May 27, 2013: Strategy Page

Russia recently delivered more of its Yakhont (officially 3M55E, NATO ID is SSN-26) anti-ship missiles to Syria. This is a new version with a much improved guidance system. Israel fears that some of these missiles will be sent to Hezbollah who might use them against Israeli ships or offshore natural gas field platform facilities. Israel is trying to persuade Russia to stop delivering the missiles but Russia is reluctant to halt these shipments. Iran appears to be paying for this, so the loss of income would be felt in Russia.

This sort of thing has been going on for a while. Two years ago Russia delivered 72 Yakhonts and 18 of the mobile ground launchers (each carrying two missiles) to Syria. Also included were five battery command vehicles. Typically a Yakhont battery consists of one of these vehicles, four launchers and several more trucks carrying security and maintenance personnel and equipment. The 2011 shipment cost $300 million dollars. The missiles can be stored in their launch containers for seven years before they require major components replacements and refurbishment to stay operational. Yakhonts have a range of 300 kilometers and are very hard to stop. Syria accounted for seven percent of Russian arms exports in 2011, and Russia wanted to show that they always deliver. Russia was also building a naval base at the Syrian port of Tartus.  At this point Russia says it is simply delivering weapons ordered before the civil war began two years ago.

The shipment of Yakhont missiles to Syria two years ago came after four years of haggling and efforts by Israel and the United States to block the sale. Apparently the missiles were already paid for before delivery. Russia was happy for any sale and seemed particularly anxious for Yakhont to get some combat experience.

Yakhont was under development throughout the 1990s, but was delayed by lack of funds. By 2011 it was in production, and the Russia was energetically seeking export sales. The Yakhont uses a liquid-fuel ramjet and travels at speeds of over 2,000 kilometers an hour (using a high altitude cruise and a low-altitude approach; if it travels entirely at low altitude the range is cut to 120km). When the missile arrives in the area where the target is supposed to be, it turns on its radar and goes for the kill. Israel is the only one in the region the Yakhonts would be used against. However, because Iran is supplying (unofficially) the cash for the missiles, there is also the risk that some of the Yakhonts would end up in Iran for use against numerous targets in the Persian Gulf.

Syria is getting the ground based Yakhont which can use truck mounted or fixed launchers, with up to 36 missiles supported by a land based search radar and helicopter mounted radars (to locate targets over the horizon). Once a target has been identified and located, one or two missiles are programmed with that location and launched. The Yakhont is a 8.9 meter (27.6 foot) long, three ton missile with a 300 kg (660 pound) warhead.

An improved version of the Yakhont, the PJ-10 BrahMos missile, was developed for India. This is a 9.4 meter (29 foot) long and 670mm diameter missile. Lacking money to finish Yakhont development and begin production, the Russian manufacturer eventually made a deal with India to get it done. India put up most of the $240 million needed to finally complete two decades of development, an effort which produced the long delayed Yakhont, and more capable BrahMos.

The PJ-10 is being built in Russia and India, with the Russians assisting India in setting up manufacturing facilities for cruise missile components. Efforts are being made to export up to 2,000, but no one has placed an order yet. Russia and India are encouraged enough to invest in BrahMos 2, which will use a scramjet, instead of a ramjet, in the second stage. This would double speed, and make the missile much more difficult to defend against.

May 26, 2013: Strategy Page

After several years of negotiations Indonesia has agreed to purchase a large quantity of Cold War surplus armored vehicles from Germany. These include 104 Leopard 2A6 tanks, 50 Marder 1A2 infantry fighting vehicles and ten Leopards modified for support functions (4 Armored Recovery Vehicles, 3 mobile bridge-layers, and 3 AEVs for engineering work under fire.) The deal is worth about $250 million. This German armor is based on 1970s and 80s designs and is replacing even older British and French stuff from the 1950s and 60s. Indonesia has no real enemies nearby, and a hundred modern tanks should be able to handle any local emergency.

Until 2010 the 55 ton Leopard 2A6 was the current version, and is a contemporary of the American M-1. The 2A6 model has a stabilizer (for firing on the move) and a thermal imager (for seeing through night, mist and sand storms.) Germany has been selling less capable refurbed 2A4s since the 1990s (after the Cold War ended and the German army was much reduced in size.) This enabled many nations to inexpensively upgrade their aging armored forces. In the last decade, many nations have upgraded their Leopards to the A6 standard. Many nations prefer to continue upgrading their Leopards, mainly because there are no new tank designs to buy. The late-Cold War models, especially the American M-1 and the German Leopard 2 are still the best available.

Germany now offers a 2A7+ upgrade for the Leopard 2. This provides improvements to mobility (engine, track laying system, wheels and related gear), better soundproofing for the crew, more (and better) thermal sights, and more effective ammunition for the 120mm gun (fragmentation shells that detonate above or behind a target). Other improvements include more armor on the sides and rear (especially to protect against RPGs), more external cameras (so the crew inside could see anything in any direction, day or night), a remote control machine-gun station on top of the turret, better fire control and combat control computers and displays, more powerful auxiliary power unit and better air conditioning, and numerous other minor improvements. This would increase the weight of the tank to nearly 70 tons.

SEOUL, 27 mai - RIA Novosti

Lors d'une inspection de la Marine nationale, le dirigeant nord-coréen Kim Jong-un a donné l'ordre de soustraire les bâtiments de guerre du champ de vision de l'ennemi, a annoncé  l'agence Yonhap, citant les médias locaux.

L'Agence centrale de presse nord-coréenne (KCNA) précise que Kim Jong-un a donné cet ordre au moment où il visitait le poste naval 291. C'est là qu'il a aperçu des navires déployés dans des endroits visibles. Dans sa dépêche diffusée lundi, la KNCA ne spécifie ni la date de la visite, ni l'emplacement du poste 291.

Kim Jong-un, qui exerce les fonctions de commandant en chef des forces armées du pays, a souligné que l'ennemi surveillait le déplacement des troupes nord-coréennes et qu'il était donc très important de dissimuler le matériel de guerre.

Les relations entre Pyongyang et Séoul se sont dégradées suite à la réaction violente des autorités nord-coréennes aux manœuvres d'envergure organisées conjointement par les Etats-Unis et la Corée du sud. Pyongyang a promis de réagir à toute nouvelle provocation militaire "selon les lois du temps de guerre".

Le 19 mai, le secrétaire général de l'ONU Ban Ki-moon a invité Pyongyang à reprendre les négociations à six (Russie, Chine, Etats-Unis, Japon et les deux Corées) sur la dénucléarisation de la péninsule coréenne. Jeudi dernier, le chef du bureau politique de l'armée nord-coréenne Choe Ryong-hae a annoncé lors d'une visite à Pékin que la Corée du Nord était prête à relancer ces pourparlers.

24 May 2013 Defense Studies

Airbus Military and PTDI promoting transport aircraft in the ASEAN region.

A CN295 military transport aircraft of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense will be making a tour around six ASEAN countries to promote the capabilities and efficiency of the transport aircraft that PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) and Airbus Military are producing jointly. The aircraft will make visits to Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia between 22nd and 31st of May.

The C295, denominated CN295 in the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, is a medium-sized multirole airlifter for both civic and military use. The tour, organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, PTDI and Airbus Military, and led by Vice Minister Sjafrie Sjamsuddien, will showcase the benefits of the aircraft which is optimally suited for the wide range of humanitarian and defence tasks that ASEAN Governments need to cover. These missions include military transport, emergency response and medical evacuation, search and rescue, maritime patrol, or even more complex missions such as anti-submarine warfare or electronic surveillance missions.

The visits will also allow explanations on the specific capabilities of the CN235 and the NC212i, an upgraded version of the C212 launched in November 2012 between PTDI and Airbus Military with new avionics and autopilot systems as well as an increased passenger seating, increasing its cost efficiency significantly.

The Indonesia Air Force currently has  two CN295s in operation out of the nine units ordered from PTDI. By 2015, all of the nine units will be in service in Indonesia, with deliveries to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense taking place from the delivery centre and a final assembly line that Airbus Military and PTDI are setting up in Bandung, Indonesia, as a direct result of PTDI’s and Airbus Military’s Strategic Partnership signed in 2011.

In total, over 120 C295s have been ordered world-wide from Airbus Military and currently almost 100 are in operation with countries such as Algeria, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal and Spain.

Meanwhile, the CN235 and NC212, with sales of over 270 and 470 respectively, are operating successfully in over 30 countries in the world. The operators of CN295, CN235 and NC212 are extremely satisfied with the reliability, capability, and robustness of the aircraft, which are extremely easy to operate even in hostile and difficult environments. As a result, the aircraft currently have the clear leadership in this segment.

May 25, 2013: Strategy Page

South Korea has ordered another 40 of the locally made FA-50 fighter-bombers for $25.5 million each. Two years ago the South Korean Air Force ordered the first twenty (for $30 million each), and the first of these is to arrive in three months with the last of that first order arriving within three years.

The FA-50 will be equipped with South Korean, American, and Israeli electronics. The single engine, single seat aircraft is intended to eventually replace South Korea's aging fleet of 150 F-5 fighters. But first, the initial FA-50s will have to show what they can do in active service. That process will begin later this year.

The FA-50 is the combat version of the South Korean designed and manufactured T-50 jet trainer. This aircraft was developed over the last decade, at a cost of over two billion dollars. The first test flight of the T-50 took place in 2002. The 18 ton aircraft is actually a light fighter and can fly at supersonic speeds. The T-50 is an “advanced trainer” meant to prepare trainee pilots with the skills needed to handle jet fighters. With some added equipment (radars and fire control), the T-50 becomes the FA-50, a combat aircraft. This version carries a 20mm auto-cannon and up to 4.5 tons of smart bombs and missiles. The T-50 can stay in the air about four hours per sortie and has a service life of 8,000 hours in the air.

At $20 million each, the T-50 is one of the more competitive jet trainers on the market. About 100-150 trainers are bought each year by the world's air forces. But it is a tough market, and so far the only export customer for the T-50 has been 16 sold to Indonesia. Nearly a hundred T-50 type aircraft have been produced or are on order. In addition to the FA-50 variant, there is a light bomber variant (the TA-50) that costs $25 million each.

May. 25, 2013 By WENDELL MINNICK – Defense News

TAIPEI — Taiwan faces tough choices over future defense decisions as China’s air defense network continues to grow beyond its shores.

At present, China’s land-based mobile air defense missile systems, HQ-9 and S-300, can reach only a small sliver of northwestern Taiwan. Though a clear advantage during a war over control of the middle line of the Taiwan Strait, it is not complete air dominance of the island itself.

However, with the planned purchase of the 400-kilometer-range Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, China will for the first time have complete air defense coverage of Taiwan.

Ongoing negotiations with the Chinese on S-400 were confirmed by Russian officials last year, said Vasily Kashin, a researcher with Moscow’s Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.

“This may be one reason that Taiwan is no longer pushing hard for fourth-generation F-16 replacements,” said Ian Easton, China military specialist at the Project 2049 Institute. Taiwan knows that by 2023, it will need F-35 Joint Strike Fighters. If the US refuses to sell them to Taiwan, as it did with the F-16C/Ds, Taiwan’s “only other option is to engage in a sharp ramp-up of cruise missile production and deploy ballistic missiles as well.”

Taiwan does have other options that include improving its electronic warfare capabilities, he said. “Also, it’s important to remember that Taiwan’s territory extends right up to the Chinese coast. Taiwan has missile, rocket and other weapons systems capable of engaging SAM networks from the Dongyin, Matzu and Kinmen island groups right off the coast of Fujian province.”

Taiwan’s military could use these islands as staging grounds for the insertion of special operations forces, Easton said. These forces include the 101 Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (“Army Frogmen”), Airborne Special Service Company and Special Forces Command, which consists of the 862 and 871 Airborne Groups. The Taiwan Marine Corps has the Amphibious Reconnaissance Patrol.

“As such, if the Chinese move the S-400s too close to the coast, they are going to be in peril,” he said.

“Militarily, the deployment of S-300 PMU2 at the opposite side of the strait already puts considerable stress on Taiwan fighter pilots, and now with introduction of the more modernized S-400 SAM, which sooner or later would follow the S-300 PMU2 pattern of deployment in Fujian province,” will make the situation even worse for Taiwan fighter pilots, said York Chen, a former member of Taiwan’s National Security Council.

“When S-400s work together with Chinese land- and sea-based fighters, the Chinese will have more confidence in sustaining airspace dominance over the Taiwan theater, thus depriving any organized resistance by the Taiwan Air Force and deterring the American intervention,” Chen said. It is time the US seriously rethinks Taiwan’s export request for the AGM-88 high-speed anti-radiation missile for its F-16s, he said.

A sale of the S-400 could go forward in 2017 at the earliest, but so far, there has been no news on any results, or about a memorandum of understanding signing, Kashin said. It is also unclear how many systems the Chinese want to buy.

“The key issue is that S-400 producer Almaz-Antey is overloaded with orders from the Russian military and some foreign customers,” Kashin said. “In the past, Russian officials have said that the SAMs’ delivery can take place only after Almaz-Antey fulfills the main contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, sometime after 2017. Even if there is fast progress in negotiations, and the Russians agree to revise the 2017 deadline, the delivery will take some time because of production capacity shortages at Almaz-Antey.”

The S-400 has implications not just for Taiwan, but also for India, Japan and the US.

Recognizing that future wars will be missile-centric, China’s potential acquisition of S-400 SAMs would represent an important move because these systems allow for ballistic-missile defense capabilities that it lacks, Easton said. “For this reason, it could lead to an arms race with India, which relies upon ballistic missiles to deter China.”

The S-400 also will cover the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, which China also claims as the Diaoyu Islands.

For the US, the implications are less serious, Easton said. “We designed F-22s and F-35s with these types of air defense challengers in mind.”

Nonetheless, air superiority is eroding in the western Pacific due to a lack of hardened air bases on Okinawa, he said. “When you combine soft US air bases with hard Chinese air defense systems, the picture doesn’t look good.”

More broadly, assuming trends continue, the future air defense environment is going to be highly conducive to drone warfare, Easton said, noting the recent test flight of the X-47B unmanned combat aerial system concept demonstrator May 14 off the US aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush.

“Why send manned aircraft into threat environments so high that even elite pilots refer to their missions as one-way trips? And why spend the extra money and reduce endurance and payloads when you can pilot aerial vehicles remotely or allow them to run semi-autonomously for far greater effect?” Easton said.

Sunday, May 26, 2013, Zee News  (PTI)

New Delhi: Army chief General Bikram Singh on Sunday proceeded to France on a four-day visit there to strengthen the defence ties between the two countries.

The visit by Gen Singh will add the necessary impetus to the existing defence relationship and broad-base it into a mutually beneficial partnership, an Army press release said here.

India shares good bilateral and strategic relations with France that are multifaceted and have been strengthened over the years with regular exchange of visits at political, diplomatic and military levels, it said.

During the period, Gen Singh will hold discussions with French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian, Chief of General Staff Admiral Edouard Guillaud and his French counterpart Gen Bertrand Ract-Madoux on various defence-related issues.

The Indian Army chief will visit the Land Forces Command in Lille and the Military School at Draguignan also.

He will also lay wreath at Neuve Chapelle Memorial, dedicated to the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in France and Belgium from 1914 - 1918 in the First World War.

27 May 2013 Defense Studies

Another DMO MH-60R milestone

A milestone has been achieved by the AIR 9000 Phase 8 Project Office, with members of the Integrated Test Team (ITT) being the first Australians to complete their initial MH-60R (Romeo) qualifications.

LCDR Simon Lam (Aerosystems Qualified AvWO and MH-60R T&E Manager), LCDR Joshua Carey (USNTPS Qualified Test Pilot and MH-60R Test Pilot) and LEUT Timothy Clerke (Flight Test Engineer) form the MH-60R test team embedded into the DMO to support the introduction of the MH-60R. LCDR Lam and LCDR Carey recently completed their MH-60R NATOPS Evaluations with HSM 40 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Mayport, Florida.

The pair commenced their training with other aircrew from NUSQN 725 in early March. After a significantly compressed 9 weeks of accelerated study, computer based learning, simulators and flights they completed their final NATOPS Evaluation on 15 May 2013. The NATOPS check consisted of an open and closed book examination, oral examination, a simulator evaluation and a flight evaluation. The examinations and evaluations focused on ensuring LCDR Lam and LCDR Carey had a comprehensive understanding of the aircraft systems, HSM-40 SOP’s, United States (US) Airways and all Emergency actions in event of an aircraft malfunction. The process was designed to ensure they met the standards required to safely operate the MH-60R and also operate within US airspace. This now means they are the first Australians qualified on MH-60R as part of AIR 9000 Phase 8.

 

Both LCDR Lam and LCDR Carey have a S-70B-2, (Bravo), flight test background and agree that whilst a derivative of Seahawk family, the MH-60R is a far cry from the Bravo they have previously flown.

For LCDR Lam, the highlight of training has been exposure to the MH-60R modern digital cockpit and the new advanced mission systems focused on the Battle space.

“New systems such as data fusion, ISAR radar and Link 16 will enhance aircrew and ultimately the ship’s Operations Room’s situational awareness. Significantly, the re-introduction of the dipping sonar to Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations will provide a new and improved capability to the RAN."

For LCDR Carey, the highlight of training has been the interaction with the United States Navy (USN) flying instructors and the opportunity to participate in USN flying training again.

“Every single US instructor has been 100% invested in achieving our aim of being qualified. As always, I have been impressed with the professionalism, dedication and pure aviation skill that I have witnessed throughout my training.”

Both Lam and Carey were impressed with the rate in which their training progressed. The pair had up to four simulator or flight events scheduled per week, with their simulator events scheduled anywhere from 0700 until midnight. This was as a result of the Squadron’s training program of seven days per week, from 7am through until midnight which resulted in up to 20 training flights being available per day.

With NATOPS behind them, the steep learning curve does not stop. The team have a few more weeks to absorb the aircraft’s mission and weapon systems before relocating to Patuxent River in Maryland, south of Washington DC, the heartland of the US Navy’s Test community. They will join USN Test Squadron HX 21 to support testing of the Australian configured MH-60R, with the unified aim to deliver the first Australian aircraft in December this year.

Their achievement of a NATOPs qualification is a significant milestone in the ultimate delivery of the MH-60R back to Australia and will go a long way to ensuring there is an integral systems and airframe knowledge at a Flight Test level embedded in the RAN.

(RAN)

25 May 2013 terminalx.org

People's Daily, Beijing, May 23 (Reporter Yang Mu) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang came to his official visit to Pakistan on May 22nd. He arrived at Islamabad, at the Nur Khan air field. Earlier, when Li Keqiang's plane entered Pakistani airspace, the Pakistan Air Force sent six JF-17 fighters to escort the Premier. On stepping out of the door of the airplane, an additional overpass was made over the airport. When the news of this came out, it immediately aroused worldwide attention.

JF-17 is made by the China Aviation Industry Group CATIC, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation and Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute, among other organizations, in joint development with the Pakistan Air Force. The JF-17 is a new generation of single engined, single-seat, multi-role light fighters and is an important cooperation between the two countries. It is known as a successful example of cooperation between China and Pakistan. Pakistan Air Force named it the JF-17 Thunder.

On the afternoon of May 23rd, a People's Daily reporter Yang interviewed the "Fierce Dragon" fighter's Chief Architect.

Reporter: As the designer of the JF-17, how did you feel when Premier Li Keqiang's plane was escorted by the JF-17 when visiting Pakistan?

Yang: Prime Minister's visit being escorted by Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets reflects on the political importance of the visit and also the close relationship between China and Pakistan. As the developer we are very proud. A full escort is pretty spectacular and we read the news and saw the pictures. Pakistan sent 6 JF-17s, reflecting the importance of the JF-17 in the Pakistan Air Force.

Reporter: What improvements are to be made on the JF-17 in the future?

Yang: As a fighter, sensor suite and strike capability is the force multiplier. We will focus on improving the JF-17 in terms of information perception, system integration capabilities and weaponry, making it a better third generation aircraft. [Chinese 3rd Generation = Western 4th Generation]

Reporter: Are there plans to develop a two-seater JF-17?

Yang: We have plans to develop two-seater, and there are plans to develop series models.

Reporter: Will the stealth performance further improve?

Yang: The JF-17 itself is not a full stealth aircraft, but the design is considered low observable because of such factors as a front edge of the wing sweep angle, S bend inlet, etc., which are better for stealth. In addition, the JF-17 among third generation aircraft, in the head is relatively small, whose stealth is good. The future will take low-cost stealth measures to further improve the stealth ability.

Reporter: What is the status of the JF-17's engine development?

Yang: The engine of the JF-17 fighter and other major national engine developments is going according to plan and has made considerable achievements.

Reporter: Are there any plans for improving air refueling capability in the "Fierce Dragon" jets?

Yang: Within a year or two, we will see the air refueling capability of the "Fierce Dragon" aircraft in Pakistan.

[Refined English translation from http://world.people.com.cn/n/2013/0524/c349424-21595064.html]

24/05/2013 Michel Cabirol – LaTribune.fr

Le Premier ministre indien, Manmohan Singh, a promis jeudi de lutter contre la corruption dans le secteur de la défense. Le ministère de la Défense indien a déjà exclu pendant une période de dix ans six entreprises, dont quatre étrangères, à participer à des procédures d'acquisitions.

Le Premier ministre indien, Manmohan Singh, a promis jeudi de lutter contre la corruption dans le secteur de la défense après un récent scandale dans l'attribution d'un contrat portant sur l'acquisition d'hélicoptères, en affirmant vouloir rendre les processus d'acquisitions militaires "plus transparents". Manmohan Singh s'est engagé à ce que les achats d'armement et d'équipement militaires soient "plus transparents, lisses, efficaces et moins vulnérables aux pratiques contraires à l'éthique", lors de la pose de la pierre inaugurale de la première université de la Défense, dans une ville périphérique de New Delhi. "Nous continuerons à rechercher les plus hauts critères de probité dans les acquisitions en matière de défense", a assuré le Premier ministre. L'Inde est actuellement en négociations pour plusieurs contrats avec des groupes français en vue d'acquérir des matériels tricolores, notamment l'achat de 126 Rafale à Dassault Aviation.

L'étau se resserre sur Finmeccanica

En février, New Delhi a suspendu ses paiements à la firme italienne Finmeccanica et à sa filiale hélicoptériste AgustaWestland et prévenu qu'il annulerait un contrat de 556 millions d'euros pour l'achat de 12 hélicoptères VVIP-VIP (EH-101), si les accusations de corruption contre le patron de Finmeccanica étaient avérées. Selon nos informations, le contrat n'a pas été encore annulé mais l'étau se resserre sur le groupe italien. Selon son enquête préliminaire, le Bureau d'enquêtes Central (CBI) a identifié 19 personnes, y compris 6 sociétés, soupçonnées de conspiration criminelle et d'abus de position officielle. En Italie, l'ex-patron de Finmeccanica Giuseppe Orsi est visé depuis avril 2012 par une enquête dans le cadre de ce contrat portant sur la livraison de 12 hélicoptères au gouvernement indien par sa filiale britannique AgustaWestland. Il a été arrêté et a démissionné mais il dément toute malversation. Les enquêteurs italiens soupçonnent que des pots-de-vin de l'ordre de 10 % du montant du contrat ont été versés à des responsables indiens pour sceller le contrat, selon la presse italienne.

Des sociétés blacklistées en Inde

A la suite d'irrégularités, le ministère de la Défense indien a exclu des procédures d'acquisition six sociétés, dont quatre étrangères, pour une période de dix ans. Parmi elles, on retrouve une société israélienne IMI (Israel Military Industries), une singapourienne Singapore Technologies Kinetics, une suisse (Rheinmetall Air Defence) et enfin une russe Corporation Defence. IMI a commis certaines irrégularités dans la construction d'une usine de production de systèmes de charge bi-modulaires (BMCS) pour des canons de 155 mm, à Nalanda au Bihar. La société israélienne avait signé un contrat en mars 2009, qui a été annulé trois ans plus tard en mars 2012.

Récemment le CBI a enquêté sur un contrat signé en octobre 2005 par DCNS et Mazagon Docks Limited pour la vente de six sous-marins à la marine indienne.Le CBI a informé le ministère de la Défense que selon les informations disponibles, il n'y avait pas de traces d'irrégularités dans le cadre de ce contrat. "Il n'y a actuellement aucune proposition de placer ces sociétés sur la liste noire", a souligné en décembre dernier le ministère de la Défense indien.

L'image de Singh écornée

Ces dernières années, l'image de "Monsieur Propre" dont bénéficiait Singh a été sérieusement écornée par divers scandales au sein de son administration. En 2010 le gouvernement avait été éclaboussé par un gigantesque scandale dans les télécommunications: une vente aux enchères de licences de téléphonie mobile présumée frauduleuse, orchestrée par un ancien ministre des Télécommunications, aurait fait perdre au Trésor public 31 milliards de dollars (24 milliards d'euros). Selon une enquête d'opinion réalisée cette semaine par la chaîne CNN-IBN, 67% des personnes interrogées estiment que le parti du Congrès a perdu toute crédibilité et 61% pensent que Manmohan Singh devrait démissionner.

NEW DELHI, 22 mai - RIA Novosti

L'Inde a testé mercredi avec succès son missile de croisière naval BrahMos lancé pour la première fois depuis la frégate Tarkash, construite en Russie, a annoncé à RIA Novosti une source au sein du ministère indien de la Défense.

"Le missile a effectué une manœuvre suivant la trajectoire fixée et a détruit sa cible", a déclaré l'interlocuteur de l'agence.

Selon lui, des missiles BrahMos équiperont les trois frégates construites en Russie en vertu du contrat de 2006: le Tarkash, le Teg et le Trikand. Les deux premiers navires sont déjà en service, le Trikand doit bientôt arriver en Inde de Kaliningrad (enclave russe sur la Baltique).

Les premiers missiles de cette classe ont été livrés aux forces armées indiennes en 2005.

Ils sont fabriqués par la coentreprise russo-indienne BrahMos fondée en 1998. La société tient son nom des premières syllabes du fleuve indien Brahmapoutre et de la rivière russe Moskova.

Il s'agit d'un missile supersonique à propergol solide pesant 2,55 tonnes. Long de 8,3 mètres, il a un diamètre de 0,67 mètre. Doté d'une ogive de 200 à 300 kg, le BrahMos est capable de neutraliser les cibles à une distance de 290 km.

22 mai 2013 Par Rédacteur en chef. PORTAIL DES SOUS-MARINS

Alors que le nombre de sous-marins indiens devrait atteindre son minimum en 2015, le ministre de la défense, AK Antony, a reconnu les limitations dans la capacité de la marine à déployer la totalité de sa flotte sous-marine.

La marine indienne dispose actuellement de 14 sous-marins, dont un à propulsion nucléaire loué à la Russie. Cependant, la force réelle de la flotte sous-marine est bien moins importante, en raison de la disponibilité opérationnelle des sous-marins.

« Il y a des contraintes opérationnelles en ce qui concerne les sous-marins classiques, » a expliqué le ministre Antony dans un discours.

Un rapport confidentiel du ministère avait averti en avril dernier que l’Inde n’avait jamais été dans une situation aussi vulnérable et que sa flotte sous-marine était dans « un état très précaire ».

Au contraire de la flotte réduite de l’Inde, la Chine dispose d’environ 45 sous-marins, dont 2 SNLE. Elle prévoit aussi de construire 15 sous-marins classiques de la classe Yuan supplémentaires, grâce à l’achat de moteurs diesel allemands.

La taille de la flotte sous-marine indienne est environ la même que celle dont disposera dans 2 ans la marine pakistanaise.

En 2015, la marine ne disposera plus que de 6 à 7 sous-marins, dont le seul et unique SNLE, l’INS Arihant, puisqu’elle va commencer à désarmer l’an prochain les sous-marins des classes Kilo et U-209.

Antony a souligné que « les finances ne seront jamais une contrainte pour des acquisitions importantes, mais doivent être utilisés judicieusement. »

La marine a demandé au gouvernement de lancer immédiatement un appel d’offres pour acheter 6 sous-marins, un programme appelé P-75I.

DCNS, HDW, Rosoboronexport et Navantia devraient faire des propositions en réponse à cet appel d’offres.

Référence : Hindustan Times (Inde)