Defence

Delhi, 14th July 2023: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has said that international geo-politics is in a flux and the national strategy should aim to absorb the changes in such a way that it meets the challenges and exploits the opportunities. Inaugurating the DRDO Directors’ Conclave, an annual event of DRDO, in New Delhi on July 14, 2023, General Chauhan stressed the need to perform, reform, transform, inform and conform to meet the emerging challenges. Referring to the “Technology Requirements emerging from Theaterisation”, he said superiority in technology and tactics is the need of the hour and Indian Armed Forces are investing in new technologies to win engagements. Highlighting the principles of jointness, integration and theaterisation, General Anil Chauhan said in the national security realm, the concept of theaterisation is a fundamental change that is on the anvil. “It is one of the most ambitious changes with far reaching implications attempted post-independence. The start on this journey depends on the right steps being taken first towards jointness and integration. Theaterisation involves creation of tri service theatre specific structures for effective response along the entire spectrum of conflict,” said General Anil Chauhan. The CDS said, integration in the physical domain aims to achieve a multiplier effect as it combines the unique capabilities of the Services through integrated processes and structures to increase the war fighting capability. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat, in his inaugural address, highlighted the changes occurring in the nature of warfare and criticality involved in them. He stressed on the need to reform and transform the perspectives in tandem the goal of Aatmanirbharta and Make in India. General Chauhan released the DRDO’s second list of systems and subsystems for industry to design, develop and manufacture, in line with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat. This second list of DRDO is in continuation to the list of 108 items released earlier. He also released the “DRDO Guidelines for Production Coordination”, which outlines the mechanism for production coordination and resolution of issues associated with production of DRDO developed military equipment/ platforms/ systems. The guidelines bring out a two-tier mechanism to resolve issues related to production of these systems by involving designers, users, production agencies, quality agencies and other stakeholders. The initiative will further pave the way for the Indian Defence Industry to develop defence technologies/ systems towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The two-day conclave is organised as follow up to the various Chintan Shivir meetings and review of their outcome by the Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh. It is being attended by top officials of DRDO including Directors General of various technology as well as corporate clusters, directors of DRDO laboratories, directors of DRDO headquarters and Integrated Financial Advisors (IFAs). It will include deliberations on various issues in line with the theme “Redefining Role of DRDO in the Wake of New Government Policies and Emerging Scenarios” through six technical sessions each followed by a panel discussion. ( News & Image: PIB)

Delhi, 14th July 2023: A meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), held under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved three proposals.The DAC granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procurement of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft along with associated ancillary equipment, weapons, simulator, spares, documentation, crew training and logistic support for the Indian Navy from the French Government based on Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA). The price and other terms of purchase will be negotiated with the French Government after taking into account all relevant aspects, including comparative procurement price of similar aircraft by other countries. Further, integration of Indian designed equipment and establishment of Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) Hub for various systems will be incorporated into the contract documents after due negotiations. The DAC also granted the AoN for procurement of three additional Scorpene submarines under Buy (Indian) category which will be constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). The procurement of additional submarines, with higher indigenous content, will not only help in maintaining required force level and operational readiness of the Indian Navy, but also create significant employment opportunities in the domestic sector. It will also help the MDL in further enhancing its capability and expertise in submarine construction. In addition, the DAC approved the proposal to lay down guidelines for achieving the desired indigenous content in all categories of capital acquisition cases. It will help in achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in critical manufacturing technologies and life-cycle sustenance of defence platforms/equipment through indigenous manufacturing.

Moscow, 11th July , 2023 Rosoboronexport JSC  will showcase highly effective Counter Precision Guided Munition (Counter-PGM) systems developed and produced by Russian defense industry to guests and visitors of the ARMY 2023 Forum. “The experience of military conflicts shows a rapidly growing trend towards the use of land, air and sea-based precision guided munitions. With their stealthy signature, ability to maneuver and penetrate various air defenses, smart missiles and bombs can inflict significant damage on military, economic, and infrastructure facilities. Russian defense companies have developed and produce high-tech systems able to counter the most advanced PGMs. Their effectiveness has been proven in real combat conditions,”- says Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheev. “Rosoboronexport presents a wide range of export versions of Russian systems designed both to destroy and completely disable PGMs. Their combined use provides reliable protection of military and civilian facilities against any current and emerging weapons. The company is ready, in the framework of technology cooperation, to jointly develop and produce new models with partners, given high competence of Russian enterprises.” In the segment of Counter-PGM electronic warfare systems, common jamming modules of the Pole-21E electronic countermeasures (ECM) system designed to protect strategic assets and infrastructure against pinpoint strikes by PGMs, as well as the R-330Zh automated satellite communication/navigation ECM system are in high demand. These systems can effectively protect the covered facilities from single and massive strikes by any precision guided conventional-warhead weapons fitted with various guidance systems, including when the enemy intensely deploys countermeasures. They are capable to jam navigation equipment of precision guided weapons and prevent the guidance of its submunitions in the designated area, as well as inform the covered facilities. The systems can be controlled remotely and operate in a stand-alone automated mode. Almaz-Antey Corporation’s Viking, Buk-M2E, and Tor SAM systems are capable to effectively engage precision guided munitions and optimal among those presented by Rosoboronexport in the world market. The Pantsir-S1 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun/missile system and its upgraded version, the Pantsir-S1M, produced by High Precision Systems, a Rostec subsidiary, is equally effective against PGMs. Rosoboronexport and manufacturers are ready to hold presentations of Counter-PGM systems on the sidelines of the ARMY 2023 International Military-Technical Forum, which will be held from August 14 to 20 at the Patriot Convention and Exhibition Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Interested partners will be provided with the necessary information about the performance characteristics, features and experience of using the weapons exhibited as well as told about their competitive advantages in the global market.

Kuala Lumpur,12th July 2023: Recognising defence exports as a key pillar of sustainable growth of the Indian defence industry, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Regional Office of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 11, 2023. This Regional Office will facilitate close defence industrial collaboration between India and Malaysia. It will also serve as a hub for the HAL’s engagement with the wider South-East Asian region and act as a window for other Indian Defense PSUs. Malaysia is home to the second largest members of the Persons of Indian Origin and has a significant presence of the NRI community. The Raksha Mantri interacted with the Indian diaspora on two different occasions. The first community interaction included Ministers and senior officials of Government of Malaysia and eminent personalities from polity, culture & the industry. The reception was attended by Minister for Human Resources of Malaysia V Siva Kumar and Deputy Minister for Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives Development Ms Saraswathy Kandasami. During the event, the Raksha Mantri appreciated the rich legacy of Indian classical art tradition in Malaysia as witnessed in the presentations of Odissi dance as well as the Carnatic and Hindustani music performances by renowned Malaysian artistes. In a separate event, Rajnath Singh interacted with the members of the diverse and vibrant Indian community in Malaysia, including the leaders and members of various Indian community organisations in the country. He appreciated their deep-rooted and close connect with India. The Raksha Mantri highlighted that the country’s prestige and stature on the global stage had increased under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He acknowledged the role of the Indian diaspora in the growth story of India. He encouraged them to work honestly for the shared prosperity of India and Malaysia, underlining the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

Paris Air Show, 21.06.2023: Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS and Bharat Forge Ltd., India, signed at this year’s Paris Air Showa Letter of Intent regarding collaboration.The Original Equipment Manufacturer Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS has a vast expertise in the design, development, certification, production and support of systems and components for civil and defense fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Its product range covers air management systems, cooling systems, flight control and utility actuation systems, landing gears, hydraulic and transmission systems and electronics for aerospace application. For railway rolling stock the company offersHVAC and hydraulic systems and for road-bound commercial vehicles trailer cooling systems. Bharat Forge is the world’s largest and most technologically advanced commercial forging company, a specialized engineering product manufacturer and is, inter alia, engaged in the business of manufacturing of critical performance and safety related fully machined forgings and sub-systems/assemblies for the automotive, industrial and aerospace sector. Both companieswill enter a phase of joint analysis, discussions and negotiations in view of determining the appropriate way to join their efforts to develop business in India and for global requirements. Alex Vlielander, Chief Customer Officer of Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS, explains: “By combining ourand Bharat Forge’s technologies, know-how and expertise, we could be be able to offer on-board systems that are best suited to the next generation of Indian vehicles for air, rail and road transport.” Amit Kalyani, Joint Managing Director, Bharat Forge, adds: “Through this potential collaboration, our objective is to deliver pionieering solutions tailored to the unique requirements of the Indian and global markets.”

New Delhi,21.06.2023: Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a multi-Unit, multi-technology, multi-product Navratna Defence PSU, and HFCL Limited (HFCL), a leading technology enterprise and provider of next-generation communication products, have signed a two-year, non-exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to leverage the strengths and capabilities of both the organisations and partner to indigenously develop and deploy emerging technologies and technical solutions to address the requirements of Defence, Telecom and Railway sectors. This strategic MoU is envisaged to give a boost to the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative and go a long way in realising the Government’s vision of a digital India. As part of this MoU, BEL and HFCL shall pursue business opportunities, capitalising on their domain expertise, technological strengths and market presence to enhance the nation’s capabilities in Defence and contribute to the growth of telecommunications infrastructure and other critical, developing sectors. BEL and HFCL shall in this process explore options such as Transfer of Technology and joint production of mutually identified products and solutions. Mr Vinay Kumar Katyal, Director (Bangalore Complex), BEL, said, “As India undergoes a massive digital transformation with the rollout of 5G, rapid adoption of new-age technologies across sectors has become imperative. With this tectonic shift in the telecommunication industry, the Indian Government has prioritised its focus on initiatives such as acceleration of the implementation of 5G network, nationwide fiberisation and promoting participation in the PLI scheme. We believe that our partnership with HFCL will certainly play a crucial role in meeting the Government’s target of building state-of-the-art technology architecture. Our domain expertise in Defence combined with HFCL’s cutting-edge solutions will enable us to actively contribute to the Government’s vision of a digital India and help establish India as a prominent global manufacturing hub.” Elaborating on the strategic partnership, Mr Mahendra Nahata, Managing Director of HFCL said, “We are honoured to enter into this strategic alliance with one of India’s largest DPSUs, Bharat Electronics Limited, and extend our support to the Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. Under the MoU, both the organisations will leverage their combined leadership and expertise in developing and manufacturing innovative products, solutions and technological capabilities to address the opportunities across sectors including Defence, Telecom and Railways. With our strong focus on R&D, we aim to strengthen India’s Defence capabilities and make India a global manufacturing hub for Defence, Telecom, communication and networking products.”

New Delhi, 10th June 2023: Indian Ocean – The Indian Navy showcased its formidable maritime capabilities with a spectacular display of multi-carrier operations and the coordinated deployment of more than 35 aircraft in the Arabian Sea. This demonstration of naval prowess underscores India’s commitment to safeguarding its national interests, maintaining regional stability, and fostering cooperative partnerships in the maritime domain. It also marks a significant milestone in Indian Navy’s pursuit of enhancing maritime security and power-projection in the Indian Ocean, and beyond. The exercise involved seamless integration of two Aircraft Carriers INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously built INS Vikrant- along with a diverse fleet of ships, submarines and aircraft, showcasing India’s technological expertise in the maritime domain. INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, centre-pieces of the exercise, serve as ‘floating sovereign airfields’, providing a launch platform for a wide array of aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, MH60R, Kamov, Sea King, Chetak and ALH helicopters. These mobile bases can be positioned anywhere, allowing for increased mission flexibility, timely response to emerging threats and sustained air operations to safeguard our national interests across the globe. In addition, they provide our friends with an assurance that the Indian Navy is capable and ready to support our ‘collective’ security needs in the Region. The successful demonstration of two-carrier battle group operations serves as a powerful testament to the pivotal role of sea-based air power in maintaining maritime superiority. As India continues to strengthen its security apparatus, significance of Aircraft Carriers will remain paramount in shaping the nation’s defence strategy and promoting regional stability.