News Roundup: Pipavav to Construct Grigorivich Class Frigates, Fresh EoI for FICV, IN Seeks IAC-2 Design Help

Tata Motor's Kestrel wheeled FICV at DefExpo-2014

MoD Releases Fresh EoI for FICV

MoD recently released a fresh EoI for building a "Future Infantry Combat Vehicle" (FICV) to the following 10 Indian vendors. The EoI has been issued under the DPP-2008, which was operative when the AON was given in 2009.

1. Mahindra Defense System
2. Bharat Forge
3. Larsen & Toubro
4. Punj Lloyd
5. Tata Power
6. Tata Motors
7. Pipavav Defence
8. Rolta India
9. Titagarh Wagons
10. Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)

The vendors, who are free to tie-up with foreign firms, have been asked to submit detailed proposals within 90 days.

[via Business Standard]

IDP Sentinel members can read more at Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) - IDP Sentinel

Indian Navy Seeks Design Consultancy for IAC-2

The Indian Navy in July 2015 issued a letter of request to leading shipbuilders across the globe seeking  proposals for help in designing IAC-2, a 65,000 tonne, 300-m long aircraft carrier with CATOBAR (optionally EMALS) operations.

The letter specifies the carrier should be capable of speeds greater than 30 knots (56 km per hour), but doesn't specify the nature of propulsion - nuclear or CDOG.

The carrier will embark 30-35 fixed wing combat aircraft, and about 20 rotary wing aircraft (helicopters).

The letter has been sent to US company, Lockheed Martin; UK company, BAE Systems, French shipbuilder, DCNS, and Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport.

The vendors are expected to respond with their proposals and costings within a week.

[via Business Standard]

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

Russia Picks Pipavav for Project 11356 Construction against Follow-up Contract

The Russian government has picked Pipavav shipyard, on the basis of its infrastructure and capacity, as partner for building Project 11356 Grigorivich class frigates in India against an expected follow-up order worth more than $3 billion.

The ET reported on July 16, 2015 that Russia's decision was formally conveyed to MoD in a letter last week from the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) director Alexander Fomin.

A government-to-government contract is likely to be signed within the current FY with delivery expected over the next six to eight years.

“We are ready to transfer technology to ensure the construction of these ships in India. The new ships that will be built will be different and more modern from the Talwar class that have been delivered,” Alexi Dikiy, director for military technical cooperation at USC, told ET.

IDP Sentinel members can read more at Project 11356 Talwar Class Missile Frigates - IDP Sentinel

News Roundup: Proejct 75I submarines, P-8I LRMRASW Aircraft, Towed AD Guns, Project 11356 Griogorivich Class Frigate

Rubin Design Bureau Amur 1650 (Russia) Project 75I contender

Project-75I Submarine Acquisition Could Involve Multiple Types?

VCNS Vice Admiral P. Murugesan told the press on July 14, 2015 that Project 75I submarines could be built at more than one shipyard, suggesting that multiple types of subs maybe acquired under the project.

"It [Contracted vendor] will not be only one shipyard... there will be a competitive process, the [defense] ministry may agree to all of them, or some of them," he said.

Murugesan said award of contract would follow DPP and estimated construction would start in around 2 years.

It was earlier reported that the MoD has shortlisted 5 Indian shipyards out of the 7 that it evaluated for infrastructure and technical competence to construct Project 75I submarines.

The OEM - submarines combinations in contention are

1. DCNS Scorpene
2. Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems HDW Type 214 (Germany)
3. Rubin Design Bureau Amur 1650 (Russia)
4. Navantia S-80
5. Saab Kockum A-26

IDP Sentinel members can read more at Project 75I Submarines (IDP Sentinel)

VCNS Confirms Negotiations to Acquire Project 11356 Grigorivich Class Frigate Construction Tech

VCNS Vice Admiral P. Murugesan confirmed on July 14, 2015 that India was negotiating with Russia to purchase technology to construct Project 11356 Grigorivich class frigates in India.

"As per the maritime perspective plan, we have to build a certain number of ships in a certain time...we are exploring the possibility to expedite (acquisition of) certain number of ships," he told reporters.

IDP Sentinel members can read more at Project 11356 Talwar Class Missile Frigates (IDP Sentinel)

Six Indian Firms to Compete for 428 Towed AD Guns

The DAC on July 14, 2015 approved procurement of 428 towed AD guns at a cost of Rs 16,900 crore.

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

No Indian firm has yet demonstrated the capability to make the gun, but they are free to tie up with foreign majors holding up to 49 per cent stake in the bidding JV. 

The Indian Army is planning to procure towed Air Defense (AD) Guns and ammunition along with Maintenance Transfer of Technology (MToT). The project involves manufacture of 1,102 AD guns over the next 15 years to replace 1950s vintage L-70 guns acquired from Swedish firm Bofors and Zu-23mm guns acquired from USSR's Podolsky Electromechanical plant.

In the first stage, the manufacturer will have to supply the army with 428 guns over the next five years. Several lakh rounds of ammunition would need to be manufactured in India.

IDP Sentinel members can read more at Towed Air Defense (AD) Guns (IDP Sentinel)

DAC Approves Purchase of 4 Additional P-8Is

The DAC on July 14, 2015 approved a deviation from the offsets policy to exercise the option to purchase four additional P8i maritime surveillance aircraft from the US. 

Earlier, the CNC recently wrapped price negotiations with Boeing for 4 additional P-8Is.  The case will now be progressed to MoD (Finance), and then MoF. 

IDP Sentinel members can read more at P-8I Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti Submarine Warfare (LRMRASW) Aircraft (IDP Sentinel)

News Roundup: Yantar Shipyard Seeks Indian Partner for P 11356 Frigate Construction, Helina ATGM Trials

INS Tarkash during PM's day at sea on board INS Vikramaditya to  dedicate the aircraft carrier to the nation on June 15, 2014. Visible in the background is another Talwar class stealth frigate (INS Talwar or INS Teg firing its Kashtan CIWS missiles)

Russia's Yantar Shipyard Seeks Indian Partner for Make-in-India Project 11356 Frigates

India and Russia have been negotiating a third contract for supply of 3 additional Project 11356 class frigates since 2009.

India has earlier procured 6 ships of the class through two contracts for 3 ships each.

RIA Novosti reported on May 20, 2015 that the Indian government wants to jointly produce project 11356 frigates in an Indian shipyard.

Oleg Shumakov, director of the Yantar Shipyard, told RIA Novosti that the Indian Navy "needed three-four more vessels of that class. Currently, they are examining a scenario to produce such ships at home, of course, with our participation and under our guidance."

Shumakov added, "According to our plan, those ships will be of the same class, but with different weapons. Weaponry progresses non-stop, so, I think, the new vessel will be equipped with something more advanced. However, as for its seagoing capabilities, it will be the same."

According to the Business Standard Yantar shipyard is negotiating with Larsen & Toubro's Katupalli shipyard, at Ennore, Tamil Nadu; Pipavav Shipyard in Gujarat; and Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) in Kochi, Kerala for building the three warships.

Once Yantar formalizes a tie-up, the Indian navy will initiate procurement by releasing a tender.

There maybe an interesting twist to the Make-in-India theme of the additional procurement on account of the Ukraine crises.

Project 11356 ships are powered by 4 x Zorya Gas Turbines in a (Combined Gas and Gas) COGAG arrangement with two FP propellers. The Zorya Gas Turbines are supplied by Ukraine.

Yantar Shipyard is in the process of building 5 Project 11356 warships for the Russian Navy. The ships are in different stages of construction. Three ships have already been fitted with the Ukrainian engines. Kiev, which is at loggerheads with Moscow over the secession of Crimea) has refused to supply engines for the fourth and fifth frigates!

Recently, there were reports in the Russian press that the two ships might be transferred to India. A source in the Defense Ministry told  Lenta.ru that once the ships are in India, Ukraine will have no problems supplying engines for them.

The Indian Navy initially acquired three Project 11356 Talwar Class stealth Missile Frigates (Russian modified Krivak III class) from Shipyards of St. Petersburg in Russia - INS Talwar (2002), Trishul (2003) and Tabar (Jul 2004).

The Navy procured three more ships of the class through a follow-up order for three more Talwar Class Missile Frigates - INS Teg (2012), INS Tarkash (2012), and INS Trikand (2013).

The new missile frigates, built by Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, are designed to accomplish a wide range of maritime missions, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines.

The ships procured against the follow-up order differ in their sensor and weapon fit. Most significantly, the new ships feature the vertical launch version of the Brahmos missile instead of Russian VLS Klub.

Negotiations are also underway for the overhaul of the first lot of three ships supplied to the Indian Navy.

IDP Sentinel members can read additional details at Project 11356 Talwar Class Missile Frigates (IDP Sentinel)

Helina ATGM Undergoing Air Launch Trials

The Helina missile is undergoing operational trials against static and moving targets at ranges varying from 4-km to 7-km. The missile has been fitted with an improved 'IIR seeker.'

The missile was operationally tested from a helicopter platform for the first time in July 2015. [via TOI]

Vara Prasad, project director for HeliNa, told the press that the missile was test launched from a HAL Rudra 3 times and it hit the target on 2 occasions.

The target range varied from 4-km to 7-km.

"The observations are yet to be evaluated," said Prasad, adding that these development trials would pave the way for the 'deliverable stage' in the near future.

MoD's end of year report for 2014 states, Helina was successfully integrated with ALH (Rudra) after successful trials.

The missile with capability to defeat futuristic armors underwent successful ground launch field trials in June 2014. It was earlier tested in September 2013

IDP Sentinel members can read additional details at Nag / Helina Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) - IDP Sentinel

News Roundup: Project 11356 Frigate Modernization, Rustom-1 Shapes Up for Operational Roles & More

INS Teg a Project 11356 (Talwar Class) Frigate

Project 11356 Frigate Modernization

On June 23, 2015 RIR reported that India has expressed interest in fitting its Project 11356 (Talwar class) ships with an improved variant of the Shtil-1 PDMS (Point Defense Missile System) that is currently undergoing state trials in Russia.

The system features vertical launch and a Multi Function Radar with phased array antenna.

The existing Shtil-1 system can launch a missile once every 12 seconds, while the new Shtil-1 can launch once every 1.5-2 seconds.

The Shtil system is designed to engage all the modern means of air attack at medium range and at altitudes from five meters to 15 kilometers.

On October 20, 2014 Vladimir Spiridopulo, the general director working on this project at the Northern Design Bureau, told TASS that negotiations are underway for the overhaul of the first three Project 11356 supplied to the Indian Navy in the early 2000s.

"But the contract for the modernization has not been signed yet," said Spiridopulo.

IDP Sentinel members can read more details at

Project 11356 Talwar Class Missile Frigates (IDP Sentinel)

INS Sindhukirti Returns to IN

INS Sindhukirti was handed over to the Indian Navy on June 26, 2015 after refit spanning 9 years and month long post refit sea trials.

The sub would be re-inducted into the Navy after final full-power trials.

INS Sindhukirti underwent refit at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL). The boat started acceptance trials on November 4, 2014 after completion of the refit with assistance from Zvezdochka Shipyard in Severodvinsk.

The sub was expected to rejoin the fleet in March 2015, but acceptance trials were halted when it was realized that cyclone Hudhud, which battered Visakhapatnam on October 12, 2014, had brought in a lot of sand and reduced the draft from seven to four meters. HSL dredged the harbor and the submarine sailed out for acceptance trials on May 21, 2015.

INS Sindhukirti's refit, expected to take just 3 years, started in June 2006; it involved repair and modernization of hull, cables, machinery, sonar and missile equipment with the help of Russian experts.

Timelines got stretched when in 2011 the Russians insisted that electrodes, mainline cables and several other parts for the submarine be sourced from Russia.

The refit involved modifying torpedo tubes to launch Klub LACM, installing MCA inertial navigation suite, a Palady nerve system, and a Pirit ship control console. The boat now features BEL's Ushus sonar and a modernized CCS Mark II communications suite.

IDP Sentinel members can read more details at

Life Extension Refit of Kilo Class submarines - I - IDP Sentinel

LCH Hot Weather trials at Jodhpur in June 2015

LCH Hot Weather Trials

The LCLH completed week-long hot weather trials in Jodhpur on June 26, 2015.

During the trials, the TD-3 prototype was flown in temperatures ranging from 39-deg to 42-deg C.

The testing involved temperature survey of engine bay and hydraulic system, assessment of performance, handling qualities and loads at different all up weights, low speed handling and height-velocity diagram establishment. [via The Hindu]

In July 2015 the LCH is scheduled to undergo hot and high trials in Ladakh. [via Business Standard]

IDP Sentinel members can read more about the LCH project at the link below:-

Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) - IDP Sentinel

Rustom-1 at Aero India 2015

Rustom-1 Improvements for Operational Role

The IN has shown an interest in procuring DRDO's Rustom-1 drone for surveillance of the Indo-Sri Lanka maritime boundary, the Business Standard reported on June 26, 2015. The Indian Army earlier told DRDO that it would place orders for the Rustom-1 if its take-off and landing could be automated and endurance increased.

Rustom-1 was initially conceived as a technology development and demonstration platform. DRDO is now steadily improving the drone to meet operational requirements.

Flight Operations

Presently, the aircraft needs to be externally piloted during take-off and landing. The Army has asked for autonomous take-off and landing (ATOL) capability, which the ADE is working on.

Rustom-1 takes-off and lands like a conventional aircraft, with the take off and landing being controlled by an external pilot standing close to the runway.

After T/O, the external pilot hands over the control of the UAV to another pilot operating from a ground control station, who pilots the aircraft for the rest of the mission.

A payload operator manages the various payloads from ground control station to capture essential video pictures and data.

Automated T/O and Landings (ATOL)

DRDO is in the process of equipping the drone with sensors required for the ATOL implementation. Extensive real-time simulation have been done on the UAV flight simulator to develop and fine-tune the guidance and control algorithms.

The ALS (Automated Landing System) helps in safe landing of the UAV with minimum Pilot involvement. It performs calculations to keep the UAV on the correct glide slope and aligned to the center-line of the runway. It automates approach and flareout using the UAV's autopilot .

With ATOL capability the UAV would be able to lift a heavier payload since the ground pilot would not be taxed with the longer take-off roll.

The ALS system includes a ground based Laser transmitter and receiver, and a Retro reflector on the UAV. ALS also has a Day TV Camera for streaming video that is monitored by the Internal Pilot (IP). After acquiring a UAV in its vicinity, the ALS continuously transmits Laser pulses and receives reflections from the retro reflectors on the UAV. The system uses the laser reflections to compute the dynamic position of the UAV (ie Distance, Azimuth and Elevation angles) and uplinks the data to the UAV autopilot for a safe landing.

Weight Optimization

DRDO is making the Rustom-1 lighter in order to increase its useful payload.

A DRDO scientist told the Business Standard in June 2015, "We are replacing the existing data link, which weighs about 14-kg with a newer data link that weighs just 4-kg. We are shaving off another 25-kg from the flying package. That will give us the long 'persistence' we need over the mission area."

Multiple GCS Operations

The Rustom-1 datalink has a max range of 200-km. In order to make the drone capable of long range patrols, such as monitoring maritime boundaries, DRDO is modifying the datalink to facilitate mid-flight switching from one GCS to another.

AIS Interrogator

DRDO is working with the Navy to equip Rustom-1 with AIS interrogator to facilitate surveillance of the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka. [via Business Standard]

IDP Sentinel members can read more about the Rustom-1 project at the link below:-

Rustom-1 MALE - IDP Sentinel