February 26, 2015 Saurabh Joshi – Stratpost.com

The four-km range MMP, which stands for Missile Moyenne Portée, or Medium Range Missile, is a new development for the French Army and has only been test-fired for the first time, earlier this month.

French arms company MBDA has offered it’s new MMP fifth generation Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) as a base platform for co-development to India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

MBDA already supplies the Milan wire-guided ATGM system to the Indian Army.

MMP, which stands for Missile Moyenne Portée, or Medium Range Missile, is a new development for the French Army and has only been test-fired for the first time, earlier this month.

The offer to co-develop MMP, which was displayed at Aero India 2105, appears to be in competition to a proposal on the US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) table to co-develop an advanced version of the Javelin ATGM, manufactured by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

India also placed on order for the Israeli Rafael Spike ATGM system last October.

In comparison to the Milan 2T operated by the Indian Army, of which 4,100 were ordered in 2009, the MMP anti-tank missile system has a longer range of four kilometers and differs significantly in that it is not a wire-guided system.

According to MBDA officials who spoke to StratPost, the MMP has an uncooled infra red seeker and three operating modes: fire-and-forget, man -in-the-loop with fibre optic data link and lock-on-after-launch, wherein a third party can designate the target.

MBDA’s other proposal for co-development to DRDO, for the Maitri Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) system has been in a coma for several years now, especially with the development and orders for the indigenous Akash SRSAM system.

At the same time, India also has an ongoing tender being contested for SRSAM systems, for which trials are currently underway and the next stage of which will be held in Israel.

February 26, 2015 Saurabh Joshi – Stratpost.com

The MHTK is meant to intercept a variety of targets that include rockets, artillery, mortar (C-RAM or Counter Rockets, Artillery and Mortar), as well as, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

US defense and aviation company Lockheed Martin presented its Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) interceptor concept, which is part of the US Army’s Extended Area Protection and Survivability (EAPS) program, for the defense of vital installations and positions from incoming aerial projectiles.

The MHTK is meant to intercept a variety of targets that include rockets, artillery, mortar (C-RAM or Counter Rockets, Artillery and Mortar), as well as, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). In battlefield and border environments, mortar fire can cause the highest number of casualties, being more common than other area weapons, like on the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).

Christopher R. Jackson, Manager of International Business Development for the MHTK system for Lockheed Martin spoke to StratPost about it and according to him, while other systems rely on the explosive force of internally carried ordnance and proximity blasts to take out aerial threats, the MHTK carries no ordnance at all and relies only on the accuracy of its targeting system, the speed of the rocket motor and the mass of the interceptor.

He said that while other systems create two to three mJ (mega Joules) of energy the Mini Hit-to-Kill generates 200 to 300 mJ of kinetic energy through its sheer momentum.

With a length of 71 centimeters, diameter of less than 50 millimeters and a mass of less than 3 kilograms, each MHTK system can protect an area with a radius of 2-3 sq kilometers and a range of 3-4 kilometers. With an NLOS (Non Line of Sight) launcher with a capacity of 135 rounds, incoming projectiles are spotted and tracked by a ground-based Fire Control Sensor radar and then illuminated by a Target Acquisition Radar (TAR). Meanwhile the MHTK interceptors with semi-active seekers are vertically launched from the NLOS launcher and home in on the illumination reflected from the projectile and destroy it by force of impact.

Jackson said that while they’ve ‘done some test shots’ on ‘test bed radars’, Lockheed Martin is looking for international partners for the project and Jackson thinks the development of the MHTK could be a good fit for the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, in addition to a solution for protection against mortars and other projectiles for Indian personnel.

25 février 2015 par Aerobuzz.fr

L’évaluation de la menace des missiles balistiques est partagée par l’OTAN, ses partenaires et les alliés de ses membres. Les améliorations technologiques et industrielles, l’arsenal de missiles balistiques est en augmentation en nombre et en efficacité opérationnelle dans des États voyous ou proliférants. L’instabilité augmente dans certains domaines, et il est à craindre que les acteurs non étatiques peuvent acquérir des missiles sophistiqués de grande portée et bien plus précis que les roquettes actuellement en usage. L’utilisation de missiles balistiques, et non balistiques est un fait dans les différentes régions du globe.

Les Nations du monde entier réagissent en améliorant le développement ou les capacités de défense antimissile, seul ou grâce à des alliances. Dans ce contexte, la coopération internationale est en effet d’une grande valeur. La Conférence 3AF s’ appuiera sur les précédentes éditions pour répondre à ces questions et discuter des facteurs qui influencent le développement de missiles de capacité de défense en Europe et ailleurs. Parrainé par l’industrie, la conférence comprend une exposition où les entreprises présenteront leurs systèmes et technologies. C’est une occasion unique de rencontrer les clients, les fournisseurs et les décideurs, et d’écouter les communications présentées par des experts mondiaux de la défense antimissile.

La prochaine conférence 3AF défense antimissile est prévue du 9 au 12 Juin 2015 à Barcelone (Espagne), au Palau de Congressos de Catalunya.

En savoir plus :

3AF défense antimissile

9 au 12 Juin 2015 - Palau de Congressos de Catalunya - Barcelone

25/02/2015 lorientlejour.com

"La Turquie s'efforce de conclure un meilleur accord, non seulement commercialement mais aussi politiquement".

La Turquie a relancé la controverse autour de l'appel d'offres lancé pour équiper son armée de missiles sol-air dernier-cri en agitant à nouveau la perspective d'une victoire de la Chine, à seule fin semble-t-il d'arracher des concessions des autres prétendants.

En 2013, le gouvernement islamo-conservateur turc a créé la surprise en annonçant avoir retenu pour ce contrat de 3 milliards d'euros la firme China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corporation (CPMIEC), de préférence à ses concurrents américains Raytheon et Lockheed Martin et le consortium franco-italien Eurosam.

Cette décision a provoqué la levée de boucliers des alliés de la Turquie au sein de l'Otan. Tous ont regretté l'absence de compatibilité du matériel chinois avec leurs propres systèmes et rappelé que CPMIEC faisait l'objet de sanctions de Washington pour avoir livré des armes à la Syrie et à l'Iran sous embargo. Sous pression, Ankara a donc été contraint de revoir sa position en repêchant les deux autres candidats, priés de reformuler leurs propositions. A en croire les confidences du président Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ce nouveau tour de piste semblait devoir bénéficier aux Européens. Mais une série de récentes déclarations et de confidences sont venues rebattre les cartes.

La semaine dernière, le ministre de la Défense Ismet Yilmaz a ainsi suggéré que les Chinois allaient l'emporter en indiquant, en réponse à la question d'un député, que le système retenu par les Turcs ne serait pas intégré au système de l'Alliance atlantique. Dans la foulée du ministre, les autorités turques ont insisté sur les mérites de l'offre chinoise, même si elles ont précisé qu'aucune décision n'avait encore été prise. "La Chine est un candidat sérieux et se trouve dans une position plus avantageuse que celle de ses concurrents", explique à l'AFP une source gouvernementale, "elle propose un prix inférieur de moitié et elle accepte de partager sa technologie".

"Dans la course"

Si certains ont rapidement conclu de ces sorties que les Turcs avaient fait leur choix, les analystes n'y ont vu qu'une péripétie des négociations en cours."Il est faux de présumer que la Turquie a choisi d'acheter ses missiles aux seuls Chinois. Les Américains et les Européens sont toujours dans la course", assure Sinan Ülgen, du Centre d'études économiques et de politique étrangère (Edam) d'Istanbul. "La Turquie s'efforce de conclure un meilleur accord, non seulement commercialement mais aussi politiquement", renchérit Nihat Ali Özcan, du centre d'études Tepav d'Ankara.

La presse proche du gouvernement a ainsi rapporté récemment que les autorités n'attribueraient pas le contrat avant le 24 avril, date de la commémoration du centième anniversaire du génocide arménien, afin de s'assurer des bonnes dispositions de Paris et Washington sur ce dossier sensible. "Un accord pourrait être signé avec la Chine si les gouvernements américain et français adoptent des positions pro-arméniennes", a écrit le quotidien Sabah.

Un projet de loi français, finalement annulé, pénalisant la négation du génocide arménien a suscité une sérieuse crise entre Paris et Ankara en 2012 et le président français François Hollande a déjà annoncé sa présence à Erevan le 24 avril. Les Turcs s'inquiètent également du dépôt au Congrès américain d'un texte reconnaissant le caractère de génocide aux massacres d'Arméniens par l'Empire ottoman pendant la Première guerre mondiale. Ankara réfute catégoriquement cette qualification.

L'Otan comme les pays en course se sont refusés à commenter l'état des discussions. "Chaque nation est libre de décider de l'origine de ses équipements militaires mais il est important que tous puissent fonctionner ensemble", a toutefois rappelé sous couvert de l'anonymat à l'AFP un responsable de l'Alliance atlantique.

Le porte-parole du président Erdogan, Ibrahim Kalin, semble avoir entendu ces inquiétudes et a affirmé lundi que son pays assurerait "l'intégration" de son futur système d'armes avec celui de l'Otan.

Même si la Turquie fait monter les enchères, donc, les experts restent persuadés qu'elle privilégiera au final les offres occidentales. "Comment pouvez-vous espérer que le système radar de l'Otan basé à Kurecik, dans l'est de la Turquie, puisse fonctionner à pleine capacité avec un système chinois ?", s'interroge Sinan Ülgen, "ce serait un paradoxe". "Européens et Américains font la course en tête, pas les Chinois", confirme M. Özcan.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/

Raytheon Company and NIMR Automotive, part of the Emirates Defence Industries Company (EDIC), are collaborating to equip NIMR armored vehicles with TALON™ Laser Guided Rockets.

Using the Raytheon remote weapons station, each vehicle will carry 16 TALON LGRs.

The RWS enables TALON to be fired from both stationary and moving vehicles, while an elevated sensor/designator enables the TALON to be fired from concealed positions ensuring lethality and survivability for the ground vehicle.

"Integration onto the NIMR vehicle further demonstrates the versatility of TALON," said Michelle Lohmeier, Raytheon vice president of Land Warfare Systems. "In partnership with EDIC, we are providing an affordable, near-term and reliable solution."

"The NIMR 6x6 tactical platform provides a range of modular system integration to support a full range of missions including armed reconnaissance, infrastructure defense, defensive fire suppression and border security," said Dr. Fahad Saif Harhara, NIMR CEO. "It can also support rapidly advancing infantry. The mobile and fixed firing modes enhance the vehicle's effectiveness and provide a significant advantage over existing heavy artillery.

About TALON

The TALON LGR is a low-cost, digital semi-active laser guidance and control kit co-developed with the United Arab Emirates. The TALON guidance section fits directly to the front of the legacy 2.75-inch Hydra-70 unguided rocket. TALON's architecture and ease of employment make it a low-cost, highly-precise weapon for missions in urban environments, as well as counter insurgency and swarming boat defense missions. TALON is fully compatible with existing airborne and ground laser designators.

About Emirates Defence Industries Company

EDIC is the region's premier integrated national defence services and manufacturing platform, providing world-class facilities, technology and support services. Based in the UAE, the company brings together the combined capabilities of the UAE's defense industries into a single integrated platform to enhance value for our clients, shareholders, partners and other stakeholders.

About NIMR

NIMR, a subsidiary of the Emirates Defence Industry Company, delivers highly capable wheeled military vehicles that are designed for the harshest environments, across a diverse scope of mission requirements. NIMR's range of desert-proven 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles are available in armored or non-armored configurations, with modular configurable crew capacity and payload, where protection and mobility is the focus of our design activities. Through engineering innovation, comprehensive testing and implementation of the highest standards in design and manufacturing, NIMR provides exceptional vehicle reliability and best-in-class desert performance to ensure the protection of the vehicle crews that use them. For more about NIMR, visit us at www.nimr.com

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2014 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 93 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as cyber security and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter@raytheon.

16/02/2015 DGA

La direction générale de l’armement (DGA) a réalisé avec succès le premier tir du missile de combat terrestre (missile de moyenne portée - MMP) le 2 février 2015, successeur du système d’arme Milan.

Effectué sur le site de DGA Techniques terrestres à Bourges, ce tir de mise au point vient confirmer l’excellente précision de la poursuite du MMP après un accrochage en vol sur une cible à plus de 4 000 mètres, masquée au départ du coup. Cette réussite est le fruit d’un travail coordonné d’acteurs étatiques (DGA et armée de terre) et industriels (MBDA France).

Le MMP est un missile de nouvelle génération à haute technologie. Il constitue l’un des nouveaux programmes du ministère de la Défense destinés à la modernisation de l’armée de terre au titre de la loi de programmation militaire 2014-2019.

Ce missile polyvalent, conçu par la société MBDA France, est en phase de développement. Le contrat de développement a été notifié par la DGA le 3 décembre 2013. Il permettra aux forces de neutraliser les différents types de cibles rencontrés sur l’ensemble des théâtres d’opérations avec une grande précision, tout en maîtrisant les dommages collatéraux et en réduisant leur vulnérabilité pendant le tir. La date de livraison de ce système dans les forces est prévue en 2017.

D’autres campagnes d’essais du MMP sont d’ores et déjà programmées à DGA Techniques terrestres au cours du premier trimestre 2015.

source Strategy Page

An AGM-114B Hellfire missile is launched from an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight (HSC-8), during a live fire exercise in San Clemente, Calif., Feb. 4, 2015. HSC-8 provides vertical lift Search and Rescue, Logistics, Anti-Surface Warfare, Special Operations Forces Support, and Combat Search and Rescue capabilities for Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) in support of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and Carrier Strike Group Eleven (CSG-11) operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel M. Young/Released)

09/02/2015 by MBDA

At the beginning of December 2014, MBDA delivered the first PCP (Platoon Command Post) and IMCP (Improved Missile Control Post) air defence command and control (C2) systems destined for an export customer. Production of the remaining systems currently under order will be spread over the next two years.

These PCP and IMCP systems will form the first air defence sections enabling the operation and coordination of Mistral and/or VL MICA systems. The PCP module is used for the command and control of multi-layered surface to air units. It provides the interface with systems or other sources responsible for coordinating the air space as well with other PCP modules deployed in neighbouring zones. Equipped with the latest 3D radar capable of detecting and identifying aerial targets at ranges of up to 80km, the IMCP module provides the detection, identification and target tracking functions for PCP.

At the heart of the range of surface to air C2 systems offered by MBDA, the combination of the new PCP and IMCP systems will allow a greater flexibility in adapting the number and kind of effectors to meet the requirements posed by the particular threat and the mission.

With 70,000 surface to air missiles, more than 4,000 firing units and around 2,000 C2 systems sold over the last 50 years, MBDA covers all the elements of an air defence system.

Antoine Bouvier, MBDA’s Chief Executive Officer, said : “ The PCP and MCP systems which we are delivering today are at the forefront of C2 technology. The fact that MBDA is able to deliver these first units within the timeframe announced at the launch of the programme in 2011, is another proof of the company’s unequalled experience in the air defence domain”

04-02-2015 Defensie.nl

After exactly 2 years, the Dutch Patriot mission in Turkey has come to an end. This afternoon, the Dutch mission's tasks were officially transferred to fellow NATO member Spain during a ceremony at Incirlik air base. The ceremony was attended by the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army, Lieutenant General Mart de Kruif.

The systems deployed by the Defence organisation to help protect the Turkish city of Adana from possible air attacks from Syria had to be brought back to the Netherlands for a number of reasons. The continuous deployment of the systems means that major maintenance is now required, which cannot be carried out in the field. At the same time, the personnel of Defence Ground-based Air Defence Command need to be rested after their prolonged and demanding period of deployment in Turkey.

9 février 2015 par Nicolas Laffont - 45eNord.ca

La Corée du Nord a testé cinq missiles à courte portée dans la mer, dimanche et sont les deuxièmes essais de l’année en Corée du Nord après ceux de missiles antinavires qui ont eu lieu vendredi sous la direction du dirigeant Kim Jong-un.

«Ce genre de manœuvre de la part de la Corée du Nord arrive deux semaines plus tôt que l’année dernière», a souligné Jeon Ha-kyu, le porte-parole du Comité des chefs d’état-major interarmées. «(L’armée sud-coréenne) restera vigilante face aux éventuels nouveaux lancements et renforcera sa surveillance avec les Etats-Unis.»

Des moyens ont été déployés pour tenter d’avoir plus d’informations sur les missiles et l’intention réel du régime de Pyongyang. Un autre officier militaire estime de son côté qu’il s’agit du «nouveau type de missile tactique que le Nord a testé l’année dernière».

L’officiel a indiqué que les missiles, tirés depuis une ville côtière de la Corée du Nord, avaient parcouru environ 200 kilomètres avant de plonger dans les eaux de la côte est du pays.

La Corée du Nord teste régulièrement des missiles, des roquettes et de l’artillerie, mais ces derniers essais surviennent au moment où les deux Corées n’arrivent pas à s’entendre sur les termes d’une possible rencontre entre leurs deux leaders. Les deux pays ont lancé l’idée d’un tel sommet le mois dernier, et il s’agirait d’une troisième rencontre du genre depuis la division des deux Corées, il y a 70 ans.

Le mois dernier, la Corée du Nord avait déclaré aux États-Unis qu’elle était prête à imposer un moratoire temporaire sur ses essais nucléaires, à condition que Washington annule ses exercices militaires communs avec la Corée du Sud. Les États-Unis avaient cependant rejeté cette proposition, qu’ils avaient perçue comme une «menace implicite».

L’an dernier, la Corée du Nord a effectué un nombre inhabituellement élevé d’essais de missiles et d’autres armes, subissant les critiques de la Corée du Sud.

6 February 2015 naval-technology.com

The Indian Navy is reportedly set to integrate Barak-8 long-range surface-to-air missiles on the recently commissioned Kolkata-class guided-missile destroyer INS Kolkata.

The missiles, built in collaboration with Israel, have completed trials, paving the way for integration on INS Kolkata in April or May, NDTV reported.

With a capability to intercept approaching anti-ship missiles at a range of approximately 70km, they are being built at the Indian Government-owned Bharat Dynamics Limited and feature Israel's MF-STAR radar system and rocket motor from India.

The MF-STAR radar system can simultaneously track hundreds of airborne targets up to a 250km range.

Barak-8 missiles will also be installed on INS Kochi and INS Chennai, the second and third warships of the Kolkata-class.

Commissioned in August 2014, INS Kolkata is the Indian Navy's first domestically built vessel and has a maximum cruise speed of 30k. It can accommodate around 30 officers and 300 sailors.

The 6,800t anti-submarine warfare vessel features ATM-based integrated ship data network, auxiliary control systems and an automatic power management and combat management system.

It also features a flight deck and enclosed hangar for two medium-lift helicopters such as the HAL Dhruv and AgustaWestland Sea King.

6 Feb 2015 By: Dan Parsons  - FG

Washington DC - The US Army has launched the bidding phase of a decade-old programme to replace the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missile with a new weapon featuring a dual-mode guidance system. A request for proposals released on 2 February for the joint air-to-ground missile (JAGM) contract gives potential competitors Lockheed and Raytheon up to 60 days to submit bids to the army. The navy also plans to integrate JAGM onto the Marine Corps' Bell AH-1Z attack helicopters. The programme seeks an upgrade to the guidance section of the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missile’s backend, which is comprised of the motor, warhead and associated electronics. Lockheed has committed to offering a dual-mode seeker, while Raytheon has not yet committed to competing for the contract.

Read full article

January 31, 2015 by Livefist

India's Agni V ballistic missile -- its longest range nuclear delivery system -- was tested today from a canister launcher in a cold launch configuration at the Wheeler Island test range off the country's east coast. Awaiting details, but these images released officially pretty much suggest that it went well. I'll update this post with technical specifics later in the day, but suffice it to say at this point that the leap such a capability provides to the nuclear command, military planners and missile unit personnel in terms of transportability, logistical flexibility and preparatory stealth is milestone stuff.

The test is being seen as a grateful sayonara to Dr Avinash Chander, chief of the DRDO, and widely regarded as the engine of the Agni programme during a critical phase, and during his own leadership of the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL). Today is Dr Chander's last day in office (I had interviewed him when he took over in 2013), following the curtailment of his extended tenure by the government.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT: India’s ICBM Agni 5 was successfully test fired from a canister today 31 Jan 2015 at 0809 hrs. It was a historic moment when for the first time in India, an ICBM about 17m long and weighing  over 50 ton majestically rose from the confines of its canister. At the predetermined moment, having risen to about 20 meters height, it’s first stage motor ignited lifting Agni 5 into the sky. The flight continued on its predetermined path during which the second, all composite light weight motor, followed by the third, innovatively designed conical all composite rocket motor propelled the missile into space taking it to a height of more than 600 km. The missile, after reaching peak of its trajectory turned towards earth to  continue its journey towards the intended target with a speed now increasing due to the attraction of earth’s gravitational pull and its path precisely directed by the advanced on-board computer and inertial navigation system. As the missile entered earth’s atmosphere, the atmospheric air rubbing the skin of the missile during the re-entry phase raised the temperature to beyond 4000 degree Celsius. However, the indigenously designed and developed carbon-carbon composite heat shield continued to burn sacrificially protecting in the process the payload, maintaining the inside temperature below 50 degree Celsius. Finally, commanded by the on-board computer with a support of highly accurate ring laser gyro based inertial navigation system, the most modern micro inertial navigation system (MINS), fully digital control system and advanced compact avionics, the missile hit the designated target point accurately, meeting all mission objectives.

Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor congratulated Dr Avinash Chander and the Mission team for the successful launch, over a tele-conversation. Congratulating team Agni, Air Chief Marshal Anup Raha, PVSM, AVSM, VM, Chairman Chiefs of staff committee and Chief of Air Staff, who had witnessed the entire launch operations from the  control room called it a great achievement. Lt Gen Amit Sharma AVSM, VSM, Cdr in Chief  Strategic Forces Command, also present on the occasion,  called it a fantastic achievement.

Addressing the gathering and project team, a happy and satisfied Dr Avinash Chander, Secretary DDR&D, SA to RM and DG DRDO said, “This is a momentous occasion. It is India’s first ever ICBM launch from a canister and is a  giant leap in country’s  deterrence capability”.  He termed it a copy book launch with entire command network functioning in loop. Dr Avinash Chander congratulated the entire DRDO community for the tremendous efforts put in by them in making the country self reliant in the area of long range missile systems. He thanked them for demonstrating such a great success on the last day of his work in DRDO. Dr Avinash said, “I cherished every moment of my service in DRDO and I thank you all for the relentless support given to me all through. I am leaving with a great satisfaction of equipping the country with such advanced missiles. I wish the entire DRDO community a great future”.

Earlier, announcing the success of the mission, Dr VG Sekaran, Mission Director, Prog. Dir. Agni and DG Missiles and Strategic Systems said “All mission objectives have been achieved, down range ships have confirmed final splashdown, the mission is a great success and it is a momentous occasion”. A jubilant Dr Rajesh Kr Gupta, Project Director Agni5, described the success as “historic achievement; a dream fulfilled”.

The Ships located in midrange and at the target point tracked the Vehicle and witnessed the final event.  All the radars and electro-optical systems along the path monitored all the parameters of the Missile and displayed in real time. The earlier two flights of Agni 5, fully successful were in open configuration and had already proved the missile. Today’s launch from a canister integrated with a mobile sophisticated launcher, was in its deliverable configuration that enables launch of the missile with a very short preparation time as compared to an open launch. It also has advantages of higher reliability, longer shelf life, less maintenance and enhanced mobility.

Dr G Satish Reddy, DS & Director, RCI, Dr Manas K Mandal, DS & DG LS, Dr GS Malik, CCR&D HR, Dr Tessy Thomas, Director ASL, Dr PS Subramaniam DS & PGDCA and Dir ADA, Dr Manmohan Singh Dir VRDE, Shri Manjit Singh, Director TBRL and Dr SK Patel, Director Quality Reliability and Safety were among other senior DRDO scientists present on the occasion.