News Report: India Begins Major Overhauling of Country’s Coastal Security

With a coastline of more than 7500 kilometers, India aims to equip its coast guards with 175 ships & 110 aircraft in next five years.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – After a delay of more than a decade to fill the gaps in coastal security, India has finally expedited the process to add more ships, aircraft, and high-speed interceptor boats to Indian Coast Guard, the country’s smallest armed force.

On Thursday, private defense firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) delivered two more high-speed interceptor Ships (C-433 and C-434) to Indian Coast Guard near Chennai, seven months ahead of contractual schedule. The boats are part of a $200 million deal under which the company has to deliver 54 interceptors.

“Made of aluminum alloy hull with waterjet propulsion, these ships have a speed of over 45 knots with excellent maneuverability and are ideally suited for the high interception,” L&T said in a statement.

News Story: India approves deals for Apache helicopters, maritime engines

AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI ― The Indian government this week cleared long-pending deals for six Boeing Apache attack helicopters and two Zorya marine engines from Ukraine.

The two projects were cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council, which is headed by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley. Formal contracts will be awarded in the next four to six months, a Ministry of Defence official said.

Under the deal, the Indian Army will acquire six Apache attack helicopters for about $650 million. They will be equipped with Hellfire and Stinger missiles.

The Army, which currently has no attack helicopters as part of its inventory, requires 39 Apache helicopters, but the Defence Acquisition Council only cleared six, the MoD official noted.

In 2012, Boeing was awarded a $1.3 billion order for 22 Apache AH-64D helicopters for the Indian Air Force. The deliveries will begin mid-2017 and will include 812 AGM-114L-3 Hellfire Longbow missiles, 542 AGM-114R-3 Hellfire II missiles, 245 Stinger Block I-92H missiles and 12 AN/APG-78 fire-control radars.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: India mine-sweeper program hits another roadblock

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI ― Goa Shipyard Limited’s quest to build 12 high-tech mine countermeasure vessels for $5 billion, which is already delayed, has hit a roadblock over the selection of propulsion engines.

According to a source in India’s Ministry of Defence, the Navy supports a multi-vendor tender process for the engine selection, but Goa Shipyard, citing reservations from Kangnam Corporation of South Korea, prefers a single-vendor nomination of German MTU engines.

Goa Shipyard of India, which is state-owned, was nominated by the MoD to make 12 MCMVs for the Indian Navy. Kangnam was selected to provide the technology needed to build the vessels because India does not possess the required technology.

The Kangam-built MCMVs for the South Korean Navy are fitted with German MTU engines, and the company is offering the same to India. However, the Indian Navy is skeptical about the suitability of German MTU engines for Indian MCMVs because of the differences in geographical location and areas of operation.

India’s coastline is about 7,500 kilometers ― larger than that of South Korea.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: India to Use Bio Fuel for Its Warships

India has embarked on an ambitious plan to make bio-fuel powered warships the new normal. State owned manufacturers have been directed to study the compatibility of natural gas in warship engines without compromising the efficiency of the ships.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — The Narendra Modi led Indian government has prepared a roadmap to replace conventional fuel with bio-fuel in ships used by its defense forces. The roadmap also lays out a plan to use methanol for propelling barges. By doing so, India will not only be able to cut the import of crude oil by at least ten percent in the next five years, the country will also be able to save approximately $15 billion a year.

"It will be good to have a pilot study to examine whether we can use CNG or LNG as fuel for vessels which could be cheaper and cleaner as compared to the other fuels being used for the vessels," Dharmendra Pradhan, India's Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas said.

News Report: From Goa With Love - Sri Lanka Gets Biggest Warship to Date From India

To compete and counter China’s maritime influence in its backyard, India’s Goa Shipyard has delivered an advanced offshore patrol vessel (AOPV) to Sri Lanka, which is considered to be the biggest warship of the small island nation, a critical partner of India in the Indian Ocean.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Designed in-house and built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), the ship is to be commissioned into the Sri Lanka Navy as SLNS Sayurala on August 2 in Colombo. The Indian Navy said, "Ship delivered ahead of schedule and showcases close interaction between Sri Lanka Navy, Indian Navy and manufacturer GSL in the execution of the project."

"First time in the history of GSL, we are handing over two OPVs within a gap of one month, against earlier minimum interval of 5-6 months. In last 20 months, we have delivered 5 OPVs for Coast Guard, 2 FPVs & 11 FICs for Mauritius and this AOPV for Sri Lanka, besides other smaller projects, all ahead of schedule," Rear Admiral Shekhar Mital, Chairman and Managing Director of GSL, said.

News Report: India Left With Four Minesweepers Against Chinese Subs, Experts Fear for Safety

With just four minesweepers out of the 24 required to secure its region from minefields, the Indian Navy is in dire straits with the existing four also due to be decommissioned next year without any news of any induction of new minesweepers.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The Navy recently decommissioned two minesweepers ships, INS Karwar and INS Kakinada. It has left for only four minesweepers against the requirement of at least 24 minesweepers to secure its region from minefields.

The Navy expressed its concern to the Ministry of Defense on this issue during the four-day long Naval Commanders' Conference which ended concluded on May 5, wherein the "top-level leadership of the Navy reviewed readiness to deploy over the entire range of missions in the maritime domain".

By the end of next year, the Indian Navy would have decommissioned all its existing minesweepers, without new inductions.

News Report: India to Challenge Chinese Monopoly on Naval Vessel Supply to Sri Lanka

Amid increased Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region, India has expedited supplying naval vessels to its neighbors to sustain its hold in the region. Once the naval vessel is delivered to Mauritius, India’s Goa Shipyard is expected to transfer an offshore patrol vessel to Sri Lanka next month.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – The Mauritius was given the second Fast Patrol Vessel and Sri Lanka is to get an advanced offshore patrol vessel (OPV). The ships to both the countries have been delivered months before schedule. Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has also begun work on the second OPV destined for the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday which is scheduled to deliver next year.

"India has the capability to build such vessels and give them to friendly countries. We are cooperating with all our neighboring countries, and wherever we have weapons, we can cooperate and be a partner in their security setup. From that perspective, Sri Lanka is an important partner in our bilateral relationship and this OPV is a major milestone in our bilateral relationship," A K Gupta, Secretary, Defense Production said after the launch of the advanced OPV for Sri Lanka.

News Report: India Delivers Second Fast Patrol Vessel to Mauritius

India has delivered the second fast patrol vessel (FPV), christened MCGS Valiant, to the Mauritius Police Force’s National Coast Guard.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — The fast patrol vessel was handed over by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) chairman (Rear Admiral) Shekhar Mital to K Jhugroo, Deputy Commissioner of Police, the Mauritius Police Force.

"We have successfully delivered this ship four months ahead of the contractual schedule of August 2017, within 23 months of keel laying which is a record in itself, which is in lines with the track record of GSL in the recent times of timely deliveries. This shows the dedication and commitment of all the stakeholders involved," Mital said.

The first FPV was delivered to the Mauritius Coast Guard last year in September. The 50-meter-long FPV is powered by triple diesel engine water jets which can reach a top speed of more than 35 knots. It has a range of more than 1500 nautical miles, and endurance is seven days.

News Story: India, South Korea sign agreement to build warships

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India and South Korea inked a memorandum of understanding on Friday in India to cooperate in shipbuilding for military use. 

The memorandum was signed by both India's secretary of defence production, Ashok Kumar Gupta, and South Korean Minister of Defense Acquisition Program Administration Chang Myoung-jin in India "for Defence Industry Co-operation in Shipbuilding," according to an Indian Ministry of Defence news release.

India has chosen state-owned Hindustan Shipyard Limited, or HSL, to cooperate with a shipyard nominated by South Korea. 

"The Inter-Governmental MoU, was conceived under the overall umbrella of the 'Special Strategic Partnership' between both sides as declared in the Joint Statement of the Prime Minister of India and the President of [South Korea] in May 2015," the MoD release said. 

An MoD official explained that the cooperation is part of the Make in India policy, under which warships will be built at domestic shipyards with South Korea's help.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Goa Shipyard nominated to build two stealth frigates for the Indian navy

Talwar class Frigate (Image: Wiki Commons)

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI - India's private shipyards are unhappy with a Ministry of Defense decision to nominate state-owned shipyard Goa Shipyard to build two  Russian Krivak-class stealth frigates over two private sector competitors, Larsen & Toubro and Reliance Defence and Engineering. 

During  a meeting with Russian defense officials last week, MoD has cleared a $4.48 billion program to acquire four Krivak-class stealth frigates under which two will be built by Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation and the remaining two by Goa Shipyard, a senior MoD official said. 

“A formal contract is expected to be awarded within the next four months”, the official said, adding that USC will deliver the frigates in the next four years but Goa Shipyard will take eight years to deliver. 

“The private-sector shipyards have already brought it to the notice to MoD informally their unhappiness on giving GSL the contract to build the two Krivak class frigates on nomination basis,” an executive of the industry lobby group Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry said, requesting anonymity to speak candidly. 

"They (private shipyards) want greater orders to push the private sector," the FICCI executive noted. 

Anil Jai Singh, retired Indian Navy Commodore and defense analyst, said, "This decision (to nominate GSL for two Krivak class frigates) has indeed surprised me." 

GSL is a very capable yard but has never built anything of the size and sophistication of the Krivaks, Singh said. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: Indian Navy Can Be a Sitting Duck For Mines From Next Year

Indian Navy needs at least 24 mine counter-measure vehicles to plug the shortfall. China has more than 100 such minesweepers and mine counter-measure vehicles.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – The inordinate delay in procurement will leave the Indian Navy, the world’s fifth largest, without minesweepers which are essential for ships to detect, track and destroy mines laid by enemy forces to choke harbors and spread mayhem. This startling revelation came to light when the Indian government accepted before a parliamentary committee that all six mine counter-measure vehicles (MCMVs) currently operational in the Navy will be retired by 2018.

India had bought six MCMVs from the erstwhile Soviet Union in the 1970s. Last year, the Indian government agreed to build 12 new MCMVs with the South Korean collaboration at Goa Shipyard.

India: Visit of Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy

Vice Admiral RC Wijegunaratne, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy is on an official visit to India from 29 January to 02 February 2017. The visit is aimed at consolidating bilateral naval relations between India and Sri Lanka and to explore new avenues for naval cooperation.

Commander, Sri Lankan Navy will hold bilateral discussions with Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff and other senior officials of the Indian Navy on 30 January 2017.  The Admiral is also scheduled to meet the Chief of the Air Staff, Chief of the Army Staff as well as the Director General, Indian Coast Guard. Calls on of the Hon’ble Minister of State for Defence and Defence Secretary have also been scheduled as part of his official meetings in New Delhi.

Naval cooperation between India and Sri Lanka has been traditionally strong, encompassing a wide span which includes operational interactions through bilateral exercises, Training, Port Calls, Hydrographic co-operation, Special Forces interactions, Capability Building and Capacity Augmentation initiatives. Two Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPVs) are also being constructed for the Sri Lankan Navy at M/s Goa Shipyard Limited.

In addition to New Delhi, the Admiral is also scheduled to proceed to Goa where he will be visiting Naval War College and Goa Shipyard Limited besides interacting with Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area. The Admiral would further visit the Training Command of the Indian Navy based at Kochi, where he would be briefed on training aspects and would also visit various training facilities/ professional schools. During his visit to Kochi, the Admiral would also interact with Sri Lankan Naval personnel undergoing training in India. The Commander, Sri Lankan Navy’s visit follows closely on the visit of the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba’s visit to Sri Lanka wherein he also participated in the 7th International Maritime Conference, Galle Dialogue 2016.

Indian Press Information Bureau

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 Story: Indian Navy $5 Billion MCMV Program Hits Roadblock

By: Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI - Indian Navy's $5 billion program to build 12 high-tech new generation mine counter-measure vessels (MCMVs) has run into rough weather, as Kangnam Corporation of South Korea virtually refuses to provide a performance guarantee for supervision of construction of the vessels by state-owned Goa Shipyard Ltd. 

The design and technology transfer agreement worth over $ 1 billion with Kangnam Corporation for 12 MCMVs in India is "not in sight as of now" an MoD official added. "There are several parameters of the technology transfer which need to be finalized before the agreement with Kangnam is signed."  

"The real bone of contention is we want full intellectual property rights of the MCMVs which is not acceptable to the selected design and technology partner," the MoD official disclosed. 

No executive of Kangnam Corporation was available for comment. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: India Eyes Indian Ocean, Defense Minister Visits Island Nation of Mauritius

Manohar Parrikar (Image: Wiki Commons)

Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar is visiting Mauritius for three days; the trip holds significance, as India is expected to leverage its position in the region by offering a line of credit to Mauritius for additional defense purchases.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has arrived in Mauritius, where he will hand over two upgraded Cheetah helicopters to the nation's government during his three-day visit. Sources say Parrikar will also commission an Indian-built fast patrol naval vessel for the country's coast guard. In September, India presented the country a 50+ meter fast patrol vessel. The ship is fitted with a 30mm Close Range Naval-91 gun, 12.7mm heavy machine guns and 7.62mm medium machine guns, as well as state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment. Goa Shipyard, which manufactured the vessel, has claimed that vessel is capable of achieving a high speed of 35 knots.

India: INS Sumitra Visits Darwin, Australia

INS Sumitra (Image: Wiki Commons)

In pursuit of India’s ‘Act East’ policy and outreach to friendly countries, the Indian Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel Sumitra, has reached Darwin, Australia today (06 Dec 16). The ship on a three day visit from 06-09 Dec 16, is on her return passage to India after participating in the Royal New Zealand Navy International Naval Review 2016. The ship had earlier visited Sydney from 04-07 Nov 16.

The visit to Australia is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing maritime security cooperation between the two countries. During the stay in harbour, various activities are planned towards enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding between the two navies such as professional interactions with RAN and discussions towards further enhancing inter-operability. In addition, calls on senior Government and military authorities, sporting and cultural interactions and sharing of best practices would also be undertaken. On departure, the ship would also undertake a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with RAN ships.

Sumitra, is the fourth of the Saryu class ships, based on an indigenous design and constructed by M/s Goa Shipyard Ltd, India. Since commissioning in 2014, the ship has been deployed for multiple operational tasks, the most notable being ‘Operation Rahat’, which entailed the evacuation of personnel of various nationalities from war-torn Yemen in 2015. The ship has a range of 6,500 nautical miles and is capable of embarking one Dhruv/ Chetak helicopter. The ship is commanded by Cdr KP Shreeshan.

Indian Press Information Bureau

News Story: India and Oman to Upgrade Defense Ties

Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India and Oman signed pacts to upgrade their defense ties during Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's May 20-22 visit to the gulf nation, which was the first country India established defense ties with in the 1970s.

The countries agreed to work together on boosting defense, crime prevention at sea, maritime issues and a flight safety information exchange.

A Ministry of Defense (MoD) official said the two countries will explore the possibility of India exporting weapons to Oman, which could also include setting up defense production facilities there.

Parrikar was accompanied by a high-powered delegation of military planners and officials, including Ashok Gupta, secretary (defence production); Dr. S. Christopher, secretary, director general of the Defence Research and Development Organization; Lt. Gen. MMS Rai, vice chief of Army Staff; Vice Adm. Sunil Lanba, Western Naval Command; and Air Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, vice chief of Air Staff.

Seldom has such a big delegation been part of a defense minister's visit overseas, the MoD official said, which he said indicates the level of defense cooperation India and Oman are hoping to achieve.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: GRSE to Export Light Frigates to Philippines

India's Kamorta class ASW Corvette (Image: Wiki Commons)

Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — In a major win for the Indian warship building industry, India's state-run Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has emerged as the winner for Philippine Navy's big-ticket modernization program.

GRSE was the lowest bidder to supply two light frigates and hopes to seal the contract worth more than $321 million in the next two months, said one GRSE official.

A total of four firms joined the bidding for the Philippine Navy project: GRSE; Hyundai Heavy Industries Inc. and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., both from South Korea; and Navantia S.A. of Spain.

GRSE, administered by the Indian Ministry of Defence, has built 95 warships, including frigates, corvettes and fast patrol boats, since 1960.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Kangnam Selected by India To Build Minesweepers

Vivek Raghuvanshi

GOA, India — South Korea's Kangnam Corporation has emerged as a sole bidder to respond to a global expression of interest (EOI) floated by India's state-owned Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) last year to jointly build 12 mine countermeasure vessels (MCMV).

A source with GSL described the response and said the joint effort would cost the Indian Navy $5 billion.

Since Kangnam is the sole respondent to the EOI, leading to a single vendor situation, GSL had sought special permission from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) last month to go ahead with selecting the South Korean company as its technology transfer partner.

Last week, the MoD accepted the GSL's proposal, paving the way for inking the contract with Kangnam, a GSL source said.

Kangnam will transfer technology and help in the production of the MCMVs. However, no details of the business arrangement between the South Korean company and GSL is known.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Domestic Shipyards To Build All Indian Naval Warships

Indian built Kolkata class Destroyer

Vivek Raghuvanshi

NEW DELHI — India's domestic shipyards are meeting all warship requirements of the Indian Navy, according to the government.

Indian Deputy Defense Minister Rao Inderjit Singh informed the upper house of Parliament on Tuesday that all major warships and submarines currently under construction are being built at state-owned and private domestic shipyards.

"A comprehensive assessment of the modernization needs of the defense shipyards has been made based on the requirement of the ongoing and future projects. The modernization program is intended to increase productivity and reduce build periods through upgradation of existing infrastructure, enhancement of capacity and incorporation of 'state of the art' shipbuilding technology," said an Indian Ministry of Defence press release.

Read the full story at DefenseNews