Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Multinational String-Of-Pearls Emerging In Southern IOR & Andaman Sea Through Algorithmic Alliance


Since mid-May, following a series of behind-the-scenes parleys and deliberations, a variety of steps have been taken toward the adoption of a multinational sea-control strategy that aims at nullifying China’s irrational assertiveness within both the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). For instance, in their first virtual Summit-level meeting held in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia and India on June 4, 2020 elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) and signed seven key accords, including a mutual logistics support agreement that is expected to enable the two countries to access each other’s military bases, including Australia’s Christmas Island, located south of Indonesia’s Island of Java.
This was followed a month later by a three-day official visit to India (from July 26 to 28) of Indonesia’s Defence Minister Gen (Ret’d) Prabowo Subianto during which he and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh discussed various ways and means of strengthening the military-to-military and military-industrial ties between the two maritime neighbours.
In particular, India expressed her intention to financially and materially assist Indonesia in transforming the existing naval and air bases at Sabang Island (located northeast of Banda Aceh in Sumatra) into fully operational installations and in return secure access for Indian Navy seaborne and airborne assets to such installations. Indonesia also evinced interest in procuring India-developed integrated platform management systems, combat management systems and hull-mounted sonar suites for a family of shallow-water multi-purpose vessels developed by its state-owned, Surabaya-based shipbuilder PT PAL.
But, as the saying goes, the best is yet to come. And this event will take place between mid-September and end just before Indian Air Force Day (October 8) and will comprise a series of joint services exercises taking place in the Andaman Sea, with a strong emphasis being laid on sea-control being exercised through anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime-strike operations (with both IAF Jaguar IMs armed with AGM-84A Harpoon ASCMs and Su-30MKIs armed with BrahMos-A ASCMs), and the enforcement of maritime exclusion zones (MEZ).
Moreover, apart from the Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF), the US Navy and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) too are likely to be invited to take part in these exercises, with the US Navy contributing about four warships from its Yokosuka-based 7th Fleet, and the JMSDF despatching a Kawasaki P-1 LRMR-ASW platform.
Details of this multinational naval exercise will be firmed up during the three-day naval commanders’ biannual conference in New Delhi (from August 19 till 21), which will also be the first naval commanders’ conference since the institution of Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
And as a curtain-raiser event, three B-2 Spirit stealthy bombers recently deployed from the USAF’s 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia in the southern Indian Ocean to support the US Pacific Air Forces’ Bomber Task Force missions. They arrived on August 12 at Diego Garcia on Wednesday after a 29-hour sortie. 
The last time a B-2 task force had deployed to the INDOPACOM region was in January 2019, when three B-2s and about 200 airmen deployed to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. Those B-2s were from Whiteman’s 393rd Bomb Squadron, and flew 27 sorties for a total of 171 hours. Their local and long-duration missions included practicing hot-pit refuelling and sorties with the USAF Hawaii Air National Guard’s F-22 Raptors.
The B-2s are always deployed overseas along with their B2SS Extra Large Deployable Aircraft Hangar System, which is a transportable semi-rigid dome structure designed to be rapidly deployed, assembled and made ready to support maintenance on B-2s at forward operating locations. Measuring 250-feet wide by 60-feet high, the structure provides a 1.1 million cubic foot environment that is air conditioned, fully environmentally isolated against chemical and biological attack, and also features a single 10-ton clamshell retractable door.
The last time the B-2s had been deployed to Diego Garcia was on October 6, 2001, when two B-2s took off from Whiteman to fly 36 hours across the Pacific Ocean and up the Indian Ocean into Afghanistan. They struck targets throughout Afghanistan, in conjunction with the Rockwell B-1B Lancer and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers flying out of Diego Garcia, and then returned to the same island, making the entire trip over 40 hours. At Diego Garcia, the B-2 crews exited their aircraft, with engines running, and a fresh crew climbed on board to pilot the aircraft on their 30-hour return-flight to Missouri. By the end of the first three nights, six B-2s flew more than 420 hours, accomplished over 36 aerial refuellings, and returned to Whiteman with no incidents.
The ongoing B-2 deployment in Diego Garcia is aimed at sending a clear message to China about the vulnerabilities of its sea lanes of communications (SLOC) in the Andaman Sea, which falls within the ambit of both the IOR and the INDOPACOM region. In particular, it dashes all hopes about China overcoming its ‘Malacca Dilemma’ by establishing an overland oil/gas supply pipeline via Myanmar for its hinterland-located petrochemical processing infrastructure in the Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, which in turn are designed to provide the great bulk of the POL requirements of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Western, Southern and Eastern Theatre Commands in case a naval blocade is imposed against all the coastal cities of southern and eastern China.
The PLAAF, on its part, has since 2017 built new high-altitude radar stations housing the Type 609 UHF-band airspace surveillance radars at a location north-east of Walong, another near Ruili, and yet another in southern Yunnan close to the China-Laos international border.
It may be recalled that the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) built and operates the Myanmar–China oil pipeline, which bypasses the sea route via the Malacca Strait. This pipeline and a companion natural-gas pipeline transport hydrocarbons from the Bay of Bengal across Myanmar to southwestern China. The gas and oil pipelines run in parallel and start near Kyaukphyu, run through Mandalay, Lashio, and Muse in Myanmar before entering China at the border city of Ruili in Yunnan province. The gas pipeline, the maximum capacity of which is 12 billion cubic metres/year, carries natural gas from Myanmar’s offshore A-1 and A-3 blocks.
This pipeline runs further from Kunming to Guizhou and Guangxi in China and is 2,806km-long in total. The oil pipeline, the maximum capacity of which is 0.24 million bbl/year, transports crude oil carried by tankers from the Middle East. Therefore, a large oil-import port and storage tanks have also been built as an input point of this oil pipeline. The port can receive vessels up to 300,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) and has storage capacity of 1.2 million cubic metres. This pipeline, which eventually terminates in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, has a total length of 771km. The total estimated project costs are US$1.04 billion for the gas pipeline and $1.5 billion for the oil pipeline. Construction of the Myanmar–China oil pipeline and gas pipeline started in June 2010. In June 2013, CNPC announced that the Myanmar section of the gas pipeline was complete and ready for testing while the oil pipeline was 94% complete. In January 2015, Myanmar officially opened a deep-sea port off its western coast and started trial operations.  To be exact, the port and storage tanks are located on the Madae Island. There are 12 storage tanks at the port and the capacity of each tank is 100,000 cubic metres. Myanmar receives $13 million per year and a toll fee of the pipeline (US$1/tonne) from CNPC.
In March 2003, PetroChina and the Sichuan Provincial government agreed to jointly develop a petrochemical complex near Chengdu centred on a cracker producing 800,000tpa (tons per annum) of ethylene. By 2004, PetroChina had completed a feasibility study and an environmental impact assessment report. The project received final approval in 2005. Ground-breaking on the complex took place in the first quarter of 2006 and the construction was completed in December 2012. The petrochemical complex was commissioned in January 2014. The facilities are situated on the outskirts of Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China. Along with the 800,000tpa of ethylene, the complex produces 450,000tpa of polypropylene (PP), 600,000tpa of paraxylene (PX), 380,000tpa of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and 50,000tpa of ethylene oxide (EO) PetroChina Sichuan Petrochemical Company (PSP) is owned by PetroChina, which has a 51% stake and Chengdu Petrochemicals, which owns the remaining 49%.
The projected upgradation of the IN’s and IAF’s existing air bases at Great Nicobar and Car Nicobar islands, coupled with a parallel upgradation being undertaken at Sabang and Christmas Island, will enable the IN’s P-8I LRMR/ASW platforms and the Royal Australian Air Force’s P-8A Poseidon LRMR/ASW platforms to function in a networked manner for wide-area surveillance stretching from the Ombai-Wetar Strait off Timor Leste all the way westwards via the Lombok and Sunda Straits, all of which are used by the PLA Navy when deploying from the South China Sea into the IOR.
In March 2019, the Indian and US navies had inked a loan agreement and installed two Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS) kits at the IN HQ and discussions are still ongoing for more such systems to be installed at a variety of locations and platforms. These kits enable encrypted communications between networked navies, enabling a quantum increase in maritime domain awareness (MDA).
In another development, Israel’s Elbit Systems on August 17 was awarded a contract valued at approximately $27 million by the IN to supply an EHUD rangeless air-to-air combat training system, to be operated from the IN’s shore-based naval air stations along India’s eastern and western seaboards as well as on board aircraft carriers. Product deliveries will be performed over a two-year period, to be followed by three years of availability-based maintenance.
The EHUD ACMI system offers advanced air-to-air combat training capabilities, including features such as real-time hit notification and removal, real-time electronic warfare and air-to-air weapons delivery, simulation and advanced debriefing. The system supports an unlimited number of live networked participants, through Elbit Systems’ data-link protocol that also allows interoperability with existing EHUD ACMI systems operated by the IAF (the first two were procured in the late 1990s while an $18 million contract was inked in December 2010 for two additional systems).
Growing Backlog Of Pending Procurements
However, the IN continues to be devoid of its three cadet training vessels and five naval offshore patrol vessels (NOPV), which were contracted for eight years ago from the Surat-based ABG Shipyard and Pipavav-based Reliance Naval and Engineering Ltd, respectively. Both shipbuilders have filed for bankruptsy.
The IN has a projected requirement for 24 GRP-hulled minehunters (MCMV), but the first procurement exercise that began in 2005, was terminated in 2009. The IN had then sought eight MCMVs through indigenous construction, which was later revised to “acquisition of two from the foreign industrial collaborator and six from an Indian Shipyard”. In 2015, an Expression of Interest (EoI) was sent to Germany’s ThyssenKrupp, Russian Shipyards, South Korea’s Kangnam Corp, Italy’s Intermarine and Spain’s Navantia, while the MoD-owned Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) was subsequently nominated to construct 12 MCMVs under a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with Kangnam Corp, but due to non-compliance with the ToT requirements (Kangnam itself did not develop any MCMV, but had instead licence-built Intermarine’s Lerichi-class MCMVs and was therefore not authorised to export its MCMV production know-how to anyone else) and over-pricing issues, this procurement exercise too was cancelled in January 2018.
In late 2019, Moscow sent India an unsolicited technical proposal under which the Project 12701 Alexandrite-E (Eksportniy) GRP-hulled MCMVs were offered for licenced-production by GSL. These vessels each have a displacement of 890 tonnes, are 61.6 metres long, 10.3 metres wide and have a draught of 3.1 metres.
Each of the MCMVs are powered by two diesel-engines with a power output of 2,500hp each (the IN prefers to use MTU-supplied engines), producing a speed of 16 Knots, cruise range of 1,500 nautical miles, and an endurance of 10 days. The vessel is manned by a 44-strong crew.
Pending the arrival of the GRP-hulled MCMVs, the IN in February 2019 inked a Rs.306 crore ($42 million) deal with THALES Australia for eight mine countermeasures clip-on influence sweeps. The IN is now equipping its fast interceptor craft (scheduled to be delivered between 2021 and 2022) with these suites, which have infrasonic advanced acoustic generators.
Last May the IN began inducting the four additional P-8I LRMR/AQSW platforms worth $1.1 billion, orders for which were placed in 2016. Final deliveries will be completed by January 2022. This procurement is under an option clause as part of the earlier procurement of eight P-8Is worth $2.1 billion between 2013 and 2015. Against its stated requirement for 24 P-8Is, the IN now plans to procure only six more P-8Is, whose acquisition was approved November 2019, bit now awaits contract signature. The 18 P-8Is will be serving with the 312A Naval Air Squadron, based at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu.
In June, 2016, the MoD had sent a Letter of Request (LoR) to the US for seeking to purchase 22 MQ-9 Predator B Sea Guardian UAS platforms and related ground-control stations from General Atomics. A request for Information (RFI) was subsequently issued to the US Office of Defense Cooperation on November 14, 2017. Following the signing of the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in September 2018, it was expected that the IN would buy only 12 MQ-9B Sea Guardians (equipped with belly-mounted Raytheon APS-148 SeaVue X-band multi-mode radars) and not 22 of them for $2 billion as planned earlier. However, this plan too has been put on hold and instead the IN is now seeking 10 shipborne BTOL-UAS platforms, for which there are only two realistic contenders.
Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8B Fire Scout’s endurance with full fuel and a baseline 55kg payload is more than 8 hours, and flight time with a 250kg payload is more than 5 hours, and to get more out of the engine the upgraded transmission is rated for 320shp continuous power from the Rolls-Royce 250-C20W turboshaft, with a 5-minute emergency rating of 340shp. The Fire Scout’s primary structure has been strengthened for a design weight of up to 1,545kg, although the maximum take-off gross weight will be 1,430kg. The AWHERO combines Italian OEM Leonardo’s experience in the development of rotary wing platforms and Sistemi Dinamici’s experience. Two modular payload bays carry sensors, including radar (such as the Gabbiano TS Ultra-Light), electro-optical (EO)/infra-red (IR) and light imaging detection and ranging (LiDAR), and communications systems. The payloads can be nose, underbelly or side-mounted. The nose bay can accommodate a 10-inch EO/IR turret or an 8-inch EO/IR turret with radar, while the underbelly and side bays can be used for heavier payloads.
The MoD in August 2017 had issued a global RFI for 123 naval multi-role helicopters and 111 naval multi-utility helicopters, collectively valued at 410 billion. The RFI for procuring the NMRHs and NMUHs were sent to Lockheed Martin (which has acquired Sikorsky) and Bell Helicopter of US, Airbus Helicopters of France, and Russian Helicopters of Russia. Both helicopter-types are required to be licence-built in India under the new Strategic Industrial Partnership policy, announced in May 2019, under which a strategic partner selected only from among domestic private-sector companies is required to tie-up with an overseas OEM. Both the OEM and strategic partner will be selected by the MoD. Since the current exercise is to select the overseas OEMs, the selection of domestic strategic partner will take place later. Domestic companies that are competing to be that strategic partner for both helicopter programmes include Kalyani Group/Bharat Forge Ltd, Reliance Defence & Engineering Ltd, Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra Aerospace, and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. The 123 shipborne NMRHs worth $7 billion will be in the 9- to 12.5-tonne category, while the 111 NMUHs worth more than $3 billion, will be in the 4.5-tonne category. The preferred solution for the NMUH requirement is the AS-565 MBe from Airbus Helicopters.
It may be recalled that in 2011, the MoD had issued a global Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of an initial 16 NMRHs (part of the then stated requirement for 44 such platforms) in which Sikorsky with its S-70B Seahawk had emerged as the winner against the NHIndustries’ NH-90. However, this procurement exercise was subsequently cancelled and it was only on May 14, 2020 that a contract inked for 24 MH-60R Seahawks after final selection in February 2020. The MH-60R’s weapons package includes Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile in its helicopter launched variant (NSM-HL), while the sensor package includes Telephonics’ APS-153(V) multi-mode radar and THALES/Raytheon FLASH/AQS-22 LFDS low-frequency dunking sonar.

107 comments:

  1. PLAAF HQ-7 SHORADS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9HTNbiNo-w

    PLAAF GPS-Guided JSOW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAqF3l-HHw0

    Meng Wanzhou Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC5RQdh40V8

    China’s Work Point Model: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm_Pf6XOiCM

    Digital RMB to Circumvent SWIFT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jzOirHci5I

    China’s Galloping Inflation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctXNTxrMm0w
    IA’s Floating Ferry Bridge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS7lFgEnckA
    Ladakh Standoff Is A Sum Of China's Fears About G-219 Highway:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioAy9x6s9Fg

    Befitting Response To Idiotic Question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rfWunIKFAo

    And here was the origin of a piece of disinformation:

    https://twitter.com/pir34/status/1293125884690468866

    And this in turn was further sugar-coated & over-hyped by the 'desi bandalbaazes' & a fraudster/trickster masquerading as an overhead satellite imagery interpreter here:

    https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/china-keeps-hawk-eye-on-critical-indian-military-bases-1712587-2020-08-18

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yet, when the time comes for action, the classic evergreen excuse will surface i:e war wastage reserve not adequate.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1) good to know we have not sat idle while china constructed its string of pearls around India. Frankly the philosophy of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" is at play here. I just hope it turns out as we hope.
    2)now kalashnikov has introduced the ak 19 a 5.56 nato rifle and they already had the ak 12 and 15 and we are still trying to procure the ak203 any thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Prasun Sir, Could you tell us more about the Harop drones IAF bought few years, what happened to them, were they ever tested except during the public test in vayu shakti 2019 in which they showed one.

    ReplyDelete
  5. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kVTn5UPyQiw&t=17s
    UAE-Israel Peace Deal Reflects Emiratis' Big Strategic Ambitions
    Really India lacks strategic vision and clearly pointed out by the speaker.

    https://theprint.in/defence/india-building-new-road-from-manali-to-leh-to-facilitate-troop-movement/485038/
    Sir apart from building road India also needs massive fire power ... That's where India seriously lacks ...What should be priority of weapons for next 5 yrs to boost massive defensive offensive fire power..
    https://theprint.in/defence/iaf-deploys-lca-tejas-along-pakistan-border-amid-tensions-with-china/484394/
    Deploying Tejas MK1 or LCH there.. What good it can bring..Or just routine deployment..
    Sir why Indian policy makers fail to table National Strategic policy so that irrespective of party line
    that policy will drive security and foreign policy..

    ReplyDelete
  6. Similar to 609, do we have any plan to induct Arudhara mpr in NE & Ladakh?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Prasun Da,

    1. The Pipavav NOPV's are almost built and waiting sensor fitments. Is there a way for navy to use it and not waste the country's resources in the name of insolvency ?
    2. The Caracal carbine order is pending for high cost which is about 70-80k per unit while BSF purchased MX60 carbines from Beretta in 2013 for about 4 lakh a piece. Why are we finding it so expensive now ?
    3. How can India choke G219 which is the lifeline of Chinese supply lines through Tibet.
    4. Why Chine developing completely new port at Gwadar instead if using Karachi itself ? Isnt Karachi a deep port ?
    5. With the recent flood situation getting more and more worse in South China and Yangse at its highest level, ho can India take maximum advantage of this situation militarily ?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sir,
    1. With regarding to the 5g solutions a jio 5g solution has been doing the rounds, is it just a proposal or is it purely hogwash?
    2.is is possible that the deal for six avenger drones will be sealed this year? And would these drones offer to acquire targeting solution beyond certain distance?
    3.is it true that kalyani ulh has elicited interest from the army? But in a truck mounted solution?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Prasun da....defectors from CCP are claiming that the Ladakh fiasco was to divert domestic criticism on the current state of affairs in China....does this have merit? I am an avid reader of your blogs but commenting for the first time. Thanks a ton for all the info

    https://youtu.be/YwEFP0KwLVU

    ReplyDelete
  10. Prasun sir,

    1) I am seeing a lot of criticism of AK-203 lately. People are saying that Russians are selling us a downgraded product. The AK-203 appears to be AK-103 with rails that too not on hand guard. Russians themselves are moving to AK-15. Then why did we select AK-203 and not AK-15?

    2) What is your opinion on this livefistdefence.com/2020/08/first-look-indian-private-sector-answer-to-kalashnikov-out-soon.html

    3) What is the status of Caracal carbine deal?

    4) Why our our troops not using scope with the Sig 716? Why do we keep using iron sight?

    5) Since the IA has already selected Sig 716 and AK-203, where does that leave Ghatak?

    ReplyDelete
  11. To DASHU: Have no fear, for salvation has finally arrived! A new country called Kailaasa will henceforth bankroll India & supplement the RBI & here is its website: https://kailaasa.org/

    And this is the Hindu Investment & Reserve Bank: https://youtu.be/omguzRbWkaw

    Folks like ASHISH GAUTAM & others can apply for citizenship of this country & resign from SBI to join this new financial institution.

    To SHUKANT CHATRATH: 1) It is well underway NOT BECAUSE India wants it to happen, but because of the world powers that have intellectually dominated India since 1757. 2) AK-103 & AK-203 are very good & reliable SLRs & they were developed especially for the global export markets.

    To BUDDHA: 1) The behind-the-scenes parleys between KSA & Israel & the UAE & Israel were all held in India, which had acted as the facilitator. 2) Unless the land transportation infrastructure is in place, how can one even imagine ferrying the kind of weapons that you desire? If only bailey bridges are to be used, then leave alone a MBT, even a 155mm towed howitzer will become too heavy to be moved by road. Here are 2 prime examples of new all-weather land transportation infrastructure now coming up:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3M4i7nGqxM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kww8g-PDOY

    3) Any airborne platform—manned or unmanned—will be highly vulnerable to hostile AAA near or within contested/hostile airspace. A Tejas Mk.1 or LCH without its self-protection avionics suite can be used over the battlefield ONLY AFTER all hostile air-defence systems have been totally destroyed, not otherwise.

    To ARPIT KANODIA: I have not yet come across any literature that says the DRDO is developing VHF-band/UHF-band radars of the type developed by China & Russia.

    To BRADSHAW: 1) They can be taken possession of & ferried by tugboats to any other shipyard for undergoing final fitments ONLY AFTER the bankruptsy proceedings are completed. 2) Caracal is for the armed forces while the CAPF have different specifications for carbines used for patrolling. 3) Merely by bombing the mountain tops along the Kuen Lun mountain range, which will create landslides & avalanches. 4) Karachi was never a deep-water port. 5) By turning up the heat against China’s SLOCs in the IOR & the Andaman Sea, as I have explained above.

    To BENO: 1) This will throw more light on 5G: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ_zCWdbuTI 2) It has yet to be decided whether the IN wants shore-based UAS or shipborne UAS. 3) That interest was elicited back in 2018 after the Doklam standoff.

    To INDRAJIT: Don’t fall for the ‘desi’ interpretations, since such ‘desi patrakaars’ always suger-quote & over-inflate the original news, which is available here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjWKqleGs1M&t=15s

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH1AOoqBXV8

    To SATYA: 1) As long as it works as per my reqmts, why should I complain about it? 2) PAID NEWS. What matters in a life-n-death situation is not the LOOKS, but the PERFORMANCE. 4) Such accessories will be used whenever reqd. 5) SIG-716 is for the IA’s Northern & Eastern Commands only, while AK-203 is for the CAPFs & RR. Ghaatak is for the remainder of the IA.

    ReplyDelete
  12. In reply to SATYA you say Ghaatak is for rest of infantry in IA.
    Ghataak is a 7.63x39 caliber weapon.

    1. Why NATO rounds only for 2 commands ?
    2. Is there a 7.62x51 caliber Ghataak in development ?
    3. Can rest of the infantry also then not be equipped with AK203 ?

    Regards
    Venky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Look, Search, Google for Assault Rifle OFB R2 aka GHAATAK. Though since so many calibres are in use, let me plumb for the MCIWS 6.8 x 43mm SPC tee hee since that's the optimum, logistical problems be damned. But it seems to be clear that LAC/LOC/IB will see standardization on 7.62x51mm calibre with sig716i Tread & OFB R2/GHAATAK to ensure effective kills from standoff distances of ½ a km. The 7.62x39 mm will be used for CQB/CI with AK-203, TAR, Ghatak & for now even the Excalibur or INSAS with 5.46x 45mm continuing to be used. But such a situation is a reality for many countries & their military forces

      Delete
  13. To VENKY: Why are you spreading confusion by ASSUMING that Ghaatak is a 7.62 x 39 SLR? I had already uploaded data several times before about the Ghaatak & here it is again:

    https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fDAl0czox3w/WtKD9FiVOaI/AAAAAAAAOXI/DnSkF90xAzUs1pB9VRhu7nOKM9nSpwIJACLcBGAs/s1600/OFB-developed%2BGhaatak%2B7.62%2Bx%2B51%2BSLR-1.jpg

    https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ezxKXANqXq4/WtKEDTLb7EI/AAAAAAAAOXQ/eh8Qt9755-onG-doI6sN0WM6gA4NywrFACLcBGAs/s1600/OFB-developed%2BGhaatak%2B7.62%2Bx%2B51%2BSLR-2.jpg

    https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R1_MWo3GypQ/WtKECN2lKcI/AAAAAAAAOXM/KAaLh617rYcCPWPspAhjS44uJDqsXJ0ZACLcBGAs/s1600/OFB-developed%2BGhaatak%2B7.62%2Bx%2B51%2BSLR-3.jpg

    1) Because they are to meet urgent reqmts of the IA's 2 frontline commands. Again, as I had explained several times before, under a nuclear overhang, full-scale conventional war has been an impossibility since may 1998 & hence the only areas where wars will be waged in future are along the WB, LoC & LAC. And hence the IA's Southern & Southwestern Commands are now redundant, again as I had explained several times before. 2) Of course. Check out the weblinks of the visuals that I have posted above. 3) No, because the IA wants the lethal 7.62 x 51 solution for its regular infantry forces. The 7.62 x 39 solution is thus meant for the CAPFs & RR units.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Prasun Da,

    Is this correct representation of on Indigenous content in Tejas MK1.It even show LWR(Laser Warning Receiver).Never knew Tejas MK1 have LWR.

    https://twitter.com/Amitraaz/status/1296309247676801031

    ReplyDelete
  15. PrasunDa,

    1. According to Indian Express IAF's Su-30MKI test fired a MICA air to air missile.

    https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/aug/19/iaf-test-fires-air-to-air-missiles-ahead-of-rafale-integration-2185422.amp?__twitter_impression=true

    Does this mean that radar source codes were shared? Without MBDA/Thales help they can't integrate it. Even the IR version needs a fire control system that can connect the missile to the plane.

    Difficult to believe that the French allowed integration with a Russian radar.

    2. There are media reports that Israeli firms have offered OFB new designs for FICV. Is this true? If yes, which design have the Israelis offered.

    3. The Drive published a report y'day that F/A-18 Super Hornet Is Now Undergoing Ski Jump Launch Trials For The Indian Navy. Is this true?

    https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35864/f-a-18-super-hornet-is-now-undergoing-ski-jump-launch-trials-for-the-indian-navy


    Thanks,
    VIKRAM

    ReplyDelete
  16. Prasun,

    Rhienmettal has announed its intentions to set shop in the UP defence corridor.. what can be expected to be made .. does a weapon like Oerlikon Skyshield® Air Defence System have a place in the Indian setup?

    ReplyDelete
  17. To VIKRAM GUHA: LoLz! Systems integration of any weapon system to a platform comprises 2 principal activities: 1) electronic integration. 2) electro-mechanical integration. The first cannot be achieved unless the on-board MMR is interfaced with the on-board stores management system suite & this in turn can only be done if the MMR’s source-code is shared. In the Su-30MKI’s case, the source-code of the NO-11M ‘Bars’ PESA-MMR has never been shared with anyone outside Russia & hence any stores management system using MIL-STD-1760A digital databus cannot be interfaced with the PESA-MMR or any other type of MMR. Coming now to electro-mechanical integration, this requires a pylon adapter mechanism (attached below the universal launch pylon under the wing) for data conversion, as explained here:

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_44d3OT-xI3U/SOqIkd-quWI/AAAAAAAAANM/aygao7lgT7Q/s1600-h/R-77-3.jpg

    From the above, it becomes evident that such a modification involves the development of an all-new missile-launch pylon of a type not yet developed by anyone, either by a Russia-based OEM or MBDA. To date, MBDA has developed missile-launch pylons only for the Mirage-2000 & Rafale of the type shown here:

    https://www.mbda-systems.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/mica-6.001.jpg

    https://live.staticflickr.com/6216/6317163392_5f13fdc119_b.jpg

    Even for launching the Astra-1 BVRAAM (whose RCO-developed Ku-band acdtive seeker was sent to Russia for integration with the BARS PESA-MMR) from the Su-30MKI, a special missile-launch pylon had to be developed because the Astra-1 isn’t compatible with the R-77 BVRAAM’s existing AKU-170E launcher & this missile-launch pylon can be used by both the Su-30MKI & Tejas Mk.1 for both Astra-1 & NG-ARM. This is what was shown by Bharat Dynamics Ltd at the DEFEXPO-2020 expo:

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BrGFCLOn9eA/XkChS5IVTmI/AAAAAAAASiI/vNYBOpNIP9IgjxLWgln6r0-jlBmh2SNIACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Astra-1%2BLaunch%2BPylon%2BPoster.jpg

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EYzh03dJ83s/XjlfjftalWI/AAAAAAAASZQ/GKmNPX3zQi8Vez8oTHoBWVNWVnGG_fyUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BDL-built%2BLaunch%2BPylon%2Bfor%2BAstra-1%2BBVRAAM.jpg

    https://fighterjetsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/37062825_204063446968430_1328337559637458944_n.jpg

    In conclusion, therefore, in the absence of access to proprietary software (MMR’s source-codes) & missile-launch pylon adaptations, a stores management system capable of integrating the MICA BVRAAM with the Su-30MKI cannot be developed. Consequently, that news-report you have quoted is 100% FAKE NEWS.

    As for FICV, this is what Israel is offering:

    https://www.army-technology.com/projects/namerheavyarmouredin/

    3) The Boeing F/A-18 Hornet had taken off from ski-jumps way back in the 1990s itself. But are the below-deck maintenance/storage hangars of the IN’s two aircraft carriers configured for the F/A-18 Super Hornet or Rafale or NLCA Mk.1? The answer is a firm NO. Consequently, neither INS Vikramaditya nor the IAC-1 will be able to house anything other than the MiG-29Ks.

    To JUST_CURIOUS: You must be referring to this:

    https://www.business-standard.com/article/defence/german-military-hardware-major-rheinmetall-to-invest-in-up-defence-corridor-120081801136_1.html

    For those who don’t know, the IN’s MiG-29K full-flight/full-mission simulator was supplied by Germany’s Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH (RDE), about which I had written in late 2008 here:

    http://trishulgroup.blogspot.com/2008/12/indian-navys-mig-29k-tactical-simulator.html

    This contract was inked in late December 2004.

    In India, Rheinmetall has since the previous decade has been offering the GDM-008 35mm turret-mounted rapid-fire cannon as a close-in weapon system to the IA, IAF & IN.

    ReplyDelete
  18. How come R73 is integrated with Mirage 2000 as shared by AM nambiar sir in this tweet??

    https://twitter.com/Nambitiger1/status/1296392029446893573?s=20

    ReplyDelete
  19. Does rafale unit Has installed any full mission simulator at ambala??

    ReplyDelete
  20. Have uploaded additional data above to highlight the ever-growing backlog of hardware procurements.

    To AMIT BISWAS: In the same way the R-73E SRAAM was integrated with Tejas Mk.1. The common element is the HMDS & in case of the Mirage-2000 its was the DASH-5 HMDS that was adopted in late 2002, while for the Tejas Mk.1, the TARGO, an advanced version of the DASH-5, has been adopted. Since integration of SRAAM is with HMDS & not with the MMR, source-code access is not reqd. But interfacing avionics is reqd for integration with the aircraft's stores management system and hence the image of the R-73E on the Mirage-2000 clearly shows a 3-piece underwing attachment, starting with the universal pylon under the wing, to which is attached the missile-launch pylon & to that is attached the missile interface unit contained within a rectangular box-like conformal structure. This was originally developed by Vympel JSC of Russia in the mid-1990s for the BAE Systems Hawk Mk.208 L-MRCA in response to a Royal Malaysian Air Force reqmt for arming its Hawk Mk.208s with the R-73E SRAAM.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Prasunda..BEML has launched the Gaur MPV. Is it bases on Tatra 4x4 with air-cooled engine and backbone suspension or something else?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Prasunda,

    Thanks for the detailed reply.

    Leave Tejas, we don't even has coherent manufacturing strategy for Trains sets like Vande Bharat T-18 rakes. This just in.....................

    Indian Railways cancels Tender For Manufacturing Of 44 Vande Bharat Trains | News Station
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR2D-jQ0VwQ

    The farce continues.
    God help us now.

    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  23. To OODA: All the details are in the DEFEXPO-2020 thread. The following are being inducted into service this month:

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hcdBSZwD32E/X0ASiXemLtI/AAAAAAAAUUY/YZegQx1qBcIbtc1YhbMsAEiyAAxBK48EACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/MBPV%2BMk.2%2Bof%2BBEML-1.jpg

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8sOhgI_JRU/X0ASkP_9uDI/AAAAAAAAUUc/I1YATisOxk0ulpeGwc2l-nUymWiOZjgjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/MBPV%2BMk.2%2Bof%2BBEML-2.jpg

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7mVex8QtDms/XkIJWtAWU5I/AAAAAAAASkQ/ye9OVWDEGOUmkWvUehWDIetwxKy6-bbjACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/CVRDE-developed%2BCMF-72.jpg

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2socDEsL6E/XkIJMRhUMAI/AAAAAAAASkI/LAnwunO9b84jRdLoYwSNCnCuKzinYksVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/L%2B%2526%2BT-built%2BShort-Span%2BBridging%2BSystem-2.jpg

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FdZKG77Tgxo/XkIJOd72MyI/AAAAAAAASkM/JcF_lL-vUewg8ibm1bOIsQju301sHdTKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/L%2B%2526%2BT-built%2BShort-Span%2BBridging%2BSystem-1.jpg

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YehQmXKIayQ/XjlhEb9v9hI/AAAAAAAASbQ/dAc7C1wVmDAqMBmaRvRll2NCelZvo3k7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/X-Band%2BAPAR-FCR%2Bon%2B4%2Bx%2B4%2BATV.jpg

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sw1stCpvOAA/Xj0yiRz8EwI/AAAAAAAASgw/O_SDqgDX1ZEvLtLjbFOOtMgKHfnV7EY4wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC00698.jpg

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gA5mi3AWeI/X0ATKWL9C7I/AAAAAAAAUUo/aHh2kTcL6ocjzftMt3eNHvX0I5ycrF7fQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BOSS-1.jpg

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w_rdGLuTN-M/X0ATNMTmn3I/AAAAAAAAUUs/QilSF9hXOjg8Hwpsm4y9VMAqQGR53BOZACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BOSS-2.jpg

    https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5fyrHIjgz74/X0ATNj8DW7I/AAAAAAAAUUw/Hwe_S7QCWeQ7Y4Hct-gfGMs5iGy0-Og-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/BOSS-3.jpg

    To ANIONE: Yes, that tender was for producing locomotives that were designed & developed inside India, but were to be built by a foreign manufacturer, in particular a China-based manufacturer! Even God cannot help those who refuse to first help themselves!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Prasun sir, I have some questions about how small arma procurement and our infantry soldier

    1) Why did IA go for Sig 716 which no army in the world use? I'm not saying it is bad but why was it selected over battle proven FN SCAR or AMX 200 or Ace or Tavor 7 which are in active service with over 20 armies in the world?

    2) The selection of AK-203 is also a bit absurd because even Russian army won't be buying it. If it was good enough then why did Russians opted for AK-15?

    3) You said SSS rifles are not indigenous. Why did you say that? Their P-72 assault rifle looks a bit like FN SCAR but that doesn't mean they are not indigenous.

    4) Why can't IA work with DRDO and private sector to develop a future infantry system based in its experience? Like Russia's Ratnik or Felin of France? At least for the frontline troops.

    5) Is Caracal 816 the best carbine on offer? Colt and Beretta walked out if the competition while others like H&K did not even bother to take part.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Prasunda,

    1) There are news reports about further PLAGF deployments opposite Lipulekh pass. Any attempt likely by the PLA (along with Nepal) to wrest that area away from our hands and settle it in Nepal's favour ? Here is an OSINT source for the deployments:

    https://twitter.com/detresfa_/status/1296397874305986560


    2) Dose'nt this show 2 J-20's in Hotan?

    https://twitter.com/detresfa_/status/1295403141421101056

    3) If the answer to 2) is ``Yes", to what extent does the J-20 tip the balance towards the PLAAF?


    Satyaki

    ReplyDelete
  26. To VARUN: LoLz! Firstly, the ultimate non-negotiable reqmts for any type of small arms are LETHALITY/EFFECTIVENESS, RELIABILITY, DURABILITY. And these 3 factors must hold good for operations in different types of terrain over different altitude-levels & different temperature/humidity levels & conditions. Obviously there exists no family of small arms that fulfil all such reqmts in a single design. And it is precisely due to this reason that different kinds of SLRs/Assault Rifles, SMGs/Carbins, LMGs/GPMGs & Sniper Rifles exist & that too with differing barrel diameters & bores. Consequently, a solution that's optimal for the dry & extremely hot/cool deserts will be terribly sub-optimal for hot-n-humid plains & humid/moist mountainous terrain & high-altitude areas with sub-zero temperatures. Both the SIG-716 & AK-203 SLRs were subjected to such varying operating conditions & ultimately they emerged as the optimal solutions required for the IA's Northern/Eastern Commands & the CAPFs & RR units deployed in those same areas. Obviously since the armed forces of Russia & Israel operate in totally different terrain under totally different weather conditions & altitudes, their small-arms qualitative reqmts will be totally different from those of the Indian end-users. Therefore, always remember that ONE SIZE NEVER FITS ALL.

    The small-arms solutions from SSS Defence are not indigenous simply because NEVER in the global history of small-arms development as a developer suddenly emerged out of the blue to offer mature solutions that have been developed in-house. Furthermore, due to the reasons given above, it is FOOLISH & IDIOTIC to first develop small-arms & then offer them for user-evaluations when the developmental methodology should be the exact opposite, i.e. first obtain the precise qualitative reqmts from a prospective end-user & then tailor-make the solution. Hence, we can safeky infer that SSS Defence chose the wrong approach to enter the market in India & consequently the wrong time to enter as well.

    And lastly, how can the IA go for any digitised F-INSAS-type solution when digitisation itself is still in its initial stages within the IA? For, without finalising its new-generation battlefield comms architecture that is meant to use SDRs, no kind of networking can take place & hence one will have to rely on point-to-point silo-based individual standalone networks like BMS, BSS & TCS. Even when 4-G cellular networks were available, the IA failed to leverage such networks back in the previous decade itself & even now while everyone is talking about 5-G networks, no one in India is even discussing ways of exploiting this network for military applications. That is how intellectually backward India's armed forces are at this stage.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Coming to India next week are the first of two B.777 VVIP transportation aircraft. Here's the background:

    February 6, 2019: The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to India of two (2) 777 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Self-Protection Suites (SPS) for an estimated cost of $190 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of India has requested to buy two (2) Self-Protection Suites (SPS) consisting of AN/AAQ 24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM), ALQ-211(V)8 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite (AIDEWS), and AN/ALE-47 Counter-Measures Dispensing System (CMDS) to protect two (2) Boeing-777 Head-of-State aircraft. This potential sale would include: twelve (12) Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (6 installed and 6 spares); eight (8) LAIRCM System Processor Replacements (LSPR) AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (2 installed and 6 spares); twenty-three (23) Missile Warning Sensors (MWS) for AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (12 installed and 11 spares); five (5) AN/ALE-47 Counter-Measures Dispensing System (CMDS) (2 installed and 3 spares). Also included in this sale are Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS), LAIRCM CIURs, SCAs, HCCs, and UDM cards, initial spares, consumables, repair and return support, support equipment, Self-Protection Suite (SPS) engineering design, integration, hardware integration, flight test and certification, selective availability anti-spoofing modules (SAASM), warranties, publications and technical documentation, training and training equipment, field service representatives; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated cost is $190 million.

    https://defpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Large-Aircraft-Infrared-Countermeasures-LAIRCM.jpg

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EO47Q20WsAELQh_?format=jpg&name=900x900

    To PARTHASARATHI: By now you must have truly realised that the peddling of FAKE NEWS is flourishing in India, thanks to such reports by the following 'desi imbeciles' that make a mockery of all known laws of physics & mathematics:

    https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/aug/19/iaf-test-fires-air-to-air-missiles-ahead-of-rafale-integration-2185422.html#:~:text=Defence%20sources%20said%20anti%2Dair,)%2C%20demonstrating%20its%20stealth%20capabilities.&text=The%20missile%20will%20equip%20both,official%20told%20'The%20Express'.

    https://swarajyamag.com/insta/indian-air-force-successfully-destroys-aerial-targets-using-mica-air-to-air-missiles-ahead-of-rafale-integration

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xe5JnPRy2w&t=74s

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

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TbFUj_BveM

    ReplyDelete
  28. To SATYAKI: 1) If you go to GoogleEarth Pro you will be able to see for yourself the latest images of 7/2020 & there’s just no need to rely on the so-called open-sources that you’ve quoted. The infrastructure development activities are at Shiquanhe, a city of the Gar County under which the Ngari Prefecture also falls. It has been known to India since 2014 itself that the following have been built since then:

    New Logistics Support Infrastructure: 32 29 53.77 N, 80 3 20.03 E

    Accommodation for PLA Construction Corps: 32 30 33.96 N, 80 5 26.82 E

    North of Lipulekh the PLAGF has had garrisons stationed since 2015 & nothing unusual has taken place there off late. And the terrain there is so forbidding that no one can mount any kind of land offensive in that area. 2) It is a photoshopped image & that too 3 years old. 3) The J-20 is still like an experimental MRCA & has to date not taken part in any PLAAF air exercise in any part of China. And that itself is proof of how much the PLAAF relies on the J-20.

    To KAUSTAV: As I had explained in previous threads, it is all coming out now:

    China Using Hawaala & Sectarian Faultlines to Target Tibetans in India:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-GDyAp5S5w

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAlLo5laF3w&t=14s

    Three years ago, another such syndicate, using Manipuri businessmen as proxies, had unsuccessfully tried to purchase abandoned tea estates in the Siliguri Corridor close to Hashimara air base.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Last time u shared similar issues in darjeeling where police intimated airforce about radio comms between china and monastery

      Delete
  29. There are press reports the one of the four Kalyani developed artillery has completed 4 stages of tests & ready for sale to India army.
    Which one is it ? The ATAGS is not purely Kalyani product.

    Thanks for the explanation on infantry rifles. Makes sense.
    Hope same sane sense prevails on artillery guns too.

    Regards
    Venky

    ReplyDelete
  30. To AMIT BISWAS: The ones in Darjeeling were detected by WB Police Ham enthusiasts. The ones in Sikkim were detected by intelligence agencies, which also detected several unlicenced VSAT terminals on the rooftops of quite a few monasteries. Like I had explained before, Himalayan Buddhism has several sects & related lineages among practitioners in Tibet, Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan & India, each with its own faultline.

    To VENKY: It is the 155mm/39-cal towed howitzer made of steel (weighing 7 tonnes) and not the one made of Titanium that weighs slightly over 4 tonnes. Meanwhile, more imports are in the offing:

    The Indian Army’s 15 & 16 Corps, which are responsible for operations in Kashmir & Jammu regions respectively, are seeking to buy multiple under-barrel grenade launchers (UBGL), wheeled armoured personnel carriers, drones and surveillance devices. Both are seeking to procure nearly 350 UBGLs, to be used with the INSAS and AK-47 rifles. UBGLs are fitted under the barrels of the rifles, and used to fire grenades to a distance of around 400 metres. The Army is also looking to buy surveillance devices of different ranges for detecting movements of terrorists, both inside the hinterlands and along the LoC. The list of requirements also includes around 50 ‘Spike’ anti-tank guided missile launchers and about 15 UAVs for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) roles. The list for the 15 and 16 Corps comes soon after the 14 Corps, which is in charge of operations in Ladakh, came up with its own separate wish-list of equipment, which will be utilised in the standoff with China along the LAC. The 14 Corps is looking to urgently procure unmanned aerial vehicles, fast interceptor boats and all-terrain vehicles (ATV), besides wheeled armoured personnel carriers. The procurement lists for all three Corps will be vetted by the Army’s Northern Command, with the purchases to be made under the emergency powers delegated to the Vice-Chief of Army Staff under Schedule 23. The strong push by all three Corps of the Northern Command to buy UAVs reflects the effort to expand and strengthen ISR capabilities.

    https://theprint.in/defence/wish-list-of-army-corps-in-jk-grenade-launchers-drones-surveillance-equipment/486676/

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sir, you are really John von Neumann to me,(expert on evrything).

    1. Is order of 12 ShinMaywa US-2 amphibians cancelled for final or its not on our priority
    list.

    2. Reduced demand from 57 to 36 carrier based jets is because of TEDBF? Can we expect the
    deal to get finalized before we reduce the no. to 0 (any expected timeline).

    3. Is TEDBF for real! Do ADA have enough resources for building three different 4-5 gen
    Fighters (MWF, AMCA,TEDBF).
    Going by his speed Can we expect the DM to add an StOL-amphiabian in DRDO's to do list.
    Yours views Sir on TEDBF, if i have missed your comments on this earlier kindly provide
    a link or anything).

    4. Can murder of HAYAT in balochistan be the triggering point of civil-war in pakistan
    (although the civilwar is in always-on-mode there since 47).
    Dont you think we should capture the moment and make it a big deal internationally as we
    have done in case of SUshant atleast in INdia.

    5. And wat about Kulbhushan Yadav, Pak doesnt give a .. about rights, ICJ's orders. He is
    facing a daily death there. Why cant we capture some of there border soldiers and trade
    for him.(i know how it sounds). Have we really lost this battle.

    regards
    ~psr

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you.
    the Chinook can lift the 7 ton howitzer.
    Hope the UV mounted 105 mm is also not far off, can move with infantry.

    OFB has already supplied thousands of UBGL, why import ?


    Drones & drone based surveliance has been neglected by DRDO. Maybe BEL/TATA electronics should be asked to develop the surveillance package once initial import is done.

    regards
    Venky


    ReplyDelete
  33. Dear Prasun,

    Turkey Gas Discovery
    https://www.voanews.com/europe/turkey-calls-natural-gas-discovery-historic-day-energy-dependent-country

    Actually that zone belongs to Greece. Saudi, Israel, Egypt, Europe cannot do anything.

    Do you accept that Erdogan Turkish Sultan is winning the Battle.

    Please comment.

    Thanks & Regards
    Senthil Kumar

    ReplyDelete
  34. Prasun,

    Looks like some ppl just won't learn ..https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kashmir-leaders-resolve-to-fight-for-restoration-of-article-370-and-j-k-statehood/story-u6knbADZX0bGNzCpW3TuVM.html.. what happens to this lot going forward.. do they still hold enough sway to brew trouble?

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hello Prasun,

    Happy festivities to you and all your loved ones.
    Couple of thoughts wading through, will request your views on each of it
    1) you mentioned that Southern and South-Western commands of Indian Army are redundant; can they be remodeled as marines so they can work as expeditionary force with Indian Navy since possibly, the seaboards around India will hot up in next couple of years, if it is not now. 2) Setting up of military bases in the Indian Ocean region, initially to start with signing free trade agreements and then building the necessary blocks for it through trade. Integration (as tight as feasible) on case by case basis will greatly help, even if is initially tilted towards the smaller partner.
    3) Setting up of cultural centers (in the lines of Han Confucius centers). I had raked this up earlier, with no response from your end
    4) Building skill centers to train resources at border areas. This can go to the extent of settling people with right skills in the border areas with no prejudice to specific set of people, so they can setup the necessary infrastructure to harness and self-sustain their stay and be useful to safeguard country's interest. An example, a wrong one like the Riasat-e-Madina's Sun(n)i Sunayi people's fighting force, working as real estate developer.
    5) I appreciate your efforts to flog a dead horse in the form of present dispensation taking no efforts (at least from my lay perspective) to take the initiative to do the necessary to create military pressure on the Han CCP army. I respect your relentless thoughts on dates when possibly the Indian expedition (a successful one) to re-merge Gilgit, Baltistan and beyond to Indian union.
    6) Per the nuts (my relatives) working in ICF, the word is, there is internal sabotage to flop the T18 project especially since it is fully indigenous and successful effort. The critical sub-systems are COTS (commercial off the shelf) products that is the bone of contention and vicious people are red-flagging its quality in spite of two rakes working just fine on the field.
    Thanks, Ganesh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Prasunda

      Seconded in Toto, That is what many of us on this blog want to hear. Given India's Northeast which has distinct issues from that in the trans-karakoram & kailas ranges alongwith PRC & Paxtan meddling in the trouble spots, I would like a thought experiment of what would have happened if Netaji Bose had been rehabilitated or INA had retained a foothold without surrender in the NorthEast AND ofcourse your views on this article & North East India https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/analysis/weapons-seized-mae-sot-destined-myanmars-rakhine-state-intelligence-sources.html/amp

      Delete
  36. Prasunda,

    Is there any possibility of a PLAN nuclear submarine coming in and laying mines just outside our territorial waters to blockade a port ? Do we have any ability to counter such an action ?

    Kritavarma

    ReplyDelete
  37. Prasun Da,

    Thanks for sharing those insights about the situation in the North East.

    Please clarify how dangerous is the situation in the North East now that ULFA (I) has regrouped. I understand post CAA they have a lot of local support. Moreover AASU-AJYCP are coming together to launch their own party before next year's state election.

    Already local outfits are fighting to implement Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Assam and ULFA (I) has directly asked Hindi speakers, Bengali Hindus to leave the state.

    Please shed some light

    Thanks, Sujoy

    ReplyDelete
  38. Prasunda

    Your repeated enlightenment on the subject & history of the Trans-Karakoram & Himalayan Buddhist politics makes it evident that India lacked the necessary will, foresight & acumen evident in British India.
    If India can't control it's traditional areas of control & by extension territory of the erstwhile princely state of J&K, i.e. the Kailas Mansarovar area, which is important from geological POV too as the origin of Ganges tributary, Brahmaputra, etc. India deserves humiliation that it gets.
    India isn't responsible for turncoat Tibetans but India has to take & defend its own territory which Kailas Mansarovar is traditionally & by political control of princely J&K, Indian & of geo-political importance on 2 counts water & religion. India's cartographic illiteracy & lack of military-political willingness & capabilities deprived India of control of the Kailas-Karaokoram changes & India's legitimate historical as well as rights derived from ascension of Kashmir which gives India all territory from Chitrol, Humza, Gilgit-Baltistan, Shaksgam valley, parts of Tareen Basin, Aksai Chin, Ngari, Kailas Mansarovar. India should have done it in 1948 to 1950 itself or atleast by the time PRC intentions in Tibet were clear. That JLN or the Indian security strategic establishment wasn't aware of that is incorrect but India lacked the necessary will & probably capabilities though given necessary political & military will, it should have been possible to gain that capability. Defending Tibet from PRC might have been beyond Indian capacities given the levels of collusion in Tibet itself with PRC then & historically, but not occupying areas of Indian claim lines on basis of historical & legal territorial rights was really stupid & short-sighted given strategic & geo-political importance of the region & could have been attempted in the late sixties too. It might yet be possible but will have enormous challenges unless ofcourse the gods of yore specially Lord Shiva descends from Kailasa & decides to do a regime change in PRC or it's breakup. Given the persistent lack of National Will & capability, it's upto either Lord Shiva or the US to do the needful fo us weak mortals https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/china-desecrates-religious-sites-near-mt-kailash-to-deploy-surface-to-air-missiles-1714018-2020-08-22?

    ReplyDelete
  39. To PSR: 1) Yes, that project has now been terminated. 2 & 3) It has already been reduced to ZERO (0) because the 3rd aircraft carrier (IAC-2) project itself has been cancelled. 4) In terms of population density, the Balochis are far too few in number to undertake any meaningful armed resistance throughout that province. 5) Kulbhushan Jadhav will never be freed by Pakistan, rest assured.

    To VENKY: The days of 105mm towed & MGS howitzers are long gone in the limited high-intensity conventional war scenario. Instead, barrel standardisation will be achieved by adopting the 155mm barrels. Perhaps Larsen & Toubro ought to team up with Kalyani Group to co-develop a hybrid 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzer that uses the hull & turret of the K-9 Vajra, but uses the Kalyani-developed 155mm/39-cal barrel. Such a tracked SPH will be able to move shoulder-to-shoulder to the IA’s mechanised battle groups for delivering immediate fire-support, while the K-9 Vajra 155mm/52-cal tracked SPHs stay behind in the rear for delivering indirect fire-support. The IA did possess the Vickers 105mm SP Abbot, 68 of which were procured for the IA in 1967. This is how it looks:

    https://i.imgur.com/G3zCcaR.jpg

    To SENTHIL KUMAR: The rate at which Erdogan is going about converting Churches to Mosques, the day is not far when the Orthodox Christian Churches of the Slavic countries & those of Greece, Egypt & Syria will unite to take on Turkey.

    To JUST_CURIOUS: LoLz! So not a word about Article 35A! In reality, Article 370 was never abrogated, instead the application of most of the clauses of Article 370 on J & K were done away with. Article 370 still remains a part of India’s Constitution, only its applicability varies. For J & K too, a combination of certain clauses from Articles 370 & 371 will need to be made applicable on both J & K and Ladakh after they become two individual states in future. That’s what both the NC & PDP will be crusading for from now on, which is good, since no one will talk about having a separate Constitution & separate flag for J & K. Hence, politically, there won’t be any more trouble within J & K.

    ReplyDelete
  40. To GANESH: 1) If a tri-services Peninsular Command is created, then it will definitely have one IA Division with amphibious assault capabilities. 2) Full-time military bases aren’t reqd & instead foundational agreements in arenas like logistics assistance & joint training will suffice. Many of them have already been inked with countries within the IOR. 3) Cultural Centres haven’t been established due to the lack of a monolithic institutional framework, unlike the Tibetan Gelugpa sect that centres around the Dalai Lama & the Kagyu Karma sect that centres around the Karmapa. In India, the Buddhist Sangha has been heterogenous in both character & makeip & hence theological consolidation hasn’t taken place—making India the nett loser in the arena of global Buddhist geopolitics. This requires urgent rectification & if not, then India again will cede the ground to China. 5) There is still some time left (until this November), hence it will be premature to label it as a ‘dead-horse’. 6) Here are some additional details:

    Vande Bharat Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wx5zM0CUBM

    It is like ADA developing the tejas Mk.1, Mk.1A & MWF, but outsourcing their rapid series-production from a Lockheed Martin or a dassault Aviation!

    To KRITAVARMA: No possibility at all, as I have explained above, i.e. the ALGORITHMIC ALLIANCE for achieving persistent ISR.

    To SUJOY MAJUMDAR: The definitive ULFA under Paresh Baruah remains confined to the Myanmar-China border town of Ruili & all their camps inside Myanmar have been eliminated. Consequently, ULFA does not have any organised presence anywhere within Assam. Consequently, the sub-nationalists will consolidate around the AASU to artificially create armed factions that have no ideology, just like the Left front in Kerala had supported the PFI/SDPI to neutralise the Congress-supported IUML in Kozhikode.

    ReplyDelete
  41. August Woes in China: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=figk_uZRZrs
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACO59pf6krc

    China’s Cyber Warriors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eghmqZZKVb8

    Italy's Sikh Slaves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk_uDyuZbdg

    Turkey-Based Indian Kashmiris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8pJLeSqpQ

    China's Investments in Vietnam & Laos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4rl-3RSZn4

    PLAN Type 09-III SSN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCcm8scL5Zg

    PLAN’s Yulin Naval Base: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF0lEP_VOS4

    Naval Battle of Saraighat, Assam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vws6US90-kM

    Pakistan-KSA Crossed Swords https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2J7VAXNUKE&t=13s

    Atmanirbhar in Defence: Does India Have the Capability To Be Self Reliant? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oOZ23ftsyM

    Iran & China vs USA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLrUdFURtqo

    ReplyDelete
  42. Prasunda,

    VMT. Does this mean our lack of minesweepers is no longer a fatal deficit ? My worry is that we are always reactive and have so far not demonstrated the will to escalate: our ISR (with the help of our partners as you have explained) will indeed keep track of any PLAN sub. What happens when it starts laying mines in international waters outside a key port ? Will GoI give the go ahead to sink it in time, or will our unwillingness to escalate let them get away with such an act ?

    Kritavarma

    ReplyDelete
  43. Shouldnt India be using the xinjiang uyghur card more vigorously. Advertising their current situation using our media and also creating campaigns subtle or overt to put pressure on pak through its own muslim radical population. other muslim govts too would be forced react if their pop is influenced by such media campaigns if the news is ratcheted non stop

    ReplyDelete
  44. Sir,
    1. In Taiwan Times there was a report that soldiers from fujian province were asked to write goodbye letters to their spouses? Will the war break out in Taiwan strait during usa elections?

    ReplyDelete
  45. 2. Also china is building SAM sites near kailash mansoravar is this a message by China to India?

    ReplyDelete
  46. To BENO: 1) No, war won't break out simply because the PLA isn't yet ready & won't be ready till at least 2035. Hence, all the PLA claims are just propaganda & rabble-rousing, i.e. just beating of the war-drums for making noise & nothing else. 2) Not just there, but in at least 5 locations facing the LAC from the east to west. But these are all static locations that can easily be destroyed by cruise missiles like BrahMos-1 & SCALP-EG. In addition, EMP-generating PGMs like the SAAW can shut down all their airspace surveillance & target engagement/illumination radars.

    To KRITAVARMA: Relax, for the PLAN's submarines are all very noisy & are very easy to detect & track.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Dear Prasun,

    Thanks once again for the information and superb analysis - not to mention exposing the fake news brigade in Indian Media.

    In an earlier comment u have said

    "Three years ago, another such syndicate, using Manipuri businessmen as proxies, had unsuccessfully tried to purchase abandoned tea estates in the Siliguri Corridor close to Hashimara air base."

    I have often wondered about that - most of our airports and airbases are in extremely close proximity to civilian built-up urban and semi-urban areas...how does the IAF for Airbases and CISF for civilian airports ensure base security in such circumstances.

    Wouldnt it be easy for terrorists or foreign saboteurs to take out aircraft while landing or taking-off with basic weaponry (like RPGs)

    Shouldnt our Airbases have a larger buffer zones which are complete no go areas for civilians and where any kind of construction is banned. Whats the solution?

    Secondly, shouldnt the Rafales (which are also meant as our Airborne Nuke Delivery platform) be based in the Depth areas rather than at AMbala and Hashimara which are both forward located. How would IAF protect these planes against an opening salvo of Cruise and Ballistic missiles in a future conflict when they are located so close to the frontiers.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  48. https://theprint.in/defence/india-has-military-options-to-deal-with-china-if-border-talks-fail-says-cds-bipin-rawat/487996/
    After long silent ..Does he know what needs to do or giving high statement without matter

    Is arrtilary production in house of different type will be the atmanirbhar moment for army..
    Good to know that marine brigade type is on card with peninsular command
    How long scorpion class will miss its main weapon torpedoes..
    Will mass order for LCH and LUH be placed in 2021-22 time line.
    Is order for extra 21 mig 29 from Russia placed or due in recent coming months .


    https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/beyond-the-defence-import-embargo-list/?amp

    https://m.thewire.in/article/government/pulwama-china-and-atmanirbharta-is-modi-at-the-end-of-his-tether

    https://m.thewire.in/article/security/china-ladakh-narendra-modi-lac-disengagement

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hi prasun
    Do emp weapons like the saw fry the front end electronics of radars and comms permanently or shut them down where they are rebooted after some time? What happens if they the are hardened as may be ?
    Have the Chinese benefited from copying the noise quieting tech from the kilo subs they got ? saying that how noisy are the arihant subs given our newbee tech of nuke building?

    ReplyDelete
  50. prasun

    1 https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/china-s-thai-canal-project-propels-india-to-upgrade-military-infra-in-a-n-lakshadweep/story-EcDEGU2XXGgwdJmRNwm4LN.html ..should India have an Indonesia type agreement with thailand? Thailand has some sections withing its polity who have been bought out by the chinese how much of a threat is it given their purchases of chinese defence equipment. first coc co island now this attempt China surely has clear plans. it is inevitable that the indian defence budget needs a quantum jump

    ReplyDelete
  51. Prasun,

    to add ... pakistan navy's upcoming acquisitions and these are being delivered real fast...
    4 type 54 , 4 milgem corvettes, 2 multipurposes OPV's from netherlands + 8 new conventional subs from china .. they will turn out to be a serious threat in the arabian sea.. where are they getting the money for this????

    ReplyDelete
  52. To KIDDO: Given India’s population density & urban sprawls, it will be impossible to have buffer zones around air bases, except for isolated areas like Phalodi, Thoise, Leh, CARNIC, INS Baaz, etc etc. In times of emergencies, combat aircraft assets are always dispersed to several forward & rear air bases & hence they are not always sitting at their home bases.

    To BUDDHA: 1) He is merely echoing what I have been repeatedly saying, i.e. call China’s bluff & go for immediate counter-occupation. 2) A country that is not ‘Atmanirbhar’ in the academic & educational arenas will never become ‘Atmanirbhar’ in any other material arena, rest assured. 3) Another joke: now the DRDO has released its own list:

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EgL8f9wXgAIN7nj?format=jpg&name=large

    To RAD: As I had explained numerous times before, EMP blasts only TEMPORARILY cause all electronic gadgetary to TRIP. Also, (LoLz!) what makes anyone ASSUME that the Type 877EKM & Type 636 SSKs are ‘quiet’? Back in the 1980s a massive con-game was played against the then-USSR by the US/France/Japan/Norway combine to make all USSR-built noisier than ever. This con-game was then labelled as the TOSHIBA-KONGSBERG SCANDAL, but in essence it was a military espionage operation to degrade the USSR’s military-industrial capabilities. One can read all about it here:

    https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/the-toshiba-kongsberg-case

    https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/12/world/a-bizarre-deal-diverts-vital-tools-to-russians.html?auth=login-google

    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-11-fi-659-story.html

    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-10-fi-6976-story.html

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1987/09/03/japan-tries-to-blunt-toshiba-scandal/2cbaa67d-5f01-49d3-ade5-0890fce7981a/

    To JUST_CURIOUS: The ‘desi patrakaars’ will never cease spreading disinformation, I guess. The Kra Canal has been the subject of speculation since the mid-1980s & nothing will ever happen to it. The same goes for another such project back in the previous decade about which the ‘desi patrakaars’ are still unaware. It is the Yan Industrial Petroleum Project that was due to be executed in Peninsular Malaysia’s northern states of Kedah, Pahang & Kelantan. One can read all about it here:

    https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2008/03/30/kedah-to-earn-rm200m-from-yan-project

    https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/us20b-kedah-oil-complex-project-limbo

    It is only AFTER these 2 projects were shelved did China decide on consolidating in Kyaukphyu under the China Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC)--a fact yet dawn upon the 'desi patrakaars'. As for Pakistan’s financial sources, since the country has already been mortgaged to China, it is now fairly easy to obtain commercial loans from China’s banking sector.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Final assembly of Tatra trucks for the Indian market from supplied kits.In 2015 contracts were signed for the supply of 260 semi-knocked-down kits for final assembly in India, out of which 120 will be delivered in three batches this year.

    https://www.tatratrucks.com/about-the-company/press-and-media/news/tatra-trucks-makes-the-first-renewed-deliveries-to-the-indian-army/

    They just assemble products and say indigenous development in there corporate videos like below.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdDRTEFU1us&t=196s

    ReplyDelete
  54. Perhaps atmanirbhar actually means atma (spirit) nirbhar - hence the temple building and statues etc asking for those spirits to intervene?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tee Hee that's what Prasunda means by the Gods of Yore having to save India's ass, since we can't seem to even find it with both hands to save it

      Delete
  55. Dear Prasun,

    China-backed Thai Canal plan (KRA Canal)

    https://tfipost.com/2020/07/kra-canal-china-is-creating-another-naval-route-to-escape-a-blockade-by-india-and-only-thailand-can-stop-it/

    Question 1: Will China succeed in Kra Canal Project.
    Question 2: $30 Billion cost who is going to pay, China or Thailand.
    Question 3: Will Malacca Strait threaten politics will come to end.
    Question 4: Will Malaysia and Singapore lose business.

    Anyhow it is a wise move by China to find alternate route. Looks like Game-Changer.

    Please comment.

    Thanks & Regards
    Senthil Kumar

    ReplyDelete
  56. Hello sir, how r u doing these days?
    As always sir nice thread n thereupon answers....
    Btw a recent news came into light of Tejas mk1 being deployed somewhere near Pakistan border... Around an sqn strength... Is it worth deploying it? Capable to take on adversaries a/c except F16 n jf17 blk 3?? Asking coz I suspect role of mk1 as a good interceptor, mk1A could have been a different case.
    2) is it not possible to equip mk1 with AESA radar n equivalent jammer? How many sorties/day can it offer considering its maintenance?
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  57. Prasunda,

    Is it confirmed that Mig 29 and Sukhoi 30 MKIs are ordered ? If yes then when we are going to expect the first group of Mig 29 will be delivered ?

    Best regards,

    ReplyDelete
  58. A most interesting discourse as usual.
    I have some questions of a more prosaic nature, if I may:

    1) Does the IAF use the SPYDER-SR or MR?

    2) Did Israel deliver additional SPYDER squadrons recently?

    3) What's the status of MRSAM deployment - 9 sqn or 18 on order and any sqn formed?

    Interesting times ahead. Lots not noise but not much analysis.

    ReplyDelete
  59. To SUSAN & MILLARD KEYES: Well, in certain ‘CRITICAL’ arenas, Atmanirbhar Bharat is an undeniable reality, like this:

    Sex Toys of India: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daAZ7dMujuI

    To SENTHIL KUMAR: All those queries were answered by me on August 25, 2020 at 8:22AM (above).

    To ASHISH GAUTAM: 1) Yes, half of them at Phalodi in Rajasthan & the rest in Naliya, Gujarat. But without ASPJ those MRCAs will be dead-ducks for BVRAAMs. 2) Yes they can, but only during their mid-life upgrades 13 years later, not now.

    To PARTHASARATHI: No contract has been inked as byet. It will be done in October this year.

    To SBM: 1) SpyDer-SR. 2) No, only additional Barak-8 MR-SAMs for the IAF were delivered for operationalising the 2nd squadron up north since the 1st squadron is now standing up in Pune. 3) Only 9 have been sanctioned to date, because greater priority is being given to operationalise more Akash-1 Sqns due to reasons I’ve explained before. These will get both Akash-1 & the more effective & lethal Akash-1S SAMs. 4) There has been both NOISE & ANALYSIS, but of the nonsensical type. For example, this one deals with the daily noise for purposes of entertainment:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7eg-PEVbLU

    And this one is DAILY NONSENSICAL ANALYSIS:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYur-P2PX-k&t=438s

    According to this guy, all the world’s daily developments take place only when he goes on air & starts receiving the global updates on his cellphone!!!

    And after sunset, the daily durbar convenes to dish out further nonsense like this:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfr_Z29tYtI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AbtwSoZYvs

    So, it is far better to tune in to non-India channels & watch more insightful stuff like these:

    Sri Lanka’s New Foreign Secretary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPgEp7nGCOk

    MISTRAL LPD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqQzpgVY_ks

    HMDS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJmjgROSDBY

    The mainstream national newspapers too have increased their output of disinformation, which are then corrected by saner analysis like this:

    https://maritimeindia.org/the-sabang-and-aceh-andamans-initiatives-beyond-base-access-and-balancing/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How good is the reliabilty of the of Akash SAMs system as a whole...recently there was chatters about unreliable missile and quality issues from oem as well as end user itself.

      Air force pechora are no more in use??

      Delete
  60. To KAUSTAV: This documentary explains why ULFA leadership has been given sanctuary in the border town of Ruili in China's Yunnan province & what were China's plans for extending the BRI from Kunming to Kolkata via Bangladesh:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHQrMTcqjrs&t=25s

    And this documentary details China's BRI activities at Kyaukphyu, Myanmar:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxd5vi8XwOI

    ReplyDelete
  61. Does the mirage and f 7 fleet of PAF has any ASPJ or EW systems ??

    ReplyDelete
  62. AMIT BISWAS: The Akash-1 & its related Rohini CAR & Rajendra BLR had unreliability issues when they were tested for serviceability in high-altitude areas of Ladakh sometime in 2015. That's because all these elements of the Akash-1 were never even tested in such aereas during their developmental period! Following 3 years of rectification work, the IAF found them to be worthy of deployment in Ladakh. The JF-17 carries the CETC-developed KG-300 ASPJ pod, but the Mirage-III/V fleets do not carry any jammers either internally or externally.

    Meanwhile, a major goof-up by the NIA in its latest chargesheet: On one hand, the NIA has stated that the conspirators & perpetrators had also planned to carry out another suicide attack, which got averted due to the Balakot strikes and due to the killing of main conspirator, Mohd Umar Farooq, by the security forces. Further, due to international pressure, Pakistan lay low. On the other hand, the NIA claims that Pakistani JeM operatives who infiltrated into India and planned and executed the February 2019 Pulwama attack, wanted the strike to precipitate a war between India and Pakistan. The attackers believed that a war would throw the anti-infiltration grid of Indian forces out of gear and make it easy for them to push more terrorists into India. “Various voice packets have been retrieved from the phones of slain accused such as Umer Farooq and Mohammed Kamran. They were discussing how the attack could precipitate a war between India and Pakistan and help them in infiltrating more terrorists,” an NIA officer said.

    Now, is the NIA claiming that the Pulwama suicide terror bombing was done by non-state actors & that the State of Pakistan had absolutely no role in it? If yes, then how could Umer Farooq and four others have crossed over to India with 10kg of RDX using a tunnel in Jammu’s Samba sector along the Working Boundary (WB) in April 2018? Isn't the area around the WB in Pakistan under 24/7 surveillance & guard by Pakistan's Chenab Rangers?

    So, did the conspirators/perpetrators lie low for their 2nd suicide-bombing attempt on their own initiative, or were they instructed by their ISI handlers in Pakistan to lie low? Because if it is the former, then this will empower Pakistan to yet again claim that the State was not a party to such terrorist acts & therefore it cannot be held accountable & responsible for such terror attacks. Therefore, it looks like the NIA has not chosen the proper words to frame its chargesheet.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Hi Prasun

    Could u shed some light on this -
    https://www.defencenews.in/article/MoD-suspends-business-with-Vectra-for-a-year-over-Tatra-case-932100

    Is this true and if so what sense does it make to stop business for 1 year!! Seems completely farcical and where is the MoD going to source spares and parts from - from Tatra direct?? And what happens at the end of the year??

    Or does BEML have the capacity to produce spares - highly unlikely to my mind.

    Please share your opinion on this. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  64. Prasunda,

    Excellent sir, seems that PRC actually pushes India to better itself & think independently while working harder instead of being a lackey of the West. A light kick on the arse jaise हल्के से पिछवाड़े पे एक लाथ, if we respond correctly as in 1967 Nathu La, 1987 Sumdrong Chu it's peace & tranquility for next 20 years. Else it's 1951 Aksai Chin, 1962 Aggression & even 2017 Doka La, where India erred which leads to 2020.

    India needs to grow up in many ways & PRC may be the Devil's goad. Heaven knows, they have actually helped India grow stronger over the years, though not at their cost of course.

    I might certainly be wrong but I believe independence won & nurtured by leaders like Netaji Bose, Dr.Ambedkar & not Quislings like JLN or MK Gandhi who were never respected by independent nationalists anywhere in India or friends like Russia & Japan or even frenemies like PRC. Maybe, Indians need to grow up intellectually.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Prasun,

    1-MoD babus @it agan?? --http://idrw.org/attempt-to-scale-down-ammunition-orders-dampener-for-private-companies/
    2- rostec director mentions co-develpment of weapons with china - early warings systems for subs, surfae & other equipment .. how true is this? time to look west?
    3- pressure tatic? for what? or a sincere attempt to nail pak for what it is a terrorist state--http://idrw.org/us-to-probe-paks-isis-terrorists-in-syria-may-complicate-imran-khan-woes/
    4- U had mentioned in one of replies that rotor issues were causing problems with the HAl made fan blades for cheetahs & cheetals .. since they are still in service & probably will be for the nxt 5 odd yrs.. how is hal mitigating this problem as the production line in france is also stopped

    ReplyDelete
  66. Prasun Da,

    United States Undersecretary of Defense for Procurement and Logistics, Ellen Lord, said yesterday that U.S and India are in talks on a joint development program for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

    https://twitter.com/PatilSushmit/status/1298507293127069696?s=20

    Please let us know which UAV are they talking about.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  67. Prasunda,
    1. https://guardingindia.com/diplomacy/indian-army-getting-long-range-athos-2052-israeli-artillery-guns/
    Is it true?
    2. https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/in-setback-for-imran-khan-govt-germany-refuses-to-modernise-pakistani-submarines-323027
    Is it true ?
    For which class of subs they are asking for AIP? Agosta class subs of PN are already equipped with MESMA-AIP. Upcoming chinese 039A class subs are also equipped with AIP.
    3. Is it possible to replace existing lead-acid batteries of Shishumar class and Kalvari class submarines with newer generation Li-ion batteries (apart from AIP system) in next refits? It would increase strength of power pack as well as endurance and speed.
    TKMS along with SAFT is developing one such solution.
    https://defpost.com/thyssenkrupp-marine-systems-saft-develop-new-type-lithium-ion-battery-system-submarines/
    4. Kalvari class subs are devoid of any HWT till now. This govt may consider Leonardo SPA as untouchable because of its Italian origin or may be the ghost of VVIP helicopter deal appears in their nightmares. Few months back , there was an information that French F-21 Artemis torpedo is being considered for this purpose. What is the current status of torpedo procurement ?
    5. Is any private sector firm in India developing or producing 125mm APFSDS at present ?
    6. Nalanda OFB , which is supposed to make BMCS for IA artillery is still languishing.
    https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-dna-investigates-tender-for-bofors-ammunition-plant-was-allegedly-rigged-2686197
    Isn't it possible to invite Denel ( now Rheinmetal-Denel Munitions) again for this purpose as per original contract as the ban on Denel is already lifted up ?
    Thanks, Regards

    ReplyDelete
  68. Dada so ultimately we gonna sign the near obselete IGLA S manpad deal this year?

    ReplyDelete
  69. Prasun,

    5- Beml-Tatra trucks buys being stopped.. is this by design to support the pvt industry? 'coz the vectra deal was a beset with fraud has been an open secret for long time.. why now & what happens to those in service?
    6- Any chance of Super su30 deal being signd in the upcoming Putin visit?

    ReplyDelete
  70. To KIDDO: This is the website of that company:

    http://www.vectragroup.com/locations_india.asp

    BEML is obtaining spares directly from TATRA Trucks of the Czech Republic. The original sin was committed back in the mid-1980s when the MoD opted for the left-hand-drive trucks. The VECTRA Group also offers helicopter charter services, especially to the INC party, for electioneering campaigns. This company was the agent in India for Airbus helicopters’ AS.550 Fennec LUH/RSH helicopters & the UK-based Indian fugitive Sanjay Bhandari is associated with this company.

    To JUST_CURIOUS: 1) Here is the original weblink:

    https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/attempt-to-scale-down-ammo-orders-dampener-for-private-cos/articleshow/77749080.cms?utm_source=twitter_pwa&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialsharebuttons&from=mdr

    This was only to be expected, since the Secretary for Defence Production & Supplies is a sitting Board-Member in all the DPSUs & therefore he cannot ensure a level playing field for the private-sector companies. He/she has to be biased in favour of the DPSUs, and if not, then he/she can be taken to the courts by the DPSUs on charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT). So, unless there’s structural & systemic reform within the MoD, the MoD’s Rules of Business will not be changed & this bias will continue. Therefore, instead of arse-licking as practised by companies like the Kalyani Group, the private-sector companies must develop the spine to speak the truth. For as long as they don’t, this type of double-dealings will continue.

    2) Nothing to worry about, since they deal with only product-support for existing Russia-origin weapons/platforms. 3) Again, nothing new since such data has been available since 2012 itself. 4) HAL cannot do anything at all, since it has not bought the machinery reqd for manufacturing such rotor-heads.

    To SUJOY MAJUMDAR: This is the report:

    https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/bangalore-based-start-up-developing-air-launched-drones-with-us-air-force-research-labs/articleshow/77766748.cms?utm_source=twitter_pwa&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialsharebuttons&from=mdr

    This is the company website: https://www.newspace.co.in/

    And to be developed is something like this:

    https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dFRNcPH-Efo/XG0qk-ZaGlI/AAAAAAAAQrY/1O-Y6VM3lYMBWAdMDqrhz2W_9BQ-aX0zwCLcBGAs/s1600/HAL%2BPoster%2Bon%2BFuturistic%2BUAS-2.jpg

    To UJJWAL: 1) 100% FAKE NEWS. 2) 100% FAKE NEWS. All eight of the PN’s S-26T SSKs on order from China will use Stirling Engine-type AIP. 3) Yes. Such Batteries have already been developed by DRDO & preparations are being made to produce them in-country by companies like TATA, which has invested heavily in Lithium-Ion battery production facilities for hybrid & all-electric automobiles. 4) The MoD can always procure Black Shark HWTs from Leonardo under a G-to-G deal, just like it is procuring 76/62 SRGMs from the same Italian OEM. 5) Mahindra Defence is. 6) DENEL does not want to participate & hence it did not respond to the OFB’s tender.

    To SUMIT SEN: Why should the IGLA-S be labelled as being ‘obsolete’?

    ReplyDelete
  71. BRI Rethink In Sri Lanka & Pakistan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuclowWRwRU

    Some good news, i guess:

    https://theprint.in/defence/modi-govt-to-sell-15-stake-in-hal-to-raise-rs-5000-crore-through-public-offer/489782/

    https://theprint.in/diplomacy/dubai-sets-up-trading-platform-to-connect-indian-farmers-to-uae-food-companies/489789/

    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-to-order-2-more-israeli-eyes-in-sky/articleshow/77774435.cms

    ReplyDelete
  72. Inside story on what transpired during the Pak Foreign Minister's recent visit to Beijing:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3zGeAryB3k

    Foreign and Security Policy Discourse in Pakistan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SscazUSQTPM&t=64s

    ReplyDelete
  73. Prasun Da, two more new PHALCONS means IAF will have to purchase two more IL-76 from Russia, isn't it?

    Thank You

    ReplyDelete
  74. Prasunda,

    VMT for your last reply. Some of the things which I am still very cynical about but need your point of view to clear the air.

    1. SriLanka Will Adopt "India First Approach", Says Top Diplomat: Report | WION https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nANGxCevUW4 Did SriLanka and Rajapaksha really learned their lessons or did Beijing advised them to take this line to pacify India verbally but BRI projects will continue and Indians will be unaware of what hit them.

    2. S M Qureshi retains his job. I am of the opinion that Pakistan was ready to sacrifice Qureshi to please Saudi Arabia and relationship remain intact. This was like a cosmetic move. Now that Qureshi retains his job, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are calling each other bluffs. Future course of action for Saudi Arabia since Pakistan since duplicity of Pakistan is out in the open.

    3. Chinese FM is on tour of European nation mending fences. What happened to the wolf warrior diplomacy. Even Chinese ambassador to India is singing some conciliatory tone.What exactly is going on?

    Regards,

    ReplyDelete
  75. Prasunda,

    Your views on conducting JEE and NEET examinations. What do you thing should be done and why? Or is this one more topic where politics is being played.

    Regards,

    ReplyDelete
  76. To ANUP: Yes indeed, with the IA being left out of the panel. Perhaps the IA does not require futuristic platforms like the FRCV, FMBT & FICV.

    To SUJOY MAJUMDAR: Yes. So the IAF will end up operating Beriev A-50 airframes as PHALCONs, A330s as the DRDO-developed AEW & CS & B.777s for VVIP transportation, i.e. absolutely no airframe standardisation! Meanwhile, do watch this:

    Eli Cohen MOSSAD Agent 88: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eslMF69ISK8

    To JUST_CURIOUS: 1) Yes, Russia looks like the only one interested in taking over the shipyard at Pipavav as Russian Shipbuilding Corp is also interested in building tankers & VLCCs for the Shipping Corp of India, which would be reqd for the deep-sea transhipment ports now coming up in Keerala & in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. 2) Yes, China can veto any such resolution & also claim that India is also harbouring folks like the Dalai Lama, who has been classified as a terrorist & splittist by China. 3) The only plausible reason is the non-application of sound common-sense.

    To ANIONE: 1) Rajapakse & the rest of Sri Lanka learnt their lessons the hard way & since then the US has piled up enormous pressure on Sri Lanka to grant the US Navy access to Trincomalee harbour. 2) Saudi Arabia is far angrier about Pakistan’s increasing ideological convergence with Turkey. 3) This is what is going on:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zYcc_o4-EU

    ReplyDelete
  77. Prasunda,

    Why we are using Helicopter mounted Stinger (FIM 92) for Apache but integrating Mistral for LCH. Why is it so ? Why so many type of missiles ? Can we produce Mistral at Coimbatore (LNT/MBDA) ?
    Then if we are using Mistral for LCH then why we are not using Mistral MANPADS ? Mistral is famous for that. Igla is getting obsolete.
    Pipapav shipyard has good infrastructure (I worked there for a short span) that Dry Dock should be utilized for building Navy's capital ships.
    Best regards,

    ReplyDelete
  78. what will be its impact i think it will render all the negative list completely useless
    https://twitter.com/manupubby/status/1298934697238528000

    ReplyDelete
  79. Sir, I have a few questions regarding Pralay and its submunitions.

    1. In your post on pralay, you had mentioned that pralay will be used to strike targets only 70 km inside enemy territory because the IA's recon UAVs don't have reach beyond that distance. But why can't sat images be used to select the targets further inside enemy territory? Especially unmoving targets like industrial regions and fuel storage depots? Afterall, some of the pralay warheads, like the combination of PCB and incendiary submunitions, have been designed specifically for these targets. And the targets for Brahmos will also be selected based on sat imagery.

    2. Do you think the pralay submunitions like PCB, BCES and incendiary submunitions are small enough to be carried by the Nirbhaya and LRLACM in meaningful amounts?

    ReplyDelete
  80. Dear Prasun,

    I think now Indian political leaderships are gearing up for military action as suggested by you. I think either a high intensity war may happen within two months. May be as you were predicting due to the harsh environment, everybody has to pack up and leave. Your view please.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Sir, I have a hunch that China will act militarily against India or in South China Sea in October time when US will be busy in election. Are we prepared?

    ReplyDelete
  82. Prasun Da,

    Please refer to this link:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXcgy1zz1uY&feature=share

    Is this how you describe our political leadership? BTW I hope this link will make you stress-free. Happy weekend!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  83. Since the Chinese intrusion we had listened to & read various opinion and voices in India about the situation. When we analyse the thoughts of different former Indian Diplomats, Retired officer in practically all the talk there seems to be an underlying tone of how things are very difficult if not impossible for us. Generally after initial part of what happened is talked or written the next part of writing or discussion talks of what Chinese are thinking and why they did what they did (They will talk about our infra work and other geo political reality) an hence if we can do anything against China how much we can push the envelop. Then there is also a tone as to how Chinese have long left fomenting trouble in NE states, how Chinese economy is 5 times our, how they are not fully backing Pakis on J&K, how for years we have accepted Tibet as part of China and Dalia Lama as a Religious Leader, how Taiwan is a no no because then we will have an angry China. Everything is accommodating - they overran Tibet we accommodated it, they fomented insurgency in NE (which they will do again) we were accommodating, they nibbled our territory we accommodated them did Wuhan and Mallapuram. Not one Gentlemen has said something different for his own country. Not one is talking of us as nation - yes despite every bullshit thing still happening in this country this is still our home where we will possibly lay down as our forefathers did.
    Year of a defeatist attitude has made scores of our past officers look at the long black shadow of the enemy and think and talk about it as enemy. An enemy who is who is inherently weak.
    None of the former officers seem to say yes we need to explore all possible option to get them back off. If it means writing a new type of diplomacy then let it be so. It means if we go & hit them we do so with everything at our disposal. If it means start relationship with Taiwan do so, if it means start relationship with Tibet govt in exile do so. And it means an all out war than yes so be it let us hit them with all that we have with us so that for next time until the security state dissolve no Xi or Pi will ever dream of crossing line against us. We are yet to hit them where it hurts. Our measure till date has been limited in effect & they have calculated it in their plan and analysis but what we can do is much large and with long term implication not only on our borders but also in Indo Pacific region. Remember we may be alone in this as no one will come directly on our side but we will have all the support from global community.

    ReplyDelete
  84. https://theprint.in/defence/china-building-missile-sites-near-doklam-naku-la-clash-zones-satellite-images-show/491346/

    https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/china-digs-in-with-5g-network-at-ladakh-border-new-construction-at-pangong-lake-1716076-2020-08-28

    https://m.thewire.in/article/security/china-impasse-the-product-of-indias-lack-of-national-security-strategy-accountability


    Sir it seems china is in no mode of leaving any position and they are negociating for more..

    https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/story/picture-of-chinese-dead-soldier-s-grave-gives-first-evidence-of-pla-losses-in-galwan-1716312-2020-08-28
    Just solace for land occupation..


    https://theprint.in/opinion/brahmastra/bipin-rawat-gave-lac-threat-but-india-must-hit-china-where-it-hurts-the-most/490581/

    With limited modern artillery and some handful of cruise missile Can India with stand chinese barrage of missile strike
    With limited air assets can it be possible to achieve atleast air parity with chinese air force..

    Looking at GST short fall it will next to impossible for India to cope up speed of modernisation and capital acquisition..What is your thought sir..
    With prahar pralay LRLACM all seems to be beyond 2025..What's now immediate priority of India.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Prasunda

    A query, sir, is about LCA-MWF-AMCA which you have indeed explained extensively. Was a decade & enormous funds wasted in productionising variant/s of the LCA i.e. Mk1/Mk1A when actually the control laws & other developments should have been used to develop the MWF or Mk2 immediately. In which case the last decade would have seen 2 squadrons of the MWF instead of the Mk1 IOC/FOC more easily since space constraints of sub-optimun LCA wouldn't be there & the current timeline for MWF could have been even for an AMCA, though not necessarily so? Enormous funds & time along with procurement delays for the IAF could have been saved.
    Isn't the IAF or ADA responsible for this waste when it was evident by 2000 & inevitable by 2010 even in India (MMRCA contest) that bigger multi-role combat aircraft were needed?! Isn't this criminally irresponsible? Or is it that poor AD capabilities still mean that aircraft like LCA or Mig21 needed yet as AD interceptors?

    ReplyDelete
  86. To PARTHASARATHI: The Misral has been built since the late 1980s in China, where it is known as the FN-6.

    To UNKNOWN: What if the subsidiary Indian office of a foreign OEM is only a marketing office? Will it then outsource the manufacturing contract to its overseas industrial facilities? The secretary for Defence Production & Supplies is seen as being bereft of sound common-sense!

    To PRRANSHU YADAV: 1) Just like the Prithvi, the Pralay will have 2 end-users, the IA & IAF & both will use them for strking targets located at different depths. 2) No, for such missiles the BROACH-type penetration-cum-blast warheads are reqd for destroying hardened structures.

    To ANUP: Not an agency, but an academic society.

    To ASD: Not high-intensity war, but a counter-occupation as I had suggested as being the most preferred option.

    To VARUN: China will NEVER be the first one initiate hostilities, rest assured.

    To BUDDHA: 1) Those SAM sites near Kailash Mansarovar & Doklam were under construction since last year itself & are meant to intercept the Rafales of the IAF. In fact, they are a collection of SAM sites for deploying a layered, hierarchical air-defence network comprising LR-SAMs, MR-SAMs & SHORADS. 2) Not 5G, but 4G networks, but using fibre-optic cables so as to offer ZERO RF emissions. 3) If India really wants to hit China where it hurts most, then India should stop paying for the CPEC by no longer incurring a huge annual bilateral trade deficit with China. By not doing so, India has been literally under-writing the cost of implementing the CPEC since 2014. And let us not forget that like the PLARF, the IA too possesses sizeable quantities of Prithvi SS-150 SS-BSMs.

    ReplyDelete
  87. To SANJAY: And why is nobody willing to tell the truth? Simply because almost all of them are complicit. Here are a few examples:

    1) Not erecting memorials or epitaphs to mark the exact locations where the battles were fought back in 1962, thereby ensuring that no concrete evidence exists of such locations, which then gave rise to all kinds of indefensible ‘perceptions’ about the limits of foot-patrolling areas along the LAC.

    2) The opaque nature of decision-making by the MEA’s China Study Group, which led to the highly dysfunctional CBMs being agreed upon in 1996 & the embracing of the abstract LAC concept.

    3) China’s refusal to exchange maps of the LAC’s perception by both sides back in 2003, which being a direct violation of the 1996 CBMs agreed-upon, should have indicated to India that China was only trying to buy time.

    4) The unending talks between the two countries’ Special Representatives on resolving the boundary issue even when Beijing had notified India back in 2005 itself that whatever the outcome, China would never give up its claim over Tawang.

    5) China making India reiterate back in 2003 that TAR is an inalienable part of China & then adding that since Southern Tibet (Arunachal Pradesh) was also a part of TAR, India too had agreed that Arunachal Pradesh was part of TAR.

    6) The total opacity of the going-ons of India’s parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs & its inability to stage public discussions in Parliament on the LAC-related issues.

    7) All of thre above in turn has created a defensive mindset within India’s armed forces as well, as exemplified by the shameful spat between the IA HQ & IAF HQ in mid-1999 during which, despite OP SAFED SAGAR being planned to be staged well within Indian territory/airspace & that too with complete supremacy in BVR air combat, the then IAF CAS for reasons best known to himself insisted on obtaining political approval for getting the IAF involved in battle. One would have understood the need for such permission had the air battles been conducted inside hostile airspace not within the IAF’s control.

    8) And finally, the Kargil Committee Report, which was made to gloss over all the real shortcomings of the armed forces, like what made the IA vacate the areas between Fingers 8 & 4 during OP Vijay, why were the IAF’s MiG-21s, MiG-23BNs & MiG-27Ms bereft of countermeasures dispensers when the Jaguar IS, Mirage-2000H/TH & MiG-29B-12s all had them, why were Mi-17s devoid of countermeasures dispensers deployed for aerial straffing, why did the IAF not plan for the deployment of Mi-25/Mi-35P attack helicopters north of the Zoji La Pass, & why did the IAF not feel the need for deploying airspace surveillance radars north of the Zoji La pass? Till today there are no answers forthcoming. Instead, only Vijay Divas keeps on being celebrated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seriously no airspace surveillance radars beyond zojilla and ladakh??

      Delete
  88. Dada,
    I am using your comments for Sanjay in a study for this whole mess ,

    Br,

    ReplyDelete
  89. Dear sir,

    1) If we carry out counter- occupation of Chinese territory,won't China reciprocate by further occupation of territory in other sectors? After all its not possible to monitor 3488 km LaC 24×7. And what if China takes a kinetic action to our counter occupation?

    2)How many armoured regiments, mech. infantry regiments & artillery regiments should Indian Army have ideally?

    Thanks!
    AMAN

    ReplyDelete
  90. Prasunda,

    Looks like we are pulling out of the Kavkaz-2020 exercises due to the presence of PLA in those exercises as well. Wo'nt this negatively affect our all important strategic relationship with Russia ?

    Satyaki

    ReplyDelete
  91. Respected Sir,

    As per ur previous reply w.r.t. capture of Chinese land against non-withdrawl from Indian areas of Ladakh, I have a query which I request u to provide some light upon that! The query is like this, since China has already occupied our land from Kuenlun ranges to Mansarovar till areas above and around Arunachal, which areas are you suggesting to be traded/negotiated (may be working word chosen) for teaching CPC a lesson from history as shown by the Mongol warlord or someone much better?

    Regards
    Amit

    ReplyDelete
  92. Respected Sir,

    As per ur previous reply w.r.t. capture of Chinese land against non-withdrawl from Indian areas of Ladakh, I have a query which I request u to provide some light upon! The query is like this, since China has already occupied our land from Kuenlun ranges to Mansarovar till areas around NEFA, which areas are you suggesting to be traded/negotiated (pardon me for wrong chosen words) for teaching CPC a lesson from history as shown by the Mongol warlord or someone much better? Since, these above listed areas are legally ours, what are we trying to achieve by military skirmish with Chinese which already has control of these areas militarily? As per ur above reply at para-6 to Mr. Sanjay, as per my understanding the India’s parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs are inclusive of mostly all elected representatives from political parties and they have a one to one discussions with the Bureaucrats responsible for management of border disputes as per Business Rules. In view if above, are u suggesting that since 1947 till date all our elected representatives and appointed bureaucrats are responsible for this border mess with China? Please pardon my ignorance above. Seeking ur reply on above.

    Regards
    AKS

    R

    ReplyDelete
  93. Mig 27 R29 engines had fundamental flaws as per Air Marshal Ps Ahluwalia..can u give us some specific about that?

    ReplyDelete
  94. Prasun sir, IAKN in an interview said that India is lobbying to get Bakistan blacklisted by FATF. They have time till October. So will the blacklisting finally happen? Or will China and Turkey manage to save Bakistan again? If India works with Malaysia in this regard then it is possible. What do you think~

    ReplyDelete
  95. Sirji,

    1) Like you mentioned that Taiwan has all the border agreement documents then why don't we sign a border resolution with them where we also lay claim to our territories in Tibet and in return we can recognise Taiwan vas independent country ?

    2) Will the Army's BMS project ever be revived.

    3) IAF chief said they will themselves convert IOC fighters to FOC. How can IAF make required software changes inhouse ?

    4) Have the changes in the Army headquarters that were initiated by previous COAS completed ?

    5) What's the weird obsession of these islamic countries to portray themselves as a leader of islamic world ? What do they get out of this ?

    6) With UK out of EU, does the block has any projecting power by itself ? Without UK the only capable military they have is France, and I think the current Mediterranean crisis can very well end EU's projecting power.

    ReplyDelete
  96. Sir,
    Which is better for us to engage with pak to take back our pok Or to engage with china to get or china occupied land back?
    Which one we have to do first why and how?

    JB

    ReplyDelete
  97. Dear Prasun,
    How many scalp missiles are we purchasing with Rafale? Can these be modified to carry nuclear warheads?

    Will Brahmos NG air launched cruise missile be carrying nuclear warheads if required?


    ReplyDelete
  98. Prasun Sir,

    Pakistan's total debt and liabilities is now larger than its GDP samaa.tv/money/2020/08/pakistans-debt-liabilities-sour-past-the-size-of-its-economy/

    CPEC seems to have come to a halt brecorder.com/news/40014542/cpec-hits-financial-snags

    Saudis have already demanded its money back and refused to renew the oil payment facility

    And now Niazi is visibly upset over possibility of FATF blacklist. There is already anger building up in Pakistan against the govt and military. If the blacklisting happens - and they remain in it for 2-3 years - then it will prove to be the final nail in the coffin. The social political and economic collapse will be the perfect opportunity for India to liberate POK before 2024. What do you think?

    ReplyDelete
  99. Prasunji,

    1) I know the range of an air to air missile varies, but what is the range of the meteor missile under ideal conditions (Eg : Amraam 120C7 is reported to have a range of 105km under ideal conditions)?

    2) What is the per plane cost to upgrade a su-30mki to supersukhoi?

    3) Will the rafale, following the India specific enhancements be better than even the upgraded super su-30 mki? If so can you share a few areas in which rafale will be better than super sukhoi?

    4) Will be super su-30 with newer engines be able to supercruise?

    5) Will the rafale be able to supercruise at mach 1.4 with 6 air to air missiles as claimed?

    6) You mentioned that the upgraded spectra on the Indian version of rafale will have high band, mid band and low band jammers, this means that it will be protected from ground based surveillance radars, SAM and aircraft fire control radars and missile radars, right?

    7) Does that mean the rafale will be adequately against almost any type of radar, that it is likely to face in war?

    8) Is the x guard towed decoy comparable to the older ale-50 or the newer ale-55 towed decoy of the US Air force?

    9) Between the f-18 superhornet and the India specific rafale, which is more capable?

    10) How many squadrons of spyder SAMs do the iaf and Indian army have?

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  100. To AMIT BISWAS: Yes, no radars back then. Only by the early part of this decade did one see the deployment of Bharani & Aslesha radars. If the R29B-300 turbofans had problems, then how come not a single MiG-23BN suffered a crash while in service, while only the HAL-built MiG-27Ms kept on crashing?

    To AMAN: 1) If the PLAGF had such human resources, then by now it would already have done to to pile up maximum against India. The fact that the PLAGF does not possess overwhelming capacities has now been amply proven. 2) The existing sanctioned strengths are more than enough. Only their deployment footprints are flawed.

    To SATYAKI: Not at all. Those are mainly competitive tournaments & are by no means joint wargames or exercises.

    To AKS: All that was amply explained several times in previous threads. All that one has to go by are the war campaigns of the legendary Dogra chieftain Zorawar Singh. Of course not only the diplomats, but also those civil servants serving with the PMO as far back as 1972 are responsible for all the mess on both the western & northern fronts. All this has been amply documented.

    To PRATAP: That entirely depends on how India decides to make her case. So far, all that India has done is harp about the 1993 Mumbai bomb-blasts & 26/11 terror-attacks. No effort has been made to present undeniable forensic evidence about either the 2015 Gurdaspur terror-attack or the 2016 Pathankot terror-attack, or even the recent violations of Indian airspace by Pakistan-origin & China-made HexaCopters, which any other country will treat them as acts of war.

    To BHVK: 1) of what use is such an exercise when Taiwan is not even considered as a country by the UN? 2) Not in its earlier avatar, that’s for sure. 3) Software upgrades can easily be uploaded on to the mission & flight-control computers of Tejas Mk.1 by HAL technicians at any IAF air base. 4) What changes? Those are all in-houses administrative upgradations that will not have any substantive effect of the IA’s warfighting capabilities. 5) What’s wrong with that? Doesn’t India too want to be the ‘Vishwaguru’? But in what domains remains unclear since no Indian ‘neta’ has dared to go on to the specifics. 6) The EU & UK are still NATO members & can therefore collectively project power.

    To UNKNOWN/JB: Engagement with either China or Pakistan has not & will never produce any value-added gains. For these two countries, only coersive & compelling containment works.

    To VED: The ratio is four Scalp-EGs per Rafale. Neither Russia nor France will allow India to arm the SCALP-EG or BrahMos-NG with any kind of nuclear warhead. Now listen to these 4 idiots who are at a loss to explain why China is deploying SAMs near Lake Mansarovar:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbPJ1mKXIsA&t=84s

    And this is FAKE NEWS: https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/post-galwan-clash-indian-navy-quietly-deployed-warship-in-south-china-sea20200830155318/

    But this is an interesting read: https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/the-atv-project-was-atmanirbhar-since-its-inception-vice-admiral-pc-bhasin-retd-1714656-2020-08-24

    And for those speculating about what is takes to have an operational unified air-defence system, they need to watch these:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Yz0ReoU5Q
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgSIfeBBj_4

    If such a facility does not exist, then a unified Air-Defence Command can never become effectively operational.

    ReplyDelete
  101. Dear Prasun,

    What seems to be the real reason for the delay in manufacturing Kamov Ka-226T in India? One suspects that the real reasons are not revealed. Russia seems to be moving ahead in design and development of a new engine for the helicopter, replacing the French one. Are we waiting for that engine to come through? If so, the helicopter could be used for military role. The following link provided further info on the status of the Russian engine for the Ka-226T

    https://www.aviaport.ru/digest/2020/08/27/651107.html

    ReplyDelete