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The Varunastra or Heavy Weight Torpedo (HWT) has been designed and developed by NSTL, Visakhapatnam. BDL, being the Production Agency, is manufacturing Varunastra at its Visakhapatnam Unit for the Indian Navy. The new torpedo is also being offered for export.

The Varunastra is an Indian advanced heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo, developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the Indian Navy.

The Varunastra is a ship-launched, heavyweight, electrically-propelled anti-submarine torpedo capable of targeting quiet submarines, both in deep and shallow waters in an intense countermeasures environment. It can be fired from all ASW ships capable of firing heavyweight torpedoes. VARUNASTRA has been inducted by the Indian Navy in 2016.

The Varunastra torpedo can achieve speeds in excess of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph), weighs around 1.25 tons, and can carry 250 kg (550 lb) of a conventional warhead. According to the Indian Defense Industry, it is the only torpedo in the world to have a GPS-based locating aid.

Is the company who make it a state owned one or private owned one bro ??

Does Indian law has regulation to set aside the defense budget for R&D at some percentage of point from total budget like how Singapore law does ?
 

kaykay

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The range of torpedo wasn’t given by the source. This range was officially declared by the institute?
No not officially but news articles and defence journalists in India have been often quoting its range as 40/40+ km. There are various old reports about same as far as I remember.
 

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Is the company who make it a state owned one or private owned one bro ??

Does Indian law has regulation to set aside the defense budget for R&D at some percentage of point from total budget like how Singapore law do ?
State owned this is. Budget is allocated seperately as far as I know. Not included in defence budget.
 

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The range of torpedo wasn’t given by the source. This range was officially declared by the institute?

So far 40 km (21.6 nm) is the number given for max range...it was an original requirement iirc.


The torpedo is powered by an electric propulsion system with multiple 250 KWs Silver Oxide Zinc (AgOZn) batteries. It has a maximum speed of 40 knots, a range of 21.6 nautical miles and can dive to 400 meters. Like most modern torpedoes, it is wire-guided with active-passive acoustic homing. According to local media reports, it features GPS guidance as well.


Is the company who make it a state owned one or private owned one bro ??

Does Indian law has regulation to set aside the defense budget for R&D at some percentage of point from total budget like how Singapore law does ?

India has no such law/regulation. Simply what RnD area is prioritized gets funding and its done external to official defense budget* .....and it comes to whatever number it does as %.

This company (BDL) is state owned i.e PSU.


*But that stuff does get included in lot of international military spending comparison etc where RnD is included for everyone.
 

kaykay

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So far 40 km (21.6 nm) is the number given for max range...it was an original requirement iirc.


The torpedo is powered by an electric propulsion system with multiple 250 KWs Silver Oxide Zinc (AgOZn) batteries. It has a maximum speed of 40 knots, a range of 21.6 nautical miles and can dive to 400 meters. Like most modern torpedoes, it is wire-guided with active-passive acoustic homing. According to local media reports, it features GPS guidance as well.




India has no such law/regulation. Simply what RnD area is prioritized gets funding and its done external to official defense budget* .....and it comes to whatever number it does as %.

This company (BDL) is state owned i.e PSU.


*But that stuff does get included in lot of international military spending comparison etc where RnD is included for everyone.
Interestingly Takshak torpedoes ( sub launch variant of it) will get 300 kw batteries instead of 250 kw batteries of Varunastra ship launch ones ( this one)
If that can improve performance in some way. Just saying.
 

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Interestingly Takshak torpedoes ( sub launch variant of it) will get 300 kw batteries instead of 250 kw batteries of Varunastra ship launch ones ( this one)
If that can improve performance in some way. Just saying.

Yes this will be important to take to submarine launch environment...as there is higher power req. there.

AFAIK the HWT tender for scorpene will be finalised/selected soon, but it is going to be imported from France (F21) or Germany (DM2A4)....given takshak maturity will take some time longer.

This was from scrapping of original (Italian) Black Shark selection due to finmeccanica blacklisting (AgustaWestland scandal) etc.

Takshak will be matured when more hulls regd SSBN and SSN come though. That would be the larger objective anyway I think.
 

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With Japanese had opening their arms export, why not taking a look at their solution
 

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With Japanese had opening their arms export, why not taking a look at their solution
It's an open tender. The Japs need to find a local partner and submit their bid
 

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The MTC Structure

The MTC structure is proposed to integrate the assets of Indian Navy, Army, IAF and Coast Guard to achieve the goals detailed out in the Joint Forces Doctrine of 2017.

Aim

“The aim here is to synergize the three-component viz. naval, air and ground forces to form a Netcentric Warfare model so as to gain an advantage over the adversary using a flexible force structure to match the varied geographic domains. MTC shall compose of Army’s amphibious brigades which are already centered on coastal areas of Port Blair and Thiruvananthapuram. The other component are the IAF units and the Coast Guard,” according to Milind Kulshreshtha.

The IAF provides the maritime coverage for Indian Navy using the Jaguars based at Jamnagar, with Su-30MKIs and Tejas based at Thanjavur. According to the study, the Navy proposes to create service verticals so as to allow operational execution of tasks to be handled by specialists themselves. Coast Guard units always held a close association with Indian Navy since inception, even though in the reporting structure it is responsible directly to the Defence Minister. Coast Guard possesses its own maritime sea-going vessels and aviation components. In any case, post 26/11 terrorism incident, the Indian Navy was designated as the principal authority for complete maritime security of India in order to fill the gaps in roles and responsibilities.

Will the implementation process of MTC be easy?

No. According to the C4I expert, “The implementation of MTC surely shall not be a smooth sailing due to various reasons inherent in every military organisation world over. It is not a mere exercise of re-naming and re-designation of Roles and Responsibilities but the creation of a functional matrix targeted at achieving the highest military proficiency.”

Sharing his view, Mr Kulshreshtha says, “The traditional Command structure had evolved from the warfare tactics of the past and was a time tested approach. Therefore, the re-structure process of Indian Armed forces has to be implemented very carefully since we have ongoing border hostility with China and Pakistan. Various vagaries of inter-services rivalries and lack of resources should be well addressed, at all times respecting the expertise of each of the service arms. But additionally, the technological framework for seamless flow of combat information exchange amongst the three service components under MTC shall be the essential factor to achieve the desired operational efficiency. Indian Navy is well placed to undertake these responsibilities due to being already technologically advance and possessing its own three-dimensional arms viz, aircraft, warships and submarines.”

(More at link)
 

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Chennai: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), Kolkata, in an impressive ceremony, laid the keel of the 2nd Survey Vessel (Large) (Yard 3026) at Kattupalli, Chennai. The Virtual Keel Laying ceremony was performed in the august presence of Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar AVSM, NM, Chief Hydrographer to the Govt. of India. The ceremony was also attended by Rear Admiral VK Saxena, IN (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, other Directors and other senior officials from Indian Navy and the Shipyard.

The ship is part of the Survey Vessels (Large) project won by GRSE in a competitive bidding process in Oct 18 for an order value of Rs. 2435.15 crore. The 1st ship is to be constructed within 36 months from contract signing date with a project completion time of 54 months. Part construction of this ship is being carried out at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli. After launching, the ship will be shifted to GRSE, Kolkata for outfitting, trials and delivery.

The vessel is 110m long with a deep displacement of 3300 Tons and can accommodate 231 personnel. The vessel is designed for a cruising speed of 16 knots with an in-house GRSE’s Hull Form Design which imparts a superior level of operational efficiency. The Hull form of these new generations Survey Vessel also meets the stringent seakeeping and manoeuvring requirements including Helicopter Operations at high sea states.

The design of the ship by GRSE’s in-house Design Unit accorded “Centre of Excellence” Unit status by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology is a significant step in “Make in India” initiative of the Govt. of India. With their State-of-the-Art “Survey Payload” comprising of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Multi Beam Echo Sounders etc, these Survey Ships would prove to be a game changer in the Indian Navy’s Capabilities for Coastal and Deepwater Hydrographic Surveys aiding Maritime Operations. In their auxiliary role, they will be capable of performing limited search and rescue, limited ocean research and operate as hospital ship/ casualty holding ships.

GRSE continues to be the epitome of indigenous design and construction of warships. Recently, following the call for “Atmanirbharta”, a state-of-the-art Modern Hull Block Complex and Indigenous Underwater CNC Plasma Cutting Facility were virtually inaugurated by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri. Rajnath Singh at the RBD Unit of GRSE, to augment the existing infrastructure at the Main Unit of the Shipyard. GRSE’s strategies revolve around shifting to smart manufacturing or Industry 4.0 with innovations in Automation, Robotics and the Industrial Internet of Things.

GRSE presently has a strong order book of over Rs 26,000 crores and is currently executing three major shipbuilding projects, namely the P17A Project for 3 Advanced Stealth Frigates, 4 Survey Vessels (Large) and 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts. The 1st P17A Ship is expected to be launched in Dec this year, well ahead of schedule. GRSE delivered the Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ICGS Kanaklata Barua, the 105th Warship delivered by the Shipyard, to the Indian Coast Guard in June 2020, despite challenges in operations in a manpower-intensive industry during pandemic times thus reaffirming our motto “Infinite Passion meets Unwavering Commitment”. The Shipyard also plans to deliver two more warships in the coming months.
 

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As per several sources, The Indian Navy in an advanced stage of negotiations to take one squadron strength of American-made F-18 jets. Under the newly introduced Defense ministry leasing guidelines, the Indian Navy is looking to lease several platforms. Including, light utility helicopters for its logistical needs among others. The Navy is looking to fill vital gaps in the frontline warships by urgently leasing 12-18 helicopters from foreign vendors.

Amid the ongoing border row between India and China, last month Navy leased two Sea Guardian drones from the American giant General Atomics for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance over the Indian Ocean. A possible lease of 15-18 units of FA-18 Block III or one squadron multirole fighter jets is under advanced stages of negotiation. Could be operated from the Indian Aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and under trails INS Vikrant IAC. Though there are no official confirmations, there are no smokes without fire.

Boeing has been flying a F/A-18E/F Super Hornet off a ground-based ski jump at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. This is part of a demonstration effort for the Indian Navy to show that the aircraft can operate from short take-off but arrested recovery configured (STOBAR) aircraft carriers, such as the INS Vikramaditya and the future INS Vikrant.

F-18 ski-jump demonstration program​

An Indian defense analyst who goes by the Twitter handle @hukum2082 was first to reveal this flight testing, which was then picked up by another Indian analyst, Saurabh Joshi, in another series of tweets, on Aug. 19, 2020. The Chicago-headquartered plane maker subsequently confirmed that this ski jump demonstration program is presently taking place at Patuxent River, though it is not clear when exactly it began. The naval air station has a ground-based ski jump that it used during testing of the short and vertical takeoff and landing capable F-35B variant of the Joint Strike Fighter.





Twitter handle user @hukum2082 now claims that the Indian Navy in an advanced stage of procuring Boeing,s F-18 Block III. “Boeing and the U.S. Navy are in the beginning phases of operating a F/A-18 Super Hornet from a ski jump at Naval Air Station Patuxent River to demonstrate it is STOBAR compliant for the Indian Navy,” Justin Gibson, a Boeing spokesperson, told The War Zone. “Boeing completed the extensive analysis and more than 150 flight simulations on F/A-18 compatibility with Indian aircraft carriers, and while our assessment has shown the Block III Super Hornet is very capable of launching off a ski jump, this is the next step in demonstrating that capability. More details will be released upon the conclusion of the test demonstration.”

McDonnell Douglas F18 Legacy​

McDonnell Douglas, which developed the original F/A-18 Hornet and was subsequently acquired by Boeing. Had also previously conducted ski jump tests with that aircraft at the tail end of the Cold War. That testing showed that with as little as a nine-degree incline, the total required takeoff roll for the Hornet could be cut in half, though it’s unclear what the jet’s gross weight had to be to achieve this performance. Ski jumps generally increase the takeoff performance of combat jets in the absence of catapults and also provide an added margin of safety.

The Mighty F18​

The F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet is the world’s most lethal, advanced, combat-proven, multi-role frontline fighter-jet.

The Block III version which is currently being manufactured for the United States Navy will enable the Indian armed forces to challenge the next generation of adversaries. It can perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defense, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and buddy refueling.

Significant technology insertions in the form of advanced cockpit, new computing & advanced data link, conformal fuel tanks, increase airframe life, and ability to carry a wide variety of weapons makes F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet most lethal platform for Air Force and Navies of the world.

More than 700 F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets are in operation today. F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet will offer superior economics to the Indian armed forces in the form of low cost of acquisition, operations, and high mission readiness.

lethal-advanced-affordable-lo-res.jpg
boeing

Key Features​

  • Multi-role Superiority
    Capable of tactical strikes, air reconnaissance, air defense, and maritime roles
  • Cutting-edge Technologies
    Enhanced computing and data link, advanced cockpit system, signature improvements
  • Lifecycle Affordability
    Lowest cost per flight hour among all U.S. tactical fighter in production. High mission capability rates
  • Future Ready
    Unrivaled growth potential to complement future air wing capabilities
Sources: Boeing, Hukum, Wikipedia, The Drive, Social Media
 

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