IKB-DEF-Jan 09, 14

Indicia Knowledge Brief
A Daily Assessment on Indian Defence and Internal/Homeland Security
January 09, 2015.
Primary aims of Indicia Daily Brief are two-fold. First, it distills infinite information into a
capsule form, thus saving precious time of its clients. Second, it tries to link micro-events
to larger strategic canvas through its analyses, thus providing support knowledge for
better understanding and decision-making.
Indicia Analysis of the Day
In a rare event, the armed forces for the first time will have all-women
marching contingents, apart from their regular ones, in the Republic Day
parade on the majestic Rajpath this year, comprising 148 women each
from the three wings.
ISRO’s announcement that India will launch in 2020 an advanced satellite
equipped with synthetic aperture radar, the first of its kind in the world
being developed in collaboration with NASA, will be a key instrument to
study in detail climate change, the melting of ice and glaciers,
earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and volcanoes etc.
The arrest of three alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives and the
recovery of a huge cache of bomb-making material and communication
devices is on the lines of Australia’s warning to India on an impending
terrorist attack.
I. National Defence and Security:
Why shouldn't India scrap the MMRCA deal and pitch for Russian Su-35s?:
India is planning to decommission its entire fleet of MiG 21s and MiG 27s by the
year 2020-2023. Now, the MiG 21 is an Interceptor while the MiG 27 is a Ground
attack aircraft. The MMRCA program was initiated to replace both these
specialized aircraft with a Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft. This is the reason
IAF floated a global tender for a suitable aircraft.
Now, Why Rafale, Why not Su-35??
Ground Role:
The Su-35 is predominantly an Air Interdiction/ Air Superiority Fighter..
Although it can also undertake ground missions, it will be a very over performing
asset for a ground missions. It will be very effective to shoot invading aircraft out
of the sky. But for ground attack missions, its cost of operating per flight hour
will be expensive compared to that of the Rafale. Also, India already operates
197 Su-30MKI (Flanker-H) which is similar in performance capabilities to the Su35. The Rafale is easier to maintain, it has a lower RCS compared to the Su-35
which means it can undertake Hi-Lo-Hi missions. The comparable aircraft in
Ground attack capabilities to that of the Rafale would be the Su-34 Fullback.
India already operates the High End Sukhois and is also going to induct the Light
Spectrum LCA's. It needs to fill in the intermediate role for a combat aircraft
which has both Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground capabilities. The Rafale is the best
aircraft in this unique category and it beats all of its competitors by a
comfortable margin.
Air Role: Rafale
Rafale’s placement of canards, which are close coupled to the wing, means that
outboard canard vortices energize the wing tips regardless of the angle of attack.
This results in excellent roll onset rate at all flight conditions, allowing aircraft to
be flown with rapid reversals of flight directions instead of rolling pulls. Canards
also create an area of low pressure on forward part of the wing, which results in
a significant pitch-up tendency and consequently in rapid pitch onset rate. The
climb rate of the Rafale is 305 m/s, indicating very good acceleration. The wing
loading of 275 kg/m2 at combat weight gives it instantaneous turn rate,
unmatched among Western fighters, especially when combined with closecoupled canard’s favourable effects on wing lift at high angles of attack. The
Thrust-to-weight ratio is 1.2 at combat weight, and allows it to have a good
sustained turn rate, especially when combined with its very high lift to drag
ratio.
Source: http://www.defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.aspx?id=mOnVYl/myeE=
*
Time Capsule: India’s ASWAC Project:
15 years ago in 1990, DRDO developed first demonstrator aircraft of ASWAC (Air
Borne Surveillance Warning and Control Systems) Project was test flown for the
first time in Bangalore. Development which had started under project “Guardian”
in mid-1985 involved HAL modifying a BAe 748 aircraft to have a distinctive
Saucer-shaped Roto dome which could rotate the dome for all-around coverage
against aerial threats . Indigenous early warning program was compared to the
American E-2C Hawkeye aircraft and was flown by ASTE test pilot in its first
flight. While aircraft was equipped with Roto dome many of the key radar and
sensors were integrated later and Program picked up speed over the years.
While HS-748 Avro aircraft used was purely for experiments DRDO was also
looking out longer range aircraft like Russian IL-76 to build future models.
Interestingly Indian air force had rejected A-50 AWACS based on IL-76 platform
offered by Russia at that time since performance was found to be lacking in many
key areas. But In a major setback to India’s Own Airborne Early Warning
Developmental Program in 1999 technology demonstrator aircraft HS-748 Avro,
crashed 2.5km short of the runway near INA Rajali near Arrakonam. Project
came to a complete halt after crash . investigation revealed that Roto dome
structure on top of fuselage of the aircraft detached and hit the tail which lead to
loss of control and death of 4 Air-force officials and 4 top Drdo Scientist who
were on-board. While attempts were made to restart the program since it was
informed to the government at that time 90 % of Project was complete another
Prototype aircraft was to be built soon, but MOD asked DRDO first to go slow and
later Project was canceled .
Source: http://idrw.org/?p=55684
*
In a first, women of armed forces to march on R-Day:
The armed forces for the first time will have all-women marching contingents,
apart from their regular ones, in the Republic Day parade on the majestic Rajpath
this year, which will have US President Barack Obama as the chief guest. It has
been quite a scramble for the Army, Navy and IAF to look for 148 women each one contingent commander, three platoon commanders and 144 in the marching
block - since they still constitute a miniscule minority in the predominantly male
environs of the over 13-lakh strong armed forces. "The orders came from the top
since PM Narendra Modi was keen on women empowerment and 'Naari Shakti'
as the main theme for the parade. Women officers, with proper turnout, drill
standards and fit enough for the 10-km march, have been pulled out from
different stations across the country," said a source. Unlike paramilitary and
police forces, the armed forces cannot draw women from other ranks for the
parade since they induct them only as officers. Moreover, though women have
been allowed to join the armed forces since the early-1990s, they currently
number just about 3,000 of the 59,400 officers. The Army has around 1,300
women officers, IAF 1,350 and Navy 350. Women officers till recently could
serve just a maximum of 14 years in branches like signals, engineers, aviation,
intelligence, ordnance, air traffic controller and air defence due to what were
called "operational, practical and cultural problems". They can now opt for
permanent commission but only in a few wings like legal, naval constructor,
accounts and education. ....
Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/In-a-first-women-of-armed-forces-to-march-on-RDay/articleshow/45816598.cms
*
Indian Army becomes first to summit Mt Friendship in winters:
Indian Army has claimed that its 53-member team has made a history in
mountaineering by conquering the 17,348ft-high Friendship Peak in peak winter
months when climbing such high altitude peaks is nearly impossible. The 30member team of mountaineers from Indian Army will be summiting Mt Everest
in April-May this year. This was the pre-Everest expedition of the team to make
them acclimatize to the mountains. The expedition to explore Pir Panjal
mountain range started on December 26 but unfortunately they couldn't get any
local guide as nobody was ready to join them in winter season when mountains
were already under several feet of snow. "We unfurled tricolour on the peak on
January 2. We got to know from senior mountaineers that we were the first to
summit this peak in winters," team leader Major R S Jamwal said. He added that
they had first planned to summit Mt Hanuman Tibba but had to drop the plan
due to snowfall that had covered dangerous crevasses and formed cornices. "We
went up to base of the Hanuman Tibba, formed two teams and a 20-member
team conquered Friendship Peak." Though equipped with all safety instruments,
the team experienced snowfall, extreme cold conditions, high velocity winds and
other challenges. Jamwal said the entire mountain range was covered with a
thick layer of white powder. "We had to cut the snow before moving forward. We
made a strategy according to which a climber led the group and made way up to
100 metres and then another climber replaced him. It took days to fix ropes to
the peak," Jamwal added. Full of excitement and confidence, the team is now
preparing to scale the Mt Everest. 30 mountaineers from Indian Army will reach
the peak in first week of April. Major Amit Aukta, deputy leader of the team, said
the team is ready to conquer the highest peak of the world. "Mountaineers had to
put their all efforts to find way to the summit. The weather on Himalayas is
unpredictable and peaks experiences regular snowfall. Mountaineers have
undergone proper acclimatization." Rajeev Sharma, regional representative of
Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), the governing body of Mountaineering
of India, confirmed that it was a rare achievement by Indian Army.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-Army-becomes-first-to-summit-Mt-Friendship-inwinters/articleshow/45816651.cms
*
India to Launch Radar Satellite in 2020:
India will launch in 2020 an advanced satellite equipped with synthetic aperture
radar, the first of its kind in the world, that the country is developing in
collaboration with NASA, said Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) former
chairman K.Radhakrishnan. Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) director Dr G.Satheesh Reddy said the "smart soldier" concept for the
country’s armed forces was at a critical stage in its development. The two were
showcasing India's scientific achievement at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
The radar satellite was a key link in India's space research collaboration with
NASA. The satellite will incorporate advanced instruments to study in detail
climate change, the melting of ice and glaciers, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides
and volcanoes, among others. The studies are important as these phenomena are
still not fully understood or can by accurately predicted. The satellite will use
two different radar frequencies. The launch vehicle, the launch, the satellite bus,
etc. will be India's responsibility. NASA will develop the radar, the
communications sub-system, and the GPS receiver, among others.
Radhakrishnan said India now occupies the top spot in several areas of space
research. The country's 25 satellites now orbit the earth. He said with the Mark
III engine, which was successfully tested recently -- getting ready, the country
will become self-sufficient in launching heavy satellites. He was greeted with
thunderous applause by the audience when he said he can foresee a time when
delegates from Mars will attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meet. Satheesh
Reddy's smart soldier concept can revolutionise warfare. It includes a battlefield
attire incorporating technologies that can spot and neutralise the enemy's moves
and launch a counter-attack. Reddy said the "robo soldier" concept, which aims
to field bots in the battlefield, was also in the works.
Source: http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2015/01/india-to-launch-radar-satellite-in-2020.html
*
Buy Pipavav Defence: Sudarshan Sukhani:
Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com told CNBC-TV18, " Pipavav Defence and
Offshore Engineering Company is completing its bear market, not yet over but
the signs are very nice. It has made a double bottom on a much larger timeframe.
It is suggesting that a low is coming in place and this is the best time to buy it." "I
would be willing to be a buyer as an investment idea in Pipavav Defence. I don’t
know so much about trading this for the short-term but certainly a buy," he said.
Source:
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/stocks-views/buy-pipavav-defence-sudarshansukhani_1270025.html
II
Homeland Security
*
3 IM men held in Bengaluru:
In a joint operation, the Central Crime Branch and the state internal security
division arrested three alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives and seized a
huge cache of bomb-making material and communication devices. January 08
arrests were made in Cox Town, Bengaluru, and Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada
district. Announcing the arrests, police commissioner MN Reddi said so far no
connection has been established between the trio and the December 28
explosion on Church Street. But police will investigate further. Reddi said around
5 kg of ammonium nitrate, gelatin, electrical circuits, detonators and a walkietalkie have been seized.
Source:
Bengaluru/articleshow/45815692.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/3-IM-men-held-in-
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