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Sunday, February 27, 2022

AVANI To Begin Upgrading T-90S MBTs From 2023

India’s state-owned Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd’s (AVANI) Avadi-based Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) will from next year begin undertaking deep upgrades of the Indian Army’s (IA) Russia-supplied T-90S MBTs. The total number of 46-tonne T-90S MBTs planned for procurement is 1,657—a figure that was firmed up way back in 2007. To date, 640 units have been procured from Russia (both as off-the-shelf units and those in semi-knocked-down condition, while another 600 have been built under licence, with the final tranche of 417 now being built (for equipping 10 Armoured Regiments).

The IA now wants to upgrade its 640 T-90S (that came from Russia) through the installation of a new digital hunter-killer fire-control system developed by TATA Power SED, which will include an autotracker correction-input device and a related muzzle reference system. In addition, a locally-developed auxiliary power unit (APU) will be installed, as will laser warning receivers, new commander’s panoramic sight with thermal imager, an uprated powerpack, a thermal imager-equipped driver’s sight, and four see-through-armour situational awareness optronic sensors. But the IA has decided not to opt for active protection systems.

On November 9, 2020 the IA had awarded New Delhi-based premier defence start up OshoCorp Global a Rs.1.325 crore contract for the development and supply of APUs under the Make-II guidelines of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Initially, OshoCorp Global is required to develop four APUs (two each for T-90S and T-72M) for trials and approval and subsequently produce 3,257 APUs.

The commander’s panoramic sight has been developed by the DRDO’s IRDE laboratory and it will be built by state-owned Bharat Electronics Ltd. The MoD has just inked a Rs.1,075 crore contract with BEL for supplying such sights for 957 T-90S MBTs. The IRDE has also developed the driver’s night sight, which will be bulk-produced by MKU Ltd as the Netro TD-5100.

The 1PM-96MT ESSA-3 gunners sight (containing the THALES-supplied Catherine-FC thermal imager) will be retained on the T-90S.

The uprated powerpack for the T-90S will be the A85-3AX-diesel engine capable of producing up to 1,500hp (although it is presently dowrated at 1,350hp) that will be ordered off-the-shelf from Russia’s Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, located about 350km south of Nizhny Tagil. This in turn will result in the T-90S’ power-to-weight ratio being hiked to 24hp/tonne. The 46-tonne T-90S (Ob’yekt 188S) are each powered by a 1,000hp V-92S2 diesel engine that deliver a power-to-weight ratio of 21.5hp/tonne.

What Goes Out Of The T-90S

183 comments:

Kaushik said...

Hello sir.
1. Is it true that our LINK II Satcom has some performance shortfalls?
2. How does our SDR 2010 compare with bnet SDR of Israel?

Nikhil M said...

Wow.A great development indeed.

1.How does it stack up vis a vis T90MS
2.Can Russia offer us Afghanit APS for integration with upgraded T90s?

DAshu said...

Finally a 1500 hp engine (important to note "off-the-shelf"). What about T72 and Arjuns? Are they getting high hp engines too?

sbm said...

Long overdue but why no APS? Isn't that vital?

Millard Keyes said...

It seems the Indian defence establishment can't plan outside Pakistan. T90S might be adequate for Pakistan and to an extent altitudes facing China, but even then why do with minimum when you can go for the max? T90M is probably the most advanced version of the T90 available outside T14 Armata. Lack of vision is the biggest killer at the end. For instance Putin assumed the war in Ukraine will not go beyond 5 days and Kiev will capitulate in 3-4 days. He also assumed half of UKraine will support the Russian move and he would be able to cause the division to surface creating a riot and overthrowing the current regime. Now it has turned out to be a Chechnya where the only way to gain victory is by blowing the country up and that will not gain a single heart or mind.

just_curious said...

prasun,

Why ignore the active protection system? is it because tey are waiting on an indigenous system?Had read somewhere that a passive protection system is under develpment.. what about the active part? Also for the engine .. how will the payment happen now with Russia out of SWIFT? Rupee-Rouble exch?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To KAUSHIK: 1) Not true. 2) The BNET-A is smaller & lighter.

To NIKHIL M: 1) It stacks up favourably. 2) As I had started above, the APS reqmt has been dropped for T-90S.

To DASHU: The upgraded T-72Us will get the turbocharged 1,000hp engines which are currently supercharged to only 780hp. Arjuns will continue with 1,400hp engines.

To SBM & JUST_CURIOUS: There’s simply no place for APS-specific vectronics inside either the T-90S or T-72U. Only members of the Arjun family of MBTs have internal volume for accommodating APS-specific vectronics. Consequently, as a compensator, four optronic sensors or see-through-armour will be installed on the turrets of the T-90S & T-72U for enhancing all-round hemispheric situational awareness. However, this is not to be confused with similar add-ons planned for the BMP-2 ICVs, since the BMP-2s require such fitments to enable the infantry inside the ICV to fire at night & under dusty/smoky conditions.

Arun said...

Hello sir.Closely following the war in Ukraine.What do you think Russia's objective is?

1)Is it to capture the whole of Ukraine and rule it?Or
2)Is it to capture the whole of Ukraine and install a pro-Russian regime?Or
3)Is it to capture the area from Crimea to the Donbass,which would create a land bridge between them and protect the Eastern flank of Crimea?Or
4)To capture Kiev,all areas east of the Dnieper river and entire Ukrainian coast or at least the coastal area up to Kherson or Mykolaiv/Nikolaev and thereby split Ukraine into two?

I think that is it likely to be either 3) or 4) but I would love to hear your thoughts.

Regards,
Arun.

joydeep ghosh said...

@prasun da

1. is russia getting bopgged down in ukraine? why putin ordered nuclear force alert?

2. what is the point of down rating 1500 hp engine to 1350 hp

3. my calcu;nation says that as tanks go light more high powered engine will e norm next we will see 1600 r 1800hp engines

thanks
Joydeep Ghosh

Sarathi94 said...

Prasun, da
What about ERA? any plan to replace it with modern era? Also can we expect to see NERA on t-90 just like we saw on upgeaded t-72 cia

Pratap said...

Prasun da, I request you to do a detailed thread about the ongoing Russia Ukraine crisis and what consequences is Russia expected to face amid Western calls for isolation, it's impact on India and Indo-Pacefic, especially our strategic and military technical partnership with Moscow and whether it will push Russia into China's arms. So far I'm very pleased to India maintaing a neutral stance at diplomatic level and refusing to be a part of Anti-Russis measures taken by the West.

Raghu said...

Hi Prasun,

There is news that British Petroleum has decided to exit Russia possibly due to pressure from the UK government. Will French and US companies follow suit?

EU has announced sanctions and placed restrictions on export of equipment to Russian oil and Gas industry. They say such equipment is unique and cannot be replaced by any other vendors in the world.

This is likely to cripple the Russian Oil and Gas sector in the medium term. What effect will this have on oil and gas exports from Russia and ultimately the price of the commodity world wide?

Regards

Raghu

Nikhil M said...

Prasun da,

How vulnerable is our T90S without Active Protection system especially when it will feature on VT4 acquired by Paki army?
Assumption: Tanks are battling without air cover.

Jane's had reported in April 21 volume that Indian Army is scouting for APS in in international markets.
Do you have any update on this ?

buddha said...

As days passing by..And various report of Russian army and armoured loss and west mounting tremendous pressure..Is Russia losing the political and military objective ...
If Losing probably it end Putin Era and west will make Russian military power blunt..With various effort..
Waiting for your reply ...
Can't believe Indian and others western media for sure..

just_curious said...

prasun,

1-Will Arjun mk 2 see light of the day anytime soon?
2- rumours suggeston a deal with safran for 110KN aero engine doing rounds ..it says jaishankar has rasied this one durin his recent french visit..personally It would be better to have a RR engine with adaptive engine tech ...

Abs said...

@Prasunda
Would you concur with this piece?
https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/mysterious-case-missing-russian-air-force

Aviation said...

125kn? Your thoughts? https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/drdo-and-safran-to-develop-engine-for-indigenous-stealth-fighter/article65090271.ece/amp/

sbm said...

Thanks. Will the Arjun get an APS?

Raghu said...

Hi,

Shell and Total also leaving Russia after BP. What effect will this have on the Russian oil output, prices and export to the EU?

Regards

Raghu

Kaushik said...

Hello sir,
1. What is the equivalent full power hours of VM 4SG reactor that is in arihant and indigenous SSN ?
2. Is the indigenous SSN already in construction?
3. Can you give specifications of DRDO MANIK engine and also Nirbhay missile?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To ARUN: 1) Russia’s declaratory objectives have been clearly spelt out. Since one of them includes demilitarisation of Ukraine, this also means the total destruction of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex that Kiev had inherited from the USSR. This in turn means that all such military-industrial plants located at Kharkiv & elsewhere will also be destroyed by fire-assaults. While this won’t affect India much, but China will be greatly affected. 2) All locations housing Ukrainian military facilities & armaments storage depots are the targets. 3) That remains to be & depends on the responses of NATO & EU. 4) If the EU & NATO do not agree to a compromise, then that will be the desired outcome.

This gives a very good idea of what Russia’s objectives are & why so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA8U75dgtMg

To JOYDEEP GHOSH: 1) Not at all. Since Russian forces have to use roads for travelling & not railways, the pace of advance has been slower. In urban warfare, the standard tactic is to draw the adversary into the open & then destroy them with massed fire-assaults. Since the Ukrainian Army has been shy after 2014 to come out into the open & engage in positional warfare, the Russian Army too is not interested in exposing itself out in the open. 2) Because it is not reqd at the moment. 3) LoLz! In reality, it is thje exact opposite, as proven by Japan’s Type 10 MBT.

To SARATHI94: No NERA on T-72U & T-90S. New-generation ERA tiles developed by HEMRL will be installed.

To PRATAP: Russia will never succumb to any pressure from any country, that’s a given. In fact, the worst-hit countries will be China & Pakistan since the former imports 60% of its wheat & 30% of its corn from Ukraine, while Pakistan imports 37% of its wheat. Interestingly, demand for wheat & corn exports from India is growing phenomenally, which could well lead to China making peace with India, even if it for the short-term, along the LAC so that it can source such perishable commodities from India.

To RAGHU: LoLz! Companies like Shell, Exxon-Mobile & BP stand to make tremendous losses if they decide to dump their shareholdings & leave Russia overnight, since all their infrastructure will then be taken over by Russia & be nationalised. Hence, most likely, such companies will rather just suspend their operations inside Russia.

To NIKHIL M: PA’\s VT-4 MBT’s don’t have APS. T-90S & T-72U will have see-through armour capability & greater power-to-weight ratio for avoiding direct hits. IA is scouting for APS for its Arjun family of MBTs.

To BUDDHA: All the Russian losses shown on TV so far are just the advanced scout elements & by no means are they major losses. Conversely, the Ukrainian Army is not to be seen engaging in manoeuvre warfare.

To JUST_CURIOUS: 1) Not anytime soon, but definitely in future. 2) Not 110kN turbofan, but 125kN turbofan.

To ABS: Not at all. Russian Su-34s have been airborne all the while, while Russian Army’s air-assault forces have been highly active with vertical envelopment manoeuvres.

To AVIATION: Yes, it is 125kN turbofan. Because even 110kN turbofan won’t be able to offer supercruise capability.

To SBM: Yes.

To KAUSHIK: Had answered all those queries quite a few times before.

just_curious said...

Prasun,

1-So you are confirming that an new aero engine will soon be a reality and that it is Safran who will partner DRDO and not RR or anyone else..
2- who is winning this brinkmanship between Putin & the west .. and who will blink first? the west has already dumped ukraine by declaring no boots on ground & worst bit--no EU admission..

AD said...

1. For 125kN aero-engine, can you highlight work-share between GTRE and Safran?
2. Would DRDO get IPR of Safran developed components or it will be provided off-the-shelf?
3. Can you share specification of this 125 kN aero-engine?
4. When will this 125kN be available for series production?
5. Earlier you stated Safran is working as a consultant to GRTE for development of CMC based turbine disk and blades. What is the status of the same?
6. Like you said earlier, it would take another 10-15 years for GRTE to champion indigenous design, development and manufacture of core of turbofan engine. Does that mean by 2040 DRDO can manufacture any kind of turbofan engine on her own without any kind of involvement from foreign companies?

Anonymous said...

Prasunda,

1. So the setback to the ISRO SCE-200 is because Russia will destroy Yuzhmash/Yuzhnoye completely as part of the demilitarization campaign. Is this correct ?

2. With the test stand in Mahendragiri expected to come up within another year or so, ca'nt the initial testing be done at Mahendragiri instead of Yuzhmash ?

Ashwatthama

Kaustav said...

Prasunda,

SM & MSM is now a joke as well as a battlefield of idiocy & illogical opinions. An instance of the Fog of War

PM Modi put direct pressure on Putin, rather REQUEST, for helping 15,000 Indian students get out of Ukraine safely. Oddly the Russians agreed & are actually helping the Indians get access to trains! 🤔. The previous statement fact, this one a joke 👉 One million Ukrainian could evacuate in time because India delayed Russian invasion so that Indian students could be evacuated. And this is certainly possible 👉 Sensational claim by Russia: "India students being held hostage by Ukrainian authorities in Kharkiv who are using them as human shields."

If this information conveyed to India is true then it is a serious rights violation.

Delightful really. Your blog as usual stays away from this nonsense - Thanks

Kaushik said...

What is the update on GISAT satellite? When will the 2nd one launched after the 1st one failed?

Anonymous said...

Hi Prasun, I'm an avid follower of your blog and other defence news. This is with reference to the news that India is on the verge of signing an agreement with Safran to jointly develop a 125 KN engine. I have also read that Rolls-Royce has had a breakthrough of sorts with the ongoing design of their engine for the 6th gen Tempest, that with some modifications to the engine core will allow them to generate copious amounts of electricity that will be required for future fighters to power their various radars and sensors and also for directed energy weapons. Was wondering if you can use your connections to advice the powers that be to make high power generation a critical factor while designing the new engine? Thanks.

Karthik Barman said...

1) Relikt ERA and RCWS seem to be missing on T-90 upgrade.
2) Does India still import the 125mm barrel wholly from Russia? Will we get 2A46M-5 for the upgrade?
3) Currently proposed MWF (from 2019) is shorter than Gripen-E. Do we have correct aerodynamics or will MWF need an additional 0.5m length increase?
4) Is BMPT-Terminator still needed for IA?
5) Russia launched at least 500 cruise missiles onto Ukraine. I am worried we don't have enough cruise missiles stockpiled. I think we need 30000 to counter Pak and China.
6) We ordered such a small amount of Chinooks and Apaches. Is there going to be a follow-on order in greater numbers?
7) Is K9 Vajra follow on order happening this year? What about orders of K10 ARV?
8) Are we going to adopt Armata combat (MBT,IFV,APC) platform? FICV, FRCV, FMBT have not gone anywhere.
9) Is it true thermobaric rounds were used to destroy US-funded bioweapons lab in Ukraine? Did Putin stop the next plannedemic? If so Putin must be given Nobel Peace prize.

just_curious said...

Prasun ,

3- Since the final tranche of 417 T90's are yet to be built will they be built to MS /provy3 std or the base T90S std? & will they have APS?

Nikhil M said...

Hi Prasun da

Do you think future upgrade of Tejas MK1A to MK1B will be planned, after Tejas MK2 is stabilized in IAF.

I have my own wish list for MK1B variant (howsoever funny)

1. Enlargement of Nose section to accommodate IRST and downward looking MAWS
2. Complete redesign of the wings from compound Delta to cranked arrow compound Delta (like F16XL) with the provision to carry 2 additional wingtip pylons for sideways looking MAWS and jammers. Addition of LEVCONs like naval version in lieu of canards.
3. Use of uprated engine derived from 125 KN Safran JV.
4. Usual expected refinements like GaN AESA, Single MFD like AMCA.

What would be your wish list for Tejas MK2 :)

Regards
Nikhil

Abs said...

@Prasunda

Demilitarization is in full swing. This will lead to 'de-Nazification' too eventually. The US might wage some kind of insurgency and try to raise the costs for Russia, but it is likely to fail.

Due to the economic sanctions put upon Russia, for an action that can be said to have arisen as a response to very legitimate security concerns the Russians had vis-a-vis the expansion of NATO into its sphere of influence, I fear that the Russians will only go into a tighter economic embrace with the Chinese and strengthen them further.

A few opportunities that arises for us and a few challenges too:
1. We could bargain harder for greater and easier, transfer and access to hi-tech technologies from the Russians, hopefully.
2. The sanctions highlight the need for atmanirbharta. We need to have an indigenous MIC that should ride on the back of very strong domestic capability to manufacture industrial commercial goods.
3. Time has never been riper for us to up the spending on R&D and R&D institutions building. The diaspora should be leveraged and we could look at the Chinese to take inspiration from them when it comes to leveraging a vast diaspora to gain access to otherwise inaccessible technologies.
4. Assuming there are no setbacks, I feel atmanirbharta will require quite the journey spanning at least another two decades.


Regards

VIKRAM GUHA said...

PrasunDa,

In 2019 Thales won an Indian contract for 135 launchers each equipped with four 2.75in (or 70mm) rockets to equip Advanced Light Helicopters Light Combat Helicopters.

1. Do you believe the Army, AirForce will place follow on orders?

2.If yes, how many more rockets will they need?

Thank You,
VIKRAM

Unknown said...

1) What do you think of France's offer of SMX31E SSK to Indian Navy?
2) Can Rafale (mrfa) + French ssk (Scorpene or SMX31E) + SSN help (specially pump jet and High enriched uranium fuel) combination might get considered as a single package to negotiate a better deal with France?

Russia-Ukraine crisis:
3) can we expect a massacre of Ukrainian civilians in Kyiv and Kharkiv by Russia, bcz civilians are being armed by Ukraine? (As soon as they enter the city)

-Atul

Raghu said...

Hi

The following report says BP is disinvesting it's stake

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/britains-bp-says-exit-stake-russian-oil-giant-rosneft-2022-02-27/

Regards

Raghu

Unknown said...

I guess No. Tejas mk1/mk1a is too small to even accomodate current required avionics.
Rather Modifying mk1/mk1a, they would choose mk2 to be further upgraded with latest avionics when it gets the 125kn engine.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To JUST_CURIOUS: 1) As I had stated earlier, nothing will come or happen SOON. New-design turbofans take a decade to be developed & that too at a cost of about US$10 billion. Will India be able to pump even US$5 billion into such a project? It remains to be seen. No T-90M/MS for IA. Only T-90S.

To AD: 1) That is still the subject of negotiations. 2) No. IPRs of cooperating parties will be held by each party depending on the workshare. 3) No such specifications exist. 4) At least after 10 years. 5) That is for a 98kN thrust turbofan, not for a 125kN turbofan. 6) Why should DRDO manufacture turbofans? Industrial entities will.

To ASHWATTHAMA: 1) Yes. 2) Not until the entire test facility is up & running.

To KAUSTAV: You would have noticed that no one in India is now even using the term STRATEGIC AUTONOMY. Looks like reality is sinking in, albeit grudgingly.

To ANUP: 1) LoLz! It is a JOKE! Because who will develop the automotive components, engine & gearbox (powerpack)? Who will develop the gun-control & fire-control systems? Because elsewhere in the world, no one OEM develops each & every subsystem of any tank. 2) Why should anyone have to develop simulators for Chinook & Apache when they are available off-the-shelf from the US? And what kind of simulators will they be? Fixed-based? Or full-motion/full-mission simulators? Therefore, instead of such dramatics, the MoD should have called for the development of full-motion/full-mission simulators for the HAL-developed LCH & LUH helicopters & for the Tejas Mk.1A.

To KARTHIK BARMAN: 1) Imported ERA is not reqd as the DRDO’s HERML’s has already developed its equivalent. RCWS is under development. 2) Barrels are built in-country. 3) MWF will be 1-metre longer than Tejas Mk.1A. 4) Of course. 6) Remains to be seen. 7) Yes. No orders for K-10 are being placed. 8) FICV will flow out of the FRCV project. 9) FAKE NEWS.

To NIKHIL M: 1) Of course there are mid-life upgrades envisaged for the Tejas Mk.1A. Most of the avionics now being developed for the MWF will find their way on to the Tejas Mk.1A.

To ABS: Here is how the campaign in Ukraine is likely to play out:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FM7U9B5X0AUCXdn?format=jpg&name=large

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUrtrVpAzGY&t=6s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96neu3iczPY

To VIKRAM GUHA: 1 & 2) Yes, especially for the LH & LCH.

To ATUL: 1 & 2) SMX-31E is still a decade away from reaching fruition. The IN’s reqmts are for earlier deliveries of proven design. 3) Russian forces will encircle major Ukrainian cities, but will not fight street-battles inside the cities.

To RAGHU: It takes several months of negotiations & processes to achieve divestments. They never happen overnight & that’s exactly why oil & gas from Russia continues to get exported. No one is renouncing the use of Russia-supplied oil & gas.

Nikhil M said...

Hi Prasun da

Many thanks for answering my query on Tejas MK1B.
But do you think of any scope for improving aerodynamics of Tejas in MK1B version ?
I faintly remember, earlier you had mentioned that Tejas has some inherent aerodynamics limitation in its MK1 and MK1A version. Hence this question.

Regards
Nikhil

rad said...


HI prasun
again pak claims to have detected a kalvari class sub. though initially it was proved to be fake or pic s of a surfaced vessel but the frequency is too much for comfort ,, what is the latest claim? what super detector do they have to detect later gen new subs? after all the old pc-3 and some atlantique are very old
in a way i dont empathise wiht ukaraine as it has brought it uopon itself selling russian IPR and acting as the front of nato. i wonder of the sc 200 semi cryo development will be jeapordised becasue of this issue. Again what are we going to do about the marine gas turbines of ukraine that drive majority of the indian warships?

Anonymous said...

Prasunda,

Why are Exercise Vayu Shakti by the IAF and Defexpo 2022 cancelled/postponed ? Is India anticipating trouble on the LC/LAC as well ?

T9BK4

shukant chatrath said...

Prasun Da,

1)Why no armour upgrades for the T90S?

2)France says they are willing to share the ToT for the non nuclear parts of the Barracuda, Which all systems do you think the Indian Navy will be most intersted/lacking in ????

3)Why still no orders for the K10 Ammo carrier for the Army, What are they waiting for?

Thank you Sir.

Black box said...

Hi Prasun ,
The loss of su30 and su-34 from the Russian airforce in Ukrainian is it normal or didn’t the Russians miss out on destroying all the air defence systems
Thanks

Abs said...

@Prasunda

http://idrw.org/army-conducts-airborne-exercise-at-siliguri-corridor-while-gen-naravane-reviews-wargames-for-china-front/#more-278171

Thoughts or interesting insights, if any?

Regards

Just_curious said...

Prasun,
Will caasta come into play? Will the ge engines for Tejas be impacted???

buddha said...

I am a laymen ..But..
The way Russian Helicopter and fighter jets falling from sky is not looking good for Russia..
The resistance seems quite stiff and the Russian invasion or military operation seems halting not gaining enough pace to have clear cut outcome in short time frame.

just_curious said...

Prasun,

1- MBS makes a stmt which sounds like he wants to get back @biden & his party for accusing him for khashgoggi's death .. so UAE first now SA .. are teh GCC Puppets now wanting to break free?

hoods007 said...

Hi prasun

What is going to happen to the defence equipment we get from Ukraine? Specifically the zorya gas engine to be used in the 2 talwar class ships under construction at goa? Apart from these underconstruction ship, marine engine from this firms are on atleast 10 more Frontline warship, how will these engine be serviced? I ask this because the Zorya factory based out of Mykolaiv is already under siege just like Kharkov and there is news going around that the tank factory at kharkov has been destroyed. If during fighting the zorya's plant is hit do we have practical alternative from Russia?

Unknown said...

Hello sir,
Continuing from were we left,
You said "Russian forces will encircle major Ukrainian cities, but will not fight street-battles inside the cities."

1) Then, how are they gonna capture these cities?
2) what could be the Russia's possible line of actions from henceforth?
3) how would Russia react to Poland's Mig-29 transfer to Ukraine?
4) can this Sanctioning & cornering of Russia be compared with Germany after WW1? Will this lead to history repeating itself?

-Atul

Kaustav said...

Prasunda

Interesting article

Russian Su-35 in first air to air engagement over Ukraine on March 5 downing 4 Ukrainian Air Force Su-27s in an air battle over city of Zhytomir. These r first ever losses of Su-27s in air to air combat & first reported engagement between heavyweight 4th generation fighters. Russia’s S-400 gained its first kill and reportedly set a world record for the longest range ever for an aircraft shootdown when it neutralised a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 fighter near the country’s capital Kiev on February 25. This was only reported the following week. The S-400 was reportedly not deployed to Ukrainian soil, but neutralised its target from Belarusian territory killing renowned display pilot Colonel Oleksandr Oksanchenko. https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/f-35-su-35-and-s-400-all-had-their-first-ever-anti-aircraft-kills-reported-this-week

buddha said...

Good analysis of internal threat and how to deal with such mischief makers in India. Binary opposition and dialectical materialism is the poison used to mislead the gullible minds. Such fifth columnist partisans make us face a 2.5 front war that we must prepare for.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n03t_BftFSQ

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To NIKHIL M: Tejas Mk.1B will not be a new-design model, but rather will contain newer-generation avionics. Consequently, no structural modifications will be undertaken, as it is an impossible task. And that’s why the heavier MWF will be the Tejas Mk.2 incorporating the airframe enhancements. It is all explained here in this presentation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ8QXCxtW7g

To RAD: Any maritime search radar can detect metallic structures like periscopes & snorkels of a surfaced submarine. Thus, the PN ATR-72MPA detected the IN SSK AFTER it had completed its mission, i.e. patrolling around Gwadar. Yes, the SC-200 project will get badly affected, or even cancelled for good. Russia is now bombarding Mykolaev, the city which houses the Zorya Mashproekt facilities where the marine industrial gas turbines are built:

https://zmturbines.com/en/%d0%b4%d0%bf-%d0%b7%d0%be%d1%80%d1%8f-%d0%bc%d0%b0%d1%88%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b5%d0%ba%d1%82-%d1%83%d0%b2%d1%96%d0%b9%d1%88%d0%bb%d0%be-%d0%b4%d0%be-%d1%96%d0%bd%d0%b4%d1%96/

To T9BK4: It is obvious that the closure of air corridors for Russian aircraft outside Russia made it impossible for Russian IL-76MD transport aircraft to bring in all the exhibition materials for DEFEXPO-2022. Therefore, a total absence of Russia from the expo would have shown to everybody the vulnerabilities of Russia as a reliable supplier of military hardware to India & other importers. This would have been terribly demoralising for India & her hopes for achieving strategic autonomy & hence it was decided to postpone the DEFEXPO-2022 expo until further notice (most likely for a six-month period).

To SHUKANTH CHATRATH: 1) Because they are not reqd. 2) That won’t meet the reqmts for either Project 75I or for the SSN project.

To BLACK BOX & BUDDHA: There is a lot of disinformation coming out & it will be preferable to wait for some more time for the truth to emerge.

To ABS: It was just an exercise for dropping IA pathfinders, not the paratroopers comprising a Company or Battalion.

To JUST_CURIOUS: Most unlikely.

To HOODS007: Since Russia has publicly declared that it will destroy Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, it will from now on be almost impossible to procure any kind of military hardware from Ukraine.

To ATUL: 1 & 2) The idea is not to capture the cities, but rather to cut off all essential supplies to the cities, which will force the civilians to flee from those cities while the Ukrainian military defenders will be forced to surrender since no one can keep fighting without food & water. 3) To which Ukrainian air base will Poland’s 70 MiG-29s be sent? How will they operate from such air bases? 4) Let’s see if the West renounces the exports of Russian oil/gas. In my view, this is impossible, as explained here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_oAuiVSW-U

To KAUSTAV: ADA Director’s Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ8QXCxtW7g

Indian Space Agency: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3rfl2J9PpM

India’s Defence Cyber Agency: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKl44PDrEZQ

Anonymous said...

Prasunda,

Can't ISRO move the SCE-200 project forward by tying up with Russia in the future ? Also, with test facilities likely to be completed in the next two years, why would the delay in the SCE-200 be more than that ?

Satyaki

Nikhil M said...

Thanks Prasun da for answering my question and sharing the wonderful video

Rajesh Mishra said...

Sir, is it possible now that China will attack the Taiwan and others. Kindly reply.

Kaustav said...

Prasunda

Thanks a lot. The lectures of the CAPS are as usual enlightening.

The ISRO seems to be in deep trouble. What a fall?! Being a typical bureaucracy has inevitable pitfalls, however good they be. Ghe inability to innovate during the lockdowns in the pandemic & disruption of supply chain with delays is a bad sign. The delay in SCE due to the Ukraine War is just another in a long list of problems many self-created by either ISRO or GoI

Kaushik said...

Hello sir,
1. Do you have any picture of indian SSN and how it would look like?
2. When will be k5 slbm be tested?
3. What missile were tested during recent NOTAMs as no official news was out?
4. What torpedo will the p75 and SSN will carry? Will it be imported or indigenously developed?

Black box said...

Hi Prasun ,
You had suggested that Ukrainian armed forces will collapse in 72 hrs , why has it not collapsed ? or has Russia changed its strategy in its attack . We’re Ukrainian armed forces really effective in blunting Russian attack as suggested by western media , if so we’re Russians really taken by surprise.
Thanks

AMIT BISWAS said...

What stops stakeholders to design sleek supersonic flight profile drop tanks instead of these bulky sub ssonic profile drop tanks for lca

Anonymous said...

Hi Prasun. What's your take on the US ban on oil from Russia? Does this deter Russia. Will Europe follow the US?

What are the geopolitical implications of the conflict on India vis-a-vs it's Western and Northern neighbours?

Thanks!

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To SATYAKI: It is possible.

To RAJESH MISHRA: LoLz! No, not possible since such an act will lead to a ferocious military response from Japan & the US. Also, Taiwan is heavily armed to counter-attack with missiles, unlike Ukraine.

To KAUSHIK: 1) How can anyone have photos of something that does not as yet exist? 2) Not in the near future. 3) Most likely test-firings of Astra-1 or NG-ARM Rudram-1. 4) Imported.

To AMIT BISWAS: They have been & were shown at Aero India 2019. Here it is:

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0SIb9Zuv1RE/XGvLo0rtzAI/AAAAAAAAQp8/NnLTHqSQ7PcNp6vrsb2G3zUJGIobUxDewCLcBGAs/s1600/Tejas%2BMk.1%2Bwith%2BDerby%2BBVRAAM%2B%2526%2BSupersonic%2BUnderbelly%2BFuel%2BTank.jpg

Supersonic fuel-tanks are used when the aircraft is flying inside or into hostile airspace. Subsonic fuel-tanks are used when the aircraft is undertaking ferry-flights, i.e. migrating from one air base to another.

To BLACK BOX: They have indeed collapsed & hence no organised resistance is forthcoming. That’s why the Ukrainian President has indicated his willingness to climb down on the issue of NATO membership & the future status of Donbass.

To JOYDEEP GHOSH: Let's vector you away from Mirage-2000s to MiG-29s. The following were offered to Ukraine by the EU but which the US has vetoed:

Bulgaria MiG-29 - 16
Poland Mig-29 - 28
Slovakia Mig-29 – 12

Do you reckon India now ought to buy them up & upgrade them to MiG-29UPG standard in one of the IAF's Base Repair Depots?

VIKRAM GUHA said...

PrasunDa,

1.What is the cost per unit of the 2.75 rocket launcher FZ231 that India had purchased?

https://fz.be/FZ231

2. Is DRDO in a position to develop indigenous 2.75 rocket launchers like the FZ231?

Thanks,
VIKRAM

Anonymous said...

All the preliminary works on the Amca is done by ADA based around GE414 engine. So that becomes the defensive powerplant.Since an aircraft is largely modelled around particular engine type (especially 4th or 5th gen), there won't be any change unless something disastrous as sanction comes in.Or the amca is at its infancy stage so definite engine type is still not clear.
Does any of these statements true? Your opinion on it.
Regards
Vimal

Sanjeev said...

Dhanush trials again? Have the manufacturing problems been resolved? Is production back up?

joydeep ghosh said...

@prasun da

i believe those can be but will Russia allow that since that as Russia is already itching to sell near brand new 21 of them to us unlike France post the AUKUS deal will readily agree to help India with UAEs Mirage 2000 if offered to India

thanks
Joydeep ghosh

Anonymous said...

Prasunda,

1) Is there a project for a K-5 slbm that is different from the K-6 slbm ?

2) Would the recent sanctions on Russia lead to a delay in India's SLBM projects as well as delays in developing/testing MIRVed missiles ?

3) Is the A-6/MIRVed A-5 on track for testing very soon ?

Satyaki

Anonymous said...

Going by the current situation in Russia any force accretion in an emergency with China can happen with the help of only western powers. Our armed forces will have to find a supplier who can not only provide spares but also provide a whole combat system to replace attrition and also make plans based on their usage.

For ex: The only replacements off the shelf to the air force could be in the form of Rafale from the French air force.

We may find support for some of the major platforms of the army, but how is it with the navy, which is totally dependent on Ukraine and Russia for support

rad said...

hI prasun
the supersonic tanks on the lca look clean, this brings me to the topic of using the underbelly pyon for an IRST and tanks awell like the american fighters. what are those wire running form the tip to the back?

Will the LCA go to war always with supersonic tanks ? a t least tthe belly one ?
will we be brave enought to let it cross the border or use it as a point defence fighter around oour borders.

How far is rthe desi IRST taking shape? are we up to the mark to make one as good as the one on the su-30 or the skywards.? Dont u think it better to take help rather than plod along for a decade?

Anonymous said...

Is it possible to replace Zorya marine gas turbines on Indian Navy ships by GE/RR over a period of time.

regards
Venky

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To VIKRAM GUHA: 1) Almost Rs.2 lakh per launcher. 2) Yes.

To SANJEEV: Those are IA's confirmatory firing trials for production-series Dhanush-45 howitzers prior to their service-induction. Each Dhanush-45 will have to undergo such firing-trials, which are routine.

To JOYDEEP GHOSH: Why not? After all, Russia still makes financial gains by supplying India with the MiG-29UPG upgrade kits. It will be a win-win for both Russia & India.

To SATYAKI: 1) Yes. 2) No. 3) It won’t be tested anytime soon simply because the SSBN reqd for hosting such SLBMs does not exist as yet.

To RAD: Those wires are for de-icing. The supersonic tanks are jettisionable & hence they will be carried by Tejas Mk.1A whenever reqd & as I had explained earlier, such aircraft will be accompanied by other MRCAs like Su-30MKI & Rafale. There won’t be a ‘desi’ IRST since the MoD has already mandated that only 40% local content is reqd for IRST sensors.

https://forceindia.net/feature-report/the-eastern-front/

To VENKY: It is not just about the gas-turbines, but also their gearboxes. Technically, it is possible but I’m sure it won’t be reqd.

ICGS Griffon-8000TD in Jakhau, Gujarat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwfENoSzOKI

ICGS Do-228 Skidding in Kanpur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWkGuUCMlXI

N-LAW Usage by Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKlo1FHLuM8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emqIw2xaoHM

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To VIMAL: AMCA Mk.1, Tejas Mk.2 MWF & TEDBF will use GE F414 turbofan while the AMCA Mk.2 will use a new higher-thrust turbofan. It remains to be seen whether the IAF will opt for the AMCA Mk.1 to replace both the Mirage-2000s & Jaguar IS, or will prefer the TEDBF as the Jaguar IS' replacement.

DAshu said...

Sir Please ask the Force newsmagazine guys to create a category "articles by PKS" option.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

AT-4 LAW & NLAW Supplies to Ukraine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03DUpc8j2_g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ie6vAvGnM

https://theprint.in/opinion/ukraine-will-win-the-first-round-if-russian-offensive-doesnt-achieve-breakthrough-in-next-week/865723/

https://theprint.in/world/how-anti-tank-missiles-russian-mistakes-worked-to-ukraines-advantage-and-lessons-for-india/865421/

https://www.businessworld.in/article/We-Are-Hopeful-Of-Not-Only-ATAGS-To-Be-Inducted-But-Garuda-And-Light-Weapon-Also-Baba-Kalyani-CMD-Bharat-Forge-/08-03-2022-422349/

Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd working on developing 58-cal & 68-cal barrels for howitzers that will fire ramjet-powered supersonic projectiles.

China's Nuclear Modernisation & Implications for India:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUrkraMtE-4

Karthik Barman said...

Seems like it is no longer fake news about US bioweapon coverup. I am assuming this is why Putin put his nuclear command on high alert. He will not tolerate foul play from the Americans, like 2014 maidan coup or false flag Syrian chemical attacks.

https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1501313109520175104
https://twitter.com/kylenabecker/status/1501749831802499077

just_curious said...

Prasun,

- http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2022/03/pentagon-shows-understanding-of-indias.html-- Ro khanna is a completely sold out .. slimy bas*****.. he is one of those who have pure hatred for modi..

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To DASHU: Will pass on your request to them.

General Thierry Burkhard, French Chief of Defence Staff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE0ofiTIZ8M

According to him, Russia's armed forces seem to be displaying an inability to engage in combined-arms warfare (despite the possession of overwhelming firepower) & joint forces warfare operations.

DG-ISPR PC on March 10, 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10lj66eRujA

Anonymous said...

Sirji,
1) Was that really a missile fired as claimed by Pakistan or just a distraction from political drama ? The pictures of wreckage don't seem to tell much. Firing a missile when civilian airplanes are flying nearby is too risky.
2) Russians too afraid to cause large civilian casualties ? Even in the surrounded Mariupol they are to reluctant to enter the city.
3) What are Russians using to intercept Tochka-U being fired by Ukrainian military ?
4) What will be the fate of Ukraine after all this ? Will they ever be able to get back on their feet ?
5) Also saw a video of paratroopers of Chinese Eastern military command practicing airdropping from Y-20. Will this be employed in their future operations in Taiwan ?

-Bhvk

Anonymous said...

Prasunda,

VMT.

1. Understand that K-5/K-6 will not be tested in the near future due to lack of the SSBN. What about land based MIRVed missiles (A-5 with MIRV) ? Can we expect that to be tested soon if it is not under testing already (since Oct 27 last year) ?

2. You have said earlier that Agni-P has already been tested with MIRVs. Would it ever be openly acknowledged to be MIRVed by GOI ?

Satyaki

Harsh said...

So did an Indian missile/brahmos really land in Pakistan?

Just_curious said...

Prasun,
With all the noise about 125km engine with Safran, wouldn't India require a higher thrust class engine for say 6th gen tempest/fcas class jet? Say 150+ kn class something what the Japanese are opting for their 5/6th gen jet

Sanjeev said...

What about pak’s claim about an Indian supersonic missile flowing into it.

rad said...


HI prasun
I just saw the video of he coast gaurd 228 skidding and veering off the runway. i would blame the pilotsfor this. He has no business keeping the engine running after he lined up with the runway with a good descent angle and height to avoid yawing on touch down. . Even then Any pilot worth his salt knows that it is not difficult landing with one engine they trian for that. He touches down ok and goes stright ,then after some time the 228 starts veering off which clearly indicates some wromg pilot input to the controls
full opp rudder usually solves the problem on approach . he can reverse pitch the prop to satbilize the air craft if neccesary . your inputs pse

Abs said...

@Prasunda
1. Could it be a case of an HVT who was taken out by our missile in Pakistan?
Or was it a deliberate attempt to gauge Pakistani IADS response?

The GoI has accepted that an 'accidental' firing of a missile took place due to a techical snag.

2. Don't you think much of the assessments coming out of the West about the Russian armed forces' failure in Ukraine, with some going to the extent of claiming that Ukraine can claim victory if it holds out for as little as a week more, are motivated propaganda? A propaganda that is seducing the Ukrainians into putting up an even more dogged fight which will lead to far worse calamity.

Regards

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

PAF J-10CE Service-Induction Ceremony Today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cyX8Kxxjrk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iyqSLbz9LQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbvHilmj4Ek

Contract was inked on June 25, 2021:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNkHXyeWUAMi0Yx?format=jpg&name=large

PAF F-16 Pilots' Interviews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5MMG2epodc

S T said...

Hi Prasun da,
1. Which Indian missile can fly at 40000 feet at supersonic speed which demolidhed 2-4 houses in mian channu pskistan 😀😃😄 with 207 flight span.

2. Plz confirm. India doesnt have AFSPDS ammuntion with more than 700 mm RHA penetration ?

Regards,
Shelly

just_curious said...

Prasun,
brahmos missile accidently fired inside pakistan? was it someone going overboard to celebrate te state election victory or something else say sent across a msg to pakis, IF the news is true.. if its an accident how many more such stupidities.. first abhinadan being shot down , then the mi17 fracticide now this, worse pakis will happily try to reverse engineer it or give it to the experts --their mai baap to our north..

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To BHVK, HARSH, SANJEEV, ABS, ST/SHELLY & JUST_CURIOUS: BrahMos-1 does not cruise at 40,000 feet altitude. It does so at 16,000 feet. In Addition, BrahMos-1 is encased within a cannister, meaning it comes fitted with its warhead. These two points clearly rule out the missile being a BrahMos-1. Instead, it is more likely to be a Prithvi-2 or SS-250 Prithvi, which comes in recessed form, i.e. the warheads are not mated with the missiles when they are held in storage in rear-areas. Pakistan went into a tizzy by claiming that the SSM was headed for the Mahajan Ranges in Pokhran, presumably ASSUMING that the missile-firing was meant to be dress-rehearsal for the Vayu Shakti-2022 airpower demonstration. What the PAF has failed to grasp is that India never fires missiles of any type overland during peacetime. But the PA does so with its Ghauri IRBMs by firing them from Jhelum & the impact areas are in Balochistan & southern Sindh.

Unknown said...

Would you be able to tell what really happened in this so called accidental missile firing? I can't believe official paki or indian version.

Unknown said...

Hello sir,
Regarding the recent missile miss fire by India.
1) If we consider your assessment true, that means we weren't testing the missile, instead it was purely a miss fire. Am I right?
2) why wasn't that miss fired missile did had a self defuse provision? (Bcz some times in a war we have to self defuse the missile in case we abort the mission.)
3) could we expect that Pakistan tried to intercept the missile but failed? (If yes, What it indicates us? )

- Atul

Ravi_N said...

There was a picture from war torn Ukraine about a tank and the recovery vehicle. Both got cripped.
People say it was German. But what are German tanks doing in Ukraine? Assisting Ukraine Force?
If this is truly a German tank, how come it got destroyed badly?

Media report more than 20K+ Russian soldiers died in this war. Did Putin underestimate the death of his soldiers?


Thanks,
Ravi_N

Aviation said...

https://twitter.com/raflanker/status/1502035217720254470?s=19

Unknown said...

Continuing my questions,

4) the crashed missile images coming from Pakistan shows the honeycomb like part at the rear end of missile is similar like Brahmos. As per you, if it's not Brahmos then which missile has the same honeycomb type structure?
5) considering the missile being miss fired, why it followed the path it did? (What can be drawn from this path).
7) why the reaction from Pakistan took 1 whole day after missile hit, and then India too with 1 whole day after Pakistan's reaction? (Bcz as soon as the missile hit the ground, a lot of exchange would have happened between both through hot line.)

-Atul

blackurrant said...

Not even ATGMs?

just_curious said...

So something did land up .. that brings to the question I asked...the porkis seem to manage themselves better then us .. with the eg i shared in my prev question. What is surprising is the prokis have not made a hullaboo of it even though it carried no warhead.. their penchant to run to the UNis surprisingly quiet. Is there a bigger play ahead where the 2 countries use this as an excuse to start trade or get back to pre 2019 era..

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To ATUL: 1) Yes. 2) Because the fire-control system of the missile wasn’t activated. Only the propulsion system got activated. 3) No. 4) All SS-BSMs & even ballistic missiles have such components on-board. Just because they look similar does not mean they are all IDENTICAL. 5) Most likely due to prevailing wind conditions, since the navigational gyros weren’t activated. 7) Because the DGMOs of the 2 countries were in contact with one another & hence the statements from both sides were coordinated & were without any belligerence.

To JUST_CURIOUS: If Pakistan had raised the ante, then India too would have by furnishing the long-list of airspace violations by drones whose flight-paths had originated from Pakistan over the past 2 years.

akash said...

Prasun, is the 145 km PL 15 could give PAF any advantage over IAF Su 30

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To AKASH: Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJj0NHR0uUo

MBDA Meteor BVRAAM has 160km-range.

To ANUP: Delivery schedules of the 2 GSL-built Project 1135.6 FFGs will be severely affected.

To GAGANDEEP: Not Shtora, but Arena. Only an RFI was issued, not RFP. As I had stated earlier, APS is being considered for Arjun family of MBTs, not for T-72U or T-90S. Even the Russian Army's MBTs now being used against Ukraine do not feature any APS.

sasi said...

1)did India order 12 su30mki and 21 mig 29??

2)any drdo r&d going on gatling gun 30mm point defence system for army/air force?

3)wht will happen to MRO maintenance of ukraine engines in Indian navy?

4)44 mig29k enough for both carriers... Why navy needs 36(reduced frm 56) new jets for Navy?

5)any news on IA replacing to 7.62*51 assult rifle? Like which rifle selected and when?

- Sasi

সুমন্ত নাগ said...

Prasun Da, thanks once again for informative blog and your replies, from which I have quenched my thirst for knowledge.

However, there are some questions pondering in my mind regarding current affairs happening through out the Globe, here are some:

1. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/china-sends-humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine-xi-jinping-deeply-grieved-by-war/ar-AAURNLy?ocid=msedgntp
------ What is Xi Xinping up to ? PRC itself in severe food shortage ? They are the net importer of Ukrainian grains plus this year no further import is forthcoming, also it seems Ukraine is running out of food grains, its war fighting capacity somehow bolstered by NATO Arms supply, but dented by continuous loss of defence industrial echo system, which had and was being exploited by PRC, Sooner or Later as you have stated, PRC will feel heat of it. How do you rate Chinese strategy during Ukrainian Conflict ? Can PRC be again courted by the West to counter Russia ?

2. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/china-battles-worst-covid-19-outbreak-since-wuhan-cases-triple-in-24-hours/ar-AAV1wFz?ocid=msedgntp

------ There are severe Covid 19 outbreak happens across PRC, in that case how justified is Russia's call for Chinese Miltary and Economic Assistance ?

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/13/politics/jake-sullivan-meeting-chinese-counterpart-ukraine/index.html

-------- Till now there is no denial from Russia or PRC either. What type of Financial And Military Assistance Russia does want ?


3.
https://newsd.in/russia-offers-india-semi-cryogenic-engine-technology/------

Regarding Semi Cryogenic Engine, Russia reportedly had offered Semi Cryogenic Tech, at least 3 Yrs ago, and similarly, startups like Skyroot can be roped in ? Facility being built therefore, and since Ukrainian Assistance has effectively ended in destruction, Russian help should be taken, as both were successor of Soviet Space Industry, there will be more commonality, as such SCE 200 may be completed later half of the decade, what is your views on it.

4. Regarding recent misfire of Indian Missle, did PA's Air Defence Network failed to intercept the project, or they had not attempted since, probable impact point of the Missile was revealed to the Pak DGMMO by his Indian counterpart ? Doesn't it leaves a question mark on PA/PAF Air Defence as the impact site was only 35 kms from the PAF Air base. what's your views regarding it.

5. You have stated, that we may see testfire of Ababeel Missile in future , so this test is taking so long ? As also, who are the provider of the technology Missile, since Pakistan has no industrial base to manufacture or produce such Missle

6. Pakistani Media hyped on countering S400 Missle system , so what step might be taken by PA/PAF ?

7. Is there any move by India to procure the Polish, Bulgarian and Slovakian MiG 29s that were on offer to Ukraine ?

8. Did Chinese succeed in their target for resolving their problems regarding development of Turbofan Engine for their Jet Fighters or still they are heavily dependent on Russia, Which engine powers PAF J10C, WS 10 or Saturn AL 31 ?

Please share your views thanks in advance , Dada.

সুমন্ত নাগ said...

----Continued from previous post.

9) Will India buy discounted Russian Crude Oil ?

10) How do you rate Putin's latest move legalise piracy of western/unfriendly nation's technology ?

https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/russia-legalises-piracy-allows-companies-to-steal-patents-from-unfriendly-nations/ar-AAUVR2R?ocid=msedgntp

Thanks in advance Prasun Da.

Rohit Gill said...

It seems that PAF J-10 CE aircraft's are equipped with WS-10B turbofan engine's and AESA radars along with PL-15 BVRAAM and they are saying that PL-15 BVRAAM have AESA seekers. The rate at which they are inducting weaponry like self propelled howitzer, VT-4 MBT, Frigates from China and Turkey, HQ-9, HQ-16, new submarines I think it is unprecedented, they are going to be armed to the teeth by the Chinese. Earlier they used to purchase second hand aircraft and Frigates now they are getting new one , 20 years ago not a single PAF aircraft was BVR capable now they are going to have almost 300 of them , earlier PAF had Chinese copy of SA-2 divina and crotale for base airdefence and now they have Aspide and HQ-9B. I think future military operations against Pakistan is going to be a very difficult task for our armed forces, they are matching us in conventional equipment also.

S T said...

Hi Prasun da,

1. Could you please tell about MKII AFSPDS penetration for in terms RHA mm.

2 Is below given statement true ?

" We went for the Mig-21 in the 1960s because the F-104 was denied to India. We are seeing the same kind of thing,” he said. Jitendra Nath Misra, a retired diplomat and distinguished fellow in the Jindal School of International Affairs.

Regards,
ST.

DAshu said...

Sir, Is India graduating from SAAW to RAMPAGE?

Kaustav said...

AESA in PRC & Pak Combat aircraft?!

TaranjitS said...

Sir initially the Navy wanted to buy S-70B-2 Sea Hawk helicopters, but later this was changed to the MH-60R variant. Why did this happen and what are the differences between these two versions?

Just_curious said...

4 will Rolls-Royce collaborate to help turkey develop its jet engine?? That will make Erdogan hallucinate all the more of being the new Caliph..and also the perinial pests- porkis.. i.e get smuggled to the Chinese

just_curious said...

Prasun,

1- what is the truth about the the missile landing in pakistan.. callousness, new software upgrade malfunction or intentional to check they air defence systems?
2- Intering video on LI-Ion batteries for Subs.. then why cahse AIP's? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjUr38mf9l4
3 Porki pushed UN resolution on islamophobia :)) .. so much for hyprocracy .. almost all violence is done by their brethren ... OIC is nothing more than a bunch of bast***ds ganging up..
4 have you seen the weapons from a new start up firm -ASTR defence .. such firms should have been encouraged than opting for licence build of Ak 203 ...

just_curious said...

Prasun ..

6- 2 interesting news - India planning to buy Russia oil & Saudi Arabia Starts using Yuan for Oil Trade - can you share how the west will react?
7- germany opting to buy 35 F-35's to replace tornados.. end of FCAS? the 80's story(rafale vs eurofighter) replay again?

Ravindra Jain said...

Rohit Gill babu, did you not realise that China knows that India can escalate conflict with Pakistan and thrust deeper into Pakistan to combat China so they are equipping Pakistan in such a way that India can not sustain a 3-5 day intense border conflict but if India does initiate any action, will be sucked into something like Russia in Ukraine. Meanwhile this will give the Chinese enough time to plan a counter move. India's problem has never been Pakistan but China. In a possible Chinese offensive, neither the West nor Russia will get directly involved just like in Ukraine and they can't sanction China like Russia because it has fingers in all the right puddings. Currently regardless of how bad it looks for China, they have enough financial and military might to survive and carry on their rampage.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To SASI: 1) Not yet. 2) Yes. Refer to the DEFEXPO-2020 thread for slides. 3) It will be affected, just like the IAF’s MRO of Motor-Sich engines for An-32RE transports. 4) Because of diversion of funds for the TEDBF’s R & D by ADA.

To SUMANTA NAG: 1) Just like India, PRC too is sending humanitarian aid like medicines. China will not abandon Russia nor side with the West because China is now far mre dependent on Russia for fuel & wheat supplies. 2) Russia has NOT asked for any military assistance. It has only asked for continuation of bilateral trade ties using new digital payment mechanisms. 3) Russia will step in & help ISRO with the SCE-200’s developmental process. 4) In my personal view, there wasn’t any mis-firing at all. 5) These are all being delivered off-the-shelf by China. 6) The PA has procured the HQ-9 LR-SAM from China. 7) Not yet. 8) Not yet. 9) India did so, 48 hours ago. 10) It is a tit-for-tat strategy.

To ROHIT GILL: It is all FAKE NEWS WRT J-10CE, rest assured.

To ST: 1) Here it is:

https://defenceforumindia.com/attachments/drdo-developed-ofb-built-apfsds-rounds-2-jpg.41495/

2) That is a WRONG statement. The F-104 wasn’t denied to India. The IAF went in for MiG-21PFs because Russia accepted payment in Indian Rupees, whereas the US wanted payment in US$. India had then wanted to save money so that funds would be made available for developing the HAL HF-24 Marut.

To DASHU: No, Rampage isn’t reqd, because India already has a solid-propellant powered air-to-surface missile, this being a variant of the Pralay, shown here:

https://images.newindianexpress.com/uploads/user/imagelibrary/2021/1/26/w1200X800/venkaiah_inaugurates-.jpg

To KAUSTAV: Most unlikely, since China has so far succeeded in developing only a Gen-1 PESA-MMR, as shown in these photos:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OPC8sY2_Qts/TdVI7t9s2BI/AAAAAAAABBE/faPDCWAe1FE/s1600/Chinese+J-10B+Fighter+Jet+with+AESA+Radar.jpg

https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2019/03/18/XTIBKSQIBFHG25SELP4GFN5754-1024x1019.jpg?auto=webp

I have never seen any AESA-MMR being equipped with IFF dipoles in the antenna section. PESA-MMRs sport such IFF dipoles.

And this the interview of the PACAF C-in-C Gen Kenneth S. Wilsbach in which he describes encounters between the F-35 JSF & the PLAAF’s J-20:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNPo6S5uwZQ

To TARANJIT S: The S-70Bs were offered as a direct commercial sale package from Sikorsky to the IN, whereas the MH-60Rs were offered as a govt-to-govt package. The latter was preferred due to the absence of any middlemen in such a deal.

To JUST_CURIOUS: 1) In my personal view, there wasn’t any mis-firing at all, since it is an impossibility & violates all known laws of physics. 2) The Lithium-Ion batteries too need re-charging while at sea & hence AIP is reqd so that the recharging can take place while the SSK stays submerged & does not need to surface or engage in snorkelling for the sake of sucking in oxygen for the diesel engines to function. 6) The West cannot stop India from buying oil & gas from Russia for as long as West European countries are themselves buying them from Russia & that’s why India 48 hours ago began purchasing Russian crude.

rad said...


Hi prasun
what realy worries me is that pl-15 has an aesa radar seeker which will be very hard to jam
what do we do . I think getting israeli later gen el-8222wb with aesa antenna can solve the proble. or could it?
The combination of an aesa fighter radar and aesa antenna on the missile is deadly we can dream of it in the next 5 years when the astra mk3 ramjet misisle comes in
can u confirm if the astra mk3 has a aesa radar seeker.
pak will be itching to use it given any excuse the mig -21 and jaguars will be at risk thought mig-29 and mirage 2000 can evade given their ew suite
so the only solution seems to buy a large number of aesa equipped jammers from israel.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAD: LoLz! No AESA seeker exists for any China-developed BVRAAM. Here are the facts:

The PL-11 BVRAAM is a re-engineered variant of the MBDA-developed Aspide semi-active radar-guided BVRAAM and has been for export under the SD-10A designation. The PL-12 BVRAAM is equipped with active radar-homing seeker developed by Radionix. It uses a dual-thrust solid rocket motor and can exceed Mach 4 and endure 38 G. The missile’s omnidirectional sensors are accurate to within 1 metre. Its active radar seeker is the Ka-band ‘Onix’ from Radionix, which has a range of 25km, search area of +/-40 degrees in azimuth and elevation and offers “fire-and-forget” capabilities. It has a 24kg warhead and uses a radio proximity fuse. Initial versions of the PL-12 had used the Russia-origin Agat/Istok 9B-1350E Ku-band seekers. The latest PL-15 BVRAAM, under development since 2009, was first test-fired on September 15, 2015. The missile, which too uses the Onix seeker, weighs 210kg, has a range of 145km and uses a dual-pulse, smokeless solid-propellant rocket motor motor for extended range (two fuel chambers and one exhaust nozzle) that was originally developed by South Africa’s DENEL Dynamics for the ‘Marlin’ BVRAAM. For long-range engagements the first pulse fires and the missile glides towards its target before the second pulse fires at a later point in time. For shorter engagements, both pulses can be fired almost simultaneously. Top speed is close to Mach 4. Flight control is by servo motor controlled fins. The PL-15’s airframe can sustain 30 G and its leading edges can function in temperatures of both -50 degrees Celsius and + 900 degrees Celsius once launched.

rad said...

Hi prasun
the paf pilot clearly states that the j-10 has aesa radar.. bluffing ?. clearly you have pointed out that an aesa radar does not have dipole antenna onthe antenna face , the bars -011 pesa on the su 30mki have them as well. well in that case they could not have made an aesa radar for then pl-15 but other western defence journal claim so.
The rampage rocket is light and air fired, where else the pralay looks heavy in it air launched variant > thanks for pointing out the pic ..i previously missied the pylon lugs on the pralay. Given the size nad weigh i think only the su -30 can carry only one of them.That does not make it cost effective in the number of targets attacked in one sortie.

rad said...


hi prasun
just read your reply. what i can t understand is why cant china that is far more advanced than india not succeeded in an aesa radar? when we seem to be doing fine./? i am surprised that the chinese missiles still use russian active seekers! where else we have made a couple of variants in the x band and other bands.
I do remember clearly that china did import the agat radar seeker initially and then subsequently made their own version .

rad said...


hi prasun
i just googled for radionix and it seems it is a company in uae??? cmon when did uae export misisle seekers have i missed some thing?

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAD: The air-launched variant of Pralay has a nuclear warhead. Claims by anyone about the J-10B/C having AESA-MMRs is total hogwash & fake news. RADIONIX is a Ukrainian company. Kindly go through this:

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/arms-and-security-2019-ukraines-radionix-presents-complete-modernisation-package-for-russian-platforms

Anonymous said...

Prasunda,

1. Has the air-launched variant of the Pralay been tested ? If not, when would be tested and inducted ?

2. Would testing of land based MIRVed BMs by India begin soon, if it has not already begun ?

3. Why dose'nt India induct tactical nukes (on Prahar etc) to deter capture (by PLAGF) of areas that are hard to defend such as DBO ?

T9BK4

Raghu said...

Hi Prasun

So many western diplomats visiting India or planned visits

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ukraine-crisis-delhi-receives-nato-allies-quad-partners/article65231741.ece

What would be their main agenda? Indo-Pacific or pressure to join sanctions against Russia?

Regards

Raghu

sasi said...

1)Pralay wts nearly 5000kgs. How much will air launched wt?

2)last time i asked u, 44 mig29k is enough for both carriers. Why navy needs 36 new jets?

-Sasi

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To T9BK4: Not yet. The developmental process is still underway, just like that for the Pralay SS-BSM. Lots of new sub-systems need to undergo detailed testing, for example sub-systems like this:

US intelligence officials have discovered that the barrage of SS-BSMs Russia has fired into Ukraine contain a surprise: decoys that trick air-defence radars and fool heat-seeking missiles. The devices are each about a foot-long, shaped like a dart and white with an orange tail. They are released by the Iskander-M SS-BSMs that Russia is firing from mobile launchers across the border, when the missile senses that it has been targeted by air-defence systems. Each is packed with electronics and produces radio signals to jam or spoof enemy radars attempting to locate the Iskander-M, and contains a heat source to attract incoming missiles. The use of the decoys may help explain why Ukrainian air-defence weapons have had difficulty intercepting the Iskander-M missiles. Powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor, the Iskander-M can reach targets more than 200 miles away. Each mobile launcher can fire two Iskander-Ms before it must be reloaded. Photographs of the dart-shaped munitions began circulating on social media two weeks ago. They had stumped experts and open-source intelligence analysts—many of whom mistook them for bomblets from cluster weapons based on their size and shape. The devices are similar to Cold War decoys called “penetration aids,” that have accompanied nuclear warheads since the 1970s and were designed to evade anti-missile systems and allow individual warheads to reach their targets. The incorporation of the devices into weapons like the Iskander-M that have conventional warheads has not been previously documented in military arsenals. The use of the decoys may point to some level of carelessness or urgency by Russian military leadership, given that Russia knows they will inevitably be collected and studied by Western intelligence services so that NATO air defences can be programmed to defeat the Iskander-M’s countermeasures.

2) It already began with the Agni-P test-firings. 3) Prahar is already in service.

To RAGHU: These are all pressure tactics aimed at telling India: “Do As I say, Not As I Do”. The West’s doublespeak is obvious when it refuses to stop importing oil & gas from Russia till 2027, but expects India to refrain from buying such hydrocarbons at discounted rates since yesterday! In other words, the West led by the US wants to secure its energy security while denying India any such securitisation & on top of that preventing India from buying oil & gas from Iran or Venezuela at discounted rates. But why should India pay a heavy price for the West’s miscalculations & mistakes? Why did the West lead both Georgia & Ukraine down the garden path by promising them EU & NATO membership since 2008, only to still deny these 2 countries such memberships even today? This has now put Ukraine’s President Zelensky in a very tight spot because that poor chap still is unable to figure out why NATO & the EU are not directly coming to Ukraine’s military defence. Has the US stopped importing Titanium from Russia? Not to the best of my knowledge. And the US has only SUSPENDED trading with Russia, meaning trade & commerce with Russia will begin once Ukraikne & Russia come to an eventual settlement.

As for China’s overtures to India, the former’s economy is taking several hits due to both internal & external factors & hence Beijing urgently wants normalisation of trade & com merce relations with India, for instance by seeking the re-entry of China’s e-commerce giants in to India & enabling Huawei & ZTE to operate 5 G services in India. But these are extremely risky, as beautifully explained here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykAcWYMA_Zc&t=12s

To RAD: The perils of FIBUA:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fngPVC4V4Gk

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

just_curious said...

prasun,

1-what does this mean --https://idrw.org/iaf-to-employ-direct-tactical-planning-to-evade-chinese-s-400-%ef%bf%bc/
2- Now, some sources say no VLS for P75I.. will this ever take off?

Unknown said...

Hi prasoon..do you believe that the firing of missile in pakistan was calculated and preplanned to teat their response or was it accidental as suggested by government of india..would be happy to go through your views.

Regards

Kunal

Sidharth said...

Prasun da,

Your reply to RAGHU above on West pressuring India to go and speak against Russia. What is your analysis or presumption that Modi will give or surrender to West pressure. BY WEST does we understand that France is also on the same page....

songofkali said...

Sir thanks for almost your daily replies..i have some questions
1. Does India have an ICBM program
2. If not should India go for it
3. Can this ICBM program be done in secret including its testing

4. Why do the Chinese & Pakistanis lie about them having Aesa MMR in the Chinese combat aircraft

Regards

Magicbullet said...

Dada , Happy Holi to you and your family..
Can you please read the tea leaves and comment on US engagement with Bangladesh and India - Lanka evolving landscape

Black box said...

Hi Prasun,
1) Is it true that Russia has lost so many soldiers , think it’s a bit exaggerated.
2) Since western media dominates in information war , where can we get real picture of the present situation in Ukrainian .
3) Is everything going according to Russia’s plan , have Russians encountered any unexpected things from Ukrainian ,if so how do you rate their planning and tactics ,are they good.
4) Is Russia deliberately avoiding urban areas according to their tactics or is there a string Ukrainian defence.
5) How come Ukrainian still has air defence system, didn’t Russia destroy it in the initial stages of war.
Thanks

AMIT BISWAS said...

So u are hinting that this so called misfiring is being used as cover for deliberate targetting of high value targets ?

Rajesh Mishra said...

Dear Sir, what would have happened, if Ukraine would not have attempted joining the NATO.

Nikhil M said...

Hi Prasunda

What can you read into the interview of the PACAF C-in-C Gen Kenneth S. Wilsbach in which he describes encounters between the F-35 JSF & the PLAAF’s J-20 ?

1. Is J 20 a genuinely formidable fighter ? In absence of AESA radar it appears unlikely.

2. Tactics employed by PLAAF has come to age ?

3. Another ploy of USAF to get additional budget for sixth generation fighter ?

Regards
Nikhil

asd said...

Dear Prasun,

1.What are your observations from Russian invasion of Ukraine? What are the lessons for India?
2. If the firing of missile was intentional, wasn't it irresponsible behaviour of the Indian armed force? But what was the intention?

D.K.S.Amruthayoni said...

OK Black Box is now recovered and here is what I found within:
Prasun babu is not in Ukraine or Russia, neither does he have a direct phone line to the leaders of military operations. What he says is by observing the same things you and I do except he looks beneath the headlines a bit more which most average people don't.
1) Russia has lost a lot of soldiers and suffered a lot of casualty because of bad strategy - mostly tank and armoured vehicle crews. This is because Ukraine is not fighting a conventional war in the face of fierce fire power- they are using guerilla tactics. The actual number of those casualties and dead are deliberately exaggerated by the West and NATO News cronies to demoralise Russians. 3) Have you been watching anything at all or want to be Dhvitarashtra relying on others to cook it for you and serve 4) What would you do otherwise- jump straight in where there are defences? 5) Where do you think billions of dollars of military aid going to? Massive amounts of arms are coming through the Polish border and unlike the Russian logistical issues in the Eastern Ukraine, the Western powers have no such issues and continuously supplying air defence, ammunition etc. Plus Russia has not encroached upon West and North West Ukraine other than sporadic bombardment leaving many of those untouched.
Finally- why am I answering for PKS and no doubt will face a mouth off which is endemic to 99% Indians? - Intelligent questions make this blog interesting - lazy questions stretching Shri Prasun's patience irritates. If Russia can attack Ukraine because it feels threatened, surely I can step in when I feel irritated LOLLZZZ

Millard Keyes said...

Prasun where I see India is in a fix is: if Russia can invade another sovereign nation because of perceived threats and encouraging breakaway Republics consisting of Russian majority, what stops China doing the same using this precedent? For example, China sees parts of India as its own and the NE people are Mongloid so China can step up its activities and encourage breakaway from India. Then they can invade India under the pretext of threats to its sovereignty and commerce. I understand due to the size of India a full on thrust may not be possible but they can certainly attack all along the North West, North and North East taking huge chunks of land. This might also set a precedent to take over South China sea and Taiwan at least theoretically. We already saw the US and NATO not willing to take on Russia directly for fear of Nuclear escalation. I fear they will adopt the same strategy but in China's case they can not be economically pressured either. If India remains silent on Russian invasion then surely she can't expect the world to condemn China or Pakistan? At the same time if the WEST does not stop NATO expansionism and India acknowledge this valid Russian concern in the open then the threat China and Pakistan is posing to India will not be addressed either.

just_curious said...

Prasun,

1- Bahrain in talks with India to procure ARJUN M1A ???

Hardik Thanki said...

Hi Parsunji,

Can we replace Zorya Mashproekt gas turbine with LM2500 gas turbine?

Thanks & Regards

Hardik Thanki

Black box (LOLLZZ) said...

D.K.S.Amruthayoni Thanks for decrypting the recovered black box,
Grow up LOLLZZZ😀(it’s Prasun blog and even if my questions are amature to you why fell irritated , chill man 😀)LOLLZZZ

Vinay said...

Prasun sir,

1) Some western observers have said one of the advantages the western militaries have over the russian ones are better NCOs, who are trained to take more independent decisions than the more centralised russian army.

How competent and well trained are the Indian army's NCOs? Are they trained to act with more initiative, like the western ones?

2) How you seen evidences of our NCOs taking the initiative and improvising in previous wars we have fought like Kargil or more recently?

3) Is the IAF in your opinion trained and equipped to undertake SEAD/DEAD operations against pakistan?
It is after all a very tough task in general to carry out.

4) How many hours a year do our fighter jet pilots get to train on their aircraft (not simulators) on average?

5) How will the Rafale & Meteor combo fair against J-10 & PL-15 combo?

6) Does the IAF maintain a few months reserve of spare parts for its planes in case of disruptions?

7) What types and how many targetting/EO pods does the IAF possess?

Anonymous said...

Prasunda,

1) How true is it that the IAF Su-30's once again have a severe shortage of spares ? Was'nt this problem resolved to a large extent earlier, with a 75% availability of the Su30 ?

2) Do Pak's recent rapid inductions of SH-15 SP guns, JF-17's, J-10CEs etc, seriously erode India' conventional edge, making India's position precarious if Pak and China together precipitate a two front war ?

3) If 'yes' to 2), should'nt India's doctrine emphasize the use of tactical nuclear weapons if necessary to stave off any serious territorial losses in Ladakh/ J&K in the event of a two front war imposed by Pak & China ?

Ashwatthama

Anonymous said...

What happened to next order of SiG assault rifles ? How can any govt leave a deal halfway. This has been happening with armed forces too many times no ?
Now even AK203 is in trouble.
Regards
Venky

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To JUST_CURIOUS: 1) Simply put, it means the enmeshing of DEAD & SEAD techniques using varying kinds of standoff PGMs that will be employed for destroying & disrupting the adversary’s air-defence networks & systems. 2) As I had been stating since 2013 in this blog, there was never any credible case for installing VLS on any SSK’s pressure-hull, as it is a physical impossibility, especially for missiles like BrahMos-1. 3) Bahrain will call for all prospective suppliers of MBTs to send their MBTs for in-country field-trials. If Arjun Mk.1A takes part, then that will demonstrate India’s seriousness in responding to Bahrain’s MBT reqmts.

To KUNAL, ASD & AMIT BISWAS: The missile-firing took place NOT to test the Pakistani response since India knows very well what air-defence assets Pakistan has & how they will be employed. Instead, it was sent as a warning to Pakistan to stop sending its China-supplied drones across the IB, WB & LoC for ferrying in narcotics & weapons.

To SIDDHARTH: As subsequent events have shown, there is no question of India giving in. If the US wants India to refrain from purchasing Russia’s crude-oil & gas, then the US in return must allow India to purchase the same from Iran on an unrestricted basis, i.e. the US cannot have the entie cake & eat it as well.

To MAGICBULLET: The US & EU will go by India’s policy initiatives WRT Bangladesh & Sri Lanka. After all, as part of the QUAD’s military component, India has agreed to the inking of the US-Sri Lanka status of forces agreement under which the US Navy will get to access logistics support from Trincomalee & purchase duel from the oil-tank farm there that has been jointly established by India & Sri Lanka.

To BLACKBOX & ASD: One can never swallow all that the press worldwide is reporting about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. A discerning attitude needs to be adopted. For instance, daily concise reports like these help in a better understanding of what’s going on & why:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhAwDY9PYqk

Drone Wars in Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f3886NUw_E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmlSpnjRLlo

Kinzhal Usage by Russia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnKqX7NKTzw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbrXLk-z8Yg

Zircon Hypersonic Missile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZW8oMo8Irk

Going by the above, it does seem that so far everything has been going on as per Russia’s OP-Plan. Russians are masters in FIBUA since the days of WW-2, having lost tens of millions—some claim 10.5 million while others claim 20 million. Consequently, the Russian attitude towards battlefield casualties/mortalities is totally different from those of other countries. Hence, if Russia is now involved with executing a grinding war of attrition within a FIBUA setting, them it should not come as a surprise at all. That also explains why Russia is selectively destroying Ukraine’s air-defences sector by sector under a multi-phased OP-Plan.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To RAJESH MISHRA: Then Russia would not have invaded Ukraine since 2014.

To NIKHIL M: What the PACAF Chief stated was self-explanatory, i.e. the J-20’s employment tactics remains predominantly tilted in favour of air superiority when used in conjunction with the KJ-500 AEW & CS. Unfortunately, he did not comment about it in detail, but it is evident from a laws of physics standpoint that the KJ-500/J-20 combination won’t be available beyond a radius of 250km away from Mainland China’s coastline due to the KJ-500 being a turboprop-powered platform that restricts the platform’s cruising altitude (to 25,000 feet ASL) & consequently the maximum range of its on-board sensors that are used for airborne early warning & airborne battle management. The same limitation persists with the PAF’s ZDK-03 & Saab 2000 AEW & CS platforms. The IAF’s & Japan’s ASDF AEW & CS platforms (Like the EMB-145I, A-50I & A320s & JASDF’s E-7 AWACS) on the other hand are turbofan-powered & can therefore cruise at far higher altitudes of 40,000 feet ASL.

The USAF today has only 55 combat aircraft squadrons (compared to 150 during the Cold War era) & PACAF has only 4 E-3 AWACS as its permanent assets. Consequently, the PACAF is terribly under-equipped & needs additional assets. In addition, as far as air base air-defence goes, the USAF is convinced that it requires high-mobility laser-based directed-energy weapons, which the US has had since the early 1980s, as explained in these presentations:

Paul Bennewitz Case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnmob3aAICs

Stallion Range Incident: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TegZyY12nMo

To MILLARD KEYES: Beijing’s Rapprochement Proposals for India Explained:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44Jp1-Ug-Bc

To HARDIK THANKI: Yes, with NPO Saturn-supplied gas turbines.

To VINAY: 1 & 2) LoLz! Don’t go by Western propaganda. As for the IA, Lt Gen Panag has stated that only 50% of the IA’s formations measure up to the IA’s own laid-down performance standards/parameters. 3) Absolutely, since the IAF now has more combat aircraft platforms & standoff PGMs of varying types & SS-BSMs reqd for SEAD & DEAD missions. 4) That depends. A pilot converting to a new aircraft-type has to fly 35 hours per month for six months, following which he/she has to log in only 120 flight-hours. 5) It is not the MRCA/BVRAAM combo that matters, but the MRCA/AEW & CS combo that matters most. 6) Yes. 7) Only 1 type, the Litening from RAFAEL.

To ASHWATTHAMA: 1) Fake News. 2) Not at all. 3)

To VENKY: It has only been deferred, not cancelled.

AeroVermont Switchblade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN2HN6ra4nw

asd said...

Dear Prasun,

https://theprint.in/opinion/ukraine-war-must-teach-indias-bygone-army-to-use-same-military-model-to-stalemate-china/877103/

I'm certain you must have gone through the article. But I couldn't get why General Panag is telling that India is at disadvantage against PLA and what it should do to stalemate.

just_curious said...

Prasun,
1- now iran offering Rupee-rial trade for Oil .. will India opt for it? Also Iran had earlier offerd to send 50kT wheat to Afghanistan, then iranian FM had made a visit, Why the overtures? will it make sense for india to start trade with iran give that US is now reviving the N-pact with iran

Rajesh Mishra said...

Respected Sir, Thanx and How many chances are there, that the NATO will be broken before the first Nuke is fired ???

And Now how the NATO can be saved ??? Kindly reply.

Unknown said...

Hi sir, hope you are doing fine

Want to know your opinion

Is the kashmir files just a commercial movie or

Is it a precursor to any move over POK

Or

Is it a precursor to any big internal moves in kashmir

For both the later cases movie is consolidating Public opinion for bold action by govt

radha said...


hI Prasun
flying at 25000 ft the turboprop pak awacs can see nearly 350 km according radar calc . so that shud be enough for pak. Again where is the money for pak to buy all these expensive military stuff? Now at what altitude will the awcs fly given the s-400 ?
All this talk of j10 and the pl-15 drwas my atatention to the astra mk3 ramjet miisle whay is happenong on that front , everything seems silent onnthat. isupose a sense of urgency shud be there after the induction of the j-10
how good is the brazilian aniti radar missile that pak has?

Anonymous said...

Sir, A85-3AX-diesel engine is developed for T-14 no ?
Has Russia tried to fit into T-90 ?

regards
Venky

Anmol Chaudhary said...

1. When will all wars end ? (Vent of a question. Take a guess or RV please :D)

2. In the article ASD has shared, General Panag stresses on the need for high quality human resources. We might be okay compared to few others, but we ain't great. Services have been caught in their self created web of chivalry-culture-sense of superiority. I'm guessing how they trained 30 years ago hasn't changed more than 20% by now. While technology has leaped whoooop shooop. It's wrong of me to blame the services solely, it's our society. But can the government-military (1) empanel some high quality psychological experts (not meaning old, rather contemporary and savvy)(2) train them in military ways and make them understand whatever equivalent of a national security strategy document there might be, (3) and ask them to formulate a module/scheme/study/activities of some sort to REALLY modernise the minds.

I think private sector should be engaged in the psychology/mental game bigly. Can't expect them to create contemporary solutions and weapons without studying/understanding contemporary warfare, and modern psychology.

Possibly create a taskforce/study group/ empanelled thinkers, comprising of a mix of students (TISS, IIMs and like institutions, psychology students of top medical colleges), corporate strategists (top law firms, consultancy breed, entrepreneurs), miscellaneous people. And pay them REALLY well. Invest in this R&D. Human capital. What's sadly what most Indian citizens seek most? Money. Spend some good money on human capital that would go on an obsolete SAM or whatever.

3. Thanks. Take care

Anonymous said...

Prasunda,

1) Is GoI taking a slightly pro-western/pro-Ukraine line in the current situation after coming under pressure by the other quad partners ?

2) Would GoI's stance affect its defence partnership with Russia, incl. further deliveries of the S-400/ development of the Brahmos II/ further development of SSBNs and SLBMs, etc ?

3) Should'nt India induct tactical nuclear weapons and explicitly dump NFU in its advertised doctrine to have an absolute deterrent against any attempt by China (alone or in combination with Pak) to grab territory ?

Kritavarma

Unknown said...

What makes you believe the words of Lt General panag as gospel truth. Check his resume and inform yourself whether he has fought in amy war in his military career? Or has he participated in any significant battle and won against all odds? The russian military is bogged down in ukraine, what was the performance of american military in afghanistan etc. Were these militaries upto the mark or standards there have also gone down?

I personally take views of military generals with a pinch of salt. So chill out.

Regards

Kunal

Unknown said...

Dear Prasun Sir,

I have some questions.

1) Recently I read that IA is upgrading SA 13 Gopher. Please shed some light about these upgrade.

2)How many SA 13 are operating in IA? Are they going to be replaced by QRSAM?

Thank you
Abhishek

Vinay said...

Prasun sir

1) The west has claimed that while NATO airforces, especially the US is trained for "complex air operations" involving 100s of aircraft in the air simultaneously, the russians are incapable of that, having flown in only small batches of combat planes per mission. Truth or propaganda?

2) Is the indian AF capable of carrying out such complex air operations involving dozens of aircraft simultaneously?

3) Does the IAF train for such missions regularly?

4) Although we have limited info on the PLAAF, how would you compare the capabilites and skill of IAF vs PLAAF?

5) How well equipped is the indian army for night fighting?

6) How do you see the Ukraine war ending? A russian victory or defeat, or a multi year grind?

7) Most importantly, what impact do you see the western sanctions having on russia in the long term?
Many pundits predict the collapse of russian economy and industry, but considering iran has weathered years of such sanctions, despite having nowhere near russia's human and industrial capabilities, I'm not so sure. Your take?

Soumya Ray said...

1. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1805135: Can you shed some 'elaborate' light on each of 3), 4), 7), 8), 9) & 13) from the perspective of respective end-users?

2. IAF already uses Reccelite pod. Is it not better to design EOTS (like F-35) for AMCA (under joint development) instead of working on current generation of pods?
3. DRDO has already developed 120mm & 125mm tank shells. OFB-derived companies produces 155 mm shells. Would it not been possible for IN to nudge DRDO to engineer naval gun to fit current shell design for naval artillery?

just_curious said...

Prasun,

http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2022/03/an-exhaustive-examination-of-how-terror.html- how bad is the issue

Aviation said...

Is the west funding for the balkanization of india? They've learnt their lessons from the rise of china, they won't make the same mistake with india. They've already tasted blood with CAA and farmer's protest. Many non BJP politicians have already started talking about sub-nationalism, even Americans through their pet media and think tank already started talking about it. Our politicians couldn't defeat Modi now they've resorted to these kind of things. It's really scary. One wrong move and it's all over. I still remember Hu Xijin's this tweet. Many in the comments are getting angry but he isn't lying or anything. https://twitter.com/HuXijin_GT/status/1317123846789476353?s=19

Unknown said...

Yes this has been happening since independence..read breaking india by rajiv malhotra..woild be helpful to understand this in detail..our humanities taught in colleges is the worst amongst all nations in the world..

Regards

Kunal

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To ASD: Gen Panag is right because on the equipment front, India is at a distinct advantage, especially in the domains of space-based ISR, anti-satellite weapons, field artillery & rocket artillery, especially in the domain of hypersonic weapons.

To RAJESH MISHRA: NATO won’t be broken unless a new European security architecture is created.

To UNKNOWN: It is just a commercial movie based on the enforced flight of Kashmiri Pandits from 1989 to 1990. But the bloodshed affecting all communities of then J & K state continued till 2004. Here are the REAL Kashmir Files that detail all those periods:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20LIlu7tmek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tXX7caN2tU&t=5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti9iQUMqAxM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4l-_jTa7DM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flrypohx518
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2vesmsOtnE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA1ZF7ghci4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epfwNt8qOis

To RADHA: Platforms like Saab-2000 AEW & CS will be reqd to cruise 250km inside friendly airspace for self-protection. There’s only the ramjet-powered Astra-2 under development.

To VENKY: Yes, that has been tried.

Russia’s 9M729 cruise missile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKNEBTm9Vag

Ukraine S-300 Unit Destroyed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1lV-Nl2rZA

How FIBUA is Conducted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN-1M6A4h3U

IA Caste Regiments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX8ESKmY1yQ

Pakistan Day Parade 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnzGdJntQhs

COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa pushes back security to meet people:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fAbohALs5Q

To KRITAVARMA: 1) Not quite. 2) Of course. 3) India already has PRAHAR TNWs.

To ABHISHEK: 1) Only the 9M333 missiles of the Strella-10M are being re-lifed. 2) The numbers are all given in the QR-SAM thread.

To VINAY: 1) It’s true, because the Russian Air Force does not possess training aids like GPS-based rangeless dissimilar air combat manoeuvring instrumenting system. 2) Yes, because the IAF possesses EHUD rangeless ACMI. 3) Yes, at TACDE. 4) PLAAF too does not possess ACMI training system. 5) Quite well. 6) A multi-month grind. 7) Russia is self-sufficient in both material & human resources & hence economic sanctions won’t have much effect.

To AVIATION & DASHU: No one seems to have paid any attention to these 2 mutually conciliatory tweets. Looks like the grounds are being prepared for a Summit meeting in future between the Indian PM & Chinese President.

Anonymous said...

Prasunda,

VMT.

1) Is GOI's stance on the Ukraine operation appropriate towards ensuring continued Russian support on S-400 deliveries/ Brahmos-II/Zircon and the SSBN/SLBM programs ?

2) Why is GoI allowing someone like Victoria Nuland to pressure it into dumping the Russia partnership ? Dosent that diplomat lie when she claims that the US will substitute for Russia ?

3) Are noises by elements like Victoria Nuland about India rethinking its stand re: Ukraine fake news ? Hope India does nothing to damage its strategic partnership that yields so much in terms of defence technologies.

Kritavarma

Anonymous said...

Prasun Sir,

1) If India is at a distinct disadvantage on the equipment front against PLA (particularly in terns of artillery, ISR, hypersonic weapons etc), then is'nt a two front military embarrasment by PLA and Pak in tandem inevitable in the next few years ?

2) Dose'nt India have an edge in SS_BSMs, ISR etc vis a vis Pak ? If so, how does Gen. Panag say that we do not have the ability to prevail over Pak in a conflict below the nuclear threshold.

3) Has India made its nuclear threshold clear as Pak has, with its doctrine providing for it to use tactical nukes first if need be to prevent large territorial losses ?

WGSCZ

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To KRITAVARMA: LoLz! Forget all this & instead it will do all of us a lot more good if we focus on far more important queries such as: why has the PAF's No.15 'Cobras' Sqn relocated from PAF Rafiqui in Jhang to PAF Minhas in Kamra for the J-10CE conversion? Why does the PAF's official J-10CE video state that the aircraft CAN (& not IS EQUIPPED) accommodate AESA-MMR? The answers will be far more interesting, I assure you.

joydeep ghosh said...

Prasun da

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in India on an unannounced visit, what was #RAW doing??? Sleeping!!!

Aviation said...

They are placing those J10s right on the frontline. God knows what happened to the super sukhoi upgrade?

Anonymous said...

Prasunda,

https://theprint.in/opinion/indias-nuclear-doctrine-is-useless-discard-no-first-use-say-nukes-are-for-china-threat/886866/

Dose'nt the author here have a point? Nuclear no first use seems to prevent India from leveraging its nuclear deterrent to the fullest extent to prevent a PLA conventional adventure....

Satyaki

Chanakya Chatterjee said...

If RAW was to make its intelligence public for you and me or the media, then it would truly be useless ...

KIDDO said...

"LoLz! Forget all this & instead it will do all of us a lot more good if we focus on far more important queries such as: why has the PAF's No.15 'Cobras' Sqn relocated from PAF Rafiqui in Jhang to PAF Minhas in Kamra for the J-10CE conversion? Why does the PAF's official J-10CE video state that the aircraft CAN (& not IS EQUIPPED) accommodate AESA-MMR? The answers will be far more interesting, I assure you."

Sounds intriguing...Kindly Elaborate?

Is the recent "Misfire" of a missile from India somehow connected to this??

Thanks

Sanjay said...

Mr. Prasun

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-assures-pakistan-of-firm-support-in-defending-its-sovereignty-101647941177844-amp.html

and Wang's comments on Kashmir that China Supports the wish of Muslim Countries.

This should make clear that China includes POk as Pak sovereign territory.

We shouldn't fall for any of this BRICS meeting in China trap.

If i remember correctly the Doka La standoff was also resolved because of upcoming BRICS Summit.

The Chinese have this SOP it seems take Modi for a ride(literally) and resume trade without any restrictions only to strike again in the near future.

Thanks

Sanjay

Aviation said...

Do you know anything more on this? https://twitter.com/Aryan_warlord/status/1507359790506274817?s=19

Aviation said...

https://twitter.com/TheLegateIN/status/1507401788135448580?s=19 - So india it is. They offered us the moment they unveiled it to the public for the first time.

How is our indeginous EW capabilities compared to the Israelis? We are making all kind of AESA radar. Hiw tough it is to make our own version of Scorpious G? Does chinese have any system like this?

Harsh said...

Sir,

Do our indigenous EW systems as good as Turkish ASELSAN CORAL EW system?

There is online chatter that Pak has inducted it?


How would it impact Rafale & S-400 Performance?

It is said that it can create "imaginary targets" for enemy radar & other sensors.

Manish 2 said...

Prasun Da,

You answered to one of the queries above that the Indian army is "quite well" equipped for night fighting.

Are you very sure of that ? Even till today, during night ops in Kashmir the army installs flood lights, there is absolutely no standardization of rifle sights, and hardly any soldier is seen with helmet attached goggles. Most soldiers, units are equipped with third class BEL junk, instead of some state of the art Tonbo products.

This equipment is also seen with only LoC units of 15 corps, and to some extent 16 corps units. Do you reckon that any random Infantry battalion sitting in Delhi, or Bangalore would have this equipment, anywhere near their authorization levels? Indian army is still equipped like in army from 1970s, or 1980s. You only have to look at exercises being conducted in Rajasthan. Units outside J&K don't even have a decent basic helmet.

Mya I please request you to provide some context, and elaborate your answer.

Thank you

Raghu said...

Hi Prasun,

Any updates on the matters discussed during Victoria Nuland's and the Chinese FM visits recently

Media did not give much coverage to Nuland's visit and the discussions held. Her interview to the The Hindu did not reveal much either

Regards

Raghu

Unknown said...

Sir someday you said india is at a advantage and next day you said india is at a distinct disadvantage what is the real picture and if that is the case then we should forget whole ladakh and arunachal.

Sanjeev said...

What’s this order of multi purpose vessel signed with L&T? Hadn’t heard of this procurement.

Vinay said...

Prasun sir

1) The west has claimed that russia has a relatively small stockpile of precision guided munitions and are already running out of cruise missiles. Is this true?

2) The US and its allies expended 227,000 bombs in iraq in 1991 war of which 18,000 were PGMs. This fell to around 30,000 bombs in 2003 war with 17,000 bombs. Considering pak has a considerably bigger military than iraq in 1991, we may need at least twice as many air to ground PGMs to beat them. But I have found details of only a couple of thousand air to ground munitions that we have bought over the past 20 years from sites like Sipri (mainly SPICE, Griffin and Kab series laser guided bombs along with a few loitering munitions and cruise missiles).

Is this all India has as far as air to ground PGMs are concerned?
Even Saudi Arabia bought over 4000 JDAMs and 34000 Paveways for its war in Yemen.
Can you give us a rough figure of the amount of laser or GPS guided bombs in the IAF inventory?

3) Have any indian made PGM kits been inducted and are they in mass production?

4) How does the situational awareness of india and china compare with each other along LAC, wrt to radar, drones, SAR equipped aircraft, ELINT, SIGINT etc. If it comes to blows who will have better tactical awareness?

5) Were you pleasantly surprised at the relatively tough language (by Indian standards), the EAM used after meeting Wang Yi? I was.....

6) What do you think transpired in the meeting and how do you think india will behave with china in the near future?

Thanks.

Soumya Ray said...

I posted this earlier on 23rd Mar’2022 as an escape from Ukraine echo chamber and focus on domestic development but somehow it was kissed.
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1805135: Can you shed some 'elaborate' light on following under Make-I & II from the perspective of respective end-users – 3), 4), 6), 7) & 8), 9), 11), 17) and 18)
1. What kind of NSUAS does IN want – ship-borne rail-launched or VTOL
2. AI Based Land Robot – How does IA visualize the role of UGV – direct combat or troop support/casevac/transport or anything else
3. 127mm Naval Gun & projectile – DRDO has already developed 120mm & 125mm tank shells. OFB-derived companies produce 155 mm shells. Would it not been possible for IN to nudge DRDO to engineer naval gun to fit current shell design for naval artillery?
4. Electric Propulsion (Engines) for Ships – like RR’s MT30? Can we even do so in near term under Make-I?
5. Electro Optical (EO) Pod – IAF already uses Reccelite pod as its mainstay. Is it going to be for EOTS (like F-35) for AMCA or normal pod configuration for MWF?
6. Low Orbit Pseudo Satellites - can it really provide reliable and versatile ISR at affordable cost? What will be used to launch, recover and sustain its flight? Is it really tangible or another of "for techies-by techies"???
7. Anti-jamming Systems for Multiple Platforms – What is new in the cooking other than shown in Expos & Republic Day parade?

Aviation said...

1. Why is MPATGM is taking so much time?

2. Is DRDO working on indeginous cooled IIR seeker?

3. Do we own the IP of Barak 8?

4. Can we indigenize the Barak 8 100% without paying the isrealis royalties?

5. Are we still using Israeli seeker on it?

6. Akash NG range?

7. Did the Americans transfer the technology of Javelin ATGM for our SAMHO missile?

Sanjeev said...

Regarding the testing of IA version of MRSAM:is this extended range Barak-8? What’s the range?

Soumya Ray said...

Contd from Above.......
8. Light Tank – How does IA envision the role of the platform? How would it be harmonized within the existing armoured inventory? Why is DRDO & certain pvt defence companies clamoring around for developing the platform?
9. To my query, you once mentioned that DRDO isn’t taking up the development of 127 mm naval gun because of lack of sufficient demand from IN? Then what explains this departure? Why Make-I category at all for this hardware when Buy-Global Model can be undertaken for procurement for 3-P15A, 4 P-15B and 7 P-17A?

My best & warmest Regards

Nikhil M said...

Hi Prasunda

Sorry for repetition if you have already answered this question in earlier threads.

Given the proliferation of MANPADS in our neighborhood, why are we still pushing for the large number of Light attack helicopters and Rudra ? Are they not susceptible to attacks from MANPADS ? Under which tactical scenario will they be used?

Regards
Nikhil

Ved said...

Prasun,
Why army bought two different sniper rifles in .338 calibre viz Sako TRG 42 and Beretta scorpio TGT?

Can Brahmos NG be fitted on P8I replacing the Harpoon?

Still no news on HWT for our scorpenes. Which torpedoes are they currently carrying?

Nikhil M said...

Hi Prasunda

Why we are not progressing with Brahmos 2 missile?

Is Russia holding the technology,

1. For want of more money
2. Does not want india to get this technology sooner
3. Pressure from China

Do we really need Brahmos 2, since we are working on HSTDV ?

Regards

Nikhil

Just_curious said...

Prasun,
How come turkey gets prominence as a arbitration host. Be it the Taliban earlier or now with rus- ukr.did modi miss out on the opportunity when ukr n others reached out to modi?

Raghu said...

Hi

ANI reporting that IAF will be ordering JDAM for Tejas. Fake news? Why does the IAF need this on top of the Hammer from France?

Regards

Raghu

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To: WGSCZ: 1) Not if India expedites the procurement of the hypersonic Zircon/BrahMos-2 & Pralay SS-BSM. 2) No. Not with SS-150/SS-250 Prithvi-1 SS-BSMs & limited nos of BrahMos-1s. 3) There are 2 types of ‘First Use’ options: using it inside the adversary’s territory & using it on one’s own territory as an act of self-defence. Almost all so-called academicians WRONGLY assume that ‘First Use’ means only the former option.

To JOYDEEP GHOSH: How does R & AW come into the picture??? The visit was kept unannounced for the public but not for the Govt of India so that Wang Yi would not have to face a hostile media corps upon his arrival in New Delhi. Hence he had requested that his visit not be officially revealed/announced & hence there was media speculation about his visit at least 4 days prior to his eventual arrival in India. Or are you implying that Wang Yi kept his visit a secret even from the GoI & suddenly sneaked in inside Indian airspace by evading the IAF’s IACCCS network???

To SATYAKI: There are 2 types of ‘First Use’ options: using it inside the adversary’s territory & using it on one’s own territory as an act of self-defence. Almost all so-called academicians (including the one you have quoted) WRONGLY assume that ‘First Use’ means only the former option.

To KIDDO: Nothing intriguing at all. All it means is that much of the mission avionics suite like AESA-MMR, SDR-based tactical data-links & SATCOM transceivers are not on board the PAF J-10CEs & instead such avionics will be installed at PAC Kamra. You can read the details in the April 2022 issue of FORCE magazine. You may have also seen that all IAF AEW & CS & the PAF’s ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle KE-3 AEW & CS & the PLAAF’s KJ-500 platforms each sport at least 12 VHF/UHF radio antennae on their airframe roofs & the belly-sections—meaning none of them as yet have the L-band tactical data-link suites. However, the PLAAF’s J-10s have both C-band & Ku-band SATCOMs while the PAF’s J-10CEs have only Ku-band SATCOMs.

Prasun K. Sengupta said...

To AVIATION: The item on BMP-2 ICVs is FAKE NEWS. The IAI-developed EW suite is not for India, but for Myanmar. DRDO-led development of new-generation hardware is being delayed due to shortages of imported microchips. Barak-8’s IPs are jointly owned. DRDO owns the IP of only the Barak-8’s propulsion system. Akash-NG’s range is mentioned in the thread dealing with the Akash-NG. SAMHO is laser-guided & has nothing to do with the IIR-guided Javelin ATGM.

To HARSH: All types of Indian EW systems/suites are on par with what India’s immediate neighbours possess.

To MANISH 2: I had already done so several times before. No army in the world has achieved standardisation of night-sights for SLRs/carbines or for helmet-mounted NVGs. Flood-lighting along the LoC is resorted to only in those areas where there are ravines, nullahs & rivulets over which no fencing of any kind can be erected.

To SANJEEV: The MPVs are vessels whose reqmts I had voiced about years ago. Essentially, they will be flat-topped vessels on which several modular containers containing various types of mission equipment will be mounted. For instance, shore-based development of naval radars or combat management systems or EW suites does not produce the same results as ship-based naval radars & combat management systems & EW suites. Hence, prototype development of such systems/suites is best done on board vessels that can cruise in deep waters. Hence, such vessels will be used by both the IN & the DRDO.

To VINAY: 1) Not true. 2) Both the IAF & IN have limited stocks of PGMs in small numbers. But the quantum of DRDO-developed PGMs will be far greater. 3) Not yet. 4) China has superior capabilities. The IAF does not even possess modern manned ISR platforms, while the PLAAF procured four SAR-equipped Tu-154Ms from Russia back in the mid-1990s. 5) It wasn’t tough language at all. Just firm language. And what was totally uncalled for was the tweet from the Indian PM WRT China Eastern B.737 crash. When did any Chinese leader ever express similar sentiments about any civilian air-crash in India?

To SOUMYA Ray: To cut a long story short, such lists pit out by the Indian MoD only prove that over the past few decades the MoD has been lying WRT indigenisation & self-reliance. One day the MoD & DRDO claim that a particular end-product is indigenous & later on it emerges that the most critical components inside those end-products are imported! Here are a few examples:

https://twitter.com/DefProdnIndia/status/1507651751805353990/photo/1

https://twitter.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1507333645111275524/photo/1

https://twitter.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1507333645111275524/photo/2

https://twitter.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1507333645111275524/photo/3

If all these are taken into account, then it will emerge that India is reliant on military hardware imports to the extent of 90%.

To NIKHIL M: So does that also mean that since anti-armour weapons are present in far larger numbers therefore the usage of MBTs should be discontinued??? These are illogical & nonsensical questions. There are always solutions available like countermeasures suites. The Zircon/BrahMos-2 hypersonic missile was only recently certified for usage & it now depends on the Govt of India to procure it.

To VED: Different types of sniper rifles are reqd for operating under different types of terrain conditions & climates. No non-US origin weapons can be fitted on to US-origin platforms, especially Russia-origin weapons.

To JUST_CURIOUS: That’s because Turkey has leverage over both Russia & Ukraine, thanks to its physical proximity to both countries as well as to its excellent balancing act, i.e. Turkey continues to import oil/gas from Russia & at the same time has supplied its armed drones to Ukraine. Hence, both countries trust Turkey more than any other country for the hosting of peace negotiations between Russia & Ukraine.

Anonymous said...

I certainly hope that our military experts have studied the Ukraine-Russia war and are making changes that eliminate existing weaknesses in the Russian origin systems and equipment.