News Report: India to Get Long Range Missile Test Facilities in Indian Ocean

Indian Submarine launch Ballistic Missile test in 2013

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has got governmental approval to set up the country’s land based long-range missile facility at South Andaman’s Rutland Island, which is some 200 km from the Strait of Malacca that connects the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India’s National Board of Wildlife cleared the proposal sent by DRDO in 2012 for creating infrastructure facilities for strategic surveillance system at Rutland Island. Facility will have a missile test range for testing of long range missile.

“After discussions, considering the strategic importance of the project for the country’s defense, the Standing Committee decided to recommend the proposal along with the conditions and mitigation measures prescribed by the State Chief Wildlife Warden,” a document released by India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests said.

News Report: In a Bid for Defense Exports, India is Giving Contracts to the Private Sector

The Indian government has started allocating big military orders to private firms in order to boost defense manufacturing. The Indian government seeks greater private sector participation to achieve military exports worth $2 bln by 2019.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – The Indian government has signed a sizable contract with Reliance Defense and Engineering Ltd (RDEL) a company promoted by Reliance Infrastructure, in a major boost for private defense manufacturing. The company claimed that it has signed a contract with India’s Ministry of Defense for the design and construction of fourteen (14) Fast Patrol Vessels (‘FPVs’) for the Indian Coast Guard; the value of the deal is $137.68 million. Reliance Defense and Engineering emerged as the winner through a competitive bidding process undertaken by the Defense Ministry. Almost all the private sector and public sector shipyards: L&T, Cochin Shipyard Limited, Goa Shipyard Limited, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd had participated.

News Report: Critical India-Russia Pact to Improve Fighter Aircraft Availability

An Indian Air Force Su-30MKI (Image: Wiki Commons)

India and Russia are trying to correct the tardy supply of spares for fighter aircraft with a pact that would pave the way for local manufacturing of spares. This move should give further impetus to Indo-Russia defense ties.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — India and Russia are at an advanced stage of signing a long-term arrangement that includes the manufacturing some of the spares of Russian-made aircraft being assembled in India.

Sources say talks between both countries are at an advanced stage for setting up a logistics hub for its most lethal combat aircraft, the Su-30MKI, at the facilities of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in Bangalore.

"Our status with Russia is much better than two years back. We have signed many of the contracts this year, very few are left. We are working on long-term arrangements including the manufacturing some of the spares in India. Earlier, there were some problems due to the need to change their [Russian] laws," Manohar Parrikar, India's Defense Minister, said.

News Story: Indian Navy to Buy Seven Corvettes for $2 Billion

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI - The Indian navy plans to acquire seven new-generation guided missile corvettes at a cost of $2 billion to replace its Russian-built 1241-RE missile boats, allowing only domestic companies to bid under the government's "Make in India" rules.

While the ships themselves must be constructed at an Indian shipyard, some major systems of the boats, particularly the weaponry, will be imported, an Indian Navy official said.

"I suppose most of the leading European and Russian shipyards will be in the fray," says Anil Jai Singh, retired Indian navy commodore and defense analyst.

"The imports could be the Short Range Surface to Air Missile SRSAM, surveillance radars, torpedoes and engines. The rest can be Indian -- that is, the gun, surface-to-surface missile systems, rockets, sonars, most of  the navigation communications and electronic-warfare systems," says Sujeet Samaddar, another former Indian navy official and defense analyst.

The Indian sea service wants the new corvettes to have longer range than the old boats, capable of offensive nuclear submarines attack, anti-submarine warfare, local naval defense, maritime interdiction operations, and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations, according to the a request for proposals sent to Indian industry.

"Missile corvettes are agile high-speed ships with considerable firepower, ideal for a littoral environment. These corvettes will probably have a potent anti-ship missile capability with an adequate point defense missile system and incorporating advanced stealth technologies," says Singh. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Editorial: India's INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier Successfully Undocks

CGI of INS Vikrant (File Photo)

By Ankit Panda

India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant, hit a major milestone this week.

Marking a symbolic milestone, India’s INS Vikrant, its first indigenously built aircraft carrier and the first of two planned Vikrant-class carriers, undocked at Cochin Shipyard. As of this week, the INS Vikrant, with a completed hull and internal structure, is free-floating and will go into static and dynamic trials soon.

The vessel was officially launched in August 2013 when it completed the first phase of its construction. Its undocking marks the successful conclusion of its second phase of construction. The carrier, which first left its dry dock in December 2011, is expected to have fully completed construction by 2016 and to be commissioned in 2017.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Editorial: India's New Aircraft Carrier May Face Further Delays

INS Vikrant under-construction, prior to its 1st launch in 2013

By Franz-Stefan Gady

Progress on India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier is steady, but will it be ready in time?

India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, will be re-launched next week according to local media reports.

The vessel was officially launched in August 2013 with the completion of phase I of construction. The re-launch on May 28 at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi will mark the successful completion of the most critical stage of phase II.

“All major equipment has gone into the vessel, which has now acquired the shape of an aircraft carrier, with a finished hull. Barring a bit of ongoing work on the super structure, structural work is all over and the internal compartments have all been welded in,” a shipyard official was quoted as saying.

Additionally, The Hindu notes that “outfitting is steadily progressing at the moment, but a major part of it — including piping, electrical cabling, control system wiring — will be carried out after the vessel is launched.”

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Report: India Will Relaunch First Domestic Carrier Vikrant Next Week, More Money Approved for Second Carrier

CGI of INS Vikrant (File Photo)

By: Sam LaGrone

India’s long-delayed carrier is set to enter the water next week while the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has approved more money for development of the second indigenous carrier, according to local press reports.

The 40,000-ton INS Vikrant is set to launch from the Cochin Shipyard in the southwest on May 28 following a dry dock period after the initial launch ceremony of the ship in 2013.

“All major equipment has gone into the vessel, which has now acquired the shape of an aircraft carrier, with a finished hull,” said a yard official to The Hindu earlier this month.

“Barring a bit of ongoing work on the super structure, structural work is all over and the internal compartments have all been welded in.”

Editorial: India's Next Warships and Submarines Will Have to be Built at Home

Mazagon Dock Ltd launches 1st Scorpene class Submarine

By Ankit Panda

India’s next warships and submarines will have to be built at Indian shipyards, per a new directive.

India’s Defense Ministry has decided that its orders for future ships, including submarines, will be exclusively available for domestic shipyards, according to a Defense News report. The Indian Navy could potentially have in excess of $50 billion in contracts over the next 10 years for new ships and submarines.

India’s navy is embarking on a major indigenous modernization effort. As The Diplomat reported recently, the Indian government cleared plans for an $8 billion indigenous development program for important naval assets. This included six nuclear-powered submarines and seven stealth frigates.

In fall 2014, India’s Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) approved a $12 billion project for six conventional submarines. According to the Defense News report, this project will still allow the participation of foreign vendors “in the design phase.” The submarines will have to be built in Indian shipyards.

Read the full story at The Diplomat