Interview: ThyssenKrupp Marine ready for complete transfer of stealth and composite technology

08 Mar 2010 8ak: ThyssenKrupp Marine’s Rear Admiral (retd) Jonathan Kamerman in an exclusive conversation with 8ak mentioned, that Thyssenkrupp was ready for complete Transfer of Technology (ToT) to India. “As a basic business philosophy we transfer technology fully, meaning complete transfer of design expertise, local construction expertise, technical assistance, follow up, post sales support etc. to our customers,” said Kamerman. 

On the programs in India, he said that besides its main product offering, the frigates, ThyssenKrupp was also involved in developing high-tech materials like providing composite materials for existing warships having problems with steel and stability. Referring to India’s ship building infrastructure, Kamerman said that India had a wide and mature ship building base, but had declined in logistical and technological modernity. Adding further he said that it was in the latter area that they could help India. 

On the commercial front, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems is in the process of selling a majority stake in its Greece-based Hellenic shipyard, which is also the largest shipyard in the country to Abu Dhabi Mar (ADM) group. Full news

In terms of submarines, the company is signing a contract by Kockums AB, a part of ThyssenKrupp Marine, with FMV (the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration), for the design phase of a next-generation submarine, to be known as the A 26 class. 

Sikorsky considers moving Black Hawk production to India, leasing helicopters to Coast Guard

08 Mar 2010 8ak: Stephen Estill, VP - Strategic Partnerships, Sikorsky spoke to Manu Sood, Editor, 8ak on their Indian plans and their tie up with the Tata Group in India. Estill revealed that the company had divided their strategy into short term goals, medium term goals and long term goals. As per the immediate plans, he said that the company was excited about the ongoing program with the Indian Navy for anti- submarine helicopters for which 2 helicopters have been proposed. One is the S-70B, which is sold under commercial contract basis, fully capable in anti-submarine operations. While the other one is MH-60R currently, in service with the US navy, for which Sikorsky has teamed up with Lockheed Martin in the US. As per the agreement between the two companies, Sikorsky provided airframe, dynamic components and rotor systems whereas Lockheed Martin provided anti-submarine equipment. He said that the program was progressing very rapidly and the flight test evaluations would begin in US during the early summers and they company expected to seal the official contract in early 2011.

Elaborating on Sikorsky’s second program, Estill said that the program was with Coast Guard and termed it ‘unique’. As part of the program, the company would dry lease about eight helicopters and wet lease another eight to ten. The helicopter would solve the purpose of coastal defence and patrol missions undertaken by the force. Sikorsky is the only technically qualified helicopter vendor for this program. Talking about the long term plans, he said that the company aimed to equip TATAs to manufacture all helicopters and fixed wing parts in the future and said that co-development of helicopters was indeed a reality in the future. As of now, TATAs will manufacture the cabins for the helicopters, which Sikorsky has to deliver to the UK coast guard.   

Sikorsky is also planning to start producing the highly successful and lethal Black Hawk helicopters to increase its presence in India as it gears up to bid for defence contracts up to US$12 billion, a move that could push others to follow. Some people feel that ith HAL's producing entire helicopters, India has the potential to become a global helicopter production hub but are held back by outdated government policies and lack of vision. 

Stephen Estill also said that Sikorsky intended to manufacture and develop special mission equipment packages with DRDO and other local technology companies in the long run. On another note, Shiv Aroor reports that the company has decided to formally protest the loss of lucrative tender of 12 VVIP helicopters. 

Indian Navy and IAF display co-ordination during Tropex-2010

03 March 2010 8ak: While the world has been focussing on the biggest IAF exercise in the recent times, Vayushakti, in Pokhran. The Indian navy, Coast Guard and the IAF are quietly involved in a massive war game, in the Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam, to test their joint man ship and operational readiness in a sea battle scenario. 

The first phase of the Theatre-level Readiness Operational Exercise-2010 (Tropex) was flagged off by Naval Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar on 25 Feb, who were aboard India’s only operational aircraft carrier INS Viraat. 

"The exercise involves the participation of most major combatants of the Indian Navy, as also participation of the Indian Air Force and the Coast Guard," a Navy press release stated. "Just as the combination of the two fleets and the elements of the sister services contribute to synergy, the presence of the Defence Secretary with the Navy Chief is indicative of the close coordination and synergy of the Navy and Defence Ministry, which is the key to enhancing effectiveness at the 'business end' of the Navy," it added.

At the moment, the Western and Eastern fleet of the Indian navy are carrying out joint work up, after which they will proceed for a mock battle to test their capabilities in close coordination with the IAF. On its part, the IAF has deployed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Airborne Early Warning (AEW) helicopters of the Indian Navy, Air-to-Air Refueller, Jaguars and SU 30 of the IAF and advanced missile systems to tests its coordination, while working closely with other arms of the Indian armed forces. The exercise has witnessed Missile, torpedo and gun firing so far. 

The exercise is unique because for the first time many concepts, which were taught at various armed forces study centres, are being applied in practicality. In order to imbibe the learning from the outcome of the nearly two-week long exercise into its personnel, observers from all three wings of the defence services have been invited. 

Submarine fire kills one Indian sailor, injures two

02 Mar 2010 8ak: The Indian navy submarine fire in an eastern port base at Vishakhapatnam’s naval dockyard has killed one sailor and injured two others. A senior naval officer confirmed to 8ak that the fire broke out in INS Sindhurakshak due to a defect in the battery. INS Sindhurakshak, a Russian manufactured kilo class submarine was in the harbour undergoing regular maintenance work added the officer. 

A diesel-electric Sindhughosh class submarine, INS Sindhurakshak was commissioned into the Indian navy on 24 Dec 1997. It was built under a contract signed between Rosvooruzhenie and the Indian Defence Ministry. The contract specified that 10 Sindhughosh class submarines be built on the lines of Russian Kilo class submarines, having a displacement of 3,000 tonnes, a maximum diving depth of 300 meters, top speed of 18 knots, and are able to operate solo for 45 days with a crew of 52. 

It may be noted that INS Sindhurakshak, earned a rare distinction in 2006, when former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam became the first Indian head of state to undertake a sortie in the submarine.  The first submarine, INS Sindhughosh, manufactured by Russia as per the contract, was commissioned into the Indian navy on 30 April 1986 and the last contracted submarine, INS Sindhushastra, was commissioned a decade back on 19 July 2000. The last submarine was equipped with the 3M-54 Klub (SS-N-27) anti-ship cruise missiles with a range of 220 km.

Thales launches maritime radar ESM for small vessels

17 Feb 2010 8ak: European arms major Thales announced the launch of Vigile LW, a lightweight, naval Radar Electronic Support Measure (RESM) on Tuesday during the ongoing DefExpo in Delhi. Thales PR said that the new system will redefine situational awareness for small vessels. The company hopes that the Vigile LW will interest the Indian government, which is spending billions on modernising its armed forces after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, wherein the terrorists are suspected to have used water as a means to enter India’s financial capital. A costal command has also been exclusively set-up under the naval command to step up maritime surveillance. 

“Vigile LW detects, identifies and displays air and surface threats in real time, providing tactical situational awareness wherever needed for small vessels,” said Jean-Marc Goujon, Thales’ head of marketing for military products, at its unveiling. 

“It is primarily designed for naval applications but can play a major role in coastal security. This is because it can be mounted on vessels, on land or can even be transported on land,” Goujon added further.

Signalling the emergence of India as a prospective hub for defence production, Goujon said that there was a possibility that a new joint venture company may be floated by Thales in India if the response of the government towards its products was encouraging.

The statement also said that Vigile LW is the core element of a Self Protection Suite and can be operated as a standalone RESM or as a central Electronic Warfare controller. It can control the communication and Radar ESM, Laser Warning, Missile warning and programmable decoying functions. Installed across several vessels, Vigile LW can provide a network-centric compatible solution for increased protection. 

“This new member to the Vigile family meets a true requirement in the market and aims to fill a very real capacity gap – at a lower acquisition and possession cost.,” commented Pierre-Eric Pommellet, Thales Senior Vice President, in charge of defence mission systems.

The Vigile LW is the fifth product in the Vigile family of advanced naval electronic support measures/electronic intelligence systems. The system operates automatically and therefore is autonomous and easy to support. Tracks can optionally be overlayed onto the radar picture, removing the need for a dedicated Electronic Warfare operator and thereby keeping through-life costs low and easing crew workloads. 

India continues to develop role in Indian Ocean region

(watch NDTV's video on the Milan exercise) 

09 Feb 2010 8ak: India is expanding and modernizing all three wings of its armed forces. India had recently announced that it was planning to open new air-strips and upgrade the existing ones in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. The announcement came soon after the inauguration of 13-nation naval exercise – “Milan-2010,” on Friday. Experts believe that the measure would enhance India’s control over the Island, which is 700-km away from the main land. The move will also strengthen India’s influence in the South China Sea.

The Indian navy’s modernization program includes development of indigenous strategic ships and submarines. As part of the long term plan India’s first indigenously built nuclear submarine, INS Arihant was launched in July 2009, making India only the sixth nation to have the capability to build N-subs, others being the US, Russia, France, United Kingdom and China. It has also signed a US$3 billion deal with France to induct scorpene submarines, which were expected to join the Indian Navy in 2014 but the work has pretty much been stalled due to ongoing controversies.

As per statements from a Chinese Admiral, China is looking to establish naval bases overseas, thereby increasing India's threat perception in the region which has compelled the Indian Navy to build the long delayed 40,000-tonne indigenous aircraft carrier being constructed at Cochin Shipyard at the earliest. This is expected to take at least another 5-6 years. The Indian navy is also in the process of inducting two Akula class K-152 Nerpa nuclear submarine with the option to buy them in an outright purchase after the lease expires.

Security experts feel that the US will be more than happy to aid the Indian navy in its naval upgrade program because the former is itself alarmed over China’s expansion. However it is felt that India has to be cautious about the extent of help it can seek from the U.S. since it would further alarm China in to an arms race that would be detrimental to everyone's interests in the region.