Sea trial of INS Vikramaditya put off till June: Report

Moscow: Running months behind the delivery schedule, sea trials of the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier have been put off by the Russian authorities, which may trigger further slippages in its handing over to the Indian Navy.

The carrier is currently being overhauled at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia. "The start of the sea trials has been moved to the beginning of June from May 25," Ria Novosti reported quoting a shipyard spokesman.

The vessel was originally scheduled to sail for trials in the White Sea and the Barents Sea on May 25. The officials said that the trial may have been put off due to poor weather forecast.

India and Russia signed a multi-billion dollar deal in 2005 for the purchase of the Soviet-built Admiral Gorshkov carrier, but its delivery has already been delayed twice, pushing up the cost of refurbishing the carrier from $947 million to $2.3 billion.

The delivery of the Admiral Gorshkov to the Indian navy is expected in December 2012.

The warship is a modified Kiev-class carrier, originally named Baku. The ship was laid down in 1978 at the Nikolayev South shipyard in Ukraine, launched in 1982, and commissioned with the Soviet Navy in 1987.

It was renamed after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In 1994, following a boiler room explosion, the Admiral Gorshkov sat in dock for a year for repairs. In 1995, it briefly returned to service and in 1996 was finally withdrawn and put up for sale.

The ship has a displacement capacity of 45000 tons. It has a maximum speed of 32 knots and an endurance of 13500 nautical miles (25,000 km) at a cruising speed of 18 knots.

By NDTV

Akash successfully test fired, India's air defence system gets a boost

India's air defence capability received a major boost on Thursday with the successful test firing of Akash, a indigenously-developed surface-to-air missile, from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.

Sources in the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) at the Chandipur range in Balasore district, about 250 kms from Bhubaneswar, said that the user-specific trial of the missile was successful. The Akash weapon system was inducted into the armed forces in 2008.

The missile, which has a strike range of 25 km and is capable of carrying a warhead of 60 kgs, was test fired from a mobile launcher from launch complex-III of the ITR at about 11:08 am IST, sources said, adding that during the trial the missile was aimed at intercepting a floating object supported by a pilotless target aircraft.

Akash, an anti-aircraft defence system, can simultaneously engage several targets aided by the 'Rajendra' radar, which, apart from doing surveillance work, tracks the target and guides the missile towards it. The multi-functional radar has been developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), a Bangalore-based DRDO laboratory.

Akash missile was developed in the 1990s under the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and was inducted into the armed forces following a string trials.

The Akash missile system is often compared with the American MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system as, similar to the latter, it is capable of neutralising aerial targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/akash-successfully-test-fired-surface-to-air-missile/1/197396.html

By India today

Pakistan Acknowledges Sea-Based Nuclear Deterrent

May. 23, 2012 - 12:17PM |

By USMAN ANSARI

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has acknowledged the existence of a sea-based nuclear deterrent with the recent inauguration of the Headquarters of the Naval Strategic Force Command (NSFC) by the head of the Navy, Adm. Asif Sandhila.

A May 19 press release by the military’s Inter Services Public Relations stated the NSFC “will perform a pivotal role in development and employment of the Naval Strategic Force,” and was “the custodian of the nation’s 2nd strike capability.”

Mansoor Ahmed, lecturer at Quaid-e-Azam University’s Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, and who specializes in Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programs, said this is all but specific confirmation of the widely speculated submarine-launched variant of the Babur/HATF-VII (Vengeance-VII) cruise missile.

Analyst Usman Shabbir of the Pakistan Military Consortium think tank said Pakistan has been working on its sea-based deterrent for some time.

“When the Babur was first revealed in 2005, it was claimed that it is mainly designed to be deployed from submarines. There was at least that speculation,” he said.

The Navy “has pretty good experience in using similar systems, for example, both submarine-launched Harpoon and Exocet use a similar system, and [the Navy] has operated both for a long time.”

Shabbir speculates that the launch method may be similar to the UGM-84 Harpoon’s method of being fired from torpedo tubes.

However, other analysts are not so certain the Navy can afford to undertake the responsibility of the nation’s second-strike capability.

Former Australian defense attaché to Islamabad Brian Cloughley said the size of Pakistan’s submarine force is too small to carry out this task.

“Pakistan’s current submarine fleet is not adequate in numbers [although well-trained] to be able to undertake detection and effective interdiction of the Indian fleet, given its size — which is increasing, even if slowly,” he said.

Currently, Pakistan’s submarine flotilla comprises two refurbished 1970s-era Agosta-70s and three 1990s-era Agosta-90B submarines. The latter are equipped with air independent propulsion (AIP) or are in the process of being retrofitted with the AIP module, and incrementally entered service from 1999.

Cloughley said interdiction of India’s fleet “must remain [the Navy’s] first priority,” and considers “conversion of the present assets to take Babur not only costly but a most regrettable diversion of budget allocation.”

“I would go so far as to say that, in present circumstances, it would be a grave error if such a program were to go ahead,” he added.

The Navy, however, has a requirement for new submarines and wants to increase their number. The Agosta-90B design has been superseded twice, once by the DCNI Scorpene, and briefly by a paper design called the Marlin before it was absorbed into the Scorpene family.

There is a confirmed requirement for 12 to 14 submarines to meet Navy expansion plans. This would allow for a constant war patrol of at least one deterrent-tasked submarine, leaving other submarines to carry out more traditional tasks.

However, Cloughley is still certain that Pakistan does not require such a capability.

“[Pakistan] has plenty of nuclear-capable SSMs and strike aircraft, and does not need a Navy-oriented second-strike capability,” he said.

By Defense news

Indian Air Force Chief Flies Rafale In France

Photo 1 Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, Chief of the Air Staff after a one hour sortie in the Rafale Aircraft at St. Dizier Airbase. Also seen in the picture are commandant (Squadron Leader) Kubiak Thierry, Commander of the Rafale Squadron and General Jean-Paul Paloméros, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force.

Photo 2 Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, Chief of the Air Staff after a one hour sortie in the Rafale Aircraft at St. Dizier Airbase. Also seen in the picture are commandant (Squadron Leader) Kubiak Thierry, Commander of the Rafale Squadron and General Jean-Paul Paloméros, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force.

By Livefist

India Signs Deal With Pilatus For 75 PC-7 Trainers

Photo / Pilatus Aircraft

Statement from Pilatus: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is proud to announce that the Indian Air Force has entered today into a contract in excess of 500 Million Swiss Francs to procure a fleet of 75 PC-7 MkII turboprop aircraft, together with an integrated ground based training system and a comprehensive logistics support package. The contract also contains an option clause for extending the scope of this contract within three years from initial signature and we are optimistic that this will indeed be executed.

The Indian Air Force joins more than 30 other countries to modernise its training pipeline with the most modern, capable and cost effective system for Basic Flying Training on the market today. The Indian Air Force is the fourth largest air force in the world with approximately 170,000 personnel and 1,500 aircraft operating from more than 60 air bases. This contract will extend the fleet of Pilatus turboprop trainers to more than 900 aircraft operating worldwide.

Delivery of the aircraft and the complete training system is scheduled to commence in Q4 2012. The decision to select the PC-7 MkII training system was made after a thorough evaluation by the Indian Air Force, which looked at all available options. Pilatus Aircraft Ltd views this contract for the Indian Air Force as a major success and believes it will encourage other forces to take a close look at our pilot training solution.

Coupled to this award will be the establishment of in-country depot level maintenance capabilities, which includes the required transfer of technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), enabling in-country maintenance of the platform throughout its service life of over 30 years. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was established in 1940 with the Government of India as primary shareholder, having approximately 35,000 employees based at eight sites across India.

Pilatus has also entered into a separate off-set contract with the Government of India for 30% of the value of this contract and we view this as a major opportunity. Pilatus has significant confidence in the Indian Defence market with its highly skilled workforce and it is our intention to leverage the offset opportunity to establish manufacturing capability for the region in support of our business plans for India.

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is committed to serving the Indian Air Force with its world renowned dedication to Swiss precision and quality, through delivering and supporting the most advanced Basic Flight Training turboprop trainer aircraft in the world – the Pilatus PC-7 MkII.

By Livefist

President of Russian Federation to Inspect INS Vikramaditya Taking Sea

Completion of dockside phase of works is an important milestone in the Russian-Indian contract on repair and modernization of INS Vikramaditya by Sevmash shipyard. According to the contract, the ship is to start sea trials on May 25. To fulfill contractual obligations, all capabilities of Sevmash shipyard are applied. High-ranking officials of the shipyard and shipbuilding industry reiterated about definitive meeting of that deadline.

The president will be accompanied by directors and top officials of United Shipbuilding Corporation, Rosoboronexport, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Defense Ministry, and other state agencies.

As the source assumed, apart from the carrier’s trials, the contract for construction of Borei-A and Yasen submarines can be signed in Severodvinsk in the presence of Vladimir Putin or at least extended conference may take place in order to settle the problem. Recall that the contract on aforementioned submarines has not been signed so far due to pricing contradiction between defense ministry and United Shipbuilding Corporation.

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin plans to visit Severodvinsk on May 25 to watch aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya taking the sea for the first time after shipyard phase of repairs, a source in Russian defense industry told Central Navy Portal.

By rt.com

Combat aircraft to fly over London during 2012 Olympics

Sergei Sayenko
May 23, 2012 19:05 Moscow Time

Photo: EPA

During the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, London airspace will be controlled by the Ministry of Defense for the first time since the Second World War to prevent terrorist attacks.
According to The Times newspaper, the Ministry of Defense will control most of the airspace over the South East, and fighter jets will be stationed near a Heathrow airport for the duration of the London Games. The Ministry of Defense also plans to use Rapier missiles, mobile ground radar systems and the Navy to respond to potential terrorist threats. Civilian air traffic controllers, however, will continue to guide jets carrying the extra 500,000 visitors expected during the Games into London airports.
Contributing to security during the Games will be 12.500 police officers and 23.500 employees from the global security services company G4S headquartered in the UK. The government allocated almost one billion pounds for Olympic security-related issues, in what our political commentator says resembles preparations for a full-fledged military operation.
It appears that the organizers want spectators to perceive the London Games as large-scale war games rather than a sports event. British authorities, for their part, stress the necessity of containing possible terrorist attacks during the Games which they say may also see a spate of cyber attacks. Critics say that tight security is almost certain to tarnish the friendly atmosphere of the Games, something that is out of line with the Games’ spirit. Isabella Sankey, of the civil rights group, said, for her part, that the organizers will refer to potential terrorist threats during the Games to justify their tightening screws on security.
Britain has announced in advance that the terror threat level will be shifted from “substantial” to “severe” during the London Olympics, in a move that makes analysts wonder whether it is in line with modern-day reality.
Some experts warn against underestimating the problem, referring to permanent threats by Islamic extremists to stage a series of terror attacks in Britain and beyond during the London Games.
The experts single out a deadly hostage-taking during the Summer Olympics in Munich in 1972, when Palestinian terrorists killed eleven Israeli athletes and coaches and a West German police officer. In any case, our commentator says, British authorities should avoid overdramatizing the situation ahead of the London Games so that athletes can only focus on the competitions.
In a separate development earlier this month, the UK’s largest trade union threatened to sabotage the London Olympics in a show of protest against austerity measures the government is currently dealing with. Unite Secretary General Len McCluskey said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper that holding the Games at a time when the government is mulling austerity measures and public servants’ pay cuts is absolutely irrelevant.
It is only to be hoped, our commentator concludes, that the British government will think twice before spending a whopping one billion pounds on the London Olympics. All the more so that part of this sum could be allocated for the resolution of pressing economics issues in Britain…
By Moscow times.