Indian Defence Exports
- Thread starter R!cK
- Start date
Patrol boat to Vietnam
Coastal Surveillance battery to Bangladesh
Torpedoes to Myanmar
Do-228 to Mauritius/Seychelles
LSV to UAE by Mahindra
BFSR-ER to Indonesia
MPV to UAE
PNVG to Thailand
WhAP to ???
HAL planning to set up logistics bases in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka
Source: PTI
Mar 8, 2020, 18:55 IST
State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is looking at setting up logistics bases in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka as part of initiatives to woo the countries to buy India''s light combat aircraft Tejas and military helicopters.
Chairman and Managing Director of HAL R Madhavan said the HAL is considering to build logistics bases in the four countries as they use a number of Russian-origin military aircraft and choppers whose serviceability is "very poor".
He said the HAL is now seriously focusing on boosting exports in sync with the government''s priority and identified South East Asia, West Asia and North Africa to sell key platforms like Tejas, attack helicopter Rudra and advanced light helicopter Dhruv.
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious defence export target of USD 5 billion dollars in the next five years and asked all the key military manufacturers to work hard to achieve the target.
"We are looking at setting up maintenance facilities in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka. We can give them a lot of support to as these countries use lot of platforms which are common to India, and their serviceability is very poor," he told PTI.
The HAL top executive said the company is looking at setting up maintenance facilities in these four countries as having logistics bases is key to sell the products and ensure after-sales services.
Without divulging details, Madhavan said a number of countries in West Asia are also in touch with the HAL for possible procurement of its key products.
"We now are looking at exports very seriously. A sizeable number of countries are showing lots of interests in the platforms we are producing as they are world class. We are in talks with so many countries," said the HAL chief.
Specifically, he said that Tejas has a "very good" export potential as it is a four-and-half generation fighter jet which can compete with some of the famous military jets in its class.
The Tejas has been Developed by Aeronautical Development Agency and the HAL. The lifespan of the jet would be a minimum of 30 years just like any other frontline combat aircraft. The combat jets are classified under various generations depending on their avionics, capability and weapons systems. The current fleet of fighter jets with the IAF range from three-and-half generation to the fourth generation.
The Indian Air Force has already placed an order for 40 Tejas and is likely to seal a contract "very soon" with HAL for another 83 aircraft at a cost of around Rs 38,000 crore.
India is one of the largest importers of arms and military platforms globally. The government has been focusing significantly on promoting defence indigenisation by taking a slew of reform initiatives including liberalising FDI in defence sector.
HAL planning to set up logistics bases in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka | India News - Times of India
Source: PTI
Mar 8, 2020, 18:55 IST
State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is looking at setting up logistics bases in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka as part of initiatives to woo the countries to buy India''s light combat aircraft Tejas and military helicopters.
Chairman and Managing Director of HAL R Madhavan said the HAL is considering to build logistics bases in the four countries as they use a number of Russian-origin military aircraft and choppers whose serviceability is "very poor".
He said the HAL is now seriously focusing on boosting exports in sync with the government''s priority and identified South East Asia, West Asia and North Africa to sell key platforms like Tejas, attack helicopter Rudra and advanced light helicopter Dhruv.
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious defence export target of USD 5 billion dollars in the next five years and asked all the key military manufacturers to work hard to achieve the target.
"We are looking at setting up maintenance facilities in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka. We can give them a lot of support to as these countries use lot of platforms which are common to India, and their serviceability is very poor," he told PTI.
The HAL top executive said the company is looking at setting up maintenance facilities in these four countries as having logistics bases is key to sell the products and ensure after-sales services.
Without divulging details, Madhavan said a number of countries in West Asia are also in touch with the HAL for possible procurement of its key products.
"We now are looking at exports very seriously. A sizeable number of countries are showing lots of interests in the platforms we are producing as they are world class. We are in talks with so many countries," said the HAL chief.
Specifically, he said that Tejas has a "very good" export potential as it is a four-and-half generation fighter jet which can compete with some of the famous military jets in its class.
The Tejas has been Developed by Aeronautical Development Agency and the HAL. The lifespan of the jet would be a minimum of 30 years just like any other frontline combat aircraft. The combat jets are classified under various generations depending on their avionics, capability and weapons systems. The current fleet of fighter jets with the IAF range from three-and-half generation to the fourth generation.
The Indian Air Force has already placed an order for 40 Tejas and is likely to seal a contract "very soon" with HAL for another 83 aircraft at a cost of around Rs 38,000 crore.
India is one of the largest importers of arms and military platforms globally. The government has been focusing significantly on promoting defence indigenisation by taking a slew of reform initiatives including liberalising FDI in defence sector.
HAL planning to set up logistics bases in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka | India News - Times of India
Only Vietnam and Sri Lanka will be willing to buy the LCA Mk1A as is, for the other two the Israeli avionics will have to be replaced with Indian or European avionics.
I am more interested to see helo exports. Read recently that Vietnam was looking at Dhruv helos with some interest. Also the Brahmos export to Philippines would be a big deal, but everything has gone quiet there suddenly.
Our helos may not be interesting to them, although LCH may be an exception. It's not easy to get into the helo business.
HAL developing TejEx for Export Market
Published March 11, 2020 | By admin SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / ****
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is developing a new variant of India’s Tejas Mk1 fighter jet, keep in mind demands to cater to the export market which will be marketed as TejEx. Harsh Vardhan Thakur, Test Pilot with HAL was first to confirm this development and he also confirmed that the TejEx will come loaded with supplemented local sensors and weapons replacing some of the imported systems already in the Tejas Mk1.
While HAL has not revealed what will be replaced or substituted in TejEx, a few years back **** was informed that Export-oriented baseline Tejas Mk1 will come with non-Israeli and Russian weapons and systems customized as per interested countries.
Some countries are ok with Russian systems and some not so with Israeli system and it’s vice a versa for some other countries so to cater to this requests, TejEx will have local or substitute option for each of these sensors and weapons starting with Indo-Israeli developed MMR Radar based on ELTA’s ELM-2032 and substituting its main AAMs like I-Derby and R-73 with Astra and ASRAAM or vice a versa as per export customer requirement.
TejEx will be pitched to potential export customers with multiple options for its main sensors and weapons package and customer is free to choose between them. The influx of Russian and Western along with Indian technology in Tejas Mk1 and further improvements in weapons and sensors in Tejas Mk1A means customers can choose between both variants also.
NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of **** in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes
HAL developing TejEx for Export Market – Indian Defence Research Wing .
Published March 11, 2020 | By admin SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / ****
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is developing a new variant of India’s Tejas Mk1 fighter jet, keep in mind demands to cater to the export market which will be marketed as TejEx. Harsh Vardhan Thakur, Test Pilot with HAL was first to confirm this development and he also confirmed that the TejEx will come loaded with supplemented local sensors and weapons replacing some of the imported systems already in the Tejas Mk1.
While HAL has not revealed what will be replaced or substituted in TejEx, a few years back **** was informed that Export-oriented baseline Tejas Mk1 will come with non-Israeli and Russian weapons and systems customized as per interested countries.
Some countries are ok with Russian systems and some not so with Israeli system and it’s vice a versa for some other countries so to cater to this requests, TejEx will have local or substitute option for each of these sensors and weapons starting with Indo-Israeli developed MMR Radar based on ELTA’s ELM-2032 and substituting its main AAMs like I-Derby and R-73 with Astra and ASRAAM or vice a versa as per export customer requirement.
TejEx will be pitched to potential export customers with multiple options for its main sensors and weapons package and customer is free to choose between them. The influx of Russian and Western along with Indian technology in Tejas Mk1 and further improvements in weapons and sensors in Tejas Mk1A means customers can choose between both variants also.
NOTE : Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of **** in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copy right strikes
HAL developing TejEx for Export Market – Indian Defence Research Wing .
OFB exports its newly developed 52-calibre barrels to Bofors
Last Updated: Mar 18, 2020, 08.24 PM IST
The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), which is celebrating its 219th foundation day on Wednesday, has exported its newly developed 52-calibre barrel for 155 mm artillery guns to Bofors Test Center, its chairman Hari Mohan said.
He said that OFB has exported two 52-calibre barrels to Swedish arms manufacturer Bofors AB, from which it had imported 155 mm howitzer guns in the mid-80s.
"We have made a prototype which is truck-chassis mounted," Mohan told newspersons here.
In the last 14-15 years, the OFB has done "immense progress" in the field of high-calibre barrels, be it for tanks, medium and heavy artillery guns, and the barrel of Dhanush artillary gun has been indigenously developed, he said.
"Now we are embarking upon a barrel further increasing it to 52-calibre. The range of 155 mm Dhanush gun is 38 km. The Bofors gun barrel is 39-calibre, while that of Dhanush is 45-calibre," he said.
Mohan said the OFB has already designed and manufactured 52-calibre barrel, an important component of a full-fledged gun, and mounted one on a truck.
"We have exported these to Bofors and 52-calibre barrels have been taken by its test centre, which is using these for validation of 155 mm ammunitions being developed by global OEMs," he said.
More than 150 rounds of shells have been fired from these 52-calibre barrels, he said.
"The barrel is behaving better than expected and the Bofors Test Center is extremely happy," he said.
Apart from the barrel, Bofors is also taking the breech mechanism and muzzle brakes and all the three are being used, he said on Tuesday.
"We indigenously developed the technology for 155mm/52-calibre barrels and exported these to Bofors Test Center," OFB chairman said.
He said the OFB, which had initially handed over six Dhanush artillery guns to the Indian Army, will, in a few weeks, supply another six such guns.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...re-barrels-to-bofors/articleshow/74696331.cms
And now we are exporting barrels to the Swedish. A decade back who would've thought ? That too OFB is exporting them !
Last Updated: Mar 18, 2020, 08.24 PM IST
The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), which is celebrating its 219th foundation day on Wednesday, has exported its newly developed 52-calibre barrel for 155 mm artillery guns to Bofors Test Center, its chairman Hari Mohan said.
He said that OFB has exported two 52-calibre barrels to Swedish arms manufacturer Bofors AB, from which it had imported 155 mm howitzer guns in the mid-80s.
"We have made a prototype which is truck-chassis mounted," Mohan told newspersons here.
In the last 14-15 years, the OFB has done "immense progress" in the field of high-calibre barrels, be it for tanks, medium and heavy artillery guns, and the barrel of Dhanush artillary gun has been indigenously developed, he said.
"Now we are embarking upon a barrel further increasing it to 52-calibre. The range of 155 mm Dhanush gun is 38 km. The Bofors gun barrel is 39-calibre, while that of Dhanush is 45-calibre," he said.
Mohan said the OFB has already designed and manufactured 52-calibre barrel, an important component of a full-fledged gun, and mounted one on a truck.
"We have exported these to Bofors and 52-calibre barrels have been taken by its test centre, which is using these for validation of 155 mm ammunitions being developed by global OEMs," he said.
More than 150 rounds of shells have been fired from these 52-calibre barrels, he said.
"The barrel is behaving better than expected and the Bofors Test Center is extremely happy," he said.
Apart from the barrel, Bofors is also taking the breech mechanism and muzzle brakes and all the three are being used, he said on Tuesday.
"We indigenously developed the technology for 155mm/52-calibre barrels and exported these to Bofors Test Center," OFB chairman said.
He said the OFB, which had initially handed over six Dhanush artillery guns to the Indian Army, will, in a few weeks, supply another six such guns.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.co...re-barrels-to-bofors/articleshow/74696331.cms
And now we are exporting barrels to the Swedish. A decade back who would've thought ? That too OFB is exporting them !
Taking India’s defence exports to $5 billion
MAR 23 2020
By Angad Singh
If the annual SIPRI data consistently showing India among the top few arms importing nations in the world is a depressing commentary on the state of India’s military-industrial capability and capacity, the 2020 figures bring some cheer. Although India is second only to Saudi Arabia in terms of imports, her defence exports for the previous year cracked the global top 25. From struggling to acquire specialised weapon locating radars (WLRs) from the USA and Israel in the 1990s, India is now exporting them to Armenia in a deal worth some $40 million. The Indian Defence Ministry’s own figures show that India managed to double the value of exports between FY2018 and FY2019, from Rs 4,682 crore to Rs 10,745 crore. At the Defexpo trade show in February 2020, PM Narendra Modi called for an export target of Rs 35,000 crore ($5 billion) annually within five years.
While the trajectory has been impressive thus far, to maintain this momentum and meet the $5 billion target will take some doing. Among the measures already adopted are a mandate for state-owned public sector units to earn 25 per cent of annual revenue through exports by FY2023, and for Indian diplomatic missions abroad to actively promote defence exports, including supporting lines of credit. Nevertheless, the arithmetic remains difficult. India’s defence capital expenditure is presently split in an approximately 40:60 ratio between imports and domestic production, which means domestic capacity is worth a little over $8 billion. A $5 billion target for exports is therefore over half of the entire domestic capital spend of the defence budget.
Furthermore, the bulk of India’s domestic capacity rests with defence PSUs, which have hardly distinguished themselves on the export front. More often than not, they simply have little to offer to the world. Organisations like the Ordnance Factories have sat on artillery drawings for decades, manufacturing neither for domestic nor export consumption. Only when faced with serious existential competition were the Bofors FH-77B plans dusted off and improved to produce what is by all accounts a phenomenal towed howitzer. Shipbuilding, certainly a success story when it comes to domestic production, is actually a non-starter on the export front — apart from a few low value defensive patrol craft sold to friendly regional countries, India’s PSU shipyards have had no export wins. Indian warships tend to be either unsuitably configured or too expensive, or both. Per tonne of floating displacement, Indian capital ships are among the most expensive yet poorly armed vessels in the world. On the aviation front, even when Hindustan Aeronautics has a solid performer in the Dhruv advanced light helicopter, it cannot compete on sustainment costs even in a military environment, and has had absolutely no success in the civil aviation world. At the systems level, PSUs are only now starting to come into their own with serious offerings that can compete with the world’s best — such as the WLRs noted earlier. While previous hardware was certainly cutting edge, it was usually built under technology transfer arrangements that limited exports.
Even when fielding competitive world-class products, PSUs are hamstrung by red tape and a poor global impression of their ability to deliver on time and on cost, to say nothing of through-life support. Arguably the most successful technology transfer programme in Indian history, the Dornier 228 light transport built by HAL, is a sad tale of missed opportunity. India controlled production of the entire aircraft, including engines and avionics, since the 1980s, and was cleared to export it virtually unrestricted. Yet HAL’s inability or unwillingness to pursue sales globally saw this market segment ceded to similar aircraft built in Canada, Europe and China, which have cumulatively sold over 2000 units against a 150 or so by HAL. In much the same vein and closer to present day, fielding and validating the Akash surface to air missile system, Pinaka rocket artillery, and the Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missile in meaningful numbers, has not translated to any sales outside India, despite constant promises that these are imminent. A great deal of hard-nosed scrutiny and introspection is required at the Ministry and respective PSUs to understand what gaps need to be bridged to take some of India’s strongest offerings to the world.
Back new champions
Nevertheless, if PSUs can be made to overcome all these legacy and contemporary issues, and are able to achieve their export targets in record time — 25 per cent of the roughly $8 billion domestic production noted above — they will still contribute less than half of the government’s defence export goal. This brings us to the meat of the problem, the pressing need to move beyond statist policies and government owned companies, and unleash private enterprise. The fledgling private sector is already punching well above its weight on the export front — most of the previous fiscal’s Rs 10,000 crore in sales came from private sector players, primarily boosted by their work in defence offsets. If fiscal policy, defence offsets, and capital spending are creatively deployed to enable much more rapid growth in the private sector, the effects will be outsize.
A pragmatic division of labour will be required to ensure greater efficiencies at PSUs while simultaneously bringing the private sector to ‘critical mass’. For instance, to mollify PSU concerns around the ‘Strategic Partnership’ model in the Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP), government yards could be allowed to retain all surface ship business while private yards are brought into submarine building, or vice versa. Similarly, air transport or helicopter production (or both) could be farmed out to the private sector, while building economies of scale around fighter and trainer production at HAL, through larger orders over longer time frames. Tanks, IFVs, and heavy vehicles could similarly be split up, with private industry taking over the IFV segment where a major recapitalisation is due soon, even as OFB continues with production of the T-90 and Arjun tanks.
India may have been able to pass the $1 billion mark in defence exports through incremental changes and minor policy reforms, but to now move up to $5 billion and beyond will require a much more comprehensive approach. Managing military procurement, production and development needs greater attention than ever before, not just to secure India’s future position as a major exporter, but also to enable modernisation in a period of economic uncertainty and flat budgetary growth.
The views expressed above belong to the author(s).
Taking India’s defence exports to $5 billion | ORF
MAR 23 2020
By Angad Singh
If the annual SIPRI data consistently showing India among the top few arms importing nations in the world is a depressing commentary on the state of India’s military-industrial capability and capacity, the 2020 figures bring some cheer. Although India is second only to Saudi Arabia in terms of imports, her defence exports for the previous year cracked the global top 25. From struggling to acquire specialised weapon locating radars (WLRs) from the USA and Israel in the 1990s, India is now exporting them to Armenia in a deal worth some $40 million. The Indian Defence Ministry’s own figures show that India managed to double the value of exports between FY2018 and FY2019, from Rs 4,682 crore to Rs 10,745 crore. At the Defexpo trade show in February 2020, PM Narendra Modi called for an export target of Rs 35,000 crore ($5 billion) annually within five years.
While the trajectory has been impressive thus far, to maintain this momentum and meet the $5 billion target will take some doing. Among the measures already adopted are a mandate for state-owned public sector units to earn 25 per cent of annual revenue through exports by FY2023, and for Indian diplomatic missions abroad to actively promote defence exports, including supporting lines of credit. Nevertheless, the arithmetic remains difficult. India’s defence capital expenditure is presently split in an approximately 40:60 ratio between imports and domestic production, which means domestic capacity is worth a little over $8 billion. A $5 billion target for exports is therefore over half of the entire domestic capital spend of the defence budget.
Furthermore, the bulk of India’s domestic capacity rests with defence PSUs, which have hardly distinguished themselves on the export front. More often than not, they simply have little to offer to the world. Organisations like the Ordnance Factories have sat on artillery drawings for decades, manufacturing neither for domestic nor export consumption. Only when faced with serious existential competition were the Bofors FH-77B plans dusted off and improved to produce what is by all accounts a phenomenal towed howitzer. Shipbuilding, certainly a success story when it comes to domestic production, is actually a non-starter on the export front — apart from a few low value defensive patrol craft sold to friendly regional countries, India’s PSU shipyards have had no export wins. Indian warships tend to be either unsuitably configured or too expensive, or both. Per tonne of floating displacement, Indian capital ships are among the most expensive yet poorly armed vessels in the world. On the aviation front, even when Hindustan Aeronautics has a solid performer in the Dhruv advanced light helicopter, it cannot compete on sustainment costs even in a military environment, and has had absolutely no success in the civil aviation world. At the systems level, PSUs are only now starting to come into their own with serious offerings that can compete with the world’s best — such as the WLRs noted earlier. While previous hardware was certainly cutting edge, it was usually built under technology transfer arrangements that limited exports.
Even when fielding competitive world-class products, PSUs are hamstrung by red tape and a poor global impression of their ability to deliver on time and on cost, to say nothing of through-life support. Arguably the most successful technology transfer programme in Indian history, the Dornier 228 light transport built by HAL, is a sad tale of missed opportunity. India controlled production of the entire aircraft, including engines and avionics, since the 1980s, and was cleared to export it virtually unrestricted. Yet HAL’s inability or unwillingness to pursue sales globally saw this market segment ceded to similar aircraft built in Canada, Europe and China, which have cumulatively sold over 2000 units against a 150 or so by HAL. In much the same vein and closer to present day, fielding and validating the Akash surface to air missile system, Pinaka rocket artillery, and the Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missile in meaningful numbers, has not translated to any sales outside India, despite constant promises that these are imminent. A great deal of hard-nosed scrutiny and introspection is required at the Ministry and respective PSUs to understand what gaps need to be bridged to take some of India’s strongest offerings to the world.
Back new champions
Nevertheless, if PSUs can be made to overcome all these legacy and contemporary issues, and are able to achieve their export targets in record time — 25 per cent of the roughly $8 billion domestic production noted above — they will still contribute less than half of the government’s defence export goal. This brings us to the meat of the problem, the pressing need to move beyond statist policies and government owned companies, and unleash private enterprise. The fledgling private sector is already punching well above its weight on the export front — most of the previous fiscal’s Rs 10,000 crore in sales came from private sector players, primarily boosted by their work in defence offsets. If fiscal policy, defence offsets, and capital spending are creatively deployed to enable much more rapid growth in the private sector, the effects will be outsize.
A pragmatic division of labour will be required to ensure greater efficiencies at PSUs while simultaneously bringing the private sector to ‘critical mass’. For instance, to mollify PSU concerns around the ‘Strategic Partnership’ model in the Defence Procurement Procedures (DPP), government yards could be allowed to retain all surface ship business while private yards are brought into submarine building, or vice versa. Similarly, air transport or helicopter production (or both) could be farmed out to the private sector, while building economies of scale around fighter and trainer production at HAL, through larger orders over longer time frames. Tanks, IFVs, and heavy vehicles could similarly be split up, with private industry taking over the IFV segment where a major recapitalisation is due soon, even as OFB continues with production of the T-90 and Arjun tanks.
India may have been able to pass the $1 billion mark in defence exports through incremental changes and minor policy reforms, but to now move up to $5 billion and beyond will require a much more comprehensive approach. Managing military procurement, production and development needs greater attention than ever before, not just to secure India’s future position as a major exporter, but also to enable modernisation in a period of economic uncertainty and flat budgetary growth.
The views expressed above belong to the author(s).
Taking India’s defence exports to $5 billion | ORF
SWATHI Weapon Locating Radar – India’s $40 Million Export To Armenia
By Adreesh Ghoshal - March 29, 2020
In March 2020, India and Armenia signed a deal for the sale of four Swathi weapon locating radar (WLR) stations. This deal, worth $40 million was the first of its kind with Armenia, and stands out because vendors from Russia and Poland were also in the running.
A WLR is designed to detect the trajectory of an artillery shell. Using the detected path, one can narrow down on an enemy artillery fire base, and direct return fire to successfully destroy it. The Swathi WLR has been designed by the Defence Research and Development Organization’s (DRDO) Electronics Research and Development Establishment (LRDE) laboratory and produced by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Here’s an interesting fact – the Swathi WLR is a derivative of the fire-control radar system used on board an Akash surface-to-air missile. While testing the missile, engineers observed that the Akash’s FCR (called the Rajendra radar) could also track artillery shells being fired in a range nearby, and therefore used the same design while developing the Swathi.
Here’s all you need to know :
© Delhi Defence Review. Reproducing this content in full without permission is prohibited.
SWATHI Weapon Locating Radar – India's $40 Million Export To Armenia | Delhi Defence Review
By Adreesh Ghoshal - March 29, 2020
In March 2020, India and Armenia signed a deal for the sale of four Swathi weapon locating radar (WLR) stations. This deal, worth $40 million was the first of its kind with Armenia, and stands out because vendors from Russia and Poland were also in the running.
A WLR is designed to detect the trajectory of an artillery shell. Using the detected path, one can narrow down on an enemy artillery fire base, and direct return fire to successfully destroy it. The Swathi WLR has been designed by the Defence Research and Development Organization’s (DRDO) Electronics Research and Development Establishment (LRDE) laboratory and produced by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
Here’s an interesting fact – the Swathi WLR is a derivative of the fire-control radar system used on board an Akash surface-to-air missile. While testing the missile, engineers observed that the Akash’s FCR (called the Rajendra radar) could also track artillery shells being fired in a range nearby, and therefore used the same design while developing the Swathi.
Here’s all you need to know :
- The first working prototype was ready in 2004 as part of an INR 20 crore contract issued by the Ministry of Defense in 2002.
- In 2008, the Ministry of Defense ordered 30 Swathi WLRs as part of an INR 1,600 crore contract signed with the Defense Research and Development Organization & Bharat Electronics Limited.
- The radar array is designed to detect and track incoming artillery rounds, mortar rockets and the launchers
- It can also provide fire correction by tracking friendly counter-battery fire
- Large calibre artillery rounds (105 mm & 155mm) can be tracked from a distance of 30km.
- The WLR utilizes a C-Band radar with a frequency range of between 4 – 8 GHz and a wavelength span of 3.75 and 7.5 cm
- The radar is mounted on an 8-wheeled Tatra truck, a vehicle that has multiple uses in various departments of Indian defence forces.
- The Swathi WLR is a passive electronically-scanned array radar, which means that the beam can automatically lock on to a target without having to move the transmitter.
- The transmitter/receiver is fixed, and so is the antenna.
- The Swathi WLR has an azimuth range (rotation around a vertical axis) of -45 to +45 degrees, and an up-down slew-able range of -135 to +135 degrees.
- The radar can track rounds fired at both low and high angles, and at all aspect angles – from behind or towards the radar, or at an oblique angle to the array.
- This change in direction takes only 30 seconds, because it’s done electronically.
- The radar is of a coherent type, which helps clear out the background clutter (trees, buildings etc are not tracked).
- This capability is achieved via the CFAR (Constant False Alarm Rate) which sets a threshold for how weak or strong a received signal should be, thereby reducing the risk of a false alarm.
- The resolution of the signals is improved using pulse compression.
- The high-power signals are generated with the help of a Travelling Wave Tube, which is an oscillator with protection from power surge and integrated cooling systems.
- The Swathi Weapons Locating Radar can operate between temperatures of -20 and +55 degrees.
- The on-board map can store a map spanning 100 x 100 km, with locations of up to 99 tracked targets.
- Up to 7 targets can be tracked simultaneously.
- The radar is designed to be fully operational within 30 minutes from being set-up.
- Interestingly, while designing a copy of the AN/TPQ-37, the Chinese noticed that the radar’s accuracy went down in hot and humid conditions,
- This became worse when operating in a coastal region or in an area prone to heavy showers in the monsoons.
- Another limitation of the AN/TPQ-37 was that it had a difficulty tracking shells following a flat trajectory.
- Compared to the Raytheon-built AN/TPQ 36-37 series, the Swathi WLR can operate at a much higher altitude of 16,000 feet, making it perfect for deployment in the LOC and the LAC.
© Delhi Defence Review. Reproducing this content in full without permission is prohibited.
SWATHI Weapon Locating Radar – India's $40 Million Export To Armenia | Delhi Defence Review
Indian defence exports reach record high in 2019–20
Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - Jane's Defence Industry
14 April 2020
New data from the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) shows that the country registered record-high defence export approvals worth INR86.2 billion (USD1.1 billion) in fiscal year (FY) 2019-20, which concluded at the end of March.
The figure - published in an online 'dashboard' published by the MoD's Department of Defence Production (DDP) - represents a five-fold increase over the value of export approvals secured by the MoD just a few years ago.
The dashboard, which was updated with the new figures on 14 April, shows that the value of defence export approvals in FY 2019-20 was a year-on-year increase of 4%, compared with the INR83.2 billion recorded in FY 2018-19, which represented a 78% increase over the INR46.8 billion in approvals registered in FY 2017-18. The value of export approvals in FY 2016-17 was INR15.2 billion.
Statistics published on the dashboard also show that the vast majority of defence export approvals have been secured by India's private sector. They also show that the private sector's growth in exports has increased strongly in recent years.
In FY 2019-20, India's private sector was attributed with 93% of defence export approvals in terms of value, with the remainder secured by state-owned defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs). In FY 2018-19, the private sector secured 89% of all export approvals.
The growth in Indian defence exports is attributed mainly to the private sector and Indian companies such as Tata, which co-operates with Lockheed Martin on producing structures for the US corporation's C-130J aircraft (pictured). (Jane's/Patrick Allen)
Indian defence exports reach record high in 2019–20 | Jane's 360
Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - Jane's Defence Industry
14 April 2020
New data from the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) shows that the country registered record-high defence export approvals worth INR86.2 billion (USD1.1 billion) in fiscal year (FY) 2019-20, which concluded at the end of March.
The figure - published in an online 'dashboard' published by the MoD's Department of Defence Production (DDP) - represents a five-fold increase over the value of export approvals secured by the MoD just a few years ago.
The dashboard, which was updated with the new figures on 14 April, shows that the value of defence export approvals in FY 2019-20 was a year-on-year increase of 4%, compared with the INR83.2 billion recorded in FY 2018-19, which represented a 78% increase over the INR46.8 billion in approvals registered in FY 2017-18. The value of export approvals in FY 2016-17 was INR15.2 billion.
Statistics published on the dashboard also show that the vast majority of defence export approvals have been secured by India's private sector. They also show that the private sector's growth in exports has increased strongly in recent years.
In FY 2019-20, India's private sector was attributed with 93% of defence export approvals in terms of value, with the remainder secured by state-owned defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs). In FY 2018-19, the private sector secured 89% of all export approvals.
The growth in Indian defence exports is attributed mainly to the private sector and Indian companies such as Tata, which co-operates with Lockheed Martin on producing structures for the US corporation's C-130J aircraft (pictured). (Jane's/Patrick Allen)
Indian defence exports reach record high in 2019–20 | Jane's 360
Made-in-India Tata Hexa is now ‘official SUV’ for Bangladesh Army
By Ajeesh Kuttan
Published: May 16, 2020
Tata Motors has got a new contract from one of our neighbouring country Bangladesh, to supply Hexa SUV to be used as their official Army vehicle. What this means is, a made-in-India vehicle is now the official SUV of the Bangladesh army.
Tata Motors had to conduct vigorous testing on the Hexa for months before getting an approval from the Bangladesh Army. Tata received an order for 200 Hexa from the Bangladesh Army once Hexa fulfilled the conditions for the Army. This is the statement issued by the manufacturer :
This order has been won against the other competitive brand SUVs and this has been the first key order from the Bangladesh Army. The superior performance of the Tata Hexa, better comfort features and widely available service and spares in Bangladesh made it the most preferred brand for the army”
Tata Motors has been present in Bangladesh car market since 2012 and they sell couple of models in the country. The Hexa for which Tata has now received order from the Army is not available in the country as a private vehicle. It will get a army green paint scheme. Tata Motors earlier this year at the expo unveiled the BS6 version of the Hexa SUV. It will launched in the market, once the situation improves.
The Military will be getting the 4×4 version which only comes with a manual gearbox. The Hexa is powered by a 2.2 litre turbocharged diesel engine. The engine generates a maximum of 154 Bhp and 400 Nm of peak torque. The same engine and gearbox will be made available to the Bangladesh Army as well.
Tata Hexa is currently the flagship SUV from Indian manufacturer but its flagship status would soon be taken by the Gravitas SUV. Nevertheless, the Hexa is one of the most underrated car from the manufacturer. The Hexa looks huge, has ample road presence, acres of space on the inside and a powerful engine. There’s even the 4×4 option on offer as well, along with a automatic gearbox option. Currently it is the only car sold by the manufacturer with a 4×4 option. The big old Tata Safari Storme was discontinued from the line up earlier this year. It is now only offered to the Indian Army and is being used by them as their official vehicle. Tata Motors is one of India’s older vehicle manufacturers. It makes both commercial vehicles (trucks and earth moving equipment) as well as passenger cars.
www.cartoq.com
By Ajeesh Kuttan
Published: May 16, 2020
Tata Motors has got a new contract from one of our neighbouring country Bangladesh, to supply Hexa SUV to be used as their official Army vehicle. What this means is, a made-in-India vehicle is now the official SUV of the Bangladesh army.
Tata Motors had to conduct vigorous testing on the Hexa for months before getting an approval from the Bangladesh Army. Tata received an order for 200 Hexa from the Bangladesh Army once Hexa fulfilled the conditions for the Army. This is the statement issued by the manufacturer :
This order has been won against the other competitive brand SUVs and this has been the first key order from the Bangladesh Army. The superior performance of the Tata Hexa, better comfort features and widely available service and spares in Bangladesh made it the most preferred brand for the army”
Tata Motors has been present in Bangladesh car market since 2012 and they sell couple of models in the country. The Hexa for which Tata has now received order from the Army is not available in the country as a private vehicle. It will get a army green paint scheme. Tata Motors earlier this year at the expo unveiled the BS6 version of the Hexa SUV. It will launched in the market, once the situation improves.
The Military will be getting the 4×4 version which only comes with a manual gearbox. The Hexa is powered by a 2.2 litre turbocharged diesel engine. The engine generates a maximum of 154 Bhp and 400 Nm of peak torque. The same engine and gearbox will be made available to the Bangladesh Army as well.
Tata Hexa is currently the flagship SUV from Indian manufacturer but its flagship status would soon be taken by the Gravitas SUV. Nevertheless, the Hexa is one of the most underrated car from the manufacturer. The Hexa looks huge, has ample road presence, acres of space on the inside and a powerful engine. There’s even the 4×4 option on offer as well, along with a automatic gearbox option. Currently it is the only car sold by the manufacturer with a 4×4 option. The big old Tata Safari Storme was discontinued from the line up earlier this year. It is now only offered to the Indian Army and is being used by them as their official vehicle. Tata Motors is one of India’s older vehicle manufacturers. It makes both commercial vehicles (trucks and earth moving equipment) as well as passenger cars.
Made-in-India Tata Hexa is now 'official SUV' of the Bangladesh Army
Tata Motors has got a new contract from one of our neighbouring country Bangladesh, to supply Hexa SUV to be used as their official Army vehicle. What this means is, a made-in-India vehicle is now the official SUV of the Bangladesh army.
www.cartoq.com
The Indian Army Is Set To Procure New Version Of The Swathi Weapon Locating Radar
India’s Defence Acquisition Council is likely to approve the acquisition of six indigenously developed weapon locating radars (WLRs) worth Rs 400 crores for the Indian Army (IA). Delhi Defence Review has learnt that the approval is for a new version of the Swathi WLR which is already in service with the IA. This new version, let’s call it Swathi-2 for the time being, like its predecessor has been developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), which is of course the Defence Research & Development Organization’s (DRDO’s) premier radar laboratory. As such, it would be worthwhile to take a closer look at the emergence of Swathi-2 as well other developments in the arena of indigenous military radar in India.
Image: The baseline Swathi WLR on parade during India’s Republic Day celebrations
The baseline Swathi WLR is a C-Band phased array, developed by LRDE and produced by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). It can automatically track incoming hostile rocket, artillery & mortar rounds. Swathi can also track the trajectory of friendly rounds to locate their point of impact and issue necessary corrections. It is a two-vehicle system, with each vehicle being a 8×8 heavy duty truck manufactured by BEML Ltd on which different elements of the overall system are mounted. The phased array itself is mounted on a swivelling platform to provide wide coverage. Importantly, BEL has completed the production of Swathi WLRs ordered by Armenia, as part of $40 million deal, and the systems are likely to be delivered soon. Many other countries have also apparently evinced interest in the system.
Image: Info Board on the Swathi WLR from the manufacturer BEL
Successor to the Swathi
Now, while the IA has found the Swathi useful along the line of control, it had nevertheless requested LRDE to develop a lighter version of this radar. This was to enable easier operations in mountainous terrain, especially along the line of actual control (LAC). Responding to this request, LRDE has developed a lighter version of the Swathi radar with a fixed radar array that has a 90-degree view. This array is mounted on a BEML-manufactured 6×6 truck for easier manoeuvrability in difficult terrain. It is noteworthy, that despite the smaller footprint, Swathi-2 has better performance than the earlier version and the IA is reportedly very pleased with its performance in mountain trials so far which have also been conducted in winter. Post-trials, the army now intends to buy six units of this new version at a cost of approximately Rs 400 crores and the matter is now with the DAC as mentioned earlier.
ADFCR
Image: Atulya ADFCR (bottom left) and other Indian military radar systems
India’s Ministry of Defence recently brought out a list of items that will no longer be imported. Included in that list was the “Successor of Flycatcher &Upgraded Super Fledermaus (USFM) / Air Defence Fire Control Radar (ADFCR)”. This inclusion has been made due to the development of an indigenous ADFCR called the Atulya. User trials for this system will be conducted later this year, having been delayed due to the COVID pandemic situation.
Image: Upgraded L70 Air Defence Gun
The programme for the replacement of outdated Flycatcher radars in service with the Indian military was split into two parts with one consisting of an immediate import of 66 units (possibly from Israel) followed by the acquisition of an Indian system, which is to be the Atulya. ADFCRs will be used to cue upgraded L-70 air defence guns, with 3 of them being slaved to each radar. As such, Atulya has reportedly passed developmental trials with flying colours and it remains to be seen if the planned imports are still on the anvil.
