News Roundup: IAC-2, LCA Mk-2 Engine, Towed AD Guns

Glass cutaway aircraft carrier model showing EMALS installation at General Atomics stall at DefExpo 2014

India - US Pursuing Tie-up on IAC-2 and LCA Mk-2 Engine Under DTTI

The TOI reported on July 17, 2015 that India and the US have worked out the terms of reference for building India's next aircraft carrier with US technology.

India is preparing to send a team to pursue talks on the aircraft carrier and the LCA Mk-2 jet engine, ahead of the next round of strategic talks due in September 2015.

IDP Sentinel members can read more at Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) (IDP Sentinel)

Indian Navy Seeks Letter of Intent for Construction of IAC from 9 Indian Shipyards

The ET reported on July 17, 2015 that the IN has sought Expression of Intent (EoI) from nine Indian shipyards, four of them privately owned,  to construct IAC-2. The four private shipyards invited are L&T, Pipavav, ABG and Bharti.

The public sector shipyards are Mazgaon Docks, Garden Reach, Goa Shipyard, Hindustan Shipyard and Cochin Shipyard.

The letter says the proposed carrier would have a CATOBAR flight-deck configuration but other "modern technology for launch and recovery" will also be considered.

The shipyards are required to respond by July 21, 2015.

A high-level study group, headed by Assistant Controller of Carrier Project, Rear Admiral Surinder Ahuja, will evaluate infrastructure and technical competence of responding shipyards for executing the project.

Recently the Business Standard reported that the IN has sent letters of request (LoR) seeing proposals for help in designing the carrier to Lockheed Martin (US), BAE Systems (UK), DCNS (France), and Rosoboronexport (Russia).

IDP Sentinel members can read more at Indian Aircraft Carrier-2 (IAC-2) INS Vishal (IDP Sentinel)

BEL and Punj Lloyd Shortlisted for Towed AD Gun Project

The ET reported on July 17, 2015 that MoD has shortlisted BEL and Punj Lloyd for supply of 428 towed AD guns over the next five years.

Ashok Wadhawan, president (manufacturing) at Punj Lloyd, told ET that his company was looking forward to the final round during which commercial bids would be opened to determine the winner of the contract.

 "We have gained considerable experience on the project and also have a modern 30 mm air defense gun ready for requirements of the Indian Army," Wadhawan said.

BEL also has experience in upgrading of AD guns and is currently modernizing the L 70 guns of the Army.

The DAC on July 14, 2015 approved procurement of the guns at a cost of Rs 16,900 crore.

The guns are to be procured under 'Buy and Make in India' category. A tender was issued to 6 private and public sector firms - Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Electronics, Tata Power SED, Punj Lloyd, Ordnance Factory Board and Bharat Forge.

The Indian firms are free to tie up with foreign majors holding upto 49 per cent stake.


Towed Air Defense (AD) Guns - IDP Sentinel