8ak - Indian Defence News & Analysis
Online Weekly Newspaper
05 April 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 14
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Dear Manu,
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 Imagine the consequences if the news of the day is that the U.S. just
lost a $5b warship and 6,000+ military personnel to a Chinese missile. More possible than you think.
People were the focus of last week with changes at the Helm of HAL and Air Force and one Army Jawan walking the entire country with a flag to tell the nation about his concerns!
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Chinese missile changes the game
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U.S. warships now just sitting ducks
Largely ignored in the popular media was a small article in U.S. Naval Institute about the Dongfeng 21 anti-ship variant developed by China that can take out a U.S. warship in a single hit. At a speed of Mach 10 with a 2,000km range, it is supported by a network of satellites, UAVs and radars. Add to this its complex guidance system, low radar signature and maneuverability and it is easy to see that the U.S does not have anything to counter this missile. Suddenly it becomes a real game changer. Taiwan and Japan should be especially worried. Sometimes you just need a credible weapon, even if it is never used, to achieve your objectives.
Keeps us wondering what the U.S. would do in a China-U.S. war scenario? Submarines surely wont be enough and they have to rely on India(n soil) to launch ground/air attacks? Would Pakistan be up for auction in this case?
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| Missile defence - Scams and Politics
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 Continuing to dominate the headlines was the Israeli Missile Scam. Defence Minister A. K. Antony and DRDO finally explained that India's missile defence was outdated, Akash missiles were not up to the job and that it was a joint decision involving various departments and many people. Surprisingly, what the minister could not answer was why a 70km unproven system was chosen over other proven American and European systems with longer ranges. It just shows how much knowledge the bureaucrats have about critical systems, even after they have become the hottest topic in the news they still dont know basic details which they obviously hadnt debated or considered. BTW in case people thought it only happens in India, check out the U.S.'s purchase of Russian helicopters, in a no-bid contract in Iraq which they paid for years ago but havent been delivered yet!
In other news, TATA to supply missile launcher shows that the private sector is finally making inroads in to selling critical defence equipment.
In other missile news
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Nation and Politics
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 Soldiers are dying on the frontline for lack of Rs 3,900 kits but our figurehead President (& friends) decide to spend 1,000 cr on new VVIP planes. Some people lament beauracratic procedures are obviously stopping them, but no, according to Pragmatic the Service Chiefs have increased, 100 crore discretionary budgets to spend on items like these but haven't bothered.
During the Mumbai attacks one thing was clear, the NSG needed better equipment and training, but their plan for a new hub is gathering dust because the government has decided not to disturb illegal encroachers because they might lose their votes! Maybe the rest of the nation might vote for you for having the guts to do finally do something for national security.
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Business News
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 Boeing has a US$17b order book with India and with the global recession, the demand for planes from India is still doing better than other countries. It recently re-scheduled the new Dreamliner series to prioritise Air India and Qantas. Boeing is also expanding its research centre in India. HAL also announced a new chief after sales went up 19% and its order book is at $12b. |
Armed Forces News
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Reading the Telegraph's article it seemed strange that the armed forces are giving even Sivanathu Pillai, India's Chief Architect of the BrahMos missile, a hard time. What chance then do mere mortals have of convincing the Armed forces to induct something that is useful to them and for national ambitions. If indigenisation is the goal, then we all have to understand that in the short term national security will be compromised to give the local industry a chance to catch up in terms of technology and production. What is needed is encouragement from the armed forces and further as Admiral Arun Prakash notes we need co-ordination and common vision between the Armed Forces Chiefs who are currently operating their own islands of power.
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International
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(image credit: Ben Heine) 
The Economist blames fraud for the downfall of America. No surprises there but they further blame the U.S. Treasury Secretary for a huge cover-up of the insolvency of banks that if the public/world came to know would cause a collapse. As American firms cut 742,000 jobs in March 2009, internal pressures become more evident with a N.Y. shooting that killed 13 people being blamed on the recession. So what is a poor H1B Indian programmer to do? Follow the lead of these 11 people and join the U.S. Army!
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China Watch
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ImageCredit Allen Fong
 A side effect of U.S. failures in Iraq and Afghanistan is a more aggressive China. I am sure the Chinese are subconciously thinking (as is the rest of the world) if the U.S. can't even win against mountain tribals with pea shooters what chance do they have against the world's biggest army with modern weapons? The Economist had a great article that China now sees the world as a China - U.S. affair and the G-20 for the Chinese is G-2. This is increasingly worrying the Japanese and the Europeans and should be worrying us to, but we have a much bigger and worrying threat, a potential Mayawati or Lalu as P.M.
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| Pakistan and Terrorism |
BBC  Video of Taliban
Right after the Pakistani deal with the Taliban in the Swat valley, Imran Khan came on TV and said that Sharia law would be good for the region. Now watch BBC's footage on what Sharia law means... a teenage girl was flogged and forced to marry an already married electrician because the electrician visited her house and was accused of adultery and flogged as well!
Unfortunately, Pakistanis refuse to learn a simple law of the land - If you play with fire you will get burnt - after years of funding and aiding radical interpretations of Islam, the very terrorists they trained, seiged the Pakistani Police Academy and killed 12 people. The attacks shows an alarming trend as in the Mumbai attacks where a group will force their way in to a place and then instead of hit and run, they will set themselves up for an elongated encounter in which they will either be killed or captured.
As Pakistani intelligence (if you can call them that) and army continue to oversee increased infiltration in to India, the U.S. decides to reward them with a further $2.8b in military and $7.5b in non-military aid. It may later introduce a bill that requires Pakistan to demonstrate a halt in terrorist support.
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Tech Watch
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 Now here's a present I want for Christmas, no, not the AA12 the world's most efficient killing machine but rather a cute little bugbot to keep a check on 8ak staff, after hours perhaps!
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| Jobs |
Ok, if a company is borrowing $500,000 chances are they probably hiring people. But if they are borrowing Euro 3 billion, you can betcha bottom Euro they are hiring. So please ring NPCIL! But in the private sector a defence major wants a GM Sales for an Indian Defence solutions company and follow the link for contact details.
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Sincerely,
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Manu Sood
Editor - 8ak - Indian Defence News
editor@8ak.in
+91 99110 22056
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