Defence R&D - Organizational Restructuring or Change in Culture?

Tejas LCA at Aero India 2013. Photo Credit: Vijainder K Thakur

Defence Innovations in India - The Fault Lines, an Occasional Paper written by Dr. Laxman Kumar Behera, a research fellow at the Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis (IDSA), makes interesting reading.

The Occasional Paper reviews India's performance, especially the performance of the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and conclusively proves  it has been dismal. The paper uses unimpeachable parameters - patents granted and value of import substitution achieved (negligible) over the past two decades - and reliable data published by Indian government's sources and reputed foreign institutions to reach its conclusions.

The author attributes the uninspiring performance to, among other factors, the poor quality of scientists employed by DRDO, low R&D spending by public sector defense industry giants such as HAL and BEL, and practically no R&D spending by shipyards and Ordnance Factories (OFs). The lack of R&D culture in shipyards and OFs makes it difficult for them to even absorb technology, either painstakingly developed by DRDO or procured at great cost from abroad as happened with Arjun MBT and Scorpene submarines production, the paper points out.

After an incisive analysis the author surprisingly concludes that higher organizational restructuring is the way out of morass! The paper ends with a banal plug for the creation of the Defense Technology Commission first proposed  by The Rama Rao Committee (RRC), constituted by the MoD to review the functioning of DRDO, in its report - Redefining DRDO - submitted in March 2008.

Interestingly, a recent op-ed in The Hindu has Ashok Parthasarathi, former S&T adviser to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Secretary to the Government of India, in several S&T departments, explaining why the creation of a Defense Technology Commission would not address the shortcoming in the functioning of Indian Defense Industry.

The author completely overlooks increased accountability, focus on proven past excellence  achieved in missiles, fighters, warships, tanks and submarines development,  improved management and the employment of world class scientists being paid world class salaries as the way forward.

Trying to master the entire spectrum of defense production all at once is what we have been attempting to do without any discernible success. Where is the imperative to produce all armament indigenously? We are not an isolated country with great power ambitions, as Russia was and China is. Thanks to our foreign policy, we have the option to buy our weapons from multiple sources, all of good repute.

Self sufficiency in defense production should be a long term goal not an immediate one. Keeping ourselves adequately armed to ward of threats from China and Pakistan is a more immediate goal.

The correct approach would be keep buying excellent weapons from abroad, while progressively funding domestic excellence in armament production. For example, after its notable success with the LCA, ADA should be funded and pushed to work on the LCA Mk-2 and the AMCA projects. Funding ADA makes more sense than funding HAL's participation in the FGFA project, in view of HAL's poor performance in producing fighters.

Nirbhay Cruise Missile Capability Analysis

Nirbhay Cruise Missile Debut Test on March 12, 2013. Photo Credit: DRDO

The second test of the Nibrhay cruise missile is due (The Hindu had reported on November 24, 2013 that the test would take place in December 2013) on Friday, October 17, 2014 and this post presents a recap and analysis of the missile's reported capabilities.

The debut test of the Nirbhay cruise missile on March 12, 2013 was aborted after about 20 mins of flight. A DRDO statement following the test said, "After travelling approximately mid-way, deviations were observed from its intended course.  Further, flight was terminated to ensure coastal safety."

Following launch from a road mobile launcher, the first stage rocket booster separated, the second stage turbojet engine starter fired, and the engine attained full thrust; the missile reached a cruise speed of 0.7 M (460 k or 900 kph).

The missile is reported to have successfully navigated to two waypoints and was flying at a height of 4.5 km when the mission was aborted.

The test was planned to the max range of the missile, which is 1,000 km. The missile successfully covered half the distance, proving many of the critical systems of the missile such as vertical launch and boost, tip over to horizontal flight, engine light up and cruise at max turbojet power. DRDO correctly labels the test as a partial failure.

Nirbhay's Reported Capabilities

Nirbhay is projected to be a terrain hugging (30m AGL) stealthy cruise missile capable of delivering different warheads as per mission requirement.

A DRDO official told the press that the missile would be capable of carrying 24 types of warhead.

On March 11, 2013 The Hindu reported that the Nirbhay is capable of dropping bombs and coming back. The missile cruises at 500-m to 1-km and has a cruise speed of 0.67M.

A DRDO missile engineer told The Hindu of Nirbhay, "It will cruise in the atmosphere like an aircraft and it is capable of travelling up to 1,000 km. The biggest advantage with Nirbhay is that it can be launched from land, air and sea. It is a potent system. ”

An unnamed DRDO official reportedly told The Hindu in March 2012 that the Nirbhay will be able to carry multiple payloads and engage one of several targets.

“Even if there are multiple targets, it can pick out a target and attack it. It is a loitering missile; it can go round and round a target, perform several manoeuvres and take it apart. It has precision, endurance and accuracy. It is an important missile,” the official said.

Flight Profile

Nirbhay takes off vertically from a road mobile launcher using its first stage solid rocket motor booster. As it reaches 500-m to 1-km, it archs to a horizontal flight path and accelerates. On burn out, the first stage motor drops off and the second stage turbo-jet engine powered by aviation kerosene lights up. The missile then cruises to its target at a speed of 0.67 Mach.

Stealth

Nirbhay has no LO shaping, though the missile has a clean design and a recessed, shielded air-intake to reduce radar signature, like in the US Tomahawk CM.

Analysis

Loitering Missiles

Typically, a loitering missile can fly a search pattern over a wide area for identifying targets and relaying their location back to the command center, where these targets are engaged by direct attack PAMs or by other assets.

Toward the end of its mission, or when a priority target appears, the missile brakes out of its search pattern and attacks the target.

The Nirbhay's loitering capabilities are likely inspired by those of the Tactical Tomahawk or RGM/UGM-109E Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM Block IV). The missile has network-centric warfare-capabilities - it can use targeting data from multiple sensors (aircraft, UAVs, satellites, foot soldiers, tanks, ships) to find its target and its sensors can send data to these platforms - which allow it to be re-targeted during a loiter. Instead of attacking target coordinates stored in its memory, the missile can be directed to attack fresh co-ordinates uploaded in realtime.  The missile entered service with the US Navy in late 2004.

The TLAM-D carries 24 canisters containing 166 bobmlets (7-ea in 22 canisters and 6-ea in 2 canisters).  The missile can perform up to five separate bombing runs dispensing two canisters, one from each side, at a time during a run, allowing it to attack multiple targets. However, typically the missile dispenses all 24 canisters sequentially from back to front to ensure the density of bomblets on target is adequately destructive.

The DRDO official who reportedtly told the press that the missile would be able to carry 24 types of warhead was likely referring to this capability.

Nirbhay's Loitering Capability

A loitering ability at a range of 750 km would require reliable satellite based communication link, something India doesn't have yet. Besides, loitering deep in enemy territory would make the missile susceptible to enemy defenses.

For loitering to be effective, it would have to be from a height where the missile will be an easy target for enemy air defenses.  The missile's reported max speed of 0.67 M or approximately 400 kts should make it an easy target, despite the LO features, were it to loiter in contested airspace.

It's likely the Nirbhay will have separate versions, like the Tomahawk, for strategic (single nuclear warhead) and tactical (multiple munitions) use, with only the tactical version using loitering capabilities.

It is possible that the Air Force satellite GSAT-7A will give the IAF an ability to control the Nirbhay right through to its limiting range.

Most likely the Tactical version of the Nirbhay will operate at limited range so that it can remain effectively networked, with AWACS providing a high bandwidth data link.

Recoverable Missile

DRDO scientists have alluded to the Nirbhay having an ability to engage targets and return.

Even if the missile is capable of being recovered, like the Lakshay-2, it would be limited to a few reuses. The cost of recovering the missile and subjecting it to rigorous testing for reuse would likely be close to the cost of a new missile if it is being produced in large enough quantities.

Fitted with a nuclear warhead, Nirbhay's loitering capabilities makes no sense and it's low cruise speed make it highly vulnerable.

It is possible that the ability of the missile to return is a reference to a recall of the missile, but no reuse.

For additional details about the Nirbhay missile, please visit the link below

Nirbhay Cruise Missile - IDP Sentinel

Work Starts on Fathebad Nuclear Reactor as India Aims for 20,000 MW capacity by 2020

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh being briefed about the project model, at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (Nuclear Power Project), in Fatehabad, Haryana on January 13, 2014. The Governor of Haryana, Shri Jagannath Pahadia and the Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Kumari Selja are also seen.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, laid the foundation stone of the 2,800 MW Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Reactor Complex on January 13, 2014, taking India another step closer to achieving its nuclear power generation goals.

India currently operates 20 commercial nuclear power plants with a total installed capacity of 5,680 MW.

The installed nuclear power capacity will reach 10,080 MW by the year 2017 on progressive completion of projects under construction. The XII Five Year Plan proposals envisage start of work on 19 new reactors with a capacity of 17400 MW.

Planned Reactors

The details of nuclear reactors planned to be constructed within the XII Five Year Plan are:

Indigenous Reactors

Project	Location	Reactor Type	Capacity (MW)
Gorakhpur, Units 1&2	Gorakhpur, Haryana	PHWR	2X700
Chutka, Units 1&2	Chutka, Madhya Pradesh	PHWR	2X700
Kaiga, Units 5&6	Kaiga, Karnataka	PHWR	2X700
Mahi Banswara, Units 1&2	Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan	PHWR	2X700
Fast Breeder Reactor, Units 1&2	Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu	FBR	2X500
Advanced Heavy Water Reactor	Site to be decided	AWHR	300

LWRS with International Co-operations

Project	Location	Reactor Type	Capacity (MW)
Kudankulam Units 3&4	Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu	LWR	2X1000
Jaitapur Units 1&2	Jaitapur, Maharashtra	LWR	2X1650
Chhaya Mithi Virdi Units 1&2	Chhaya Mithi Virdi, Gujarat	LWR	2X1100
Kovvadda Units 1&2	Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh	LWR	2X150

Reactors Under Construction 

A total of  9 commercial and one prototype reactors are currently under construction.

Four 700 MW PHWR reactors at Gokhpur (Fathebad) in Haryana
One 1000 MW VVER reactor at Kudankulam. (Unit-1 started commercial operations in January 2014)
Two 700 MW PHWR reactors at Kakrapar in Gujarat (KAPP 3&4).
Two 700 MW PHWR reactors at Rawatbhat, near Kota in Rajasthan (RAPP 7&8). [Construction started on July 17, 2011]

In addition, Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam is building a 500 MW prototype fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam.

Indian Nuclear Reactors (IDP Sentinel)

Tejas LCA: Brilliant, but not cheap!

Tejas LCA at Aero India 2013

HAL has reportedly priced the first 20 Tejas LCA, now under production in Bengaluru, at Rs 162 crore each. ($25 million at current exchange rate.) The price tag looks very impressive when compared with the reported price tags for the upgrades of IAF Mirage 2000 ($45 million ea.) and MiG-29 (Rs 87 crore ea.) per aircraft.

One reason why the Tejas is priced so low is because HAL is not including development costs in the price tag. HAL didn't develop the aircraft, ADA did and the Indian government footed the development costs. On the contrary, Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 manufacturers are upgrading the aircraft on India's request and exclusively for India; the unit price of the upgrades reflects a hefty development cost.

Considering India's limited industrial base and consequent need to import many of the critical components featured on a fighter like the Tejas, lower production cost for Indian developed weapon systems is a myth; it defies logic.

At comparable skill levels, the cost of an employee in India isn't significantly lower than in developed western countries. If you factor in the inefficiency and the perks associated with employees working in the public sector, employee cost is likely at par.

Also, foreign help in developing a weapon system like the Tejas (ADA sought foreign assistance for overcoming slow speed handling issues, obtaining IOC and strengthening the undercarriage for the Naval variant.) doesn't come cheap even after the pound of flesh implicit in such assistance.

DRDO Breakthrough in Canister Launch Technology, Agni-V Canister Launch in March-April 2014

Agni-5 second test on September 15, 2013. Photo Credit: DRDO

On December 5, 2013, The Hindu reported that recently DRDO successfully carried out a “Missile Ejection Test” (MET) using a dummy missile weighing 50 tons. Following the breakthrough, Agni-V would be launched from a canister in March-April, 2014 for its third test.

The MET validated critical newly developed technologies such as launcher-canister interface and effective sealing between the missile and gas generator. The missile exited the canister at the correct velocity and the inter-facing instruments, electronics and sensors worked perfectly. As the missile cleared the canister by 15m, the sensors accurately signaled first stage ignition to the missile computer.

Placing the missile in a hermetically sealed canister facilitates long term storage (10 years) without any maintenance.  DRDO has committed to make canister launch a feature of all its new land based strategic missiles, starting with Agni-V.

DRDO has designed a canister that can eject the 50-tonne missile 50 m in the air and fire the first stage. The missile canister is made of maraging steel allowing it to withstand the 300-t to 400-t shock generated when the 50-ton missile is ejected out.

In September 2012, ASL director of, Dr V G Sekharan, told Business Standard, "The gas pushes the Agni-V out, like a bullet from the barrel of a gun. In less than half a second, the 50-tonne missile clears the canister by 15-m, and that is when the rocket motor can safely ignite. In 30 seconds, the Agni-V breaks the sound barrier and, in 90 seconds, it has left the atmosphere."

The canister could be carried on railcars or on a 12x12 road-mobile truck. Carrying the missile on a road-mobile launcher gives more flexibility as it can be launched from any patch of level ground. The Agni-5 is tailored for road-mobility. The mobile launcher for Agni-V is being produced by the private industry.

Canister technology was initially developed for the naval variant of Brahmos missile. The technology was completely mastered during the development of the K-15 / Shourya missiles. However, canister launch technology doesn't scale well.. In order to develop a 50-t missile canister launch capability, the DRDO has set up a facility for MET  at Shamirpet near Hyderabad.

For additional details on the Agni-V please visit the link below

Agni-V LRBM - IDP Sentinel

Indian Navy Proposes Round 2 of Kilo Class Submarine Overhaul

INS Sindhurakshak after its overhaul at Zvezdochka shipyard.

The Indian Navy (IN) intends to get four of its Kilo class subs overhauled in Zvezdochka shipyard in North Russia to extend their lives by another 10 years, Vice-Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, said on Tuesday December 3, 2013. [via TOI]

Earlier, the General Director of the Russian submarine repair at Zvyozdochka, Vladimir S. Nikitin, told The Hindu that the shipyard was close to signing a contract for life-extension refit of two Indian Kilo-class submarines in 2015.

In January 2013, the Indian Navy (IN) completed the overhaul and upgrade of its 10 Kilo class (Project 887EKM) submarines under a deal signed in 2001.

Each upgrade cost $80 million and involved complete overhaul of the submarine and its hull structures; installation of an improved control system, sonar, electronic warfare system, and an integrated weapon control system. Additionally the subs are being equipped to launch Club-S missiles from its torpedo tubes.

The refit included support for the new version of Klub-S (3M54E1 anti-ship and 3M14E land attack) cruise missiles and over ten Indian and foreign-made systems including the Ushus hydro-acoustic (sonar) system and CSS-MK-2 radio communications system.

In addition, the boat's cooling system was modified, the Porpoise radar fitted and other work carried out "increasing the boat's military capacity and safety."

Two submarines - INS Sindhuvir and INS Sindhuraj - were modernized at the Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg.

Later, five subs - INS Sindhukesari, INS Sindhuratna, INS Sindhugosh and INS Sindhuvijay and INS Sindhurakshak - were modernized at  - Zvyozdochka Shipyard in Severodvinsk.

Of the remaining 3 subs, one has already been overhauled in India, and another two are in the process of being overhauled.

Kilo class submarines were developed by the Rubin Central Design Bureau (St. Petersburg).

The Indian Navy also plans to extend the lives of its two HDW (Shishumar Class) submarines through an overhaul and refit at Mazagaon Docks.

For additional details on the Kilo class subs and their upgrades please visit the link below

Kilo Class submarines upgrade - IDP Sentinel

Arihant SSBN Reload Nuclear Core Goes Critical

Arihant SSBN at the time of its launch in 2009

On December 2, 2013, Deccan Herald reported that the replacement core of Arihant’s nuclear reactor had attained criticality on October 11, 2013 at the secretive P4 facility  inside the Bhabha Atomic Research Center in Mumbai.

“The reload core would be fitted into the Arihant at the time of refueling, which may come after 7-8 years depending on the journey the submarine undertook. At the time of refueling, the entire core will be changed,” a nuclear scientist told Deccan Herald.

The core of a nuclear reactor is the component where controlled nuclear fission takes place producing heat, which is used to generate steam and, in turn, drive generators to produce electrical power to propel the submarine and meet its other energy requirements.

In November 2013, CNS DK Joshi told NDTV that INS Arihant would soon set sail for her sea trials and would be commissioned by end 2014.

In September 2013 Frontier India reported that diving trials of the sub have been deferred awaiting the arrival of a Bester-1 Deep Submergence Rescue vehicle (DSRV) ordered from Russia's Admiralty Shipyard.

Earlier in December 2010, the Indian Navy had initiated procurement of 2 free Swimming DSRVs by floating request for information. Russia's Admiralty Shipyards (Bester-1 rescue submersible) and Britain's James Fisher and Sons PLC are in contention for the contract.

The reactor of the submarine went critical on Friday, August 9, 2013. ( PTI )

For additional details on the Arihant please visit the link

INS Arihant SSBN (IDP Sentinel)