India Indian R&D Programs and Acquisitions

Nilgiri

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Expert panel to help DRDO prepare for futuristic battles, defence needs

DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy has constituted a five-member committee and asked it to submit its report within 45 days.



The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has set up an expert panel to review the charter of its laboratories and minimise the overlap of technologies they are working on at a time when self-reliance in the defence sector is a top priority for the government, people familiar with the development said on Wednesday.

DRDO chief G Satheesh Reddy has constituted the five-member committee under the chairmanship of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi director V Ramagopal Rao and asked the panel to submit its report within 45 days, according to a government letter dated August 24 reviewed by Hindustan Times.

The mandate given to the expert panel includes suggesting measures to provide a push to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ (self-reliant India Movement) and cut dependence on imported weapons and systems, the officials cited above said on the condition of anonymity.

According to the letter, the terms of reference of the committee are to study and review the charter of duties of all DRDO labs, to redefine the charter of duties on the basis of current and futuristic defence and battlefield needs and to minimise the overlap of technologies amongst the labs.

The other members of the committee are Indian Air Force deputy chief Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre director S Somanath, Instruments Research & Development Establishment (a Dehradun-based DRDO lab) director Benjamin Lionel and Director General-Naval Systems and Materials Samir V Kamath. The chairman of the committee may co-opt subject specialists as invitees to specific meetings, the letter said.

This is a long overdue review and the committee needs to critically, and clinically, analyse the work of the 57 DRDO labs since their inception vis-a-vis their outputs that have seen deployment with the armed forces, and not just their theoretical claims, said Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (retd), additional director general, Centre for Air Power Studies.

“Money for R&D is scarce and must be used judiciously if the Atmanirbhar Abhiyaan is to move forward,” Bahadur said.

The August 24 letter came on a day the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension of DRDO chief Reddy’s term by two years with effect from August 26. He was appointed to the post two years ago.

Before that, Reddy was the scientific adviser to the defence minister, a charge he was given in June 2015.

From mini unmanned aerial vehicles to fire detection systems and bullet proof vehicles to tank transporters, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has come out with a list of 108 systems and sub-systems that it will help the Indian industry design and develop to strengthen the local defence ecosystem.

A DRDO delegation met defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday and briefed him on the 108 defence items identified for local production by the industry to achieve self-reliance in the defence sector. It will also allow the DRDO to sharpen its focus on advanced technologies, the defence ministry said.

Several steps have been taken in the past to make the DRDO more competitive and accountable. These include decentralising the DRDO’s management by merging its labs to form seven clusters based on technology domains such as missiles, electronic warfare, radars, aerial vehicles and underwater weapons. The recommendations made by the P Rama Rao Committee in February 2008 — the DRDO’s first external review — formed the bedrock of the roadmap for restructuring the R&D body.
 
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Nilgiri

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Mods, why are there no threads for Indian Missiles ? We make plenty of missiles and a lot of new work in on going too. Would benefit the readers here if there was one.

We have two sections where we can create such threads I think. There are some brahmos threads in "Strategic Forces" already.

We can create a pinned one there if you would like a newsreel one all in one place.

Another option is to create "Indian missile program" thread in "Science and Industry".

Since you have taken the initiative, please choose what you think works best and I'll pin it (and merge this one if you want)....we can always change/move it later.
 

Gautam

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We have two sections where we can create such threads I think. There are some brahmos threads in "Strategic Forces" already.

We can create a pinned one there if you would like a newsreel one all in one place.

Another option is to create "Indian missile program" thread in "Science and Industry".

Since you have taken the initiative, please choose what you think works best and I'll pin it (and merge this one if you want)....we can always change/move it later.
I didn't know new members could make new threads. Apparently I can, the rules of this forum are very strange to me.

I just started making a thread under strategic forces named "Indian Missiles and Munitions". Your post came in the right time. You could rename this thread and move it there if you want.
 

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We have two sections where we can create such threads I think. There are some brahmos threads in "Strategic Forces" already.

We can create a pinned one there if you would like a newsreel one all in one place.

Another option is to create "Indian missile program" thread in "Science and Industry".

Since you have taken the initiative, please choose what you think works best and I'll pin it (and merge this one if you want)....we can always change/move it later.
Why don't we create a specific section to track all missile developments since "Strategic Forces" is too broad. Given DRDO's involvement in multiple missile projects and armed forces reducing their dependency on imports, we can create specific threads under the "missiles" section for ICBM, SLBM/SLCM, Sub/Super/Hypersonic missiles and test demonstrates, air launched WVR and BVRAAMs, Standoff munitions, NGARM, ADS missiles like QR/MR/LR-SAM and Akash etc
 

Nilgiri

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Why don't we create a specific section to track all missile developments since "Strategic Forces" is too broad. Given DRDO's involvement in multiple missile projects and armed forces reducing their dependency on imports, we can create specific threads under the "missiles" section for ICBM, SLBM/SLCM, Sub/Super/Hypersonic missiles and test demonstrates, air launched WVR and BVRAAMs, Standoff munitions, NGARM, ADS missiles like QR/MR/LR-SAM and Akash etc

It's early, there is literally two threads about brahmos and 1 thread about hypersonic.

I say populate more (under strategic or just anywhere and I'll move it there), then I will compile into larger ones when there is bulk to do so a bit later.

I will move this to strategic...I think along with SSBN stuff, we will keep (defence related) missile related there for now.

Civilian stuff development wise like ISRO we will have in Science and Industry etc...there is a space program thread already.
 

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India strengthens ‘local content' requirements

by Jon Grevatt




The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued new guidelines that support its efforts to maximise the local defence industrial base’s involvement in defence production programmes.


The measures, published in a notification in late August, are aligned with an earlier revision of an Indian public procurement order that seeks to ensure preference is given to goods and services that have more than 50% local content.


This order, which was updated by the government in June 2020 in line with efforts to boost the economy, is known as the ‘Preference to Make in India’ directive and is intended to “promote the manufacturing of goods and services in India, with a view to enhance income and employment” across all industrial sectors.


India has issued guidelines that seek to enhance the local content in military platforms including Kalvari (Scorpène)-class submarines (pictured) being built for the Indian Navy. (Indian Navy)

India has issued guidelines that seek to enhance the local content in military platforms including Kalvari (Scorpène)-class submarines (pictured) being built for the Indian Navy. (Indian Navy)

The MoD said that its new notification aligns requirements in previously published defence procurement guidelines with definitions in the updated ‘Preference to Make in India’ directive for different classes of local suppliers.


These definitions include ‘Class-I local suppliers’ that produce goods that have more than 50% local content; ‘Class-II local suppliers’ that produce goods that have between 20% and 50% local content; and the inclusion of a ‘margin of purchase preference’, allowing local purchases even if the procured product is not the cheapest.


The MoD notification also states that ‘Class-I local suppliers’ shall be eligible to bid for contracts irrespective of purchase value, and that in defence procurements valued at less than INR2 billion (USD27.2 million) only ‘Class-I local suppliers’ and ‘Class-II local suppliers’ can bid for contracts, except those that are being procured through a global tender.

 

Kartal1

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India raises cap on defence foreign investment

by Jon Grevatt




India has formally raised the cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the defence sector. New FDI regulations also introduce a ‘national security’ clause to heighten scrutiny of related investment proposals.


The government’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DIPPT) said in a press note issued on 17 September that it has lifted the limit on defence FDI from 49% to 74% of a local firms’ equity. The limit is applicable for investors under the “automatic route”, which means government approval is not required.


India has increased the cap on foreign investment in the defence sector to 74%. Prominent investors in the market include Lockheed Martin, which operates a joint venture with Tata producing components for the US corporation’s C-130J aircraft (pictured). (Janes/Patrick Allen)

India has increased the cap on foreign investment in the defence sector to 74%. Prominent investors in the market include Lockheed Martin, which operates a joint venture with Tata producing components for the US corporation’s C-130J aircraft (pictured). (Janes/Patrick Allen)

However, the DIPPT press note also included a list of “other conditions” for such foreign investment including a new clause citing national security.


“Foreign investments in the defence sector shall be subject to scrutiny on grounds of national security, and [the] government reserves the right to review any foreign investment in the defence sector that affects or may affect national security,” states the clause.


The previous FDI guidelines did not include a national security clause but did require that “foreign investment in the [defence] sector is subject to security clearance and guidelines of the Ministry of Defence”.


Other new conditions for FDI include requirements for new industrial licences in cases of new FDI up to 74%, and requirements for security clearances by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

 

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DRDO Abhyas successfully tested

Images of the DRDO Abhyas high-speed expendable target drone tested today on the east coast (Photo:- DRDO)

DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) successfully flight tested ABHYAS – High Speed Expandable Aerial Target from ITR Balasore, Odhisa.
ABHYAS is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot, under development. It can be used as a target for air defence weapon practices.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed about the flight test and also congratulates DRDO for achieving this milestone.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “The DRDO achieved a milestone today with the successful flight test of ABHYAS – High Speed Expandable Aerial Target from ITR Balasore. This can be used as a target for evaluation of various Missile systems. Congratulations to DRDO India & other stakeholders for this achievement.”



It has RCS (Radar Cross section), Visual, and Infra Red that can be augmented to stimulate a variety of aircraft which can used as a target for variety of air defence weapons. Besides, target practice it can also play the role of a jammer and decoy.

ABHYAS is fitted with Gas Turbine engine which gives a thrust of 25 KG, it can fly with a endurance of 30 to 45 minutes.

It has completed its design phase and has successfully completed the first Experimental Launch without the engine on 23rd June 2012.

ABHYAS is launched from a mobile launcher with the help of two 68 mm rockets, which are manufactured at the ordinance factories.

It can fly at a altitude of 5000 meters and can attain the speed of 0.5 Mach. It has MEMS based Inertial Navigation System (INS) for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control.

 
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Nilgiri

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India’s premier R&D agency, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced earlier this month that it is planning a national programme to develop DEWs in the form of high-energy lasers and high-powered microwaves.

The two types of DEWs are anti-personnel as they can cause excessive burning of an area in the body and cause blindness. They are also anti-material as they possess the ability to destroy missiles, ships, UAVs and fries circuitry of equipment deployed on a battlefield.

Considered as a key factor in future contactless warfare, the potential applications of the technology would be possessing weapons which could target enemy fighter jets, personnel, vehicles, missiles and optical devices.

DRDO Chairman, Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, while delivering the 12th annual Air Chief Marshal LM Katre memorial lecture, had emphasised the importance of the weapons in the present scenario.

(more at link)
 

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DRDO developments and similar will be archived here.
 

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India’s premier R&D agency, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) announced earlier this month that it is planning a national programme to develop DEWs in the form of high-energy lasers and high-powered microwaves.

The two types of DEWs are anti-personnel as they can cause excessive burning of an area in the body and cause blindness. They are also anti-material as they possess the ability to destroy missiles, ships, UAVs and fries circuitry of equipment deployed on a battlefield.

Considered as a key factor in future contactless warfare, the potential applications of the technology would be possessing weapons which could target enemy fighter jets, personnel, vehicles, missiles and optical devices.

DRDO Chairman, Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, while delivering the 12th annual Air Chief Marshal LM Katre memorial lecture, had emphasised the importance of the weapons in the present scenario.

(more at link)

Twitter thread I wrote sometime back :

 

Nilgiri

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The behemoth of all diesel engines designed and developed in India is now ready. The Prototype is tested for full power using the turbocharger made by GTRE.

The engine is probably one of the most important components of any moving vehicle including the main battle tanks (MBT). These powerplants aka engines should produce the required amount of power and torque to move a 50-60 tonne battle tank in different types of terrains and scenarios. To move these tanks, heavy capacity diesel engines are used which produce a lot of power and torque.

(More at link)
 

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Supercapacitor (representative image) (pic via wikipedia)
Supercapacitor (representative image) (pic via wikipedia)

Insta​

Indian Scientists Develop High Performance Hybrid Supercapacitors For Next-Gen Energy Storage Devices

By Swarajya Staff
December 17, 2020 at 4:37 PM

Indian scientists have developed a low-cost supercapacitor device with excellent capacitive retention using a novel electrode material they have synthesized. The research can pave the way for the next generation high power-high energy storage devices.
Supercapacitors have gained considerable attention due to their high power density, long cycle life, and excellent capacity retention compared to their battery counterparts.
Supercapacitors with high capacitance and excellent capacitive retention developed from low-cost fabrication techniques are the need of the hour, considering their potential utility in the commercial market.
Scientists at the International Advanced Research Center for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad have developed a facile, scalable, and cost-effective electrochemical route to synthesize electrodes made of Nickel cobaltite (NiCo2O4) containing nanosheet structures with incorporated oxygen vacancies as an active material, for hybrid supercapacitors, the Ministry of Science said in a statement.
These electrodes have been found to have excellent electrochemical performance.
Such hybrid supercapacitors combine the features of both conventional double layer supercapacitors and batteries and act as high power-high energy storage devices.
However, it remains challenging to design pseudocapacitor devices with redox metal oxide (MO) materials with high porosity, which exhibit high capacitance and good cycle life. It is desirable to amend the intrinsic properties of the synthesized MO to enhance its conductivity, stability, and electrochemical activity.
Scientists at ARCI and IIT-H addressed these challenges and were successful in synthesizing NiCo2O4 nanostructured electrodes by a novel electrodeposition route.
They also introduced an optimum number of oxygen vacancies by an environmentally benign chemical reduction process to make up for an active, positive electrode material for hybrid supercapacitor, as reported in their recent publication in the journal “Batteries & Supercaps".
This could be an effective alternative to the existing carbon-based electrodes for supercapacitors to achieve high energy density.
An asymmetric supercapacitor device further fabricated by the research team, using porous carbon and NiCo2O4 electrodes exhibited excellent capacity retention and stability, the statement said.

Can supercapacitors power railguns?
@Nilgiri @Zapper
 

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ADE steps into new decade with planeloads of critical projects

Anantha Krishnan M
Published: January 10, 2021 06:13 AM IST
ade-1-nirbhay.jpg



Bengaluru: The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) is warming up to undertake a series of missions in the year 2021, leaving behind the uncertainties of a pandemic year that also saw minor setbacks.
ADE which celebrated its 62nd Raising Day recently has been given the mandate of developing variants of subsonic missiles and unmanned platforms.
According to sources, ADE scientists are now gearing up for the second test of the Nirbhay variant – the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM).


The ITCM-02 with the Small Turbo Fan Engine (STFE) will undertake another flight trial in the next few months. The first mission of ICTM with STFE wasn’t a complete success.
ADE is also poised to hand over the first Full Mission Simulator (FMS) for Light Combat Aircraft Tejas to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
IAF Test Pilots have been using the FMS at ADE facilities for some years now, and based on their feedback ADE made several upgradations to its systems.
Sources said that the FMS from ADE requires minimum maintenance and offers long and realistic flight training options on ground for squadron pilots.
A new facility has been earmarked for housing FMS systems, which is likely to be inaugurated this year.
Rustom-II
On the unmanned front, the scientists are burning the midnight oil to meet the IAF requirements for Rustom-II (Tapas), the medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
ade-2-rustom-2.jpg

Rustom-II has achieved eight-hour flight endurance at 22,000 feet and efforts are now on to take the endurance closer to 24 hours at 30,000 feet, as per the user mandate.
Last year, Rustom-II had flown in the Satellite Communication (SATCOM) mode for the first time. It had also flown with the long range electro optical payload.
Rustom-II has already flown with a 250-km line of sight, sources said.
A proposal for a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAV is likely to be sent to the government this year, for which the engine will come from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
On Abhyas – the High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT), sources said that the open and closed loop trials have been completed. The Transfer of Technology (ToT) for Abhyas is expected to happen this year.
Abhyas can be launched from a zero-length launcher by two 68 mm rockets, and fly up to an altitude of 5 km at a speed of 180 met/sec. The platform has a maximum endurance of 45 minutes and weighs around 70kg. This low cost platform has modular construction, is easy to handle, is equipped with auto-pilot and a simple launcher, and can be deployed in a decoy role as well.
ade-3-abhyas.jpg

Work on the submarine-launched cruise missile too is in progress, with several systems under production now.
Flagship Mission
ADE was nominated to undertake work on India’s ambitious and less-talked-about unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) last year. A small team of scientists has been working on a mini-variant of the mission for the last one year.
The Stealth Wing Flying Testbed (SWiFT) UAV, which is the precursor technology demonstrator project of UCAV, will see some development flights this year.
ade-4-tessy-venu.jpg

Interestingly, the name ‘Ghatak’ given to the UCAV, seems to have been dropped now.
Sources confirm that UCAV is likely to become a flagship programme for India, with the government completely banking on the capabilities promised by the DRDO top brass.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) nod for the UCAV too is expected this year, based on the results of SWiFT.
The Indian Navy too is keen on a deck-based UCAV, sources said.
Armed roles for Rustom-I (R-I) too are being looked at currently and the scientists would begin testing of new systems and payloads for the same this year.
The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have shown interest in such systems.
ATR expansion
The Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Challakere in Chitradurga, which is under the command of ADE, will see some upgradation activities this year.
The runway length is likely to be extended from 2 km to 3 km, in addition to the setting up of a high-power computing facility.
Defence Research and Development Organisation Chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Director-General (Aero Cluster) Dr Tessy Thomas and ADE Director Dr S Venugopal are said to have spelt out their vision for the lab during their Foundation Day addresses.
Established in 1959, ADE began its journey as an independent DRDO lab, with aeronautical projects such as Nandi hovercraft and Dart target.
As reported by Onmanorama during Defence Expo 2020, ADE scientists have already began work on the LRLACM (Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile), which will have a range of over 1,000 km.
The Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) had cleared the proposal for LRLACM in July last year.
ADE steps into a new decade with loads of exciting and challenging missions. While the top brass wants unique products that can work miracles for the armed forces, ADE scientists are hoping to get their act together and do the right things, the right way at the right time.
“Two hundred per cent commitment is the key,” says an official.

 

Nilgiri

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Archive for the (bimonthly) magazine AEROMAG that publishes about news and analysis concerning Indian aerospace defence industry, IAF and all related to these.

All credit to original owners that make these available at their webpage (aeromag.in)

Back archive can be found: https://www.aeromag.in/magazine.php

First article of 2021 has just been released:


Discussion can be done in this thread or in general IAF archive.
 
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