RM Manohar Parrikar conveys DAC : A Detailed view

RM Manohar Parrikar conveys DAC : A Detailed view

   Working towards its promised modernized military, the man in command RM Manohar Parrikar chaired the all crucial Defense Acquit ion Council (DAC) meeting yesterday. The RM assisted by the defense secretary and the three chief of staff met in South Block, New Delhi to discuss the future course and held discussions regarding the future acquisition for the strengthening of the forces.  DAC has cleared several important acquisitions which promise to keep the nation ready to face any atrocities it may face from its unstable and unreliable neighbours. Even though the DAC meet was conveyed on Friday, it remained inconclusive on several issues and had to be cut short owing to the unplanned departure of RM Parrikar to Goa on a undisclosed emergency.

    The highlight of the DAC is undoubtedly the clearance for the acquisition of nearly 48 Mi-17V-5 medium lift helicopters for the IAF. These Mi 17V-5s are slated to replace the aging Mi-8 helicopter fleet, which is currently the air force mainstay lift copter force. IAF currently operates nearly 150 Mi-8 copters and relies on its lift capabilities for all operations across the nation. The Mil Mi-8 copters were acquired from the Russians to mainly supplement the forward operating forces. With these airframes aging and unable to serve at higher altitudes the IAF acquired the latest Mi-17V-5 medium lift copters from Russia in 2008 under a speculated US $ 1.4 billion deal.

   The air force currently operates a 70-strong Mi-17V-5 fleet and has placed an order for nearly 199 copters which were placed in 80+71+48 phased manner. DAC has now cleared another 48 Mi-17V-5 copters to be acquired from the Russian firm. In support to NDA’s ambitious, Make in India campaign the deal will mandate the Russian firm to team up with an Indian private aerospace partner to manufacture the copters indigenously in India.

   DAC has also addressed the needs for Air Traffic Control (ATC) radars raised by the Air Force. IAF will now get the ‘ATCR-33S SRE’, all weather ATC radar manufactured by BEL. The ‘ATCR-33S SRE’ is an S band Air Traffic Control. Radar which is suitable for Terminal Control Applications (TCA). The radar is extremely accurate and versatile thus guaranteeing hinder free operations across IAF bases. The radar works has two beam riders, with the S Band beam rider acting as the primary rider and the L Band beam rider acting as the auxiliary beam rider. The radar enjoys an operational range of 130 kilometres.

   The Air defense squadrons of the IAF have received a shot in the arm with the DAC clearing the induction of 7 additional Akash SAM batteries under a US $700 million   deal. IAF is currently operating 8 squadrons of Akash missiles, with each squadron comprising of 8 Akash missile launchers plus the support systems consisting the radar ground control and resupply wagon. The L&T facility in Coimbatore is currently capable of manufacturing nearly 360 missiles per year. The government is also considering of ramping up the production with more than 3000 missiles under order and with the product lining for export to other friendly nations the production sure needs a boost.   

  The Navy has received a lesser share of the pie as against the trend this time around. DAC has approved navy’s plan for operating harbour tugs in an estimated 300 crore deal. DAC has cleared the path for acquiring 8 Chetak helicopters for the navy. Even though these platforms were introduced in the late 60’s, these are still in at the HAL line for the armed forces. The plans to acquire the multi-role helicopters have been stalled after scam charges were made against the bidders.

   With the P 75 project nearing completion the government is venturing all options to open up the bids for the P 75I tender at the earliest. DAC has in principle accepted to speed up the process and has demanded to be briefed in the following meetings.

   DAC has also cleared Army’s proposal for the construction of multiple short span reinforced steel bridges in collaboration with L&T across Kashmir. These bridges once completed will guarantee faster movement of the forces, hence enhancing the response time. The proposal for acquiring UAV raised by the Army has been left untouched and is to be addressed in the coming meetings.

Edit - Karthik Kakoor

The backbone of IAF transport fleet : Mi-17

 The Medium Multi role Mi-17 Helicopter

    Regarded one of the best transport helicopters, the Mi 17 is surely the most versatile and strategic asset. Designed in 1977 as a troop transport helicopter for the Soviet forces, the Mi17 soon evolved to a versatile heptor capable of handling multi-role missions and being extremely nimble on the battlefield. More than 12000 air-frame today serve across the world and have seen extensive action. The Mi-17 is undoubtedly the backbone for all copter oriented transport missions of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Mi-17 was first procured by the IAF in the late 70’s, when India was offered the Mi-8 transport helicopter.   

      The Mi-17 was develop around the Mi-8 medium transport copter and received major boost to its lift capabilities. The Mi-17’s were provided with more powerful engines and reinforced air-frame which could support heavier payload and operate at higher altitudes. The copter was also designed to carry external wet pylons which could carry missiles. The main rotors were re-designed and larger rotors were introduced to support heavier payloads, the tail rotor was also re-designed and re-positioned towards the port side.

    Powered by twin Kilmov engines the helicopter can carry up to thirty war ready soldiers or four tonne of cargo. The twin Kilmov engines churn out 1600 kW and can power the copter to a maximum speed of 250 km/hour. The Mi-17 can traverse more than 500 kilometer at standard set up mode and enjoys a laudable 200 kilometer combat radius when operating at maximum operational load.

      The Mi-17 V5 not only serve as transport helicopters but can also be used as an attack copter, thanks to the offensive punch it packs with the guided rockets and guns. The attack capability will be a major morale booster for the soldiers deployed on the battlefield. Mi 17 is fitted with 30mm gun pod and 60mm unguided rockets which can spell havoc over enemy targets. The Mi 17 fleet under IAF, employees a meticulously combined system compromising of the cannon and rockets. Mi-17 is also provided with conformal fuel tank which is a boost in increasing the operational range of the copters.

      Owing to their huge size, the Mi-17’s are sitting ducks waiting to be fired upon by enemy SAM batteries and shoulder fired missiles. But this has been meticulously worked out by equipping the copter with advanced countermeasure suites which can evade and out manoeuvre missiles. Information regarding the exact counter measure remains to be extremely skeptical, Russian Mi 17 has been spotted gearing the Ukrainian made ADROS counter measure systems which are part of the Indian Mi-35 attack helicopter fleet. The Indian version of the Mi 17 is rumored to be fitted with the Israeli made C-MUSIC directional counter measure systems, this DIRCM is capable of engaging infrared guided missiles.

       India currently operates more than 150 Mi 8 and nearly 70 Mi-17 V5 copters. The Mi-8 airframes are rapidly aging and a replacement is the need of the hour for the transport wing of IAF.  IAF has now come with an ambitious plan of replacing the Mi-8’s with advanced Mi-17’s which can be rapidly inducted into the air force. By 2008 India had concluded a contract with Russia to supply 80 Mi 17 helicopters under a deal estimated at $1.4 billion. The first set of five Mi 17 V5 helicopters was delivered to India in early 2012, impressed with the performance of these beasts India opted for a follow on order for 71 more Mi-17 helicopters at a whooping $1.3 billion deal. IAF is contemplating of procuring 48 more helicopters at an estimated $1 billion dollar deal.

     The Mi-17’s are highly regarded in the IAF for their capabilities and ruggedness. The Mi-17 was used initially in the ‘Kargil operation’ to ferry troops to front-line but was later pulled off taking into account the higher position of the enemies. The Mi-17 has been efficiently used in humanitarian missions supported by the IAF. These Mi-17s have served as the backbone for all rescue missions operated by the IAF.  Mi-17 was also part of the ‘Cross-border special operation’ carried out by the 21st Para contingent.  The Mi-17 V5 copters are also used to ferry the Indian President and the Prime Minister proving the level of confidence put into the aircraft by India. Thus the addition of Mi-17 to the force is a major boost to the operational capability of IAF.

Editor Karthik Kakoor