India (Superthread)

[a_majoor]

Too bad they are not offering the F-16XL. That version offered increased fuel capacity by 82%. The F-16XL could carry twice the ordnance of the F-16 and deliver it 40% farther. The enlarged wing allowed a total of 27 hard points.

The extended range and additional ordinance would provide a lot of flexibility of the Indian Air Force (deep strike missions into Pakistan or long patrols over the ocean with anti ship missiles), without a lot of extensive R&D either.

 

[MarkOttawa]

Meanwhile on the Chinese front near Kashmir (note also M777 howitzer buy):

The Himalayan Military Cockpit, Indian Tanks to Ladakh Near China Section
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2016/07/20/mark-collins-the-himalayan-military-cockpit-indian-tanks-to-ladakh-near-china-section/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[CougarKing]

More Poseidons for India:

Defense News

India Awards $1 Billion Contract to Boeing for Four P-8I Aircraft
Vivek Raghuvanshi, Defense News 8:46 p.m. EDT July 27, 2016

NEW DELHI — Coinciding with a visit by Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall, India today awarded Boeing a $1 billion contract for the purchase of four more P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft to be flown by the country's navy pilots.

The contract for the planes sets deliveries to be completed within the next three years, according to a senior ministry of defense official who requested not to be named.
(...SNIPPED)

 

[MarkOttawa]

More on LockMart offer to build F-16V in India:

Future F-16s Built in India, Including for Export?
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2016/08/08/mark-collins-future-f-16s-built-in-india-including-for-export/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[tomahawk6]

With production lines slated to close this sort of outsourcing is thinking outside the box.There are certainly risks but its probably worth the gamble that India remains friendly to the West.

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/why-lockheed-martins-bid-build-lethal-f-16-fighters-india-17329

The US Air Force and those of other NATO countries are phasing out F-16s much sooner than anticipated. This implies that performance of F-35s has met expectations, and that there are no obvious show-stoppers to ramping up production as fast as budgets allow. The F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 production lines are all slated to close by 2020. But there is more to this deal, as it has the potential to alter the balance of power in South and Southeast Asia over the next decade.

Lockheed-Martin’s “Made in India” deal, which offers exclusive rights to manufacture and produce ‘Block 70/72’ F-16s, implies that few—if any—orders are expected from NATO countries. India will have a veto on sales to sensitive countries like Pakistan and Taiwan. This deal is being “finalized”, though no deal with India is a done deal until cash arrives on the barrelhead. But suppose it moves forward, and Indian F-16s are produced in quantity starting in 2019 or 2020. Depending on the technologies transferred or made accessible by India, there is considerable scope to update and upgrade the F-16 to achieve a degree of equivalence to stealth-by-other-means, so as to be competitive with state-of-the-art and relatively stealthy Russian and Chinese fighters. Those upgrades will likely find a ready market with the world’s F-16 operators.

 

[CougarKing]

So much for Lockheed's aforementioned plans to get a deal to build F16s in India if the Indian MoD is eyeing an Indian-made Super Hornet instead:

Defence Update

Bye Bye Rafale, Ministry plans to buy F 18 IN

Source’s close to Defense ministry confirms that India plans to produce the American F 18 in India with TATA as the indigenous supplier. The proposed sale will be discussed and to be drafted in the upcoming visit of US DOD Chief to India. US major Lockheed proposed the F 16 IN to India, due to the single engine and the Lockheed’s relationship with Pakistan forced the IAF keep out  Lockheed’s offer.

On the other side Boeing has made good relationship with India, recent signatures of AH 64 and CH 47, and Boeing’s MoU with TATA also good example for that. F 18 IN is the advanced variant of F 18 E/F version, IN version has larger Indian sub components, also allows to carry Indian and Israeli made weapons.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[MarkOttawa]

PM Modi weighs in, unusually, on Pak Baluchistan:

Indian PM Modi Pours (RAW) Fat on Pakistan’s Baluchistan Fire
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2016/08/17/mark-collins-indian-pm-modi-pours-raw-fat-on-pakistans-baluchistan-fire/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[MarkOttawa]

More at the very useful The Diplomat (very good on Asia):

India-Pakistan Relations: A Paradigm Shift
Remarks by Modi and Sharif at their independence day celebrations signal the end of attempts at reconciliation.

Bold words marked the 70th anniversaries of independence for both India and Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif, prime minister of Pakistan, dedicated the day to the freedom of Indian-occupied-Kashmir, which is currently undergoing significant civilian unrest following the killing of separatist military commander Burhan Wani. “I dedicate this year’s 14 August to the freedom of Kashmir. I dedicate it to those people of Kashmir, who bravely faced the state oppression but kept the spirit of freedom alive,” Sharif was quoted as saying.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi fired back at Pakistan in his annual Independence Day address, accusing Pakistan of fanning unrest and glorifying terrorism. “They glorify terrorists who attack us,” he said, reminding the world that India “cried with sorrow” over the death of 130 children who were killed two years ago during the Peshawar massacre.

However, what appeared to be a typical occurrence — a exchange of barbed words between the two countries — quickly revealed a shift in normalcy in the relations between the two neighboring countries. Modi’s once friendly and reconciliatory policy with Pakistan has been dropped completely; there will be no more surprise visits from Modi to Pakistan any time soon, nor will there be any more calls between the premiers to celebrate Eid or other religious holidays.

What’s more, it seems India has a new strategy altogether. In his speech, Modi acknowledged the thanks of the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit, and Balochistan, explicitly drawing attention to their troubles within Pakistan. By choosing to highlight human rights abuses and the independence movement, particularly in Balochistan, Modi is signaling a new, more aggressive Indian foreign policy toward Pakistan. If Pakistan continues to raise the issue of human rights violations in India-occupied Kashmir then India will do just the same in Pakistan’s most sensitive province.

Pakistan has long accused India of fueling terrorism in Balochistan, its largest province, and of supporting its independence movement [via RAW http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32604137 ] ...
http://thediplomat.com/2016/08/india-pakistan-relations-a-paradigm-shift/

Mark Collins

 

[MarkOttawa]

Note terrorism and Afghan angles at 2)--Paks will not be best pleased:

Eagle’s India Full Court Press (unhappy Paks)
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2016/08/30/mark-collins-eagles-india-full-court-press-unhappy-paks/

And the US will be disappointed if they think India will turn into some sort of real partner, however much bribed with defence equipment; tous azimuts, save Pakistan and China, remains the Indian posture.

Mark
Ottawa

 

[MarkOttawa]

Let's see how this works out in the real, Indian, world; Americans are ever-prone to over-enthusiasm:

India and U.S. deepen defense ties with landmark agreement
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/india-and-us-deepen-defense-ties-with-landmark-agreement/2016/08/30/2e7e045b-e3c3-49ff-9b2c-08efaa27b82b_story.html

Meanwhile this, openly encouraged by US, will worry Paks muchly:

Afghanistan army chief in India
Indian Army in a statement said his visit comes against the backdrop of enhanced military and defence cooperation between the two countries
http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/afghanistan-army-chief-in-india-116083001386_1.html

Mark
Ottawa

 

[MP 811]

Note terrorism and Afghan angles at 2)--Paks will not be best pleased:

And the US will be disappointed if they think India will turn into some sort of real partner, however much bribed with defence equipment;

Mark
Ottawa

Disappointed in a number of ways for sure and the bribing will have to go a lot further than just defence equipment!

Funny and a touch off topic, but they (the Indians) were rolling out all the red carpets and vice regal salutes for John Kerry's visit here yesterday.  A 15 minute trip from the airport to his hotel took over an hour with Kerry actually being stuck in traffic.

 

[MarkOttawa]

En nuke fin? Rafales for India (further links at orignal, via Indian Express)?

...
Asia Pacific

Dassault Rafale fighters purchased by the Indian government are believed to operate as the platform to take over the nuclear strike role external link from the Indian Air Force’s current fleet of Mirage 2000 fighters. It’s expected that a long awaited Inter-Government Agreement for the purchase of 36 of the French fighter will be announced over the next few days after New Delhi dropped its initial plan to procure 126 Rafales. While there is a follow up clause for an additional 12 Rafales, the IAF’s capability gap will be filled by either the indigenous Tejas fighters, or another foreign fighter such as the Gripen or F-16 [plus Super Hornet], both of which have been offered in conjunction with the “Make in India” initiative…
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/trudeaus-vow-to-ditch-the-f-35-could-be-tough-denel-poly-tech-join-to-produce-naval-vessels-for-sa-airbus-to-introduce-digital-methods-into-operations-034826/

Super Hornet:
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/not-just-assemble-boeing-keen-to-make-in-india-super-hornet-fighters-1280039

Mark
Ottawa

 

[MarkOttawa]

Back to Kashmir:

The Asian Military Cockpit, Kashmir Section

Further to this July post,

"Bloody Weekend in Indian Kashmir (Canadian media ignore)"
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2016/07/11/mark-collins-bloody-weekend-in-indian-kashmir-canadian-media-ignore/

things could get very hairy in a most dangerous part of the (nuclear-armed) world:

"The Indian Army Just Suffered Its Biggest Attack in a Decade as Tensions Rise with Pakistan
Sunday’s [Sept. 18] terrorist attack that killed 17 New Delhi troops occurred alongside a new Kashmir crackdown that has killed 85 so far.

Yet again, India is wounded. And furious..."
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2016/09/20/mark-collins-the-asian-military-cockpit-kashmir-section-2/

Things getting quite dicey.

Mark
Ottawa

 

[MP 811]

Back to Kashmir:

Things getting quite dicey.

Mark
Ottawa

To say the least.  I'm posted here in India right now and the sabre rattling is ramping up quite quickly here.  Things are going on up there daily that we are watching very closely

 

[MarkOttawa]

Rafale sale to India finally goes through--note nuke angle, lots of tech details (further links at original):

France Sells 36 Rafale Fighters To India Amid Regional Tension

The contract between France and India for the sale of 36 Dassault Rafale fighters is welcomed by French officials as a diplomatic coup, but it also looms large as part of the arms race between India and some of its neighbors—namely Pakistan and China.

That positioning could fuel further success, as Dassault has reason to hope for a follow-on deal for more Rafales. Indian engineers integrating nuclear weapons on the Rafale cannot be ruled out.

But just as Dassault sees further opportunity in the remaining 90 aircraft, so do its competitors. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Saab have all pitched fighters to New Delhi, offering to make their products in-country [emphasis added]...

The India agreement was signed in New Delhi by French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar. In addition to the combat aircraft and accompanying missiles, some of the €7.75 billion ($8.6 billion) is earmarked for maintenance and training. The first Rafale is scheduled to be delivered late in 2019, with the remaining 35 aircraft to follow over a 60-month time frame, an Indian defense ministry official says. Twenty-eight will be single-seat aircraft; eight will be two-seat versions.

The aircraft’s weapon configuration will feature the air-to-air, beyond-visual-range Meteor missile, which is reported to be a prerequisite for the deal. The Rafales will also carry the Scalp cruise missile, Mica air-to-air missile and AASM precision-guided munition. The AM39 Exocet could be added.

The Rafale’s nuclear capability is officially excluded, as international treaties ban such exports. The airframer is supposed to remove any equipment that could help enable a nuclear mission. However, an official familiar with the Indian air force’s nuclear carriers, notes that India has modified its Dassault Mirage 2000s for this purpose. “The Mirage 2000 is the Indian air force’s main nuclear carrier,” the official says. “It took them a lot of time and money, and they had to solve problems caused by unsuited specifications, but they did it.”..

...
http://aviationweek.com/defense/france-sells-36-rafale-fighters-india-amid-regional-tension

Mark
Ottawa

 

[MarkOttawa]

Super Hornet out for building in India (is Saab going to offer Gripen E for RCAF?):

Now India Wants to Build Foreign Single-Engine Fighter (Gripen? F-16?)
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2016/10/11/mark-collins-now-india-wants-to-build-foreign-single-engine-fighter-gripen-f-16/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[CBH99]

I don't mean to derail the thread at all - just a quick question about the Rafale.

What makes a fighter "nuclear capable" compared to a fighter that isn't?

For example, if an F-15E and a Rafale are flying at the same speed & the same altitude, what makes one capable of delivering a nuclear munition & the other not?

 

[MarkOttawa]

CBH99:

What makes a fighter "nuclear capable" compared to a fighter that isn't?

It's not the aircraft itself, rather the special equipment that must be installed to ensure safe carriage and arming of the weapon(s), esp. no unauthorized use.

"Dr. Strangelove" 0.45:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8qCkVklFWE

Mark
Ottawa

 

[MarkOttawa]

Further to these 2015 posts,

Indo-Pak Nuke Missile Race
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2015/04/17/mark-collins-indo-pak-nuke-missile-race/

Indo-Pak Nuke Missile Race, Warheads Section
https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2015/08/27/mark-collins-indo-pak-nuke-missile-race-warheads-section/

let's also consider China:

India Tests Agni-V Ballistic Missile

India today [Dec. 26] conducted successful test of the nuclear-capable long-range surface to surface ballistic missile, Agni-V.

The missile is indigenously designed and developed by state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation.

"The test – the fourth in a row – was a complete success," a senior DRDO scientist said. "Three more tests are planned before the missile is inducted in the defense forces... The full range test-flight of the missile has further boosted the indigenous missile capabilities and deterrence level of the country."..

"Agni-V will be the last link in the chain of land-based deterrence vis a vis China as at present India cannot pose a viable threat to major Chinese counter value targets such as large cities," said Rahul Bhonsle, a defense analyst and retired Indian Army brigadier and defense analyst. "This will certainly place the country at par with the Chinese as well as other major missile powers such as the United States and Russia to some extent. Thus India enters the exclusive intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) club."

"India had strategically delayed the testing of 5000 kilometres range Agni-V for one year to ensure a seat in the Missile Control Technology Regime (MTCR) which it got in July this year," said a senior MoD official who requested anonymity.

The fourth test of Agni-V missile was first scheduled for December 2015 which was postponed to January 2016 and then to March 2016 and then rescheduled because of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to US in June this year.

...The surface-to-surface Agni-V missile is seven meters long and can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one ton.

A DRDO scientist further noted that there is also a proposal to develop Agni-VI missile with a range of over 10,000 kilometers, but the status of the project is not known.

India has already inducted the homemade nuclear capable Agni-I with a range of 700 kilometers, Agni-II with a range of 2000 kilometers,3000 kilometers range Agni-III missile The 4000 kilometers range Agni-IV missile is in user trial stage.
http://www.defensenews.com/articles/india-tests-agni-v-ballistic-missile

Mark
Ottawa

 

[MarkOttawa]

Spending spree abroad, hoping for domestic spin-offs--sound familiar?

A shopping cart full of foreign guns and fighter jets

Despite the impetus to ‘Make in India’, the country continues to be dependent on imports to modernise its military as big-ticket deals show

Though the Union government has been pushing the “Make in India” programme and bringing in new guidelines to simplify defence procurements and promote domestic manufacturing, the country continued to be dependent on imports to modernise its military. Several big-ticket deals this year have shown that the nation will continue to depend on imports for major platforms, and government-to-government deals with foreign companies have emerged as the preferred route.

A major change on the fiscal side this year is that the Defence Ministry will utilise its full budgetary allocation for capital procurements. “The Finance Ministry has not asked for any money to be returned,” officials said. This will definitely cheer the Ministry as it has to make initial payments for the deals recently signed.

In September, the government signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with France for 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of €7.87 billion. In doing so, the government has brought closure of the original Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft contest that which began in 2007 for 126 jets, under which Rafale was originally shortlisted.

Decks are now cleared for adopting the same method in a new avatar to select a fighter jet to be built indigenously with significant technology transfer [F-16V? Gripen E? Super(ish) Super Hornet?].

In October, India and Russia concluded IGAs for five S-400 Triumf air defence systems and four stealth frigates and signed a stakeholder agreement for Kamov-226T utility helicopters, together worth over $10 billion. The final contracts are yet to be signed.

On November 30, the Defence Ministry signed the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for 145 M777 ultra-light howitzers [from BAE US] in a deal worth $737million.

All these deals are between governments and have offset clauses under which the companies are contract- bound to invest in India to source components. “An IGA is convenient as it is between sovereign governments and there is no room for controversy. They also save time,” said an official.

Missing guidelines

On the other hand, the Defence Ministry has brought in the new Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), 2016, which came into effect in April. It aims to give impetus to the private sector and promote domestic manufacturing.

However, a key chapter in the DPP on forming strategic partnerships in critical sectors is yet to be finalised. Hence big-ticket tenders have been held up.

For instance, the tender for six submarines under Project 75I to be built locally with technology transfer and worth over ₹50,000 crore is awaiting policy clarity on strategic partnerships. Similar is the case with the new fighter aircraft deal, officials told The Hindu.

Submarine and fighter aircraft are some of the designated platforms for collaboration under the strategic partnership model [emphasis added].

Domestic scene

On the domestic front, the Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully tested an indigenously developed 155-mm 52-calibre howitzer called the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) recently. It was developed in partnership with Bharat Forge, Tata Power and the Ordinance Factory Board.

If the gun passes all user trials and is inducted into the Army, it will be a major boost to indigenous manufacturing.

The Army has a requirement for thousands of artillery guns to replace its older variants.

While this is the case with major platforms, the armed forces continue to struggle for small but critical requirements. Repeated attempts by the Army to procure a basic rifle for its soldier remain a mirage.

Deals for carbines, assault rifles, sniper rifles and Light Machine Guns (LMG) have all been cancelled recently and are being re-initiated...
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/A-shopping-cart-full-of-foreign-guns-and-fighter-jets/article16947371.ece

Mark
Ottawa