A secret meet between Israel and India to prepare a $3 billion arms deal

A secret meet between Israel and India to prepare $3 billion arms deal

A meeting between Israeli Director general of Ministry of Defense along with his officials, Israeli ambassador to India Carmon, home minister Rajnath singh and defense minister Manohar parrikar held in Delhi, Friday. some sources close to Israel mentioned the meeting discussed about the Prime minister's visit to Israel and the proposed arms deal worth of $3 billions.

After the president, home minister and foreign minister visit to Israel, The Indian Prime minister gearing to visit the Holy land. This is the first official prime minister level visit to Israel. However Modi as Gujarat CM visited Israel earlier. The prime minister's visit is not only just a political visit, It's a key military level visit too.

India selected the Israeli firm Rafael to team up with Indian private company Kalyani, to build and supply third generation fire and forget anti tank guided missile to Indian Army. Rafael's Spike beat US Javelin, french and Russian firms to supply more than 300 plus Spike launchers and 8000 plus Spike missiles. The proposed deal not yet signed so far, the deal still on the cabinet committee on security for negotiations and preparations. 

Indian army announced the spike missile selection in October 2014, following joint venture between Kalyani and Rafael by February last year. Kalyani will make the missiles and launching systems, while Bharath Dynamics integrate the system into one. the Spike missile details and other information found here.

Days ago, IAF Selected the Israeli Spice guided bomb and new generation litening target pod to integrate into the Su 30 MKI. the reason is, to make the Su 30 MKI better in air to ground missions too, the details also found here. 

Indian Army is on the other side who repeatedly asking the land based version of Barak 8 dubbed as medium range SAM. The air force also asking the same, However some sources say India might sign a contract with Israeli IAI to supply one regiment of MR SAM, which comprising eighteen firing units. India also plans to sign mass acquisition of  Barak 8 missiles from IAI and DRDO for Indian Navy.

However there is no clear information about the proposed sale of armed Heron drone sale. Earlier it's reported that India already signed the deal with IAI to supply eight Eitan drone for some $400 millions. the earlier article about IAI Eitan found here.

Reports from Ministry said that, CCS and Finance ministry working closely with the Israel firms to prepare the final contract papers. which will be signed during the PM visit to Israel.

Review, IAI-HAL Chetak UAV for Navy

Review, IAI-HAL Chetak UAV for Navy

   India and Israel joined once again to execute a unmanned aerial vehicle project for the maritime purpose. This time Israeli IAI subsidiary Malat  joined hands with HAL who manufactures Chetak Helicopters and the mission systems integrator DRDO. Indian Navy will use the unmanned Chetak helicopters for future maritime search and reconnaissance missions.

   The NRUAV- Naval Rotary unmanned aerial vehicle project initiated early 2010 to meet the Indian Navy's unmanned operation of maritime multi layered Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions from warships deck. The project entirely based on the HAL produced Chetak helicopters who is currently being used in tri-services.

    IAI known as the best in unmanned applications, with the support from IAI's subsidiary MALAT the manned HAL Chetak becomes unmanned helicopter with improved ISR capabilities, which include a Maritime Multi mode radar in it's belly and a Electro Optronics for automatic tracking and target range measurement. The Chetak operates same as like the American MQ 8 Fire scout UAV.

    The Chetak platform can be operated from almost all kind of Naval warships, which include Coast Guard OPV's too. In the manned version using the helicopters for long time ISR mission makes human errors. this due to the heavy vibration and sea states. So making a unmanned system in the existing Chetak makes the Helicopter perform ISR mission for extra long time.

   Unlike the manned variant, The unmanned system comes with better sensor systems. The Chetak UAV can carry a maritime multi mode radar slated to be the modified variant of EL/M 2022 Radar. The EL/M 2022 used for Long range sea surveillance which increases the ships primary surveillance range, Anti submarine warfare capability, air to air mission which include detection of sea skimming missiles and weather applications.

    The actual range of EL/M 2022 is more than 200 kilometers. with the effective air borne system the Chetak also operates as a dedicated maritime patrol aircraft in theater applications, Such as fleet defense and forward fleet movements. The Radar also capable to take SAR images. with these unique capabilities, The warship off from the EEZ can easily detect and analyze threats.

    The Chetak UAV also carries a Electro Optronics pod for search and rescue mission. The EO system is IAI developed MOSP - Multi mission Optronic stabilized Payload. Which is used for identifying threats, and tracking it in real time, also used for Search and rescue operations for the possible current status of the mission.

    The Chetak UAV also comes with variety of EW and countermeasure systems developed by IAI. The system includes. communication and signal intelligence, plus Electronic support measure suites.

  The Chetak UAV is re designed to work in the operational altitude of 15,000 Feet, with the operational area of some 150 kilometer with six hours of loiter time. with the maximum speed of 100 knots.

    Most of the newer Indian warships can carry two helicopters, the main reason is to carry a Chetak UAV along with Naval Multi role helicopters. To increase the ships performance in future battles. The Chetak UAV can provide over the Horizon detection support to the Naval Ships.

    As per current status, The mission system supplier IAI, The helicopter producer HAL and the system integrator DRDO almost close to fly the system. However actual status of the Chetak UAV is remain classified.

Navy set to reveal the secret Radar ship by end of this year

Navy set to reveal the secret Radar ship by end of this year

AESA Based Radar ship

    Indian Navy all set to reveal the secret Radar ship specially designed to track long range ballistic missiles and air borne targets. The Project almost finished now and set to be floated into the sea by this fall. Indian Navy crews will run the ship while DRDO and some other scientists will operate the ship. Countries like US, Russia China already have such ships in their inventory which is a major part of the Ballistic missile interception program.

     The ship was built by the Hindustan Shipyard limited in Visakhapatnam, The ships keel was laid on June 2014 as a project completion date set by December this year. Same like INS Arianth the Radar ship also monitored and funded by the Prime ministers office. The Ship will further boost India's anti ballistic missile shield, by providing exact information about the enemy missiles even at the longer range and higher altitude for mid course Interception.

    The Ship houses two AESA radars, another set of telemetry scanners and associated systems. The Ship houses a large X Band AESA for long range target tracking and surveillance, Usually most of the X band AESA having range of more than 2000 kilometers for steady tracking. The reason behind adding the AESA in the ship is, it can be moved easily, due to earth's curvature, fixed land based Radar's lacks range and reliability. Since Ballistic missiles fly with the Earth's rotation to meet the target in short time.

    The new X band AESA comes with state of art gallium nitrite technology, The GaN based T/R Modules requires less power to operate and highly reliable, optimized smaller in size and longer operational life. The 360 degree rotating heavy AESA is the Ships can provide clear information about incoming enemy threats even at longer range. The X band transmit and receive the data at the frequency level of 8.0 GHz to 12 GHz band.

   Another is a S Band Radar, Which also provide search and tracking in another frequency range, Most nations uses the S Band to track very fast moving cruise missiles, and low flying sea skimmers. Most of the Missiles navigates very smart to escape from enemy Radar's. The S band AESA can track even those highly maneuvering missiles. Some of the Chinese cruise missiles has range of more than 1000 kilometers even they were nuke capable missiles. The latest Kolkata's MF STAR can track targets upto some 300 kilometers only.

    Both S and X band can track all kind of airborne targets even flying at the range of some 2000 Kilometers. The ship also can provide target information's to the nearby ships about the incoming threats. The Ship can guide the land based PAD/AAD missiles to hit the ballistic missile targets at the mid course mostly if failed then terminal phase, Terminal passe can increase the interception probability of the missile if the mid course interception was failed.

    The Ship possibly add one more Radar to find Low observable targets. It's reported that UHF radar's can able to track low observable targets like semi stealth fighter jets and stealth UAV's. However the UHF's Tracking range is some 500 kilometer or less. The DRDO's Radar ship can add the UHF for additional supports. However it's still not confirmed

    Other systems like Telemetry scanners used for target acquisition and classification. which transmit and receive target information's from Tracking radar and classifies it into the mission computers. Like Fighter jets or Cruise missiles, Mostly telemetry used for spying purpose to receive information's from enemy activities. which gives communication supports to covert military agents for secure transmissions.

Israeli UHF Radar

    The Ship is something bigger. The actual length is some 175 meters and displacement of more than 10,000 tons as described by the ship designer Vik Sandvik. The ship also carry a Helicopter for support missions. However the ship will not carry any weapon systems onboard. Usually one or two EO based CIWS used for self defense. The Ship officially called as Missile Range Instrumentation Ship. 

    Recent development in the Israeli Terra systems noted, Which would be a good competitor to be fitted in the Ship. IAI already announced that they have an export customer of the system. Terra is comprised with one UHF and S Band AESA radar constructed with GaN modules. Most of the DRDO's Radar systems are evolved from Israel like the LRTR and MPR radar systems. It's highly likely Terra would be placed in Indian MRIS ship.

Spyder Anti Missile System

Spyder Anti Missile System

   Surface launched python and derby missile is known as Spyder, python is a infrared guided heat seeking missile, where derby is an radar guided BVR missile, both missiles can lock the target before or after launching the Missiles, simply known as lock on after/before launch, these missiles are the derivatives of Fighter launched Python and Derby,both Python and Derby is fire and forget missiles, that can be launched in ripple fire mode to intercept large number of hostile flying objects, two version of Spyder is available, one is the SR version, having a four cell launcher vehicle with a EL/M 2016 ATAR 3D AESA Radar, and the MR version comes with eight cell launcher with much powerful EL/M-2084 MMR 3D AESA radar. while all of them have same limited range of upto 25 km only.

   With the increasing threats from Chinese and Pakistani long range cruise missiles, IAF has a challenge to secure it's air bases from enemy low flying cruise missiles, and heavy bombs, at that time IAF has no real fire and forget quick reaction SAM batteries which is also capable to shoot very low flying loitering UAV's and low flying cruise missiles, Air force planned to buy a SAM system which can detect and shoot such low flying threats, and floated a RFI in early 2000, and many foreign countries like West, US, Israel and Russia offered their advanced systems, after effective field trails, IAF impressed with the Israeli Spyder's performance. any how due to the leftist parties protest the deal was stalled, and IAF has no other option than the Israeli offer, most of the Israeli offers are very handy to the IAF, they allows the Indians to whatever they can do, they don't hesitate to supply the Spares and missiles when India steps in a war.

After some years of delay, the Defense ministry finally signed the deal with the Israeli's. and within a year Israeli's started delivering those missiles and launchers to IAF, as per the initial deal the IAF receives some 108 Spyder MR Launching units, Radar's and command posts for some $260 millions, and the exact information about the missile delivery is not available, it's believed IAF may bought some 1500 missiles, as 50-50 of Derby and Python, and many open sources reported that India bought the MR SAM system, means the eight cell launcher, where the exact information remains secret. and it's deployed area's also not available for public's. mostly they are somewhere in eastern and western frontiers.

    The IAF has ordered some 18 batteries, so it's means one Spyder web consists of six Spyder launchers plus a single Radar and command posts. also Israeli's has no problems of using Indian made trucks for transporting, currently IAF using the TATA trucks for Transporting those missiles and launchers, the IAF is so familiar with the EL/M-2084 Multi Mission 3D AESA radar, and Israel allows India to reverse engineer the Radar to make a desi version, the desi version is called as Arudhra, the MMR radar is not just a surveillance radar, it act as a weapon locating radar, and fire control radar too, even those EL/M Radar systems guides the Israeli Air force fighter to attack the exact location of hamas rocket launching positions, the known Iron dome uses the EL/M 2084 for surveillance and fire control.

    The Spyder missile system can capable to detect very low flying loitering targets, like UAV's and Cruise missiles, the operational target engagement altitude is twenty meters to 9000 meters, where the typical cruise missile can fly, the Spyder can shoot down both sub sonic and supersonic cruise missiles, interestingly the Spyder system can  work with both MR and SR versions, the Python and Derby missiles has the lock on after launch capability which gives the missiles single shot confirm kill probability, the Spyder missiles can launched from the cell within five seconds once the hair trigger pressed and the target was identified as hostile, interestingly the Spyder systems comes with infrared search and track system too, even if the Radar was compromised the Spyder launcher unit can launch the missile against threats, like how fighter air crafts switch off their radar and guide those missiles using IRST,

    The Missile system is highly network centric system, means even if enemy comes in large numbers with variety of flying machines, the Spyder's MMR radar can mark each targets and ripple launch those missiles for high probability kill in single shot, such scenario was tested only by the Americans as of now, by using standard missiles to destroy Ballistic, Cruise and air craft targets with 100% kill probability, same can be done by the Spyder too, except those ballistic missile, the spyder will engage the Ballistic missiles,however the small missile won't make huge damage to the monster sized ballistic missiles,

    Currently those missile defense systems are being used by Peru and  Singapore along with Indians, It's believed that IAF already received all those ordered Spyder systems and all of them under operational.

India to buy attack drone IAI Eitan from Israel

India to buy attack drone IAI Eitan from Israel

    The Indian Air force all set to induct combat drones from Israel within a year, an agreement reached with Indian Ministry and Israeli aircraft industries to supply the attack drone IAI Eitan, ground control station, modification of exiting air base to accommodate much larger drone, weapon packages, and spare parts, the deal valued more than some $400 millions, with the price tag of $40 million per plane, IAF plans to induct nearly 10 Eitan drones in it's attack drone fleet, 

  The Indian air force planned to induct the attack drones by earlier 2012, and sought foreign drones, meantime DRDO proposed Rustom 2 drone with attack capabilities, and promised to deliver within a matter of time, however the progress of Rustom 2 is not going well, as Chinese already developed and  testing a drone similar to US MQ 9 Reaper drone dubbed wing loong, the Pakistani's also performed a battlefield UAV with attack capabilities, and India yet to catch up.

   It's hard to digest that IAF asked to purchase some attack drones from Israel, who is willing to sale only to India, however with some political reasons the UPA government denied to allocate funds to buy attack drones, and the new government already briefed by the IAF several times, and they cleared the deal by now, last week the NSA Chief Ajit Doval due a visit to Israel and met some Israeli officials, within a days some Israeli officials too visited Delhi and sealed the deal.

   Israel is known as a reliable partner to India, who ready to sell it's state of art technology to India with transferring critical technologies, It's believed that IAI might allow the DRDO team to inspect and study the Eitan drone and continue work on the Indigenous Rustom 2 drone,

   IAF may think to establish a new drone base somewhere in western front, by deploying those attack drones to monitor the  international border, IAF already operating array of Israeli drones including the Heron drone similar to Eitan and target drones like Harpy and Haroop. the Eitan is developed based on the Heron UAV, sharing similar airframe and characteristics, the Navy and Airforce operates more than fifty such drones for recon purpose.

   The Eitan is an MALE- Medium Altitude and Long Endurance UAV's ,means they can operate in the medium altitude some 30,000 feet to 50,000 feet, and stay in the air for more than 30 hours, to conduct recon missions continuously, the earlier Heron is lack of range due to it's data link and control methods, Heron can perform mission inside a circle of 350 km, because it is designed to patrol the designated area for more than a days

   The Eitan something like the American MQ 9 Reaper, or more powerful than the Reaper, the Eitan is designed to fly above the commercial air traffic that is 30,000 to 40,000 feet, because of long endurance the Eitan can stay above the commercial air line for more than a day, the Eitan can fly above some 45,000 feet and perform recon missions, the huge wing helps the Eitan to fly very low to perform strike mission and within a matter of time it can reach the higher altitude to continue the surveillance, the Earlier Heron is not designed to fly such high altitude, it's fly below some 10,000 feet, the American MQ 9 is also share same characteristics of flying altitude.

   The drones are powered by turboprop engines, so they were slow speed and subsonic, the Eitan uses the Canadian Pratt and Whitney engines which delivers 1200 horse power way too powerful than the American Reaper, which accelerates the Eitan to reach more than 300 kilometers per hour in normal flight speed, the reaper is much faster than the Eitan, the IAI Eitan is much larger drone, with the length of some 13 meters and a wing span of some 26 meter similar wing size to the Boeing 737 Commercial Air Plane.

   Once the Eitan fully fueled, it can stay in the air for more than 36 hours, with the use of Satellite communication it can perform mission with the range of some 7,000 kilometers, one of the very few drone who works on the beyond line of sight, and it's possible even if the Base is located in Delhi, the drone can perform attack mission deep behind enemy lines, similar capabilities is not available in any other drones, except the US Navy MQ 4 Global Hawk.

   Originally the Israeli's made the Eitan to attack Iranian long rang missiles in it's launch pads, that's the main reason of increased Range and Endurance, and Israel tested the drone by flying more than 20 hours with beyond line of Sight, the Drone can't be jammed by it's signal since it uses secured satellite communication and uses pre- programed flight routes in  communication denied air spaces, the onboard system allows the Drone return to Base if the mission is compromised or successful,

   The Eitan carries upto one ton of payload's in it's center line, with a quad packed Hellfire anti armor missiles, precision and laser guided munitions and Spice missiles, IAF receives such weapons and armaments along with the $400 million deal, Israeli's used the Eitan during the Israel Palestine war The drone dropped precision guided munitions against a moving armed convoy. and some Strike missions against the Terrorists in Sinai peninsula.

   With the induction of armed drones gives an upper edge to India by conducting strike missions against infiltrators along the international border, earlier the Recon drones gives moving information to the army commands, while they send Soldiers to confront them, and from now they never risk the Soldiers life, if anyone tries to Infiltrate the border, the Eitan comes from the Sky and drop the munition without any warning, and It's a boost to IAF that in future they can conduct strike missions inside Pakistan by targeting terrorists camps. 

New Opportunities, Israeli comes closer to Indian Aerospace Sector

New Opportunities, Israeli comes closer to Indian Aerospace Sector

    Major Israeli aerospace companies like Elta, IAI and Rafeal is keen to build partnership with Indian companies to explore the opportunities of Indian defense need and make Indian Manufacturing units as a Global export hub's.however those companies already makes joint ventures with Indian Companies and already involved in major aerospace projects, the DRDO- IAI joint project of Barak Missile is the best example, which was the major first line of defensive missile system in both Ships and land based systems.

     IAI the Israeli Aerospace Industries is one of the major Israeli defense company, which is owned by the Israeli state government, who is a master in aerospace, with numerous amount of small to long endurance of UAV's and Sensor fusion systems, Naval systems and missiles, India and IAI signed first contract of Supplying AEWCS radar to the modified Il 78, which was carried out by another IAI subsidiary Elta, after the successful delivery, IAF went more deals with the Israeli IAI, the Griffin LGB kits are the most important deal which can convert a unguided bomb and high precession guided bomb, which was effectively used in the Kargil war.

     On the other front, DRDO and IAI signed a co project to develop a long range anti missile SAM system, specially for the Naval ships, the project almost in finishing condition, where DRDO supplied rocket motors and acquisition systems, and Israeli's works on the seeker, the Missile successfully tested against live target,and Israel already employed Barak 8 in their latest Sa'ar class corvette's, and India soon to get those missile's in latest Kolkata class destroyers, after the successful tests and performance Army and Air force jumped into the Projects and asks land based Barak systems dubbed by MR-SAM, which is also in pipeline,

   Not only those, India operating nearly seven IAI build Super Dovra fast attack boats, and IAI assisted the Indian's to develop the cannon launched guided missile which is incorporated into Arjun Tanks, the Israeli's allows the Indians to reverse engineer the LAHAT missile.

    And now IAI is keen to build many variants of small to hale UAV's  in India with a private partner,  and supply those systems to Indian armed forces in low costs and by selling it foreign customers to make higher profit, which also boost the Indo Israeli ties too.

   Rafael is the another company who also involved in major Indian Defense projects,  which is also a state owned company, who involved in missile projects, India had a good relation with the Rafael with the induction of SpyDer SAM system, Python and Derby air to Air missiles and many more, Rafael is one of the top Israeli company who keen to part of the Make in India program,  Recently Israeli Rafael and Indian Kalyani created a Joint company in India to produce missile and armor protection systems for main battle Tanks, however the JV mainly focus the Spike Anti tank missile production in India, where Indian Army earlier shortlisted the Spike missile to supply more than 300 firing units and more than thousands of Missiles.

   The Rafael Kalyani not only looking for production they planning to  missile integration and some other technical works in the Fighter jets and missile systems, which can work with the Existing radar, they they are competing network centric system which can connect all field systems into the operational command center.

    Elta is famous for Radar systems, that the known green pine radar and the birth of Indian Long range Tracking Radar, whose is the heart of Indian Ballistic missile defense program, Elta is partially owned by the IAI, most of the Radar systems currently being operated by Indian forces is from Elta, Elta not only supply's the Systems, they allows the Indians' to study about the system and make their own in India, the Air force's known Arudhra Radar comes from EL/M-2084 multi mode radar, who is currently mass produced by Indian LRDE, who is replacing older french built Radar systems in India. 

   Elta too plans to Build a manufacturing plant in India, to make it India as a global hub for exporting, as simply R&D labs in Israel and technological expertise from Israel, and the Manufacturing happens in India, a very good innovative way to succeed in Business and cooperation.

INS Kolkatha test fires Barak 8 soon

INS Kolkatha test fires Barak 8 soon

       The Long Range Surface Air Missile (LR-SAM) will be tested-fired in India, coming October. LRSAM, also known as Barak-8, being co-developed by India and Israel had already been successfully flight-tested against a flying target in Israel in November 2014. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have joined hands for developing LRSAM, which has a range of 70 km

       Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) V Udaya Bhaskar told defence journalists on the sidelines of the two-day Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Summit (ADMS 2015) that the LRSAM project is moving in the ‘right direction.' "The programme has been going on for the last five to six years. The missile will have its Indian leg of trial in October. The current trials are for Navy and we will conduct parallel ground trials for the Air Force and Army variants as well," Udaya Bhaskar said.

        Mass production likely from next year He said BDL hopes to enter into mass production of LRSAMs from next year onwards, depending upon the outcome of the final trials. "There are a lot of tactical weapon requirements coming up. The success of Akash Weapon System (AWS) has given a big boost for indigenization for SAM (Surface to Air Missile) programmes," Udaya Bhaskar said.

       BDL presently has three manufacturing units situated in Hyderabad, Medak district (Telangana) and at Visakhapatnam (AP). The fourth unit is coming up in Amravati district of Maharashtra. "We plan to produce Very Short Range Air Defence Missile (VSHORAD) at the Amravati plant. The fifth unit is coming up in Ibrahimpatnam (Telangana) exclusively for SAM project.





       We are ready to join hands with private partners to take up high-end weapon systems," Udaya Bhaskar added. He said the current orderbook of BDL stood at in excess of Rs Rs 16000 crore. Adding more teeth to Indian Navy.

         DRDO officials had told OneIndia earlier that once cleared for operations, the LRSAMs will be fitted on the P-15 A Kolkata Class guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy. The missile's first ballistic flight test (short-range) was successfully conducted in Israel in May 2010. The first control navigation test of the missile was conducted in 2012. As per the original plan, initial short-range tests are to be held in Israel and the long-range ones in India.

The LRSAM project was sanctioned in January 2006 with an initial funding of Rs 2,606.02 crore.

 Article Published in One India

The Indian UAV Arsenal

The Indian UAV Arsenal

Indian Army Nishant UAV

     It's unbelievable numbers of unmanned platforms currently on the tri -services.  not only but Armed forces want double the Numbers of UAV's, as of now estimated that the Armed forces using more than two hundred of unmanned platforms.

        The Forces looking for micro UAV's like the Raven to MQ 4 Triton HALE UAV's, as of now Army operating more number of MALE ( medium altitude long endurance ) UAV's most of them used for only Reconnaissance and Target Tracking, which they designed to used,

         But the Air force  uses Killer drones like the Israeli Harpy and Haroop drones. the number of these drones still classified, that nearly hundred of them under operational by the Indian Air force, these drones used for SEAD operations only.

        The Haroop is an advanced UCAV used only by the Indians and Israeli's designed to Kill enemy radars and early warning networks, due to it's highly stabilized aero dynamic and slow speed, it's more maneuverable and fly too low and loiter before attack the target, this is the only good platform to attack high value targets before going to full assault.

          The Indian Airforce and Navy operating more advanced recon platform the IAI Heron MALE UAV's which can capable to fly more than two days continuously at an altitude of 10,000 Meters, they using this platform to track and recon specified area's for Counter Intelligence mission. some good characteristics are if you lost the control of such UAV's the UAV itself come back where you launched. such capabilities gives an upper edge to the  UAV can't fall in enemy hands, like the RQ 170 saga.  the Numbers of Heron is estimated more than sixty.

        But the Army uses dedicated UAV's, Army have more than hundreds of IAI Searcher drones. significantly less performance compared to the Heron. both range and altitude unlike the Heron It's designed to capable of tracking ground threats and recon missions. here also the numbers are unknown but more than 100 drones is in operational under the Army Aviation as of now.

   The home grown ADE Nishat is an another good UAV used by the Army, Nearly 10 of them under operational only by the Indian Army. unlike other drones It's have some other good features, a bit difficult to launch, you need the catapult truck to launch the Nishant, and it can be land with the use of Parachute free fall technique. the Nishant is an Battle UAV, used for many operation, since it's Endurance is capped less than 4 hours.

       But it can do good things such as guidance to target acquisition, Artillery fire support, that means, the Nishant guide the Artillery course to set the co ordinates correct to the enemy positions, to increase the Kill probability of Artillery, SIGNINT- the Nishant's payload capable to intercept enemy communications, if Nishant flies above enemy post any if they using wireless for communication Nishant track it and feed it to Indian command centers.

         There is a wheeled version of Nishant under trails knows as Panchi, which can be fulfill the Army's requirement and improvements in the early Nishant model, if trails successful army plans to add a fleet of hundred such UAV's in it's fleet to increase the Fire and Recon power.

    The Navy and DRDO uses the PTA for testing purpose, which can be used for testing Air defense missile's performance, the Lakshya used as a Target to the SAM and other Missiles to measure the performance of the SAM and missile system, the Astra and Akash already tested with PTA.

        There were couple more micro UAV's under operational by the Forces the good one is the NETRA Quad copter, it's not comes under the UAV category, it's good for search and rescue's Indian Para military such as BSF, ITBP using this. under NDRF it's proven it's performance in tough terrian and weather conditions.

   DRDO also studying the possible UCAV's the armed fighting drone under the code name of Aura, but the program is too classified and the details unknown to the Public.

   DRDO also engaged a project which is a HALE UAV which powered by solar power, used for long endurance recon mission, which is expected to be revealed within two years.  

Indian Air force Heron UAV

Project 15 Bravo Vishakpatnam Destroyer

Project 15 Bravo Visakhapatnam Destroyer

The Hull of P 15 B INS Vishakapatinam Destroyer

        Apart from the US Navy the Japenese become the second Biggest Navy, but the Chinese Sub merged platforms can give upper edge to the JMSDF, but no one can give good credits to Chinese Sub merged platforms, so the Japanese remains second, to fight against Chinese and Dominate the Indian Ocean Indian Navy need more powerful Destroyers, after the Delhi class and Rajput Class, Government plans to build more advanced Network centric Stealth guided Destroyers, hence the P 15 A the Kolkatha class ships born, by this project Navy would receive one Destroyer in each two years, after some delays the Navy getting those destroyers  now,

       The Indian Navy already receive first of the Kolkatha Class last year and get inducted and the second Ship Kochi is Expected to inducted in the Navy this year, and the final of P15 A the Chennai would be inducted in the coming Year,

    After that Indian Navy has another series more advanced Destroyers compared to the P15 Alpha, The P15 Bravo named Visakhapatnam class and it would be commissioned today, and can finish all trails and be deployed by 2018.

     In P15 B there were four ships planned each would be inducted into the navy with two years cap, Starts 2018 and end by 2024, compared to three ships in P 15.

    The P 15B Displacement mentioned at 7,300 tons lesser than 200 tons by P 15A, due to the more composite materials sleek design and Less Helicopter Facility, P15 A planned to carry two Helicopters but the P15 B will carry a Single SH 70 ASW, search and Rescue Multi role Helicopter.

  The Ships again to carry the More powerful Aegis alternate the Israeli MF STAR Fire Control Radar, which can guide the Ships Offensive and Defensive weapons and gives Target information's, the same MF STAR also the Main FCR in the P 15 A.

     The P 15 B comes with 32 VLS launch of Barak 8 and 16 VLS Launcher of Brahmos, as per Reports, but we can expect more numbers, that means additional 32 VLS Barak and 16 VLS Brahmos or the Nirbhay, and more Number for Maitri QR SAM expected to be 32 systems. also it have to be fitted with four AK 630 or SAM cum CIWS like Phalnx system, the information's not yet released.

   Also the Ship's main gun not yet to be Choose but the Finmccanica OTO Bereda  Naval Gun with Guided Shells may be win the deal, also no information about the RBU 6000 ASW launchers, some roumers also says the Ship can accommodate some Israeli Spike NLOS system for intercepting fast Attack Crafts and Speed Boats, a New method where most western countries are fitting the systems in their Ships.

  The Ship's Torpedo Launching capability is also unknown, but It's sure two or four Torpedo Launching Tubes would be Placed in the Ships, the same P15 A , Delhi class all equipped to launch four 533mm Torpedo's from the Deck.

    The Ships SONAR systems also not described which or what system would be selected the Indigenous Bow Mounted or Navy can import a foreign Bow Mounted SONAR. and no information about the crucial Towed Array SONAR, most of the Indian warships lacks this technology, even the P15 A yet to be receive the Towed Array SONAR. but as per SP's Article the TAS in P15 B comes without any delays, even they don't have the credible sources to prove it,

   The Entire Ship built with advanced Network Centric capabilities to fight in the Modern Battle field and can be work with more modern powerful Aircraft carriers, Nuclear Attack submarines and long range ASW planes like the P 8I.

    The sources also mentioned that the ship can sustain any kind of Nuclear Biological and Chemical Attacks, even most of the Ships designed to survive such attacks, but noting to say about this, but can these ships can survive when a Large scale EMP attack hit the Ships. Questions Remains.

      Also some sources said that Navy gets Help from Thales and IAI about the CMS (Combat Management Systems) Network centric Attack and co ordination also setting up the Radars to work even affected by the EMP.

  With long Questions yet to be answered which will be out in the Media's in coming Days. 

 

A Artistic Representation of Advanced Destroyer

A Delhi Class Destroyer

Rajput class Destroyer

INS Kolkatha a Kolkatha Class Destroyer