India Successfully Test Fired Nuclear Capable Dhanush Missile

India on 5 October 2012 successfully test fired nuclear capable Dhanush Missile, the naval version of short-range ballistic missile, Prithvi from a warship off Odisha coast.

Dhanush, The indigenously developed naval version of the Prithvi short-range ballistic missile has a strike range of up to 350 km and can carry 500 kg of conventional or nuclear warhead.

The test was conducted by the strategic force command (SFC) of the Indian Navy. The trial was a complete success.
Dhanush missile is a single stage missile and was developed by the DRDO and is about 8.53 metre in length and 0.9 metre in diameter which uses liquid propellant.

The Dhanush missile is going to be used as an anti-ship weapon as well as for destroying land targets depending on the range.

India as Top Importer of Weapons

Authoritative information regarding import of weapons by China is not available. However, as per report published in March 2012 by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India has become the largest importer of arms during 2007-11 and accounted for 10% of the global arms imports as compared to China`s share of5%.

Procurement of arms and equipment for the Armed Forces is a continuous process based on threat perception, operational challenges and available resources. The process is based on a 15 year Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP), five year Services Capital Acquisition Plan (SCAP) and Annual Acquisition Plan (AAP). Shortage of any weapons, is adequately addressed through indigenous production and import.

India commissions nuclear powered submarine 'INS Chakra'

India has inducted Russian- made nuclear powered submarine 'INS Chakra' into the Navy, joining an elite group of five nations possessing such sophisticated warships.

Defence Minister A K Antony formally commissioned the Akula II class Nerpa, rechristened INS Chakra, into the Navy at the Ship Building Complex in Visakhapatnam.

With the country entering the select club consisting of theUS, Russia, the UK, France and China with nuclear submarines after a gap of two decades, Antony said, "INS Chakra will ensure security and sovereignty of the country."

He did not subscribe to the view that the induction of nuclear powered submarines will lead to any arms race in the region. He said the armed forces will be strengthened to meet any challenge.

"India does not believe in arms race. We are not a confrontationist nation. We are a peaceloving nation....but, at the same time, the armed forces will be strengthened to meet any challenge," Antony told reporters when asked aboutPakistan's reaction that INS Chakra's induction will lead to arms race in the region.

"We have a vast land border. We have more than 7500 kms of coastline and more than two lakhs EEZs (Exclusive Economic Zone). We have to protect the sea lanes of our core area of interest," he said.

With INS Chakra and indigenously built INS Arihant expected to start operational patrols soon, India will soon have two nuclear submarines guarding its vast maritime boundary.

To a question on China's increasing military capability, Antonysaid “Induction of INS Chakra or Vikramaditya (aircraft carrier) warships or any other platform is not aimed at any country. It is to strengthen our national security to meet any challenge more effectively.”

With a maximum speed of 30 knots, the submarine can go upto a depth of 600 metres and has an endurance of 100 days with a crew of 73.

The vessel is armed with four 533mm torpedo tubes and four 650mm torpedo tubes. India had leased and operated a Charlie class Russian nuclear submarine in 1988 for training its personnel on such submarines.

Antony said, "INS Arihant will be ready for sea trials sometime this year."

He also said the induction of INS Vikramaditya, earlier called 'Admiral Gorshkov', will take place sometimes early next year.

On future induction of platforms in the Indian Navy, he said four warships, including INS Vikramaditya, were expected to be delivered at the end of this year, besides 15 fast interception craft.

"In the next few years, the Navy will get more submarines," the Defence Minister said.

He refused to share details with the media about the cost of leasing INS Chakra from Russia. He said there is a proposal for leasing another submarine but refused to take queries on the issue.

"There is a proposal. But we have not taken any decision...Cost is not necessary, but India can afford it,"Antony said.

On whether the process of procuring submarines from Russiawas too long and slow, he said, "We want speedy procurement and we will modernise our armed forces as quickly as possible. At the same time, zero tolerance to corruption is also our policy."

INS Chakra has been taken on lease from Russia for 10 years and would provide the Navy the opportunity to train personnel and operate such nuclear-powered vessels.

India had signed a deal with Russia in 2004 worth over USD 900 million for leasing the submarine.

It was expected to be inducted a couple of years back, but after an on-board accident in 2008, in which several Russian sailors died, the delivery schedule was changed.

Indian Navy personnel have already been imparted training inRussia for operating the submarine.

A crew of over 70 people, including around 30 officers, is required to operate INS Chakra.

BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile test-fired successfully

BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile, was successfully test-fired on 28 March 2012 by BrahMos Aerospace, off the coast of Odisha. 290-km BrahMos is the surface-to-surface Army version missile. It is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of 200 to 300 kg.
The important advantage of new version of the cruise missile is that it can hit the target vertically and at high speed. The competing versions in the global arena fly and hit the target almost at horizontal levels and lower speeds.
The BrahMos, supersonic cruise missile attained 2.8 Mach speed and a full range of 290 km. The Indian Army has already inducted the missile in a couple of its regiments.
BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile, has been developed by BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, a joint venture between Republic of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) and Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia. It is the world's fastest cruise missile in operation. It can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land.
The name BrahMos is the blend of the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.

Defexpo-2012

‘Defexpo India 2012’, the 7th international Exhibition on Land, Naval and Internal Security Systems, begins  on March 29, 2012. The four-day event will be inaugurated by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony. The largest ever Defence Exposition in Asia will showcase India’s emergence as an attractive destination for investment in the Defence Sector and provides a platform for alliances and joint ventures in the Defence Industry. 

A total of 567 companies from 32 countries will display weapon systems for the Army, Navy and Internal Security. Major participants are from Russia, France and Israel besides Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Poland, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Turkey, USA and UK. 

Organised by the Department of Defence Production, the exhibition is dedicated to global Land, Naval and Internal Security Systems business activity – from Suppliers to Manufacturers and Technology providers to Services. The Def Expo offers an opportunity to the international Defence Industry to promote and showcase their products and services. The exhibition generates attention globally and has carved a niche amongst major defence exhibitions around the world. 

The Def Expo was conceptualised in 1998 with an objective to promote defence exports from India and exhibit the capabilities of Indian Defence R&D and production. The first exhibition was held in 1999 and subsequently in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. While a modest 197 exhibitors participated in the first Def Expo, the biennial event features 567 exhibitors in its 7th edition this year. Israel is the biggest participating country in terms of indoor space occupied (1,293 sq meters) while Russia is represented with the maximum number of 37 companies. In the year 2010 there were 412 exhibitors from 35 countries. The exhibition area has increased from 27,309 sq meters in 2010 to 30,760 sq meters this year. 

More than 60 Official Delegations including 14 headed by Defence Ministers are expected to attend the four-day exhibition. Many products are expected to be launched by Indian and Foreign companies during the exhibition. Several business-to-business meetings are planned to be held on the sidelines. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is the event manager of the Defexpo India 2012.