The Rafale deal and why it makes China nervous

The People's Daily, the Chinese Communist newspaper, says the sale of the Rafale fighter plane 'encourages, excites and spurs India's appetite and ambition to become a great military power while intensifying its aggressive and expansionist tendencies, which poses a serious threat to peace and stability in Asia.'

Does India have a choice, considering the People's Liberation Army's frantic speed of development, wonders Claude Arpi.

There were six in contention; four were dropped, and one became the Chosen One: The Rafale.

In French, 'Rafale' poetically means a 'sudden gust of wind.'

It was one of the six fighter aircraft in competition for the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, MMRCA, when the Indian Air Force wanted to acquire 126 polyvalent fighter planes.

In April 2011, the IAF shortlisted two birds -- the Rafale produced by Dassault Aviation and the Eurofighter (known in Europe as 'Typhoon') from EADS, the European consortium.

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It was a big deal worth $12 billion. You can imagine the stakes, especially for Dassault which a few months earlier, was unsuccessful in exporting its flagship plane to Brazil and the Emirates.

Finally on January 31, 2012, the IAF announced that the Rafale was the chosen one.

The 'deal of the century' was that 18 Rafales would be supplied in fly-away condition by Dassault to the IAF by 2015 (or three years after the signature of the contract) and the remaining 108 pieces would be manufactured in India under a transfer of technology agreement.

The concurrent company did not let go easily and a lot of lobbying started. The British prime minister wanted Delhi to explain the reasons of favouring the French. 'The Typhoon is a superb aircraft, far better than the Rafale,' David Cameron said, adding: 'Of course, I will do everything I can --- as I have already -- to encourage the Indians to look at the Typhoon, because I think it is such a good aircraft.'

Interestingly, the Chinese were also unhappy with the selection of the Rafale by the IAF, but for other reasons.

An article published in The People's Daily (French edition only) argued that India and France were supposed to be non-violent countries, how could they ink such a deal?

Truce between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue

A spokesman for the Indian army, Jagdeep Dahiya, announced Thursday a cease-fire in the disputed region of Kashmir was reached following a telephone conversation between the two CEOs of military operations, the Indian and Pakistani Vinod Bhatia Ashfaq Nadeem.

"An agreement has been reached between the two CEOs of military operations to de-escalate the situation along the Line of Control" (LoC), explained Mr. Dahiya. Five soldiers of the two countries have been killed since January 6 along the LoC.

"No new incident involving gunfire or a violation of the cease-fire was reported from the Line of Control," the dividing line in Kashmir, said the spokesman.

Earlier this week, the head of the Indian army had publicly said he had ordered his troops to respond "aggressively" if new shots Pakistan, while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said that India could not be "business as usual" with its neighboring rival.

"We continue to believe that the dialogue should be the way to solve any problem," said for his part the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar, before the thinktank New York Council on Foreign Relations, noting that "Pakistan is committed to respect the cease-fire of 2003."

Vietnam-India intensify cooperation in defense

India wants to strengthen its relations deeper defense and security with Vietnam, an important area within the framework of its policy of "Facing East", said on Monday Vice President of India Hamid Ansari.

Ansari said that his country would best to assist Vietnam in this area, including by strengthening capacity building in high technology, adding that India considers Vietnam as an essential element of its policy with regard of the East.

He also recalled that the two countries have set a target of achieving bilateral trade of $ 7 billion by 2015, it is currently not as nearly 4 billion.

Vice-President of India said that India and Vietnam should continue their exchange of visits as the intensification of their cooperation

India, China Try To Revive Military Exercises

India and China discussed reviving military exercises Jan. 14, stalled since 2010, and increasing military exchanges during the Third India-China Annual Defence Dialogue in Beijing, said an Indian Defence Ministry official.
India and China held their first military exercise in 2007 in China followed by another in 2008 in India. The planned military exercise in 2010, however, was stalled after China denied a visa to an Indian Army commander.
Indian Defence Secretary Shahsikant Sharma led the Indian delegation at the Jan. 14 Third India-China Annual Defence Dialogue, while the Chinese deputy chief of the General Staff, Gen. Qi Jianguo, led the Chinese side.
“Both sides agreed to expand and enhance bilateral exchanges covering the Army, Navy and Air Force of both countries,” says an Indian Defence Ministry release.
The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of common interests, including potential hotspots in the Asia-Pacific region and in the India-China border areas, adds the release.
India and Vietnam are jointly working on exploiting energy resources in South China Sea, which is not to the liking of Beijing.
Early this year, the Indian Navy chief, Adm. D.K. Joshi, said that Beijing’s growing maritime strength was a “major, major cause for concern,” and pledged to support a state energy firm in its contentious search for oil in the South China Sea.
“It is actually a major, major cause of concern for us, which we continuously evaluate and work out our options and our strategies for,” Joshi had said.
India and China fought a brief battle in 1962 over border issues and have held a series of talks to resolve the issue. The dispute between the two countries involves the longest contested boundary in the world. China claims 92,000 square kilometers of Indian territory.

Northrop Grumman Eyes Indian Market for Delayed LEMV

Northrop Grumman has proposed its long-endurance multi-intelligence vehicle (LEMV) hybrid airship to meet new Indian requirements for border surveillance, AIN has learned from a senior official at the country’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The huge, unmanned LEMV was being developed for U.S. Army missions over Afghanistan, but has fallen behind schedule. It first flew last August, one year later than promised.

In a presentation to the MHA, Northrop Grumman described the LEMV as a lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicle that offers “a revolutionary capability in persistent surveillance with reconfigurable payloads to meet emerging multi-mission needs.” Discussions began a year ago, followed by presentations to the Border Security Force (BSF), which is controlled by the MHA. The official said that Northrop Grumman had emphasized cost savings resulting from a reduced force structure, since one LTA could replace 25 medium-altitude, long-endurance (Male) UAVs, the company claimed. It suggested a cost of only $20,000 to keep the unmanned LEMV in the air for three weeks, carrying a 2,750-pound sensor and communications payload. Northrop Grumman offered to integrate indigenous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) payload options on the LTA, which has modular payload bays.
The MHA is expected to release a request for proposals in March for surveillance solutions over seven different areas. The LTA will likely be bid for maritime surveillance, as well as for over remote areas along India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. The MHA is expected to purchase approximately five such systems. India is expected to spend an estimated $30 billion on homeland security by 2016, mostly for policing, but also including surveillance systems.
No further progress with LEMV flight-testing in the U.S. has been reported since the first flight. The prototype flew with pilots on board, and without any payload. Last October, an Army general suggested to the website Inside Defense that the LEMV might never be deployed to Afghanistan. By press time, neither the U.S. Army nor Northrop Grumman had responded to AIN’s request for an update.

India Cuts its Defense Budget

Big shock for a military trying to catch up with the Chinese
The Indian Finance Ministry appears to have put a stop to the headlong dash by the country's military to enlarge its defense forces to meet the China challenge, slashing the military budget by US$2 billion this year.

The cuts are necessary, officials say, because of economic distress and a ballooning fiscal deficit of 5.8 percent, up from 4.1 percent in 2011. But the fiscal adjustment, which has raised eyebrows, might not only have an impact on the country's defense preparedness but also throw off kilter vital acquisition projects of aircraft, choppers, howitzers and missiles.

The cut, for instance, appears likely to affect the already much-delayed $20-billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to acquire 126 French Rafale fighter jets, ministry sources sway.

India began a massive military buildup in 2010 after a November, 2008 attack by Pakistani militants on luxury hotels and other facilities in Mumbai that took 166 lives, and after an admission by military officials that they were unable to retaliate with a full-scale attack against Pakistan because they didn't have the military readiness to do so.

"New Delhi is in the throes of finalizing important contract negotiations to bolster segments like the artillery, aviation, air defense, night-fighting, anti-tank guided missiles and specialized tank and rifle ammunition. All these will now be pushed to the back burner," a source told Asia Sentinel.

The Army too, had sought a 30 per cent budget hike allocation for the 12th Plan (2012-17) including upgrading its rapid reaction ground force capability against China by building two specialized divisions in high-altitude areas at a cost estimated at more than US$11 billion. This plan too, will now have to wait.

Singapore and Indian Armies Conduct Artillery Exercise

A combined artillery live-firing was conducted by the Singapore and Indian armies during Exercise Agni Warrior 12 in Devlali, India.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Indian Army (IA) conducted the eighth bilateral artillery exercise, codenamed Exercise Agni Warrior, from 24 Nov to 8 Dec 2012 in Devlali, India. As part of the exercise, the two armies carried out a combined artillery live-firing. The exercise has enhanced mutual understanding and interoperability between the two armies.

Exercise Agni Warrior is conducted under the ambit of the Bilateral Agreement for Joint Army Training and Exercises between both armies. The Agni Warrior series of annual bilateral exercises underscores the warm defence ties between Singapore and India. Apart from bilateral exercises, the SAF and the Indian Armed Forces also interact regularly through visits, courses, seminars and other professional exchanges.

India Investigating Tatra Trucks Deal

Government has taken cognizance of alleged irregularities in purchase of Tatra trucks.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been requested to investigate comprehensively into alleged irregularities in purchase of Tatra trucks. CBI has registered a case on 30.3.2012 under Section 120 B read with 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against one of the owners of the Company and unknown officials of Ministry of Defence, BEML Limited and unknown persons of TatraSipox UK limited.

Ashok Leyland eyes business in Brazil

Ashok Leyland has approached the Brazilian government to sell its heavy defence truck Stallion MK-IV (above), under a joint venture agreement.

eavy trucks maker Ashok Leyland has approached the Brazilian government to sell its heavy defence truck Stallion MK-IV, under a joint-venture arrangement. The move comes as the terrain of Latin America requires heavy trucks for logistic purposes, and currently the ones being used in countries like Brazil, Columbia, Peru and Equador are US and China made, which are expensive. Brazil however, was scouting for a cheaper option. These Ashok Leyland vehicles can perform the same tasks and are cheaper.

The tie-up between Ashok Leyland and the Brazilian company would meet the logistic requirements of neighbouring countries like Columbia, Peru, Equador, as well, but the main assembly plant will be in Brazil. As of now it is not yet known which Brazilian company will tie up with Ashok Leyland, which has offered its vehicles at almost one-third the price of the US and Chinese vehicles.

Over 70,000 of these trucks are already in use in the Indian army to supply logistics in far-flung areas. The proposal was forwarded through the Ministry of External Affairs recently, to the Ambassador of Brazil, in the form of a presentation.

India’s First Aerospace SEZ On the Move

In a strategic step towards meeting the diverse and sophisticated forging requirements of the Indian and foreign aerospace and defence entities, QuEST Global Manufacturing, an Indian aerospace  engineering and precision manufacturing  major, has  set up SQuAD Forging India Private limited in collaboration with Aubert Duval, SA, France and Setforge Societe Nouvelle S.A.S. This facility covering an area of 50,000-sq ft and  located within India’s first aerospace SEZ(Special Economic Zone) promoted by QuEST Global Manufacturing in 2009-- on the outskirts of Belgaum --will become operational in 2013.Incidentaly, QUeST Global  aerospace SEZ is considered a major aeronautical hub outside Bangalore, the traditional nerve centre of Indian aerospace activities. According to Aravind Melligeri, co founder and Chairman of QuEST Global, the setting up of this state of the art forgings facility is in keeping with  the vision of bringing to the Indian aerospace sector the “capabilities and expertise” that are either non existent or difficult to come by within the country. Melligeri is quick to point out that high quality forging is one of the key components of the modern aerospace industry.

Significantly, QUeST Global has  pulled off the distinction of becoming  the first Indian private sector player to manufacture components for direct delivery to Airbus Industries under a long term agreement. This is apart from the MOU that QuEST had earlier signed with the Belgian aerospace entity SABCA for manufacturing metallic parts and assembly work for the Airbus A-350 XWB flap track structure. QuEST Global SEZ  is also into the supply chain   eco-system of Boeing. Under a contract with Swedish defence and aerospace major Saab, QuEST Global, is producing machined and sheet metal parts of the cargo door of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Indian PM unlikely to visit Pakistan in November

The November 2008 Mumbai attacks have become the main sticking point in efforts to improve ties between India and Pakistan. So much so that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s maiden visit to Islamabad has been linked to bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice.
The Indian prime minister, who was invited to visit Pakistan in November by President Asif Ali Zardari, is unlikely to undertake the trip this year due to what is being termed as “slow progress” to prosecute those behind the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan is keen to host the Indian premier next month on the eve of celebrations of the 544rd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. Be that as it may, Pakistani officials told The Express Tribune that the Indian government had not yet indicated if Singh would be traveling to Islamabad next month.
India’s reluctance to accept President Zardari’s invitation is being attributed to snags in the prosecution of Mumbai attacks suspects currently being tried by an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi. Diplomatic sources said India was not content with certain recent developments in the case, which have further delayed the prosecution of suspects.

Spying devices' found in vegetable consignment from India: Report

 A vegetable consignment from India was seized on Wagah border on Friday and “spying equipment” was recovered during security screening, Express News reported.
The devices hidden inside a crate of tomatoes included sound recorders and other equipment.
Express News quoted sources as saying that four men, transporting the consignment have also been detained and are being investigated. Their nationalities could not be ascertained as yet.

The devices have been sent off to experts for inspection.

India-Russia Defence Talks Postponed to 10th October

The meeting of the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) which was to be held tomorrow has been deferred due to the inability of the Russian Co-Chair of the Commission and the Defence Minister Mr. Serdyukov to travel to India as scheduled.

It has been conveyed by the Russian side that the Russian Defence Minister was required to stay in Russia for his urgent participation in a programme of the Russian President.

India’s SSBN Shows Itself

Could it be? It is not entirely clear, but a new satellite image might be showing part of India’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the Arihant.

A new satellite image appears to show part of India’s new SSBN partly concealed at the Visakhapatnam naval base on the Indian east coast

 

The image, taken by GeoEye’s satellite on March 18, 2012, and made available on Google Earth, shows what appears to be the conning tower (or sail) of a submarine in a gap of covers intended to conceal it deep inside the Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Naval Base on the Indian east coast.
The image appears to show a gangway leading from the pier with service buildings and a large crane to the submarine hull just behind the conning tower. The outlines of what appear to be two horizontal diving planes extending from either side of the conning tower can also be seen on the grainy image.

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The Arihant was launched in 2009 from the shipyard on the other side of the harbor and moved under an initial cover. An image released by the Indian government in 2010 appears to show the submarine inside the initial cover.

The new cover, made up of what appears to be 13-meter floating modules that can be assembled to fit the length of the submarine, similarly to what Russia is using at its submarine shipyard in Severodvinsk, first appeared in 2010. Images from 2011 show the modules in various configurations but without the submarine

India / Tajikistan: towards a long-term strategic partnership

In early September, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi in order to strengthen relations between the two countries, particularly in the areas of trade, energy and Safety. The IDSA (Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses) said in a report released Sept. 18 issues of the "strategic partnership".

At this meeting in early September, the two leaders had agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in many areas - including political, economic, scientific, defense, fight against terrorism. President Rahmon's visit shows the willingness of India to grant a greater role in Tajikistan's foreign policy, describing it also as a "key partner." According to the IDSA, the importance of India to Tajikistan is primarily geostrategic, partly because the country bordering China, Afghanistan and is located near the Pok (Pakistan human rights of migrants). In the current contexts of Afghanistan where the Taliban have a big impact and Pakistan, where violence continues to grow, Tajikistan is therefore of great importance for India. On the one hand, extremist forces could infiltrate the country, which would have serious consequences for the security of India near the Pok and Kashmir. On the other hand, Tajikistan has the largest water resources of the region, is a hydroelectric power. It is the largest producer of hydroelectricity in the CIS after Russia. The country also has many reservations mercury and zinc, real opportunities for India.

INS Vikramaditya Trial Malfunctions to Delay Handover

Malfunctions detected during trials of Indian Navy aircraft carrier Vikramaditya will delay the vessel’s handover to India, the Kommersant business daily reported on Monday.
The Vikramaditya, formerly the Russian Navy's Admiral Gorshkov, is to be handed over to India after ongoing sea trials following a much-delayed refit. According to the latest agreements, it was to have been handed over on December 4, but the deadline has been postponed again until October 2013.
The problems started when the vessel tried to gain maximum speed.
“Seven out of eight steam boilers of the propulsion machinery were out of order,” an official told Kommersant.

Couach book the last three interceptors controlled by India

The last three of a series of 15 interceptors controlled by the Indian navy were delivered by Couach.Constructed by site-Gujan Mestras, these stars have left the port of Arcachon August 20. Embarked on a freighter, they must arrive in India after a month of transit. Type 1300 FIC (Fast Intervention Craft), these interceptors range Plascoa measure 13 meters long and 3.8 meters wide. Equipped with two MAN diesel engines of 800 hp, they exceeded 50 knots during trials. Manned by a crew of five men, they have a 12.7mm gun and two positions for carriages 7.62mm. The first three stars were delivered in March 2011.Superstructures are shielded with a material type Twaron, based on aramid fibers.

ILA: MiG-29 production takes off, as Indian carrier trials near end

RAC MiG is boosting production activities to meet increased demand for its MiG-29 series of combat aircraft, with the design bureau also close to completing a series of aircraft carrier-based trials for India.

Following its receipt of major orders to supply the Indian and Russian navies with its MiG-29K deck fighter and MiG-29KUB trainer, MiG's production partners will complete 24 aircraft in 2012, up from 11 last year. A further dramatic increase is expected, however, with chief executive Sergey Korotkov having indicated that the annual rate may have to grow to 36 units to keep up with demand.
MiG says it is on track to complete embarked tests with the MiG-29K/KUB aboard the ex-Russian navy vessel the Admiral Gorshkov, which will soon re-enter Indian use as the INS Vikramaditya.
"The testing flights are to be fulfilled before the ship's handing over to the Indian navy, scheduled for December 2012," MiG announced at the show, with the work including using the carrier's "ski jump" ramp.
The service has already received a first batch of 16 aircraft, and will get the first four examples from a follow-on order for 29 more later this year.

India: First Meeting of India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Co-Operation

The first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation was held here today. The 11-member Saudi delegation was headed by Maj Gen Suleiman Saleh Al-Khalifa, Chief of the Armed Forces Operations of Saudi Arabia. The Indian delegation was headed by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence. 

The establishment of the Joint Committee had been decided during the meeting of the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony with the Saudi Defence Minister (and now also Crown Prince) Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, during the Defence Minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia in February, 2012. The Joint Committee was mandated to formulate a programme to develop areas of cooperation between the defence establishments of both countries.

India: No space war with China

ISRO on Sunday denied it is locked in a space war with China and said its Mars Mission was aimed at learning more valuable lessons as a scientific community. “We never raced with anybody. In space, science drives technological development and that will subsequently result in developing an ISRO scores on 100th mission, PSLV rocket launch successful application,” ISRO chief Dr K Radhakrishnan said in reply to a question from a reporter on whether India is locked in a space war with China.

He said the Mars Mission has a relevance and one may understand many problems, including methane (there). “The mission, approved recently by the Cabinet, is a challenge and ISRO is geared to face it,” he said.

Radhakrishnan said the Mars Mission is a time-bound programme which would ensure development of new technology and applications. He said India is one among the top six countries to have a successful space programme.

The satellite would be ready by November 2013 and the conducive period to launch it would be during that time when Mars would come close to Earth, he said. “Challenges include developing new technology, reliable launch vehicle and the objective was to achieve an elliptical orbit of 500 km closest and 80,000 km farthest,” he said.