Daily pill of Defence - 12 April 2008

CBI chargesheets former RAW officer
Yahoo News

The CBI on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against a former senior officer of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for divulging "top secret" information in his book, which alleged corruption in country's external intelligence agency. Accusing both author Maj Gen (retd) V K Singh and publisher of the book - India's External Intelligence, Secrets of Raw - Vivek Garg, the CBI filed its chargesheet under two different sections of the Official Secret Act, 1923 in the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate here. (read more)

Indian Navy reaches North Pole
FIDSNS

The Indian Navy team has reached the geographic North Pole at 2016 Hrs (local time) on the night of 9th April 2008. Having created many a records in the past including the successful ascent of Mt. Everest in 2004 and ski traverse to the geographic South Pole in 2006, the team of ten officers and men of Indian Navy set out for a historic ski traverse to The North Pole at 90° North. The team reached North Pole yesterday night, thereby becoming the first ever Indian Team to have successfully ski traversed to both the geographic poles. Three of the ten members have also joined the elite club to successfully complete the “Three Poles” Challenge. (read more)

See Also: MoD Press Release - Times of India - The Statesman - The Telegraph - The Hindu -

French company attempted illegal export of sensitive technology to Iran
FIDSNS

Cryostar SAS, formerly known as Cryostar France (”CRYOSTAR”), a French corporation, headquartered in Hesingue, France, has pleaded guilty in a US court to conspiracy, illegal export, and attempted illegal export of cryogenic submersible pumps to Iran. (read more)

Fight for Sadr City a Proving Ground for Iraq Military
Michael R. Gordon, New York Times

The Iraqi soldiers pushed their way up a main thoroughfare in Sadr City over the past week, but the militias that still prowl the Shiite enclave were sniping at them from the alleyways. So a platoon of American troops drove up a bomb-cratered road in their Stryker vehicles on Thursday to give the Iraqis some pointers on how to hold the line.
...
The struggle for control of Sadr City is more than a test of wills with renegade Shiite militias. It has also become a testing ground for the Iraqi military, which has been thrust into the lead. (read more)

India to invite bids for purchase of 312 helicopters
The Hindu Business Line

Close on the heels of floating multi-billion dollar global tenders for buying long-range artillery guns, India plans to invite international bids for purchase of 312 light helicopters. The tenders for these helicopters, 197 for the army aviati on and another 115 for the air force, are to be floated in the next few days and are estimated to be worth over $2 billion. (read more)

See Also: Times of India - Economic Times - Zee News - Thaindian

Daily pill of Defence - 8 April 2008

Chandipur test site to get a facelift
ToI

India's ballistic missile and weapons testing facility in Orissa's Chandipur is being expanded to thrice its present size and modernised to test indigenously-developed weapons for India's defence forces. (read more)

Army gets first Muslim Major General from Kashmir
M. Saleem Pandit,ToI

Ever since Jammu & Kashmir became part of India, there has never been a Kashmiri Muslim general in the Army. This has now been remedied. With the elevation of Brigadier Mohammad Amin Naik to the post of Major General, Kashmiris, who have historically felt alienated from the mainstream, would now have one grievance less. (read more)

China using Sikkim to push Arunachal claim?
Rajat Pandit, ToI

China continues to play cat and mouse game in the eastern Himalayas despite having implicitly accepted Sikkim to be a part of India as a quid pro quo for New Delhi's unequivocal recognition of Beijing's claim over Tibet. There have already been already as many as 40 "intrusions" by Chinese troops across the 206-km border between Sikkim and Tibet since January this year, say top sources. (read more)

A.K. Antony visits Tawang
MoD Press Release

The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has said ‘infrastructure development in the North East is now a top priority for the Government’. Addressing jawans on his maiden visit to Tawang today, Shri Antony said infrastructure development in the North East will not only contribute to the security of the nation but also accelerate the growth process of this vital region. (read more)

Sri Lanka Minister killed in suicide blast
The Hindu

A powerful Sri Lankan Minister was on Sunday assassinated by suspected LTTE rebels in a suicide attack on a marathon opening that also killed a former Olympian and 12 others while injuring nearly 100, in a bloody start to the strife-torn country's traditional New Year. (read more)

Gates: U.S. May Send More Troops to Afghanistan in 2009
FIDSNS

The United States may send more troops to Afghanistan in 2009, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates confirmed on April 4. President Bush said during the NATO summit conference that ended today (April 4) that he expects the United States would make a significant additional contribution to the Afghanistan mission next year, Gates said. (read more)

Daily pill of Defence - 6 April 2008

LCA to fly at Berlin Air Show-2008
ILA press release

ILA2008 likely to set new records:

- Over 1,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries expected.
- Partner country India announces its largest presentation abroad.
- Over 300 aircraft expected.

The partner country at the ILA2008 is India, which has announced its largest-ever presentation at any foreign aerospace show.
....
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) of this year’s partner country, India, intends to display its single-engined HJT-36 “Sitara” jet trainer, the light military and civil helicopter “Dhruv” and the “Tejas” light combat aircraft for the first time in Europe.
....
The Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO will be making its first appearance at the ILA with a review of its wide-ranging work. (read more)

Related Report: IDRW.org

Agni-III ready for retrial on April 27
Hemant Kumar Rout, Newindpress

After the successful test-fire of Agni-I missile by the Army, defence scientists are all set to testlaunch the indigenously developed sophisticated long-range ballistic missile Agni-III in the last week of April. (read more)

'Top' Kashmir militant arrested
BBC

Police in Indian-administered Kashmir say they have arrested a top leader of a leading militant group. Junaid-ul-Islam is the third in the hierarchy of the Hizbul Mujahideen and was its spokesman for 15 years. (read more)

See Also: The Hindu

Mastermind of 2005 IISc attack nabbed
Times Now

A man arrested by Uttar Pradesh police along with 5 other militants in February 2008 has admitted to have masterminded the 2005 Bangalore IISc attack. Sabauddin has also revealed to the Bangalore police that it was another man, Abu Hamza who carried out the attack. (read more)

See Also: Times of India - Deccan Herald - Hindustan Times - Sify News

Update on HAL's programmes
Shiv Aroor, Livefist

ALH Dhruv - A new ALH Mk III, with the Shakti engine, will be equipped with a second generation vibration system and glass cockpit. The Home Ministry has placed an order for six ALHs.

Hawk Trainer - HAL will deliver 14 Hawks this year. By end of April or early May, the first Indian Hawk will be rolled out.

HJT-36 IJT - The IJT will be inducted into the IAF by 2009 end.

Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) - The first trial run will be done in December 2008.

MRTA - HAL has tied up with Ilyushin for the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft, a 60-tonne class aircraft. The $600 million cost of development would be on a 50-50 basis.
(read more)

Ignore the comments, read the text. Related News - HAL's revenues topped US$ 2 billion, up by 11%.

Related stories: CNN Money - The Hindu - Domain-b - Economic Times

Dengue Cure discovered in Ayurveda
Newsline

A recent research done by scholars of Burdwan University in the suburbs of Kolkata has shown that the berries of a wild weed used in Ayurvedic formulation can help to eradicate mosquitoes spreading dengue and act as a resistant to synthetic insecticide. (read more)

See Also: Reuters - Canada.com - Science Daily

Pakistan gets Swedish early warning aircraft
Xinhua

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Thursday got first of the five airborne early warning and control system aircraft it ordered from the Swedish Saab, according to a PAF statement. The Saab 2000 Erieye aircraft for the PAF will be put through trials before being delivered to the PAF in 2009, according to officials. (read more)

Daily pill of Defence - 4 April 2008

Tejas: ADA looks to Boeing to provide help
Ravi Sharma, Hindu

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the defence laboratory behind the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), could soon be turning to global aerospace major Boeing to help them with the aircraft’s flight testing programme. (read more)

NATO invites Albania, Croatia, Georgia and Ukraine into NATO
FIDSNS

Allied leaders decided to invite Albania and Croatia to begin accession talks with NATO. The decision was announced at the Summit meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government in the Romanian capital Bucharest. The Heads of State and Government of the 26 NATO countries held an extraordinary session in the presence of their counterparts from Croatia and Albania to welcome these two new members. (read more)

Its an extremely slippery slope that the heads at Brussels are leading NATO down. Looks like they need to get their priorities right and their heads checked. Or it may just be that they're living 20 years in the past.

New SPG unit to combat snipers
Vishwa Mohan, ToI

In a bid to strengthen its defences against a Lee Harvey Oswald type incident or a 'Day of the Jackal' scenario, the Special Protection Group (SPG) — the elite force providing close security to serving and former prime ministers and their families — will soon have a counter-sniping unit. (read more)

Better late than never... they should have had such a unit a long time ago.

For 4 yrs, VIPs flying unsafe: CAG indicts IAF
Vijay Mohan, The Tribune

While pointing out several infirmities in the acquisition process of aircraft for the Indian Air Force’s VIP squadron, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has revealed that the IAF has been ferrying the country’s leaders in aircraft that have been unsuitable for VIP flights for the past four years. (read more)

INS Kesari (Shardul-class) to be commissioned on April 5
Shiv Aroor, Livefist

INS Kesari (see photos), the Navy's latest amphibious vessel of the Shardul-class will be commissioned into service on April 5 at the IN Jetty at Naval Base, Vizag. The GRSE-built vessel is the second in the Shardul-series of landing ships. (read more)

Daily pill of Defence - 2 April 2008

3,500km range Agni-III to be testfired this month
Rajat Pandit, ToI

India plans to test-fire its most ambitious strategic missile Agni-III, which can hit high-value targets deep inside China with a strike range of 3,500-km, towards April-end. (read more)

Arjun Tank to be put through summer trials
FIDSNS

The next part of accelerated usage cum reliability trial (AUCRT) of Main Battle Tank Arjun above 40 degree is set to begin in April. The below 40 degree trials of Arjun Tank has been without any major issues. One issue that had cropped up was with the imported transmission, which, was rectified immediately. (read more)

Tibetans are planning suicide attacks: China
Saibal Dasgupta, ToI

The Chinese government on Tuesday claimed that Tibetan rebels were in the process of organizing "suicide squads" for strikes across China in the wake of the coming Olympic Games. This is the latest in a series of 'exposes' by Chinese authorities to establish the violent intentions of the "Tibet independence forces". (read more)

An April Fool's day message from China... Below is the Indian April Fool's message. Except of course, that in this case, its no joke (though it sure sounds like one).

India's 'curry bomb' against terror
Pamela Timms, Telegraph, UK

Indian army chiefs are set to deploy a 'curry bomb' to win the war on terror.

Weapons development experts have created an eye-watering spice bomb, packed with a potent mix of red chilli and pepper which will be used to smoke out militants during counter-insurgency operations. (read more)

More news about this (to prove that it isn't an April 1st prank) - The Hindu - Kashmir News

DRDO may have major say in defence purchases
Josy Joseph, DNA

A high-powered committee appointed by the government to overhaul the working of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has called for major administrative changes that would give DRDO a significant say in defence purchases. (read more)

A first look at the Rama Rao commission to overhaul DRDO.

Daily pill of Defence - 25 March 2008

Focus now on Agni-III launch in April
T.S. Subramanian, The Hindu

After the successful firing of Agni-1 missile on Sunday, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on March 5 and the K-15 (Sagarika) missile from a submerged pontoon on February 26, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will set its sight on launching the Agni-III ballistic missile in April 2008. (read more)

Also: Hindu Business Line

LeT divisional commander killed in J&K
Mufti Islah, CNN-IBN

Jammu and Kashmir police shot a man dead who they claim is a high-profile terrorist, a Lashkar-e-Toiba divisional commander in Srinagar. A senior police officer was severely injured while four security personnel were killed during the encounter. A second terrorist managed to escape. (read more)

Also: News Blaze

Govt. rejects MPs' suggestion on DRDO
The Hindu, PTI Report

The government on Wednesday rejected recommendation by a Parliamentary committee that the Defence Research and Development Organisation be barred from carrying out research in life sciences. (read more)

Private sector woes in defence production
Ajai Shukla, Business Standard

The private sector is playing a growing role in defence production, even though the playing field — when compared with Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) — remains far from level. The gap between rhetoric and reality has proved difficult to bridge. The story of a military assault bridge, ironically, best illustrates the private sector’s challenges. (read more)

Flashing steel at China
Ajai Shukla, Business Standard, Broadsword

As a young captain in the Indian Army, I experienced first hand the dynamics of a Chinese power play. One autumn day in 1987, near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, almost exactly where the 1962 war sparked off, a group of Chinese soldiers crossed the rugged Line of Actual Control (LAC) and sat themselves down in a grazing ground called Wangdung. For days, while India launched diplomatic protests, more Chinese soldiers trickled across; before long, a 100-man company from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had established itself in Wangdung. The Chinese expected little more; but the Indian Army had long buried the ghost of 1962. (read more)

Allocation for N-programme cut sharply
Subodh Varma, ToI

Is the UPA government stifling the country's nuclear programme? In the Budget for 2008-09, allocations for the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) are Rs 1,333 crore less than last year's allocations. This appears strange at a time when the government is projecting nuclear power as the answer to India's future energy needs. (read more)

Daily pill of Defence - 23 March 2008

India successfully test fires Agni-1 missile
Deccan Herald, Balasore (Orissa), PTI

India on Sunday successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Agni-1 missile from the Wheelers' Island, a defence base in the Bay of Bengal on Orissa coast. It was the second user's trial of the sophisticated missile. (read more)

From Taslima to Tibet, India proves chicken
Jug Suraiya, ToI

nstead of the peacock, India should adopt the chicken as its national bird. Apart from the fowl being the dish of choice, at least in the northern part of the country, our official response to various situations - ranging from the Taslima Nasreen controversy to the protests in Tibet - can best be described as chicken-hearted. (read more)

Pranab to meet Bush, Rice on N-deal
India Today, IANS Report

Amid continuing uncertainty about the fate of the India-US nuclear deal, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee goes to Washington Sunday on a two-day visit that will focus on India's pact with the IAEA and the next steps necessary to conclude the deal. (read more)

Centre allocates Rs 500 crore for naxal-hit areas in 11th Plan
India Today, PTI Report

Concerned over growing Left wing extremism in various states, the Centre has decided to allocate Rs 500 crore during the 11th Plan for development of infrastructure in naxal-hit areas. (read more)

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As an aside, Prabhu Chawla had this absolutely hilarious reply to a reader's question:

Q. How come the Bengali Communists are all quiet about the unrest in Tibet?

Prabhu Answers: Because they did better than China in Nandigram and they are shocked how the Chinese could go soft in dealing with dissent.

Daily pill of Defence - 22 March 2008

Firstly, wish you all a very Happy Holi.

I'll be posting snippets of Defense news for the day here - a collection of major news, blog reports, opinions and commentaries, and any other news of interest. Hopefully, it will be a daily thing. Lets see how that goes.

Heres the first post.
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Vietnam-era Navy SEAL honored for Rambo style rescue mission
FIDSNS

More than three decades after a daring attempt to rescue prisoners of war in Vietnam ended in tragedy, a retired Navy SEAL was honored March 18 in Coronado, Calif. for saving the lives of his comrades. Adm. Joseph D. Kernan, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) presented retired Lt. (SEAL) Philip L. “Moki” Martin the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat “V” for valor during a ceremony at NSWC. (read more)

Defence Ministry goes 'soft' on China
Rajat Pandit, ToI

NEW DELHI: India's defensive and ultra-cautious mindset towards China has now firmly made its way even to the normally hawkish environs of the Defence Ministry (MoD).

The latest MoD annual report makes it seems that all is hunky-dory as far as the Chinese military threat is concerned..... (read more)

Vintage Pandit stuff - little source, lots of recycling. Ctrl C, Ctrl V. Still makes for interesting reading.

Private Sector in Defence: Mahindra Defence Systems: the niche player
Broadsword - Ajai Shukla

Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS), the defence division of the Rs 24,000 crore rupee ($6 billion) Mahindra Group, is hinging a major foray into defence manufacture on an anticipated surge in demand for “up-armoured light vehicles”, as security forces - army, paramilitary and police - gear themselves up to deal with growing internal insecurity. (read more)

An interesting piece with good photos of M&M defence vehicles.

Armed Personnel KIAs for 2007
MoD Press release

The Force-wise break up of Armed Forces personnel who died in action during 2007 is as under:

Army - 84
Assam Rifles - 11
BSF - 02
CISF - 02
CRPF - 71

ITBP - nil
SSB - nil
Total - 170
(read more)

RIP to the dead.

No Prisoner exchange for Sarabjit
Deccan Herald, New Delhi/Islamabad, PTI

India on Thursday firmly ruled out release of any Pakistani prisoner in exchange for Sarabjit Singh whose execution has been deferred by one month amid indications that it has been left to the incoming government to decide on his fate. (read more)