit together to tackle threat that emitting from Pakistan.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAW13: The design refinements for LCA Mk.1 were neither my suggestions nor my analysis. Nor were they discovered sometime in this decade. It was all known way back in the previous decade itself by ADA (not HAL), & many of them are already flying on the LCA (Navy) Mk.1's NP-1/NP-2 prototypes. Therefore, to base your conclusions on suppositions & faulty assumptions is unwise, to say the least.

The J-20 is still a decade away from entering service, & that too if its definitive turbofans are available on time. Right now even the FWS-10A turbofan for the J-11B/J-15/J-16 clones are severely underperforming. Wait till the terms & conditions of the Su-35 deal with Russia come out in the open & you will realise the full consequences of the restrictions imposed by Russia on China when it comes to reverse-engineering/back-engineering, & why has China willingly acquiesced to such restrictions.

To ARPIT KANODIA: Judging by the outbursts of the likes of CHADHA, RAT31 & GHANDI, it seems they've all reached a stage where they can no longer deny the undeniable, & therefore are having an extremely tough time trying to endure the unendurable.

john said...

Test result of MIG-29 by Israeli Air Force. Don't know posted before.

http://www.iaf.org.il/5642-35655-en/IAF.aspx

Looks like we can go for more MIG-29 as a stop gap arrangement to stall fighter shortage since we have whole MIG infrastructure with IAF and cost competitive.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAVI N: Don't believe a word emanating from someone who lives in cuckoo-land & is therefore totally detached from ground realities.

To ANUP: Whaaaaaaaat!!! Why only the F-35, & not the F/A-22 Raptor? Or the FC-31 from China? Why this never-ending Pakistani facilitation with US-made products when most Pakistanis believe that the US has always left Pakistan in the lurch whenever it came to the crunch? Why not opt for the Z-10 attack helicopter instead of the AH-1Z?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To JOHN: When the USSR collapsed in late 1991, the newly independent states within its former domain inherited enormous stockpiles of weapons the Red Army left behind. One of the most interesting cases involved the air force of the tiny former Soviet republic of Moldova. The new republic’s inventory consisted of 34 MiG-29s, eight Mi-8s and a handful of transport aircraft—a sizeable force for such a small state. Moldova couldn’t afford to maintain the fleet and, to make matters worse, was in a deep recession. Meanwhile, the US feared Moldova would sell the MiG-29s to Iran, So in 1997, the US deployed its most powerful tool to get the MiG-29s for itself. That tool … was money. Washington bought 21 of the MiG-29s— including 14 C models, one B model and six A models—and flew them in pieces on C-17 transports to Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. In exchange, Moldova received $40 million in humanitarian assistance, some army trucks and other non-lethal equipment. Moldova sold the rest of its air force to Eritrea and Yemen. Incidentally, 1997 was the same year that another country obtained MiG-29s. That country was Israel, which loaned three single-seat MiG-29s for a couple of weeks from an undisclosed Eastern European country (Poland). Israeli pilots who tested out the MiG-29s were quite impressed. While different from the standard US-made MRCAs they were accustomed to, they reported that the MiG-29 was easy to fly. Its computers for enabling landing if the pilot experienced difficulty were quite noteworthy. This is due to the fact that this system “stabilizes the jet in case the pilot is affected by vertigo disease, and loses his orientation in space,” IAF Magazine noted. “Such systems do not exist in Western aircraft, counting on the pilot to handle such situations independently.” One test pilot concluded that the MiG-29’s “abilities equals and sometimes even exceeds those of the F-15 and F-16. The aircraft is highly manoeuvrable, and its engines provide higher T/W ratio. Our pilots must be careful with this aircraft in air combat. Flown by a well trained professional, it is a worthy opponent.” Curiously, Israel signed a deal in August 2011 to refurbish, modernise and overhaul Poland’s MiG-29s.

raw13 said...

PAF getting f-35, give me break please. The same PAF that can only afford to buy 8 new f-16s. Dont believe all this crap. PAF is low on funds, big time.

Anonymous said...

Prasunda i think the areas that you mentioned is not span area, but area at each location along the length of aircraft. Span area will be the planform area. Thanks for other updates and answering the questions.

Now some more questions:
1) What is the degree of autonomy that india has achieved on manufacturing of AL31F engine? Are we still sourcing raw materials from Russia for it? Do we have any plans to develop those inhouse?

In your previous post i had asked some questions which somehow you missed, posting them again, hope you answer them this time:

2) The soviets and the chinese had a split in the 60s, and soviets stopped supporting the chinese in their support for Mig 21. Then how come, the chinese were able to sustain Mig 21s engine and develop even more modifications to the design of airframe which even the soviets never made.

3) Did the soviets transfer complete engine technology or was it similar to TOT that India and HAL had for R-25 and R-11 engine. If it was TOT similar to HAL's then why HAL was not able to sustain the engine development and come with something similar, as the chinese.

4) Can HAL make the complete engine of Mig 21 i.e. R-25 or Su30s AL31F engine without any soviet or russian help, that is with complete indigeneous content and raw materials. And what are we still importing from russians. Is it materials, coatings? Is it because of cheaper cost from russian side or lack of technology from our side?

Regards,
Santosh

Mayur M Manapure said...

http://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/tirupati-worlds-richest-temple-may-move-stash-to-modi-governments-gold-scheme/articleshow/50046462.cms


The scheme needs to be fine tuned though. But this is encouraging.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To GESSLER: 1) LoLz! Did anyone say anything about designated VLS cells? I certainly did not. I only mentioned weapons fitments. The VLS developed by L & T for the BrahMos-1 is called the UVL. It will be able to launch all types of missiles: SAMs, ASSCMs & LACMs. BrahMos-2 is still a decade away from entering service & that too its land-launched & air-launched versions. BrahMos-NG can be fired from 533mm torpedo-tubes & will also be air-launched its dimensions will therefore be similar to that of Nirbhay LACM. 2) I-masts are available from THALES, BAE Systems & also from Russia. IAI/ELTA is also developing one & it makes sense to stick to the Israeli OEMs for the sake of keeping acquisition & product-support costs low. 3) No such radical hull designs. Its superstructure will be similar to that of P-15A/P-15B DDGs. 4) It will be the 127mm OTOBreda main gun. 5) Not at all. L & T’s solution is a 533mm-diameter torpedo-launched AUV. Can any such AUV deploy dunking sonars? They will be ROVs that are RHIB-based. 7) There’s no way any warship of any navy can be made low-observable in any spectrum.

To RAD: All that I had mentioned was nothing new. The data was available from ADA & CEMILAC only if one knew where to look & whom to talk to. Of course STR will improve with weight reductions & usage of LEVCONs. ITR was important only at a time when all-aspect AAMs & HMDS weren’t available. That’s not the case today. Redesign of underwing pylon has already been completed. Co-cured bonded composites manufacturing was beinbg done in India even in the previous decade. EADS is ADA’s consultant for developing a weight-optimised version of the LCA (Navy) Mk.1’s main landing gear. The original airframe design of the LCA as suggested by GE Aero Engines was to feature box-like air-intakes similar to those on the JAS-39 Gripen, along with double-cranked delta wings. Had this been adhered to, then a lot of the agility metrics parameters would have been met a long time ago. Instead, for reasons unknown (but most probably due to absence of a dedicated engineering flight simulator) , ADA settled for a single-cranked, swept delta wing configuration. IRST is for the Mk.2 MRCA, not Mk.1. LDPs cannot be employed as IRSTs due to their limited FoV.

If you want to see how seriously the Japanese are about doing their homework through simulation & scale-modelling, then do watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gp9jCDrlFM

To PAWAN: VMT. Don’t worry about PoK. Its return back to India is a strategic inevitability. If you’re seriously interested in mapping the mindset of Pakistan’s civilian/military decision-makers & those of Afghanistan, then I suggest you get a copy of Christina Lamb’s book, titled FAREWELL KABUL.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To VIKRAM GUHA: LoLz! This is what happens when one is trying to ‘Islamise’ Muslims! And that’s also the reason why none of the countries in the Arabian peninsula (where Islam was born) label themselves as Islamic emirates/kingdoms/sultanates/republics. For they all know that an ‘Islamic’ state of existence prevailed only during the time of the Holy Prophet. After his demise, in the absence of his guidance wisdom, what emerged were mere Caliphates, more like today’s sultanates that were by no means ‘Islamic’ & consequently, Sharia law was never enforced or embraced by these Caliphates. This practice continues to this day in most of the GCC member-states & other countries with Muslim-majority populations, & these countries therefore consider it blasphemous to call themselves ‘Islamic’ entities. Only 3 countries—Afghanistan, Iran & Pakistan—have labelled themselves as ‘Islamic’ Republics, this itself being the worst form of blasphemy. Consequently, they have invited the wrath of Allah & we all know what the consequences of such wrath are.

To JOHN: GTRE is developing the MANIK (previously called Laghu Shakthi) turbofan for UAV applications, while the HTFE-25 turbofan is being developed by HAL for powering an AJT-type aircraft. Then there is the Russia-designed turbofan for the Nirbhay LACM being built by HAL. Ghatak is not an engine, but a rotary-winged UAV being co-developed by ADE & HAL.

To SANTOSH: 1) There cannot be any form of manufacturing autonomy when it comes to licenced-production of products designed & developed by foreign OEMs. All raw materials therefore continue to come from Russia. I makes no financial or operational sense to source such materials in-country. 2) China took 20 years to back-engineer the MiG-21, & its WP-7 turbofan was by no means as powerful & reliable as the R-25-300 turbofan. 3) No. There never was any form of manufacturing ToT between the USSR & China. HAL to date has never licence-built more than 50% of any engine of imported origin. Nor was HAL ever instructed by anyone in the Govt of India to undertake engine R & D for either fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. 4) Absolutely not. It is financially & technologically impossible, given the limited number of such engines required. For economies of scale, one must first produce engines in large numbers for commercial aircraft & then use the revenues earned through their sales for investing in military turbofan R & D. Same goes for radars, diesel engines, automotives, warships, combat aircraft, etc, etc. If one wishes to remain only the OEM for military products, then it becomes mandatory to earn revenues through industrial sub-contracts by becoming vendors for the world’s established aerospace giants & becoming part of the global supply-chain. This is what has been done by Japan, China & RoK.
Sales of commercial products—not military products—bring in revenues in large volumes that are reqd for investing in military R & D. That is the universal reality. Unless one adheres to this rule, no one can become a leading designer or producer of any major military product.

Anonymous said...

Dear Prasun,

Thanks for you comments about Sumerian-Tamil and south Indian temple dooms and lemuria. I am start doing some research regarding this.

Recently I come to see this video about yazadis in iraq. Please have a look and give your comments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX-g587ral0

Thanks

S Kumar
(senthil Kumar)





Magicbullet said...

Dear Prasun, Saurav zha had been tweeting spree since morning...what is he hinting at ..our nuclear power generation capability , our bomb. , nuclear reactor in arihant or is it about mki..AL31 engines full tot....me maha confused.

lachit said...

@prasun
thanks for the link on TOS1. it was informative

i wanted to ask you your opinion on the fesability of building 3 ARSENAL ship
ie ships with enough tonnage to cart around 200-300 long range land attack cruise missiles (majority)and long range anti shipping cruise missiles etc.
it would provide massive accurate firepower if supported by relevent space based assets.

can also be used for ballistic missile defense.
being mobile on the high seas would make its detection difficult.

eg
a massive salvo launched at karachi would take out the naval, land and airforce assets present there at one go .

joydeep ghosh said...

@Prasun da

1. if you remember sometime back i had said the destroyers will be close to cruiser weight; looks like i got it right; as per what you have said about Project 18 DDG, i think these ships armed with 32 Nirbhay LACM, 32 cell Brahmos AShCM, 32 cell LR-SAM, 155 mm naval gun (probably) will be 9k tons+ & will be choto bhai of slava cruisers

2. as C17 line closed and no spare ready, IAF is looking for upto 5 low used C17, but USAF got its last C17s in 2013 and since then all have have recorded good miles. think giving Boeing a carrot of 6 new C17 bought under FMS in return for India ordering a more powerful GE414 (better than now) also bought under FMS will be a better idea

3. While you say that IN going for SSNs more will push SSKs out, i think IN will seek SSKs to operate in Arabian Sea which is considered a shallow sea than Bay of bengal

thanks

Joydeep Ghosh

Unknown said...


http://jasarat.org/2015/11/30/uae-bans-pia-flights-except-boeing-777/

Pakistan airlines banned in UAE !!!

Gessler said...

Hi thanks for the reply Prasun,

That's good to know. I was aware of a UVLS from L&T but I was assuming it would only be for BrahMos, Klub, and other ASCMs of the breed. I for sure overlooked quite a few facts of life :D - ofcourse it can launch Nirbhay as well.

Coming to the point, I seem to think that even a UVL of such design intended for use by BrahMos/Nirbhay-sized missiles would be wasted on SAMs like Barak-8 unless you plan to cold-launch them in quads. That or you should use them for one of those 'bigger' SAMs, which IN seems to have no intent of acquiring.

Can we hope for such quad-packed LR-SAM solutions in future? I feel like I'm trying to count the chickens before they're hatched but still...

Thanks in advance.

sbm said...

When will a PDMS be fitted to the Kamorta class vessels ?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To MAGICBULLET: Dunno....because I don't read such tweets. Kindly post a few examples & I will try to clarify.

To SBM: After the CVC & CBI file final closure reports on the Barak-1 corruption investigations.

To GESSLER: As for Barak-2 LR-SAMs packed inside UVLMs, it is possible, because when viewing photos of Barak-2 one doesn't get an accurate idea of its dimensions. When one sees its full-scale model, only then can one draw accurate conclusions. Thus, a single UVLM silo-tube meant for LACM or ASCM can easily accommodate twin cannisters for Barak-2.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To PIYUSH DAS: It will get far worse as investigations continue in the UK. Do read this:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Paris-attacker-met-in-UK-with-suspected-extremists-Report/articleshow/50055739.cms

Unknown said...

Sir here are few tweets from sourav jha

"The Navy has been told that Project 75I is absolutely the last time an imported conventional submarine design will be built in India."

"License production ki Jai as far as the multirole helos and MRASW aircraft are concerned."

"The reactor physics is Russian. The reactor is Indian. 'Nuff said."

"Not really. Any use of tactical nukes, will be the last tactical blunder Pakistan ever makes. This has been conveyed to them."

"Last year there were reports of 12 S-400 systems being produced in Russia, with the speculation that they were meant for Egypt. But I think those could well be headed to India."

"Aircraft Carrier numbers will rise to 5-6 by the early 2030s."

"The US is signalling that it can launch a decapitating cruise missile strike on the Kremlin by sending in destroyers into the Black Sea."

"About 50-80 more MKI orders are likely. 120 LCA MK-1,1A. They have decided to maintain a force of 700 + combat jets at the minimum.
7:11am - 1 Dec 15"

Unknown said...

Sir, sourav jha has also said that iaf is looking for 8-10 AEW&C platforms in the near term, rising to 20 + by the mid 2020s. They are also looking at atleast 18 refuellers.

Unknown said...

We will be grateful if you could provide some info in this context....

সুমন্ত নাগ said...

Prasun Da, I think, I have put up some queries a few hours ago, and I don't know why those got deleted, anyways I am again in pain to post those, kindly share your views.

First and foremost, many thanks for this informative thread, only one of this kind I presume.

Coming back to the questions:

1. What is the importance of the threat of Islamic State, by expanding their 'war' to Indian Sub continent, especially in the light of an article in Dabiq captioning 'Revival of Jehad in Bengal' ?

2. Read up about your link in TOS - 1 , any plan is there , equipping Pinaka with Thermobaric warheads ?

3. Is ISRO developing Environmentally Friendly Rocket Fuel, in the line of the Fuel used in Atlas V, Angara or Long March 6 ? Any info there about ISRO's docking experiment ?

4. As per your ongoing discussions with S.Kumar, kindly throw some light about Yazidis ? Have they their roots in Kumari Kandam like Tamil race? What is the reason of their bonhomie with Kurds ?

Thanks and Regards in advance .

DAshu said...

5-6 Aircraft Carriers ??? Is India becoming US ? may be he is counting LPDs as well.

Prav said...

Saurav Jha is the king of all chest thumpers . He takes what are said by DRDO/DPSU employees as gods own truth and puts it all over his twitter page .

Arpit Kanodia said...

@PIYUSH you missed his Russia loving tweets and implying US as evil. He is true lover of Russia.

"India-Russia alignment is all set to be cemented for the 21st Century. This alliance is designed to usher in a truly multi-polar world."

"Supporting CISMOA is an act of treason at worst and an act of lunacy at best."

My questions are

1) How India going to commission 5 AC by 2030, in a case IAC-2 only meant to commission best by 2025?
2) Why India inducting 3 more Scorpene in a case P-75I is on card? Why not commissioning SSN directly instead of P-75I?
3) How 12 S-400 headed to India without even signing of contracts?
4) Why India considering Russia as hollier than thou? And US as evil as hell?
5) Are we seriously living in a world where all powers are planning & conspiring against India except Russia? Even US PRC alliance against India.
6) How practically thinking about CISMOA is treason?

But his certain tweets about Pakistan is true.

সুমন্ত নাগ said...

Don't know, as DAshu pointed, perhaps he counted LPDs as ACs ? :O

Arpit Kanodia said...

And here another tweet

"And BTW if MBTs are so obsolete why are 300 + additional T-90 MS being ordered? Is that anything but a CBM?"

I dont know when India ordered T-90 MS, maybe I am wrong, I tried to find news about this on internet but only able to find this

http://defence-blog.com/army/india-has-started-talks-with-russia-for-the-purchase-of-t-90ms-main-battle-tanks.html

I dont know "talks" means ordered?

Unknown said...

In essence I totally agree with you. But in sourav jha's defence I'll like to highlight some points...

1)US constructed last nimitz class ship 'uss Ronald Reagan in just 3 years ! Thanks to modular construction. So if US provides us with this decades old technology then we will be able to construct 3 AC by early 2030s.

2) I think diesel electric submarines have their own niche, which can't be compensated by nuclear subs. At least in shallow waters. Also diesel subs are much cheaper. But I believe india should go solo on p75i project, based on experience gained from arihant & scorpene subs.

3) your 3rd point is very true. Only possibility of that happening is RUSSIAN army ordered those s-400 for themselves, but due to budget constraints they are now trying to export it. But again highly unlikely.

4&5) your fourth & fifth points are 100% true. Can't be defended at all. But one of my friend was telling me that Russia(ussr) have vetoed anti india Kashmir resolution in UN many times.

May be not b'coz of f'ndship, may be due to geopolitics, whatever be the reason, Russians have helped us a lot.

Latest example is- no country other than Russia is willing to lease nuclear submarines to india & help india to fabricate reactor for arihant.

Sorry for long post.....

Unknown said...

@arpit^^
Also plz don't misunderstand me as pro-Russia or anti-America.
I'm neither.
I'M JUST PRO-INDIA.....

Magicbullet said...

Sir, I was referring to a series of his tweets which I read in the morning today but can't seem to find then now..May be he has removed then...in them he was referring to Indian physicist visiting Russia in early nineties and Russia understanding that Indians physicists are getting it right so they opened the doors..

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To MAGICBULLET & PIYUSH DAS: 'Utter Baloney' & 'Total Hogwash' are what best describe those tweets, especially about PWRs, reactor physics, etc, etc. For those who want to know the truth, it was to be found at the ‘Innovation and Indigenisation Pavilion’ that was set up in Navy House & was spread over an area of 3,000 square feet on December 4. For those of us who had the time to go & see it (it was strictly by invitation, of course) before 4pm (i.e. the time when VVIPs & VIPs like the President & PM start coming to the venue), it was an excellent opportunity to both see & be briefed on all that has been happening over the years in the naval arena. Will share all that later today. But do rest assured that the truth is far far away from such silly tweets as those you both have referred to above.

Jon said...

Interesting interview of Ashraf Ghani. Very cool and calm in the face of tough questioning. Towards the end he talks about the peace process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyQ7Ij2BR64

Anonymous said...

Dear Prasun,

Turkey-Russia
-------------

It looks like turkey planned to exit from Russian Energy dependency. Turkey already got assurance from Qatar & Azerbaijan Gas Deal. Now it is in good position to Challenge Russian Dominance in Syrian Area. Now Erdogan is saying that he don’t want Russian Gas and plans to stop Russian-Turkey Pipeline Project also.

From this position

1) What is the turkey’s Plan in Syrian War theater?
2) Why Turkey is keeping a regiment of troops in Iraq?
3) What US & NATO going to do next in Syrian War?
4) Is Russia back out from Syrian war to save its economy or it will
fight till end?

Please give your comments.

Thanks
S. Kumar

Jon said...

Would like your opinion on this. What has changed for this meeting to take place when the earlier one collapsed?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/After-Modi-Sharifs-Paris-meet-NSAs-discuss-terror-JK-and-security-issues-in-Bangkok/articleshow/50064609.cms

Jon said...

Neutral Location so no hurriyet conference issue. Plus Foreign Secretaries were also present so it can be said all issues were discussed. The change of their NSA by the Pakistani side to a military appointee is significant.

Anonymous said...

Dear Prasun,

Please go through all this links. It gives me more info related to all Mysteries in this world regarding Hinduism and all starting of Human Civilizations.

Please comments your comments.

Origin of Temple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_txmD95yCLM

The Great Ravana Mystery Solved
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDgHl_nlJg

Mayan Religion & It's Tamil Connection
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQbf_3WyQrg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNVa5OqkQnw

The First Theorist of the World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn-qohblbLc

Amazing Facts on the Order of the Days of Week
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmsjyLsllTY

The True Meaning of Vaikundam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-zqIjfFaKg

True Origin of the Illuminati Symbol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxFBM09e2do

Amazing Facts on Kundalini Yoga Part-1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRVJy-2BwDk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmYWGxkhcvo

True identity of Yezidi Religion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX-g587ral0

Thanks
S. Kumar
(Senthil Kumar)

Jon said...

It gets even better:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pakistan-stops-foreign-reporters-probe-into-radicalization-of-California-shooters/articleshow/50067898.cms

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To LACHIT: Such warships are reqd only by those navues that have to traverse half-the-globe reaching their intended targets & which therefore have to keep afloat in different corners of the world a readily-available & deliverable quantum of offensive firepower. Does such a scenario apply to India? Definitely not. India’s identifiable adversaries are all located in her immediate neighbourhood & therefore offensive firepower can be delivered with diverse platforms from the land, sea & air. Putting all eggs into one basket, i.e. a warship carrying hundreds of LACMs therefore won’t serve any purpose & will instead only reduce India’s options. The same applies to BMD. All ballistic missiles targetted against India will always be launched from land & not from the sea. Therefore, a sea-based BMD system won’t be of any use for India. As for massive LACM salvoes on land targets, a flotilla of even five Type 877EKM SSKs each armed with four 3M14E Club LACMs can launch a devastating salvo against targets in Karachi, then go back to Dwarka or Okha to reload in less than 24 hours & can proceed again to launch another devastating salvo within a 48-hour timeframe, i.e. similar in concept to what the IN carried out in December 1971 under OP Trident, but far more devastating in terms of deliverable firepower, far more stealthier in terms of approaching the targets & far more simpler in terms of execution.

To JOYDEEP GHOSH: 1) It is still too early to jumpt to conclusions about the P-18 DDG’s total displacement. Remember, it remains to be seen if the P-18 DDGs will do away with the twin-tandem funnel concept employed by the P-15, P-15A & P-15B DDG, when no other DDG in the world employs such a concept. Therefore, considerable potential remains in terms of both weight reduction & smaller superstructure dimensions. 3) LoLz! The reason SSKs operate in shallow coastal waters is meant for their own protection against ASW sweeps. And not because the seas are shallow. The SSNs of the USN & Royal Navy operated fromthese very waters when launchinbg LACMs into Afghanistan in both 1998 & 2001. SSNs don’t need to stay hidden in such waters because they can diver to deeper depths & stay hidden & undetectable. That’s why all navies possessing SSNs have done away with SSKs, with the sole exception of China. Even Russia is gradually phasing out its SSKs as more & more single-hulled SSNs become available.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To PIYUSH DAS & MAGICBULLET: Here are the clarifications:

1) One cannot procure all-new design SSKs under Project 75I while ordering more Scorpenes. Furthermore, India definitely cannot afford to undertake concurrent procurement of SSKs & SSNs of imported designs. No one else can as well. And since the IN direly needs SSNs to provide flank protection for its S-2/S-3/S-4 SSBNs, procurement of all-new design SSKs is no longer an option. Hence the decision to leash the Project 971 Kashalot from Russia. For the IN knows only too well that what it needs is not a new SSK design just for the sake of learning how to design a SSK (a ridiculous proposition anyway), but SSNs to meet its urgent operational reqmts.

2) Like I explained several times before, for any licenced-production effort to be successful, a minimum order for 65 units has to be placed. Neither the 10-tonne NMRH nor the MRMR-ASW platforms are reqd in such numbers.

3) Open-source theoretical physics has always been available to India, but not applied physics. That’s why when it came to solutions, India had to import BWRs from GE in the 1950s, followed by CANDU-design PHWRs in the early 1970s, meaning the DAE till the early 1970s NEVER had any indigenous scientific or technological competence for designing its own nuclear reactors. That’s why there’s no word at all on whether the Thorium-based PFBR & FBTRs have been successful to date. It took India 8 years to up-scale the 40mW CIRUS to the 100mW Dhruva, while scaling up from 235mW to 540mW took 28 years, & scaling-up from 540mW to 700mW took 6 years. Up until the late 1980s, the DAE never came up with any indigenous PWR design (as recorded by Dr Anil Anand in his book SECOND STRIKE) & that explains why the DAE had no other option but to approach the USSR for both technological & material assistance. The USSR obliged by selling its KLT-40 PWR core’s design, which took care of the applied physics component. Then came the engineering challenge: how to design & develop the corresponding steam generator, primary coolant pumps, feed-pumps, heat exchanger/condenser, reduction gearboxes & turbine. Here too the Russians provided designs & fabrication know-how but not a single test-bench & consequently all trial batches of components & sub-systems were sent to Russian labs for manufacturing process QC/QA testing & validation. That explains what all transpired between 1989 & 1999. Even for systems-integration & pressure-hull design, all IPRs came from Russia’s Rubin Central Marine Design Bureau. So yes, almost all hardware (barring some specialised cables) was fabricated in India, but to claim that all design work & production engineering efforts were indigenous is totally wrong & utter hogwash. The entire CMS & IPMS was developed by TATA Power SED & TATA Consultancy Services in industrial partnership with BAE Systems, & just days ago I saw a full-scale CMS simulator in Vizag & its CMS/IPMS component was built by TATA Power SED, while US-based CAE provided the simulation tools & thus was born the Action Speed Tactical Trainer (ASTT).

You can read all about CAE’s India businesses here:

http://www.cae.com/uploadedFiles/Content/BusinessUnit/Defence_and_Security/Media_Centre/Document/datasheet.CAE.in.india.pdf

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To PIYUSH DAS: The IAF's masterplan had called for the procurement of 12 A-50I PHALCON AEW & CS over a 10-year period. However, the DRDO, smelling money, jumped into the ring to offer its own solutions, for which the IAF still continues to wait & fret over. The rest of the tweets are not worth responding as they are an insult to any discerning individual.

To SUMANTA: Threat from ISIS? And to India? ISIS isn't a franchise like Al Qaeda & therefore it won't spread its footprint beyond the shores of Arabia, rest assured. Those claiming otherwise are just acting as copycats. Now watch Tareq Fatah taking on an Indian Maulana 2 days ago on RV:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvAWIVjx8E8

To ARPIT KANODIA: Anyone claiming that CISMOA is an act of treason at worst and an act of lunacy at best, should highlight all those clauses of the draft agreement that are against India's interests. Problem with such tweets is that they contain only snide remarks & ZILCH explanations. If anyone asks why & how come, I can bet that no explanations will be forthcoming because such creastures haven't even had access to the draft agreement & are clueless about its contents. And yet they rush into making judgements & delivering verdicts.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

If you read the press statement, it explains everything: “They were guided by the vision of the two leaders for a peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia… It was agreed to carry forward the constructive engagement. Discussions covered peace and security, terrorism, Jammu & Kashmir, and other issues, including tranquility along the LoC. Discussions were held in a candid, cordial and constructive atmosphere. Khul ke baat hui, aage bhi baat karenge (Both sides opened up, they will be more talks in the future). Pakistan had some ideas on reviving a substantial, results-oriented dialogue on Kashmir. There was no polemic or grandstanding.

Now read the statements in sequence. First comes regional peace in South Asia, meaning Afghanistan is giving severe headaches to Pakistan. Then comes peace & security & terrorism, meaning India's strategy of neutralising (with help from Afghanistan's NDS) Pakistan's bargaining chip on terrorism inside J & K in order to make maxial gains concerning the J & K issue has miserably backfired, & so now Pakistan has no choice but to discuss & negotiate only about terrorism (Pak-sponsored inside Afghanistan & India, & the Afghan-India counterattack since 2009 against Pakistan in equal measure). Making matters worse is the total disintegration of the Afghan Taliban, which prevents Pakistan from using it as a bargaining chip against Afghanistan. That there was unrelenting pressure from the US on Pakistan at Afghanistan's & India's behest is no longer in doubt. The only fence-sitter was China, which had earlier harboured grand designs of seizing de facto control along with Pakistan over the strategic Wakhan Corridor (by giving the excuse of this corridor being the transit point for Chechan, Middle Eastern & Pakistani Jihadis bound for Xinjiang). But with India asserting her ownership over PoK, witholding China's investments inside India for high-speed railway corridors, openly discussing military-industrial JVs with Japan plus joint military exercises, & highlighting the terrible human rights violations inside PoK, China was sent a strong signal by India about the non-viability of the CPEC for as long as Beijing's unstinted support for Pakistan continued. Then came the final clincher when the US last November provided undeniable proof of Garmin GPS receivers (using the US Navstar GPS satellite constellation) being used by Pak-based terrorists during the Gurdaspur terror-strike, China could no longer provide unconditional support for Pakistan in case India once again went to the UN to have Pakistan declared as a terrorist state. That's why China too in the end along with the US & applied unrelenting pressure on Pakistan & that's why Islamabad had no choice but to begin unconditional talks with India, instead of resorting to grandstanding & waving meaningless & contentless dossiers. That's also why it was the Indian side which gleefully & triumphantly said: Khul ke baat hui, aage bhi baat karenge (Both sides opened up, they will be more talks in the future). Hats off therefore to the grand strategists of Afghanistan, India, the US & UK--all of whom had collaborated to bring about this outcome & make Pakistan go down on its knees begging for such talks/discussions/dialogues.

And the only ones left sulking will be the likes of Mani Shankar Aiyar & M K Bhadrakumar, both of whom could not join the dots together & consequently they never quite grasped what collective realpolitik is all about. Now does it make sense to you why the US SECDEF Ashton Carter during his visit to India earlier this year had said that the stars are now perfectly aligned for the US & India to flourish as natural allies, & what gave Afghanistan the moral courage to operationalise the SPA early last month?

Anonymous said...

Hi Prasun,

This guy is feeling sorry for Ajit Doval, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwRy9FbSEA0 from time index 27:40.

Best Regards
Raj

birbal said...

Very detailed and to the point explanation Prasun da regarding the RECENT Indo-Pak Dialogues....Thanks

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAJ: Not only him, but a few others as well who are clueless about ground realities. Just to give you one example, when Mian Mohd Nawaz Sharif since last November after meeting President Obama, has been saying that Pakistan is willing to resolve all problems & disputes with India on the negotiating table & that too through unconditional talks, what it means is that Pakistan will no longer insist on resolving the J & K issue on the basis of UN resolutions. You may recall that since 2011 Pakistan has been harping about settling the J & K issue as per UN resolutions. Last September too Sharif had made similar statements at the UNGA. But the turnaround came last month after the two Sharifs met with various high officials in Washington DC. Clearly, the US, UK & China were applying unbearable pressure on Islamabad.

As for Pakistan's PoV about not dividing the real estate in J & K & insisting on having the cake & eating it as well, there are no global takers since Pakistan has proven beyond reasonable doubt that it can't even exercise full sovereignty on the territory that it presently has under its control, be it FATA, or Karachi or Baluchistan. The nightmare for Pakistan therefore is: having a back-breaking 53% deployment footprint of the PA, shifting its acclimatised infantry soldiers from PoK to high-altitude areas of FATA in order to prevent TTP infiltrators from slipping inside Pakistan to execute revenge attacks, & a live 1,600 mile-long frontage along the now-defunct Durand Line that requires Pakistan to deploy its forces along this stretch. If all this is not done, then China will feel insecure about implementing the CPEC projects, & Iran along with Russia & India will not tolerate a resurgence of the Afghan Taliban under any other Pak-backed or Pak-propped Mullah figurehead.

But of course, 'this guy' neither has the time nor inclination to delve into details, since he clearly is one of the propagandist frontmen employed by the ISI (and that's how he got his hands on the forged ISI-supplied documents that he claimed were of British origin & therefore allegedly proved R & AW's links with the MQM). And no wonder neither he nor anyone else speaks on this topic anymore.

rad said...

hi prasun
It seems a big deal to design and do product development of a submarine reactor.I wonder how china marched ahead, where did they get the know how from?.HOw do we stand in nuclear development viz a viz china. if they are so good why are they importing nuclear plants? I read india was far ahead in nuclear tech than china time ago.
Will the present nuclear package on the arihant be enough for a submarine ie about 90 mw or do we have to invent the wheel again. Does being inside the NSG entitle us to get military nuclear tech as well?

maverick said...

Hi Prasunda ,

Is DRDO looking at possibilities of converting Astra AAM to a low-level, quick-reaction SAM like it was done for Spyder ?
Im asking this as the initial firing of Astra happend at ground level ... please throw some light ...

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAD: No, not just the PWR, but the entire propulsion system of which the PWR is only 1 component. I had clearly mentioned all the other components above. And in early 2010 the former CNS of the IN, Admiral Arun Prakash, had mentioned on-record that if the DAE were asked to up-scale the existing 83mW PWR of the S-2/Arihant to a 190mW PWR, then the DAE had stated that it could do so only in 15 years. I repeat, this is an on-the-record statement from a responsible & professional official. China started R & D work on PWRs for SSNs & SSBNs in the early 1960s & saw its labours bear fruit only after 20 years of non-stop R & D. China also used its North Korean footsoldiers top act as espionage operatives throughout the Soviet Far east, especially in Vladivostok, to get its hands on all kinds of technical documentation pertaining to Soviet R & D on PWRs for submarines.

China continues to import nuclear plants for commercial power generation for the same reason that India does. But China also has a far lot more resources--final & human--to spare for specialising in applied physics & reactor engineering than India does.

Chinba is also well ahead of India when it comes to constructing naval bases for SSNs & SSBNs--the PLAN already has 3 of them. Also located there are underground missile & warhead storage facilities, plus arming & loading facilities, and lastly the network of SOSUS seabed-mounted sensors meant for protecting such bases. None of those exist in India so far. Then there's the need for the IN to set up its own training establishments & institutes for imparting training on reactor engineering, weapons handling, etc etc. After all, one cannot expect the notion of segregated responsibilities or domains, under which only DAE or DRDO will be made responsible for possessing & manning such establishments & institutes. No one discusses such issues in any open fora, nor is there any literature available on them from the 'desi' press-corps. They only talk about Project VARSHA, but are clueless about what such a project entails.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To MAVERICK: All initial test-firings of AAMs of all types are fried from the ground in a slanted trajectory. That doesn't mean the missile can morphe into a SAM. To transform it into a SAM will require the control-fins to remain folded inside a cannister, & the entire flight-control system will have to be modified. Can it all be done. Of course it can. But is it necessary? Absolutely not. That's because a Barak-2 SAM today can do all that a radar-guided SHORADS can, & therefore, SHORADS today is reqd only if they are IIR-guided, like the SpyDer-SR using Python-5. With the combination of SpyDer-SR/Python-5 & Barak-2, one can easily do away with the need for VSHORADS, SHORADS & anti-aircraft cannons for land-based air-defence. The only new entrant as a product in the near future will be laser-based DEW capable of shooting down UAVs.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

Programme aired yesterday on the Baluchistan component of CPEC:


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3h44z3_mahaz-wajahat-saeed-khan-kay-sath-6th-december-2015_sport

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

Documentary on Project 971 SSGN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqfcWJAAOT4

Gopu said...

1) If I were the decision-maker at OEMs like Kalyani Group or L & T, I would first & foremost seek clarity from the MoD about introducing or offering imported design solutions that are in direct conflict with the product-lines of OFB or BDL or BEL etc etc. Kalyani Group didn't seek clarity on the issue of 155mm/52-cal towed howitzers & hence is now paying the price of not doing its homework. For, it was known since 2006 itself that the OFB was developing the Dhanush in-house, & weas working with the DRDO on the ATAGS project.

These DPSU can't use their status to monopolize the market, so to speak. If a private company offers a better solution then the forces should opt for the better solution. Firstly, ATAGS is nowhere near completion (has a prototype even been built?), and Dhanush is produced at a piecemeal rate. I think it would be a better idea to have competitive bidding where private Indian companies and DPSUs show off their best prototypes and manufacturing facilities, and the best consortium takes homes the contract.


2) What happened to HAL's aircraft R&D division? Were they absorbed by ADA?
3) I read an article in the last post about a gov't-sponsored Indian semiconductor fab. Could you specify the details and what it could be used for?

Gopu said...

4) What are stipulations and liabilities of CISMOA and the other foundational agreements?
5) Has Spike missile production started in India yet?
6) What sort of timeline can we expect the IA to induct new OFB assault rifles, TATA FICV, and armor vests?

Gopu said...

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/delhi-tokyo-may-ink-pact-for-indias-first-bullet-train-during-japanese-pm-shinzo-abes-visit/articleshow/50069805.cms

Arpit Kanodia said...

Sir,

Are they serious? Taking proud of building of 100 Km 2 lane highway in Balochistan, which is even incomplete. Are they making fun of themselves?

I thought previously the CPEC in Baluchistan is similar to like Freight Corridor or like Konkan Railway.

Mayur M Manapure said...

Sir what do you think is a possible solution to Ayodhya Ram Janm Bhoomi and Babri Masjid? It's been 23 years. Why SC is Taking so much time? I don't care if there's a Masjid aur Mandir. At least the case should get a closure.

mg6357 said...

Prasunji,

http://www.ibnlive.com/blogs/india/saurav-jha/the-indian-navys-helicopter-plans-and-purchases-10879-748238.html

This is an old thread by Mr. Saurav Jha in which he states that the number of Navy's NMRH competition (in which IN has chosen S-70B) could go up to 123 from initial contract of 16. Is this true?
Why Didn't other helicopters like EC 725 Caracal, AW-101 Merlin participate in the competition ?

Who do you think will win N-LUH competition to replace Chetaks or Will HAL LUH/LOH which is under development replace it ?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To MG6357: Two types of NMRH are reqd by the IN; 1 10-tonne helicopter & a 12-tonne helicopter. To club the NMRH reqmt into 1 unitary reqmt is therefore WRONG. N-LUH reqmt is for a twin-engined 4.5-tonne helicopter that can be used for both SAR & flying training, as well as maritime strike using short-range ASMs & lightweight torpedoes. Such helicopters will go on board the SW-ASW vessels & NGMVs. Therefore, the HAL-developed LUH won't meet the reqmt. It remains to be seen if HAL can succeed in developing a 4.5-tonne version of the 5.5-tonne Dhruv ALH. It is doable, but whether or not it will be done remains to be seen.

To MAYUR M MANAPURE: Solution is simple & elementary. The Govt of India, citing national security reasons, should buy up the land housing these 2 structures & demolish both of them ( I assure you that the heavens won't fall due to this) & in their place should construct 2 govt-funded educational/academic institutions that will do far more good to the people in & around those areas. The GoI should also come up with a White Paper detailing the total financial expenditure incurred on protecting these 2 sites ever since the controversy began--thereby clearly explaining to the Indian taxpayers that there are far better & worthwhile ways of spending this money, instead of squandering it away to pander to the whims & emotions of certain cross-sections of society.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To ARPIT KANODIA: Question is, exactly how will they ensure security for all those highways stretching over hundreds of miles of barren terrain? By stationing one security guard every 500 metres? As it is they're admitting that the biggest threat to the on-going construction emanates from IEDs. China's original idea was to build transport corridors through Pakistan that would link-up with landlocked Afghanistan. That's how the financial viability for the project was calculated. But if Afghanistan chooses to make Chah Bahr its entryport for its imports & exports, Gwadar ceases to have any financial value. The GCC states too have a vested interest in promoting Chah Bahr over Gwadar, since states like the UAE, Dubai & Oman have flourishing trading/trans-shipment businesses catering to the Iranian domestic market for imports, & therefore such states will be only too happy to expand & extend their existing businesses to Afghanistan & the Central Asian Republics through Chah Bahr.

Mahim N said...

Prasun,

Indian Navy's gerrymandering drama in helicopter acquisition is quite irritating. This new class of helicopters called LUH is absolutely unnecessary and abuse of SQR system. If you remember, the entire ALH Dhruv was developed, keeping this naval helicopter requirement in mind. Going by the physics and the requirement, most warships above 2000 ton have a hangar and any ship below that size generally suffices itself with a landing pad. Therefore, a 2000 ton SAAR 6 class Israeli corvette can easily accept SH-60 helicopter which is whooping 10 ton. Turkish 2400 ton MILGEM class frigates can easily accommodate S-70B helos which are equally 10 ton class. There are many more civilian ships in this category which can accommodate larger helicopters. But Indian Corvettes are 'so called' especially designed for 'special helicopters' which can only be imported.

Hence, Indian Navy has to stick to 4.5 ton helicopters only and a 5.5 ton ALH Dhruv is absolute no no, which is nothing but a clear mockery of SQR framing process. Its still living in 1960s and like Indian Air Force wants to replace its Chetak helos with a similar size helo. Indian Air Force tried to do that with MiG-21 replacement and you can see how many problems crept up in the LCA program because of that.

Its high time that these SQR framers are asked to defend their requirements in front of an inter-service conference before any RFI is allowed to go out.

Anonymous said...

Hello Prasun da,

Hope you are doing well.
I am confused related to LCA SOP-18 fighter.
1)is it not ADA that is responsible for the R &D of LCA.Why is HAL suggesting all these weight reduction and redesigning the layout ?

2)GTRE recently send RFI for 80 Kn engine production .Do you think it is for kaveri.I thought it was closed .any idea about it?I hope they have continued .

3)Do you not think adding levcons and changing internals of LCA at this stage would lead to
another round of cyclic testing (specially FBW testing as that needs tweaking as CG changes) due all the changes ?

4)Do you think it is possible Modi is negotiation F-18 or Mig35/Su-34 type deal for second MMRCA with either America or Russia under Made in India campaign ? do you think it is possible .Although it would be nightmare for Air Force (logistic wise ) maintaining two types of MMRCAs? and is it possible LCA2 to be designed keeping in mind MMRCA roles ? Your thoughts

Regards
S Singh

Gessler said...

Prasun ji,

Need your views on the Chennai floods. What could have been done to prevent/lessen the severity of them (like better storm drains?).

By what time do you estimate Chennai's economy could return to a state of pre-flood normalcy? Especially the automobile industry has taken a huge hit.

Anonymous said...

Dear Prasun,

In My last post, I put some YouTube links which talks about Yezidi, Mayan Religion etc.

Can you check & give your comments regarding this.

Thanks
S. Kumar
(Senthil Kumar)

rad said...

hi prasun
Then what is the course of action for us to get a bigger size sub reactor?.
The only solution seems to re invent the wheel. If they can do it in 15 years it will be great , but will they. Because by the time the new nuke subs are designed and produced it will take 15 years. Can we put 2 reactors in the sub or will it be too unwieldy in space requirements?.
I agree with your idea of vshorads been taken care of by derby /python combo which will have a greater protection umbrella even though costlier.In practical terms the vshorads range is about 3 km only as it seems that they confirm visually the identity of the aircraft before opening up?.More over it is impossible to jam the IIR python with flares and we can be assured of a kill with a single missile.
I dont trust the capacity of any soldier to fire concretely in a battle field. The same applied to the many sams that were fired in the kargil war to bring down a heli or a jet.

Anonymous said...

Dear Prasun,

http://www.rediff.com/news/column/for-the-first-time-after-kargil-india-has-the-better-of-pakistan/20151208.htm

As per the author, Modi government aggressive posture looks working. Please
give your comment.

Thanks
S. Kumar
(Senthil Kumar)

Anonymous said...

Dear Prasun,

http://www.rediff.com/news/column/why-modi-government-engaged-pakistan-in-secrecy/20151207.htm

http://www.rediff.com/news/column/for-the-first-time-after-kargil-india-has-the-better-of-pakistan/20151208.htm

Colonel Anil A Athale say "For the first time after Kargil, India has the better of Pakistan"

But M.K Bhadrakumar says "Pakistan has got exactly what it wanted".

Now tell me who's analysis is correct.

Thanks
S. Kumar
(Senthil Kumar)

mg6357 said...

Prasunji,

I tend to agree with @Mahim N. What is the purpose of inducting 2 different types of NMRH helciopters ? (coz there are not much of a difference in dimensions of these 2 types of NMRH )

What kind of missions/work S-70B is unable to do that we need another NMRH ?
Also how many numbers of S-70B are we going to induct after the initial 16 ?

What will the possible contenders for another type of NMRH and what will the final numbers of another type of NMRH that we are going to induct ?

Thanks for the earlier replies.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To MAHIM N & MG6357: Not quite, because the Dhruv ALH was conceived as a MRH for all 3 armed services & logically, therefore, it could never have emerged as a suit-all solution for different QRs. This very same problem has beset the NMRH project, with different end-users specifying different all-up weights, ranging from 12 tonnes to 16 tonnes! As it now exists, the Dhruv ALH is ideal for shore-based visual SAR & for shipborne SAR for the ICGS & IN. Its promised search radar from DRDO has yet to materialise. After it emerges, this radar will have to undergo at least 3 years of evaluations & fine-tuning, at best. That easily will lead to 5 years of R & D work before deliveries begin. So what happens in between? The only available solution therefore is to go for 10-tonne & 12-tonne NMRHs of imported origin for DDGs, FFGs & ASW corvettes. For the much smaller SW-ASW vessels & the NGMVs, only a 4.5-tonne MRH will be accommodated in the helo-deck. It is therefore the design of the vessel that dictates the type of shipborne MRH reqd, & not the other way around. That’s the worldwide norm, & the IN cannot be the sole exception. There never was, & there never will, be a ‘suit-all-missions; MRH that caters to the diverse QRs of the 3 armed services of India. Hence from Europe comes 2 solutions for medium-lift MRHs: AW-101 & NH-90; while from the US there’s the S-70 & S-92 family of helicopters.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To S SINGH: I owe you an apology for not replying to your earlier query, but this has partly been answered by this link posted by S KUMAR:

http://www.rediff.com/news/column/for-the-first-time-after-kargil-india-has-the-better-of-pakistan/20151208.htm

1) It is indeed ADA that is deriving such solutions, but the ‘desi’ press-corps hasn’t yet approached ADA for answers. Instead, they have asked all related questions to HAL. And that’s because Cmde Balaji is busy doing what he rightfully ought to do, & has left all queries to be answered by the RM regarding LCA Mk1. And the RM, given his previous conflicting statements regarding the MMRCA issue, has rightly chosen to keep silent until matters are crystal-clear.

2) It is for the Kaveri. As I had explained earlier, what was tested in Russia earlier on an IL-76MD testbed was only the technology demonstrator, which reqd several refinements. That’s the reason why the high-altitude tests were done on the IL-76MD. The next step was to develop a functional prototype of the Kaveri that would later on become a production-standard turbofan suited for UAVs. This is what is now taking place. The Kaveri R & D project therefore is still alive & proceeding along its logical course. The only thing terminated has been the option of using the Kaveri for the LCA.

3) No, because all the tweaking has already been done for the NP-1/NP-2 technology demonstrators. The resultant LCA Mk.1 will therefore emerge from the experience gained from the NP-1 & NP-2. It does not mean that the features of the NP-1/NP-2 will be incorporated into the existing Tejas Mk.1 variant. Therefore, the Tejas Mk.1’s story will end with the delivery of the 20 aircraft to the IAF. From the 21st unit onwards, it will all be the LCA Mk.1 variant.

4) What for? Such an option will only drive through the roof the IAF’s fleet product-support costs! Rest assured that the Rafale will be the sole MMRCA induction into the IAF’s combat aircraft inventory. The projected Tejas Mk.2 will be comparable to the JAS-39 Gripen NG. Perhaps even better, because it is now almost confirmed that it will not have canards, but TVC nozzles for super-manoeuvrability. While HAL earlier had lobbied for the KLIVT solution from Russia’s Klimov JSC, it is now certain that Eurojet’s TVC (originally developed for the EF-2000 Typhoon) will be selected.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To S KUMAR: Of the 2 opposing assessments, the one by the Ret’d Colonel is more level-headed & reflective of the ground realities. Whenever two parties meet amidst tensions, they always do so on neutral territory. For instance, the talks & later the negotiations during the Afghan civil war were all conducted in Geneva, & not in Islamabad or Kabul or Moscow. Secondly, when the 2 parties engaged in ‘khul ke baat ki”, it meant that both exchanged views, opinions, data & dossiers on one another’s proxy wars—a matter that could only be discussed in secret given the element of probable deniability attached to such actions. Thirdly, over the last 6 months, Islamabad has grudgingly acknowledged that if it wants peace along the 1,600-mile frontier with Afghanistan, then it first has to make peace with India. The road to Kabul for Islamabad therefore passes through Delhi. Fourthly, supported by India, Iran & Russia, Kabul has raised the bar by demanding that the Taliban come to negotiating table only after laying down arms & foreswearing violent insurrection, meaning they would have to leave their safe heavens inside Pakistan & reside in Afghanistan & prove their popularity—something that makes Pakistan lose all negotiating leverage with Afghanistan. Fifthly, India too has projected a similar view WRT J & K, i.e. Pakistan can no longer justify its policy of arming & sustaining non-Kashmiri Jihadis when its official policy is only to extend moral & political support (& not military support) to the Kashmiris. Furthermore, India has raised the bar by forcefully articulating its legal territorial claims over PoK, which in turn imperils the CPEC. All these have collectively forced the Pakistan Army to look for a face-saving way out & it is now desperately trying to revive Musharraf’s 4-point formula for a permanent solution to the J & K issue—which had been forsaken by the earlier PPP-led govt (since it had alleged that any solution emanating from a military dictator was unconstitutional) & the present PMNL govt wanted to go as far back as February 1999 & restart negotiations all over again. But, as I had explained earlier, ground realities have changed since 2007 & it is now obvious to India’s civilian & military decision-makers that surrendering to the combined China-Pakistan gameplan of exercising de facto control over the strategic Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan is not an option that India can live with. And this explains why India is now so forceful about PoK, especially Gilgit-Baltistan.

In conclusion, we all need to draw the correct lessons from the on-going tiff between Turkey & Russia, about how both parties value the lives of each other’s citizens & what kind of price each is willing to pay if defence of their respective national objectives. It is not all about ‘muscular diplomacy’ or ‘consistent policy’ that the ‘desi’ wonks, like headless chicken, are chatting about in various Indian talk-shows, but all about flexible engagements through an alliance of the coalition of the willing in cold-hearted pursuance of one’s supreme national interests.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

Here's a classic example of some 'desi wonks' masquerading as strategic thinkers:

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-pakistan-nsa-level-talks-delhi-to-rawalpindi/

Anonymous said...

Dear Prasun,

Thanks for your comments regarding INDIA-PAKISTAN Talks.

Regarding Syria War Game, every passing day war scenario is changing.

1. Why Turkey is keeping its military in northern Iraq without Iraq Permission. Turkey is telling they are training Kurds forces. I am sure turkey is dead against kurds. What is the real motive of Turkey's presence in Iraq.

2. Now who is going to win in Syria. Russia+iran+Hezoblla+Assad or US+NATO+Turkey+Arabs.

3. Do you think Russia vs Turkey will lead to a small third world war.

And please comment on my previous post Yezidi Religion.

Thanks
S.Kumar

Technology, Photograpy and Travel said...

Prasun Da,

Please check this http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CAG-slams-government-Navy-for-mismanaging-submarine-INS-Sindhukirtis-refit/articleshow/50093105.cms

Jon said...

Whats your take on this?

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/the-times/isis-in-afghanistan-are-the-project-of-our-neighbour-pakistan/news-story/1bc6a6a2b7d49825f423704ac32ad7e0

Anonymous said...

Thanks Prasunda,

I know you are hard pressed for time and not possible to keep up on all the queries but really appreciate replying back and sharing the link.

It is clear to me know .I think worse thing that happened to India was the previous congress government.They really messed it up to be frank.In fairness to MMS (ex-PM ) he was the right person but he lacked leadership and firmness that is needed to deal with people.I mean in his own party people did not listen to him. I think he should have resigned after the coal scam and let the law bring people to justice.How long can continue like this where in one family runs this country like its there to own .I actually now fear for 2018-19 seeing what has happened in Bihar this year. Indians need to wake and see what they want as a country .Cannot continue same old Communal or caste based politics.I hope this goverment brings change in the constitution to make make people like A Raja or AK anthony or sonia gandhi accountable for the misdoings or non-doing when need of the hour was something else.Only then there is hope .Other wise this Nepotism will continue every where Bihar mein lalu ke lal or UP mein Neta ji ke or Delhi mein (papu) Gandhi ya unke Damad.

Regards
S Singh

Gessler said...

Prasun ji, hope you're following the news about talibunnies attacking Kandahar airport. Who am I kidding ofcourse you are.

And this right after Ghani's announcement for peace talks in pakodistan.

TheHundred said...

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-russia-to-sign-pact-on-spares-for-su-30-fleet-availability-could-go-up-to-75/articleshow/50075387.cms

(There is a possibility that the availability of the fleet could touch the magical figure of 75 percent. Chishchevoy said that the Russian proposal ten years ago when the fleet was young was to appoint Sukhoi as the single supplier responsible for the serviceability of the fleet and 75 percent would be `guaranteed'.

"Under the new contract, after the receipt of a request from the Indian air force, the spare part wil be delivered to the air force warehouse within 4-12 months, depending on the time it takes to manufacture the part. As of now, 12 months are required for just to start the production, this will reduce to 30 days," Viacheslav Yu Lozan, After Sale Center Director, Sukhoi said.)

1-Why was Sukhoi not appointed as the single supplier responsible for the serviceability of the IAF fleet 10 years ago?
2- what's the status of mig 29/mig 29k/mig 29upg spare parts situation now and in the future?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To S SINGH: I think your prayers have been answered. Watch this hilarious interview of Dr Subramanium Swamy, where he reveals how the mother-son duo are headed for Tihar Jail in future:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX9mPw4SvWA

To VIKRAM GUHA: This will be the very same pipeline that will also bring in the gas from Turkmenistan.

To THE HUNDRED: HAL had proposed this 5 years ago. 4-12 months is far too long a wait. In Western pracxtice, the moment the downpayment is wire-transferred to the OEM, the spare-part is supplied within 48-72 hours! The Ruskies have a long way to go!

Ram Bharadwaj said...

A blog authored by a ex-TV journalist claims that the
- size of the deal for S-400 could be around Rs.70,000 Crores.
- and the deal for the lease for 2nd Nuclear Submarine (Kashalot) has fallen through

Is the size of the deal for s-400 so big? How many batteries are we planning to procure?

Why is the deal for Kashalot failing?

joydeep ghosh said...

@Prasun da

1. what you have said S Singh point 4 is a lip smacking idea , but really speaking for me TVC for super manuevaring on L-MRCA like LCA Mk2 is bit of overkill, so the only logical thing for me is that there will be LCA mk3 (a 5th Gen light) that will go well with other 5th Gen jets like PAKFA/FGFA (heavy), AMCA (medium) your views

2. What you said to S Kumar makes me think that after the Sharm al Sheikh statement where India said it wont indulge in Balochistan actually ensured that India indulges in Balochistan through Afghanistan, lets give credit to PM Manmohan Singh who has been abused so much as being Muanmohan, for tacit revival for the RAW counter ops that were stopped in 1990s that now work through NDS

3. Feel the 4.5 ton Dhruv ALH wont be needed as IN will go for ever larger ships (eg. 9k+ ton P18 DDGs), they can easily accomodate 5.5 ton Naval Dhruv ALH

thanks

Joydeep Ghosh

VIKRAM GUHA said...

PrasunDa,

Is this news report true that India is now No. 1 choice for global tech R&D?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/India-No-1-choice-for-global-tech-RD/articleshow/50100323.cms

ConcernedCitizen said...

Hi Prasun,

About the participation of LCA Tejas in Bahrain air show, what do you think is the intention behind this? I believe they also did this in 2014. Is there a sales push or just a PR stunt?

http://www.oneindia.com/india/tejas-may-create-history-with-flying-demo-bahrain-air-show-1950118.html

would this affect the certification process?

Anthony said...

Ajais take on the talks. Similar thinking to yours I think.

http://ajaishukla.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/a-return-to-dialogue.html

Unknown said...

Hey prasun ! You had promised a post on tejas as well as MAKS 2015 ! WAITING FOR THEM !

Anonymous said...

Dear Prasun,

Please read this article and give your opinion.

http://viewzone2.com/ancientturksx.html


Thanks
S.Kumar
(Senthil Kumar)

Anonymous said...

Dear Prasun,

"Sumerian records, their ‘Gods’, or superhumans from the skies & ARV Fluxliner
south Indian Temple Doom Structure theory correctly matches with this links.

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread556312/pg1

It talks more about Vimana crafts etc.

Thanks
S. Kumar
(Senthil Kumar)

Jon said...

Interesting:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/thai-gun-runner-willy-naru-brought-to-india-nia-to-question-him/articleshow/50107399.cms

LOST said...

I read a news article that Modi's trip to the Russia will see the signing for 50 Kamov helicopters for the Indian Navy, why the fuck are we doing this? We don't want these shit from Russia, what is happening with the S-70B buy? These are the only helos the Navy needs!

raw13 said...

@JGosh,

TVC for LCA for super manoeuvrability ;-)

What are the timelines for this? 2050?

What about warp drive?

Mahim N said...

Prasun,

The issue is not whether S-70B and NMRH like S-92 or any other helo is required or not. They definitely are. However, Indian Navy can also add helicopters in 'Agusta Westland AW159 Wildcat' or 'Lynx' naval helicopter category where ALH Dhruv fits quite comfortably. If a radar is the problem, what stops HAL from buying a radar from an outside company. We are ready to buy whole helicopters but not radars for faster integration and improvement of our own helicopter. Think how much logistic will improve because of that.

Second, how much truth is there in these news items that India is not opting for another Akula class sub - Kashalot from Russia ? Any idea of the background story? In the last interview with Nitin Gokhale, RM parrikar mentioned that he was going to get one from Russia. Now what happened?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To MAHIM N; What stops HAL? Simple, it's the DRDO which puts up all the speedbumps & obstacles. Left to HAL, it will opt for ELTA-supplied radars overnight if it is allowed such autonomy. Kindly post the news-report's weblink about which you're referring to about the cancellation of the 2nd SSGN lease. Only after reading its contents will I be able to make any comment.

To RAW13: 2025, 50 years earlier than your expectations. Negotiations with EUROJET are at tghe final stages.

To LOST: Again, fo post that weblink to that news-report.

To ANTHONY: His take on the events is diametrically opposed to mine. Domestic politics has nothing to do with international relations or foreign policy-making. How such 'desi' buffoons manage to draw such conclusions defies all logic. After all, such buffoons can't even draw the distinction between dialogue/talks on one hand, & negotiations on the other.

To VIKRAM GUHA: It indeed can be a very promising prospect, provided the Govt of India extends the necessary encouragement. Do read this:

http://news.yahoo.com/india-first-space-observatory-scores-231100023.html

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To CONCERNED CITIZEN: In 2014 it was the EMB-145I AEW & CS that went to Bahrain, not the Tejas.

Arpit Kanodia said...

Sir,
Your comment on this?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CVywLbPU4AEu6-W.jpg

raw13 said...

@Prasun,

2025, what are the chances that Kaveri engine could be ready by then?

The engine from eurojet needs to be uprated, tested, certified. Will the testing be done using the LCA or the Eurofughter? Its going to cost a bit I guess? And if India are paying for the upgrade, will they get a share of development, manufacturing and profits from it. I guess there will be quite a substantial re-design of the LCA for this engine? Will HAL/ADA get some external help otherwise they could end up creating another donkey?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAW13: Kaverri will be ready by then for the UCAV. Not for the LCA because its thrust rating will be lesser than what's required for LCA MK.2. This has nothing to do with the EJ-200 turbofan or its future enhancements, because this engine is not going to fly on-board an LCA. The GE F414IN56 turbofans have already started arriving in India for LCA Mk2's versions. So I don't know where & how did you see the possibility of the EJ-200 turbofan having to do anything with the LCA.

Prav said...

I seems the project 18 will resemble the Korean KDX programme ..

Mahim N said...

Prasun,

These are the links that say about dropping out of Kashalot submarine option.

http://indiatribune.com/india-set-to-ink-defense-deals-worth-more-than-one-lakh-cr-with-russia/

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/14783/India_Likely_To_Sign__15_Billion_Defence_Deals_With_Russia

Any reasons for this?

Anonymous said...

Dear Prasun,


http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-nittygritty-of-the-national-herald-case/article7967367.ece?ref=relatedNews

Please give your opinion.


Thanks
S.kumar

Jon said...

Latest episode of Aapas Ki baat pretty much confirms what you have saying about international community acting in concert against Pakistan whether it relates to Terrorism directed at India or at Afghanistan. Legitimacy of Afghan Taliban is completely gone with Nawaz Sharif acknowledging Afghan Govt as legitimate Govt of Afghanistan. He also confirms that Terror & Afghanistan are pretty much what India and Pak are likely to discuss going forward and nothing much will come out of composite dialogue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMJ-UfKESWs

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To JON & PRAV: The most well-intentioned & discerning discussions on what all transpired over the past 2 days in Islamabad can be found here:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3hi2oo_heart-of-asia-conference-08pm-to-09pm-9th-december-2015_news

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3hhose_heart-of-asia-conference-2015-on-capital-9th-december-2015_news

What the US has now done is further tighten the noose around Pakistan's neck by presenting India with evidence about the Pakistan Army's direct involvement in the 26/11 terror strikes, through this:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/David-Headley-offers-to-turn-approver-in-26/11-case-in-return-for-pardon/articleshow/50125617.cms

During DCH's deposition, corroborating evidence will be presented by the UK about GCHQ's hacking of the VOIP comms that were underway in Karachi when the attacks were launched. In this Lakhvi's voice was recorded & it is this voice sample that Pakistan has always been asking for, but India could not provide it because it was the UK GCHQ's property. Now, for the very first time, these voice samples will be admitted as admissible evidence & no one will be able to claim that India did not provide any evidence to any Pakistani trial court for prosecuting Zarrar Shah & Lakhvi & Maj Sajid Mir.

To S KUMAR: As for the National Herald case, it is for the trial court to decide whether a case is admissible or not, based prima facie evidence. Since the court has ruled that there's enough prima facie evidence for the trial to proceed, it is now up to the mother-son duo to prove their innocence. But the son, who has displayed an abject lack of knowledge of the law of the land, is busy committing contempts of the court by nonsensically alleging that India's courts are being pressurised by the Central Govt. Such an accusation by itself invites punishment by India's judiciary, & in my view he ought to be punished for trying to diminish India's judicial system without any supporting facts.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Mumbai-court-pardons-David-Headley-makes-him-an-approver-in-26/11-case/articleshow/50125617.cms

Wow! Matters are progressing at warp-speed!!!

Chamtaka said...

Prasun Da, Russia kired Kalibrs from kilo subs latest.

1 So my question is why not get new Kilos either from Russia or make it in Pipavav.
2. Is germany gonna win P75I or whom you think will win? and if its U boat will we get non magnetic hull tech?

3.Why are we not thinking of K15 Sagarika variant for a AshM with say lower spec warhead and increased range. We can get a LABM too. Why are we not getting them planned for launch via torpedo tubes and arm our all SSKs even Scorpenes/Kilos

Prav said...

Thank you for the links Prasun .
I understand that my comments may have been impolite that you saw it fit to delete them ... I apologise .

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To PRAV: I did it not because they were impolite, but they were reactions to the inflamatory & scornful posts of RAW13 that I had deleted as well. If you may have observed, RAW13 usually posts such nonsensical comments on Thursdays & Fridays. I'm sure you can guess why.

To JON: VMT for that weblink. Najam Sethi is not being factual & he in fact is lying when claiming that all terrorist training-cum-staging camps on PoK were shut down since 2004. Earlier this year itself I had posted a YouTube link showing the Jihadis marching along the streets of Muzaffarabad armed to the teeth & chanting slogans of armed Jihad, & this footage was filmed by a Pakistani TV channel & telecast on a current-affairs programme in which Syed Salahuddin was also interviewed & was asked about this spectacle. All that Syed Salahuddin had then said in his defence was that these spectacles were being held inside 'Azad Kashmir' & not inside Pakistan. This by itself in gross violation of the televised promise made by Gen Musharraf on January 12, 2002 of not allowing any kind of Jihadi activity either inside Pakistan or those territories under the control of Pakistan, i.e. PoK.

CSC said...

#NationalHerald case in a nut shell.
National herald (NH) was started during 1930s by nehru and was publishing news paper.
During the course of time it accumulated land and wealth of 5000crs.
In 2000s it went into loss and had 90crs debt.
NH's directors Sonia ,Rahul, and Motilal vohra decided to sell it to Young India Ltd.
Now the funny part.
Young India's directors were Sonia, Rahul, Oscar farnandes and motilal vohra.
Deal was that young India would clear NH's 90cr loan and in return get assets worth 5000 cr.
To strike this deal motilal vohra spoke to motilal vohra bcoz he was director of both companies.
Now comes the twist.
To clear the 90 cr debt, young Indian, asks Congress party to give loan of 90 cr. So congress calls a meeting , party president, VP, gen sec, treasurer attends it. Who are these ppl ?? Sonia, Rahul, Oscar and motilal vohra respectively. Congress gives loan. Who approves it, treasurer,motilal vohra.
So congress treasurer vohra, gives loan to young India, its director vohra takes it and gives it to NH director vohra.
Hold on the fun doesn't stop here.
Next day congress party calls meeting, who attends it ??
Sonia, Rahul, Oscar, vohra . they decide that NH has done lot of service to the country during freedom fight, let's write off the loan.
So 90cr loan is written off.
Great. Young India with 36% share held be sobia and Rahul each , rest owned by Oscar and vohra gets property worth 5000cr, including 11 stories flat at bahadur shah zafar marg in Delhi, which is rented out to passport office and other offices.

Wow this is what is called creation. Creating everything out of nothing. 5000crs out of thin air!!!!
https://youtu.be/AL0jjP8UXmk

raw13 said...

@Prasun,

Which of my article was inflammatory?

The article was from Asia times.

I think you will like this one more:

http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/comprehensive-bilateral-dialogue-with-pakistan-curiouser-and-curiouser/

and why afghan intel chief was told to resign again and again.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/afghan-intelligence-chief-nabil-resigns-clashed-with-president-ghani-over-pakistan-1449773403

bbc's take:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35058399

By the way marching armed men in Pakistani towns, is not an uncommon sight. There are more guns than people in Pak. Most young men do go for some training. Usually its for self defence and you will see people practising even at night. In Azad kashmir target practice is very common as they are part of the civil defence force.

joydeep ghosh said...


@Prasun da

main na kehta tha :-)

the carrot has been dangled :-)

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/us-updates-jet-engine-technology-transfer-policy-with-india/articleshow/50131574.cms

thanks

Joydeep Ghosh

Pinda said...

How true is this:


http://www.ceylontoday.lk/31-111508-news-detail-indo-sl-tension-over-jf17-pakistan-deal.html

Mayur M Manapure said...

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1007694/iran-recruits-pakistani-shias-for-combat-in-syria/

Don't you think when they come back from Syria its going to be another headache for Pakistan to handle.

Anthony said...

Afghanis/Pakistanis fighting on both sides. Always have been soldiers for hire. This why every empire started in the northwest. Plenty of soldiers for hire. This why pakistan can punch above its weight. It is gifted/cursed with people who like fighting.

Arpit Kanodia said...

Sir,
http://www.dawn.com/news/1225401
http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/china-pushes-afghanistan-pakistan-back-toward-peace-process/

Ghani is out of his mind or what? While the China playing with fires to achieve strategic gain, and maybe they succeed in it.

Maybe India, Iran & Russia looses the Round 1 of Great Game to China & Pakistan. While it seems like US have no interests in Central Asian Republic, and now more focused on North Africa & Balkans.

TheHundred said...

Reliance signs pact with UAE firm to manufacture defence equipment

http://www.thehindu.com/business/reliance-signs-pact-with-uae-firm-to-manufacture-defence-equipments/article7698123.ece?w=alauto

"Industry sources said commonality in terms of platforms used by Armed forces in India and the UAE — Mirage 2000, Hawk trainers, Pilatus PC7, Lockheed Martin C130J and C-17 — present an opportunity for co-operation between the two countries. "

TheHundred said...

http://in.sputniknews.com/russia/20151210/1016708200/russia-india-su-fighter-joint-venture-tata.html

"In the near future, we may establish a joint venture and create a unit in India for service and maintenance that can implement repair and overhauls of the aircraft and engines jointly. We can also cover all the other nations in the region and repair and service their aircraft in India," Valery V Chishchevoy, marketing director of Sukhoi, told ET.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To CHAMTAKA: 1 & 2) What was fired was the 3M14E Club-S LACM. India was the first country, even before Russia, to acquire such LACMs way back in the previous decade. The IN wants single-hulled SSKs, which the Type 877EKM or Type 636 SSKs are not. As nfor P-75I, only abouty 3 more SSKs will be acquired, these being the Scorpene SSKs fitted with AIP. 3) No one in the world has so far successfully demonstrated ballistic missiles being used as AshM or ASBM.

To CSC: All the more reason why the trial court has already stated that prime facie evidence exists for the trial to proceed. And that’s why the mother-son duo are realising that the day is not too far when they will have to make their room reservations at Tihar Jail. And that explains their nonsensical rants & brash remarks that have insulted India’s judiciary.

To RAW13: None of the articles were inflammatory, the accompanying comments were. Will explain in detail the breakdown of the Joint Press Statement later today. It doesn’t matter at all which NDS Chief is told to resign & when. Because under the power-sharing arrangement in a govt of national unity, cabinet berths like that of the Defence Minister, & other appointments like the National Security Adviser & NDS Director are all resting with the Tajik & Uzbek elements of the national coalition. Therefore, one can have a new NDS Chief even once every 90 days, but nothing else will change. The armed men marching in Muzaffarabad last Januray were all dressed like the Hezbollah jihadis & were allshown carrying RPG-7s. Is that a common sight throughout Pakistan???

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To JOYDEEP GHOSH: That carrot was dangled last Janbuary itself & I was the first to bring it to public notice, i.e. the F414IN56 turbofan required a TVC installation for the Tejas Mk2/LCA (NavY) Mk2 & for this to happen, GE Aero Engines is required to share its IPR data on this engine’s nozzle section with India & with Eurojet so that Eurojet’s TVC can be integrated with this engine, & India will have to foot the bill for this India-specific modification & GE Aero Engines will therefore provide all the related test-benches reqd for airworthiness certification of such a modification. So let one not be carried away by wild assumptions like licence-producing the turbofan or some of its nuts, screws & bolts.

As for what’s really transpiring between India & the US, do go to the source-material for the facts, instead of relying on the twists, turns & spins emanating from the ‘desi’ media outlets:

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/633703/joint-press-briefing-by-secretary-carter-and-minister-parrikar-in-the-pentagon

The real ToT will take place with Shin Maywa. For, the good news is that the Govt of India has accepted my recommendation for the methodology of establishing a JV company (like Maruti-Suzuki) for not only licence-assembling the US-2i amphibian for the IN & ICGS, but also undertaking a large industrial co-production programme that will make this entire JV a financially viable effort. It all began late last year when the PMO asked the 3 armed services to draft their requests for amphibian aircraft. After this, it was realized that the number reqd was far too small to justify licenced-assembly & then the usual bureaucratic ‘jalebi-making’ efforts began, with the proposal going to the DIPP & getting stuck there. When I came to know of this tamaasha, my immediate suggestion was to increase the size of the cake, i.e. let the civil/military market for US-2i-type amphibians grow at a gradual pace over a decade. But in the meantime, let’s establish the JV with Shin Maywa (by initially creating a govt-owned company like Maruti Udyog) & entrusting this JV with the task of building in India the world-famous PAXWAY family of aero-bridges (see: http://www.shinmaywa.co.jp/english/products/museum_paxway.html
sales.parking@shinmaywa.co.jp) that will not only find a huge market within India (for Tier-2/Tier-3 airports in the 50+ smart cities), but will also be exportable. This alone will justify the creation of a JV company with Shin Maywa, instead of relying entirely on the induction of US-2i amphibians. I’m happy to note that after Shin Maywa & the DIPP did the math, they found my suggestion to be the only viable solution on the table worth implementing ASAP, & this is what is now being done.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To PINDA: Total hogwash & classic yellow journalism. Never will any NSA from India undertake such a breach of protocol & talk directly with the President or PM of any country on the phone. Secondly, the SLAF is most likely to follow the example of Colombia & upgrade its existing Kfir C-7s by installing the EL/M-2052 AESA-MMR, & also acquire additional Kfir C-7s from IAI. The SLAF is totally fed-up with its aircraft of Chinese & Ukrainian origin & does not want even a single new piece of hardware from China or Russia.

To ARPIT KANODIA: Not only China, but the US as well. But it also means that Pakistan now has to accept the new pre-conditions laid down by Afghanistan, i.e. no more negotiations with an armed Afghan Taliban, but only with those that lay down their weapons. China is extremely worried because its repressive policies in Xinjiang have resulted in a large number of Uighurs fleeing Xinjiang via Tajikistan & the Wakhan Corridor to northeast Afghanistan & there the Uighurs have been procuring weapons for staging attacks inside Xinjiang. Ashraf Ghani came down pretty harshly against Pakistan when he accused Pakistan’s OP Zarb-e-Azb of forcing up to 500,000 Pakistani refugees from FATA to seep inside Afghanistan. He also revealed that while Pakistan had failed to honour its promises of as far back as 2010 in terms of facilitating transit-trade from the port of Karachi, he also stated that the India-Iran plans for opening up Chah Bahr was the alternative transit-trade route were far more advanced in terms of early implementation. The problems for Pakistan have now increased manifold because 1) the TTP factions hail from tribes who have suffered the most from US drone-strikes & therefore are accusing Pakistan of being in collusion with the US when executing such drone-strikes, & they’re seeking revenge for generations to come; & 2) these Pashtun tribes also hold Pakistan responsible for the deaths of 10,000 tribesmen who were mobilised by Pakistan after October 2010 to go & fight alongside the Afghan Taliban, but many of whom were subsequently told to surrender in northern Afghanistan under Mullah Daadullah & they later on were herded into 40-foot containers & then buried alive by Rashid Dostum (now the Afghan Vice-President). Due to this, any Pashtun citizen of Pakistan residing in Balochistan will today say: we were Pashtuns 5,000 years ago, we became Muslims 1,400 years ago, & Pakistanis 68 years ago. Therefore, our Pashtunistan’s borders should be 100 miles south of Quetta, & not the so-called Durand Line.

Gessler said...

Congratulations on the ShinMaywa deal work, Prasun ji!

Hoping to see more such developments from you in the future!

VIKRAM GUHA said...

Prasun DA,

First of all congratulations on the success of the Shin Maywa deal. Very very valuable suggestions. A long time ago the Brits used to land similar aircraft on the Ganga in Calcutta.

On a separate note it seems Defence exports by private sector increase six-fold after policy changes.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/defence-exports-by-private-sector-increase-six-fold-after-policy-changes/articleshow/50145759.cms?from=mdr

Will you please elaborate how this happened & what are the stuff that Pvt players are exporting?

Thanks & once again congratulations.

SUJOY MAJUMDAR said...

Prasunda,

Good to know about the valuable advice that you provided about the Shinmaya. Hope they take your advice on the P 75 as well and orders Scorpene instead of any new subs.

1.I had a question about Parikkar's US visit. Is it true that Parikar has shown interest in the V 22 Osprey and plans to purchase it for the Navy/AF?

2.Why is Boeing repeatedly saying that they still have a chance to sell the F 18 to the IAF?

Best,

Sujoy

Anonymous said...

Whaaaaat - no Shinmaywa deal ? ...or perhaps not at this time. Kept scouring the web and couldn't find any mention of it anywhere.

Prasun, why is it that you say that with just an order commitment of 12 -15 aircrafts wasn't enough to secure localization of the US-2 in India when Shinmaywa has setup an assembly line for just 7 total units (4 built so far & 3 more in the pipeline) for the JMSDF ? India's commitment is double that.

Further, even if additional economies of scale were needed, there would be a lot more demand for Shinmaywa's "Thin Films and Surface Coatings" products and services in the Indian Defense sector and would be worth exploring.

-Subho

Gopu said...

So if Tejas mk2 will have Eurojet TVC-equipped engines will canards still be on it?
And will ADA finally listen to GE Aero's recommendations regarding airframe design?

সুমন্ত নাগ said...

Prasun Da,Ajit Doval, really proved his capability :

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/david-headley-issue-us-bowed-to-indian-pressure/article7977661.ece

Prav said...

http://atimes.com/2015/11/turkey-gets-toehold-on-syrian-territory-finally/
An article on new developments in Syria by our friend MK Bhadrakumar.

abs said...

So you are insisting that NaMo is serious about prosecuting Maino and her prince and with that destroying the Congress infrastructure in detail?
Sounds good, and more importantly reassuring. I don't have much hopes though. The INC and dynasty understands power. It has studded the bureaucracy and judiciary with their ideological moles ever ready to do their bidding. If Salman can be acquitted it is reasonable to expect Maino and son escape without a scratch on their surface.

I would love NM destroying the Nehruvian cabal of status quoists though. Just don't feel it will happen so soon.

Anonymous said...

@abs It confuses me why everyone wants Sonia and Rahul gone .. With them heading the INC they ensure that Congress will never win at the national level again . If they are gone Congress might choose someone more popular to head them ....beginning their revival.

mg6357 said...

Prasunji,

Today our Vice President inaugurated the TAPI pipeline which will pass through Pakistan to enter India.

Are we really serious about this project coz if I remember correctly we were not that into this project until recently ? What changed suddenly ?

Don't you think the TAPI pipeline gives Pakistan sort of a leverage against India just like we have regarding the water/rivers flowing through India & Pakistan particularly in J&K ?

Besides this pipeline we are planning another Iran-India Gas pipeline from under the sea.
Do we really need both the lines ?

Anthony said...

Not sure this has been posted before. A 2min french tv interview on the time IAF was ready to launch and the orders given to PAF.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sht0bKMGbWE

raw13 said...

@Prasun,

Look forwards to your take. Good to see things moving in the right direction.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35051628

and another one from india:

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/indias-foreign-minister-sushma-swaraj-in-islamabad/

Do you think india are going to join both TAPI and IPI? If so I think it will become a real game changer for the region.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To ABS: Why would NaMo like to see the INC's mother-son duo be prosecuted? The Govt of India has NOTHING to do with this case. This is purely & only between 2 parties: the PIL petitioner Dr Subramanium Swamy & the Directors of the National Herald & Young Indians Pvt Ltd. No one from the Govt of India is a litigant & hence there's no public prosecutor, & consequently there's ZERO inputs of any kind from the Attorney General or Solicitor General of India. It is therefore between two private parties. If you believe that the judiciary in India is 100% independent, then you must also accept that the trial court for this case is not a kangaroo court either. And it was the trial court which decreed in writing that this was a PRIMA FACIE case, based on the evidence provided by the PIL petitioner, & the chargesheet prepared by the law-enforcement authorities.

Therefore, anyone who's alleging that this is all about victimisation or political vendetta is totally ignorant of the legal justice system of India & consequently, through their remarks alleging pressure from the GoI's executive branch over the judicial branch, these morons are only maligning India's judiciary & have already committed contempt of court by uttering such remarks in public & on-record. I therefore sincerely hope that the concerned trial court takes suo moto notice of such remarks & initiates contempt of court proceedings against such morons (whosoever they may be). Because if this isn't done, then such remarks will become the norm of the day for every other case, & the average Indian citizen's faith in the judiciary will considerably weaken & erode. Such remarks/statements emanating from the 'Yuvraj' therefore cannot be dismissed away as mere political rhetoric, for they will have disastrous repercussions in future. Hence, far better to nip the problem in the bud itself by immediately initiating contempt of court proceedings against this dimwit 'Yuvraj'. It is high time these so-called law-makers/MPs were forced to respect the law of the land & do their homework by reading & grasping the essentials of India's justice system & above all, the Constitution of India.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To MG6357: Why the sudden rush to reach any such conclusion? Let's see the pipeline making its entry into Afghanistan & then into Pakistan. And that's a long way off because until there's peace in Afghanistan, such pipelines will not be protected & will be vulnerable to sabotage, & therefore no one will provide insurance coverage for such installations.

To RAW13: Again, you're prematurely jumping to conclusions. A symbolic inauguration of a project doesn't mean everything will be honky-dory with project implementation. The now-abandoned IP pipeline is one such example. Another example is the transit-trade agreement between Afghanistan & Pakistan that was inked in 2010 but has yet to be operationalised. This was stated on-record by President Ashraf Ghani during the recent Heart of Asia conference. Onj the other hand, he was all praise for the steady progress of the Chah Bahr-to-Afghanistan road connectivity & work has now started on even a parallel railway line being laid.

As for the IPI pipeline, India has ZERO interest in it & she would rather have an overland pipeline laid from Turkmenistan to Iran & from there to Chah Bahr & from there towards Oman & from there to western India. Project feasibility studies have already been concluded along with the related EIA analysis, & a formal announcement will be made when the Indian PM makes his official visit to Teheran. That will be what you call the 'gamechanger'. India does not want to play any new games with Pakistan. Instead, she has already succeeded in changing the rules of existing games being played (& so did President Ghani, I might add), all of which are now crystal-clear in the contents of the joint press statement that was issued last week in Islamabad.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To GOPU: Had already clarified above in an earlier comment that canards are no longer an option & therefore 3-D TVC is the only option left on the table to ensure supermanoeuvrability, especially in the post-stall flight regime.

But what amazes me is the persistence of some 'desi' bandalbaazes to prove their terminal stupidity credentials. For instaed read this:

http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/us-to-help-india-develop-engine-for-gen-5-fighter-115121200004_1.html

Claim: India's Defence R &D Organisation (DRDO) believes it essential to work with US company General Electric Aviation (GE) in up-rating its F-414S6 engine into the so-called F-414 Enhanced Engine, which would power the futuristic AMCA.

Reality: What is there to be developed or co-developed? All such work has already been done & concluded. By 2010 itself the F414EPE had completed a test programme that utilised a two-stage, all-blisk (integrated blade and disk) fan, an advanced six-stage high-pressure compressor (HPC) and a new high-pressure turbine (HPT) design. The EPE includes an upgraded core with an advanced High Pressure Turbine (HPT) and six-stage High Pressure Compressor (HPC) plus a new fan for greater airflow, resulting in a 20% thrust improvement.

Claim: Since an aero engine's life is about 1,500 hours, each fighter--with a service life of 5,000-6,000 hours--consumes 3.5 engines. That means GE could be supplying 700 engines for the Tejas Marks I and II, and 1,400 engines for the AMCA over their service lives. This is a sizeable share of the Indian aero engine market, which the DRDO estimates to be worth Rs 3,50,000 crore over coming decades.

Reality: The total technical service-life of turbofans are as follows: EJ-200, 6.000 hours; M88, 6,000 hours; F414IN56, 6.000 hours; AL-31FP, 1.500 hours; RD-33-3/RD-33MK, 4,000 hours; AL-41F, 4.000 hours.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To GESSLER: VMT.

To VIKRAM GUHA: VMT. Yes, it was a Short Brothers-built amphibian in the 1950s. Defence exports have increased NOT BECAUSE of winning contracts on competitive bidding basis, but because of sub-contracts & buy-back provisions of direct industrial offsets for existing procurement programmes. For instance, if UK-based Griffon Hovercraft is supplying hovercraft for the ICGS, then MKU Ltd-built composite ballistic armour plates are being sent to Griffon for incorporation on the hovercraft. Similarly, for the Barak-2 LR-SAM, the BDL-built propulsion system is being ‘exported’ to IAI for final assembly there. So, what some trying-to-be-smart-alec within the MoD has done is to club all these items as ‘exports’, in order show an increase of Made-in-India products destined for foreign countries. But they will not qualify as export items in the true sense of the term.

To SUJOY MAKUMDAR: VMT. They already have, for they have no other choice. There’s just no funding available for procuring both imported new-design SSKs under Project 75I, & SSNs. 1) He only showed interest from a ‘technology marvel’ standpoint, not from a procurement standpoint. 2) Because someone, probably their country representative based in India, is giving misleading marketing inputs to his bosses.

To SUBHO: How can you compare a diversified company like Shin Maywa with a brand-new JV start-up that will be set up in India? Shin Maywa has made money since the 1980s developing a whole range of composites-based items, ranging from household toilet fixtures to airliners galleys to water-tanks for buildings. It earned more than enough revenues through its commercial business activities & only then did it possess enough disposable income to divert to the military platform development business, which is small in terms of revenue-earning margins. Thin-Films & Surface-Coating businesses again thrive only when there’s a vibrant commercial aircraft production business at hand, like making regional airliners or business aviation jets or regional turboprops. Is India producing any of these???

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

For those who want to know what transpired when NaMo met Mian Mohd Nawaz Sharif in Paris & how matters progressed from there:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3hz4eu_ru-baru-13th-december-2015_news

And here's Part-2 of the report on CPEC's Baluchistan component:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3hwj8o_mahaz-wajahat-saeed-khan-kay-sath-12th-december-2015_news

TheHundred said...

Prasun i would love to read about India's 'String of Pearls' which you mentioned back in April. Thanks

Blogger Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To HEBERIAN: Things in reality are not what they seem. Yes, the Chinese diligently study technological progress made by the West & Russia, but so do others. Only difference is one doesn't get to read about what others like India are doing. In many ways, the IN is way ahead of the PLAN in the arenas of undersea warfare & carrier-based naval aviation & even network-centric warfare. For instance, the PLAN still craves for single-hulled SSKs, whereas the IN acquired its first-generation single-hulled SSKs Class 209/Type 1500) in the 1980s, & is now acquiring second-generation Scorpene SSKs. But more about all this in the next thread, which will detail India's 'String of Pearls' in which India, the US, Japan & Australia all have principal roles to play & will be joined in future by Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia. One has to connect the dots, like the US SECDEF Ashton Carter's arrival in India this June, instead of May; the statements of ASEAN Defence Ministers last March in Langkawi; Indian Defence Minister's visit to Japan last March; India's official announcement of plans to acquire 6 SSNs; & India's leasing of Agalela Island in Mauritius & Assumption Island of The Seychelles. Only then can the big picture be viewed in totality.

April 29, 2015 at 10:50 PM

raw13 said...

The problem wrt to Chabhar port is that if the pipeline transverses the Sistan/Baluchistan Province, it is susceptible to sabotage and often. It will become the biggest target and big earner for the groups that operate there. Currently in Afghanistan, nato, usa and the afghan government pay taliban and various other groups, to allow their goods and troop supplies to pass through their check points.

@wrt LCA,

what is the point in putting a 3-D TVC? We have been told that it is more agile than the mig-21 and mirage2000. With HMD/HMS is it even necessary?

hoods said...

prasun

you have often talked about IN looking for single hulled instead of double hulled subs, what is the difference between them? i mean apart from the obvious 'single' and 'double' hull.Does double hull have maintenance issues or give less performance in shallow coastal waters?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAW13: Unlike the now-defunct IP pipeline, the pipelines to & fro Chah Bahr will be underground. Therefore, sabotage isn't an issue at all. 3-D TVC confers supermanoeuvrability of the type achieved by F/A-22 Raptor & Su-30MKI. TVC therefore enables a combat aircraft to easily overcome its enemy during dogfights when cannons are reqd to be used.

To HOODS: Double-hull submarines consume more energy when the submarine is cruising, & this in turn reduces endurance.

To THEHUNDRED: The answer can be found in the joint statements read out by NaMo & Shinzo Abe. In a strong rebuff to China, India has decided that along with the US, Japan will henceforth be a regular participant in the annual Malabar naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal & Indian Ocean. And along with the JMSDF, there will be participation from the navies of Singapore & Australia, & in future also the navies of the UK, New Zealand, Myanmar & Bangladesh. So henceforth, instead of the Malabar naval exercises being bilateral, they will become multilateral.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

At a time when even the Rustom-1 & Rustom-2 UAVs haven't yet been developed, this surely will be a colossal waste of money:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-set-to-develop-own-stealth-combat-drones/articleshow/50165296.cms

How can a 'stealthy' UAV or UCAV ever be developed when the DRDO hasn't even done any R & D on 'stealthy' manned combat aircraft? No research papers have been published as yet on any groundbreaking indigenous low-observability technologies or techniques, nor have any industrial patents been filed. All R & D accomplishments in the arena of stealth/low-observability remain confined to the West, Japan, Russia & to some extent China. In fact, even Russia is guarding this so zealously that this has now become the main impediment for any meaningful industrial collaboration on the FGFA project!!!

mg6357 said...

Prasunji,

Today HTFE-25 engine officially performed the first trial run with RM Manohar Parrikar spectating it. Did DRDO GTRE helped/consulted HAL in HTFE-25 with its learnings of Kaveri engine or HAL did this on its own?

Is there any possibility that we could replace the Adour engines of BAe Hawks and Jaguars (if the Honeywell engine deal doesn't go through) with HTFE-25 or do we need improved version of HTFE-25 for that?

Is there any possibility that we can build the bigger version of this engine with changes in the dimensions and increase the thrust to make in comparable to GE-414 engines (obviously for LCA and AMCA fighter aircrafts) or do we have also to improve the other factors (like metallurgy) for that ?

Prav said...

@Prasun .. Why read so much into this .. These are probably the same people that claimed that LCA is "stealthy".
What is important is that India has started developing a jet engined drone .. Or do you consider this a waste of money as well.

Unknown said...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-set-to-develop-own-stealth-combat-drones/articleshow/50165296.cms


Dors not seem to me much more than a drdo fund securing excercise for all the so called technocrats to continue their JRF,SRF , foreign seminars , vendor comissions via a government project .....20 years fund secured ... As for india .... So called desi scientists ( filtered products after real talents flee abroad or flee research ) .... They dont have much idea about research .... Research means only making ppt and getting a paper published and securing government fund ... Leave us else reward wapsi ,,, i think its time to set up an administrative service INDIAN RESEARCH SERVICE to check this scientists cheating tax payers money , need for specialized scientific administrators

abs said...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-3359453/India-set-discuss-Pakistan-controlled-Kashmir-diplomat.html

The Indian representative in Pakistan stated that there would be only talks on territories of India illegally occupied by Pakistan.

If India is serious about wresting G&B from Pakistan, why not go for a war and do it since Pakistan is on the mat now and time seems to be just right?

Also when thinking through such Arthashastrik maneuvers, and since it involves the international community such as China, Afghanistan and US, I wonder if it is feasible in a time frame within 2019. And if so, how would a re-annex action of G&B by India affect the international relations between China, US and Afghanistan for India?

raw13 said...

Thanks Prasun.

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