IKB-DEF-MAR 26, 15 - Indicia Research & Advisory

Indicia Knowledge Brief
A Daily Assessment on Indian Defence and Internal/Homeland Security
March 26, 2015.
Primary aims of Indicia Daily Brief are two-fold. First, it distills infinite information into a
capsule form, thus saving precious time of its clients. Second, it tries to link micro-events
to larger strategic canvas through its analyses, thus providing support knowledge for
better understanding and decision-making.
Indicia Analysis of the Day
The Indian Navy has rightly flagged concern over the deployment of a
Chinese nuclear submarine for anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden that
transited through waters close to India. The navy’s assessment is that
probably a Shang-class Type T094 nuclear-powered boat, was capable of
"profiling the coastline."
The first two upgraded IAF Mirage 2000 combat jets were handed over to
the Indian authorities at a ceremony at the Dassault Aviation Flight Test
Centre at Istres in the south of France.
In an important move, India, the top global arms importer, is in talks to
export drones and spy equipment to the U.S. This has been held as a role
reversal.
I. National Defence and Security:
Navy rings China nuclear sub alarm:
The Indian Navy has flagged concern over the deployment of a Chinese nuclear
submarine for anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden that transited through
waters close to India. The navy has told the government that the submarine,
probably a Shang-class Type T094 nuclear-powered boat, was capable of
"profiling the coastline", a source in the Indian Navy has told The Telegraph. The
SSN (sub-surface nuclear) attack submarine was deployed from December 13,
2014, to February 14, 2015. The deployment of the submarine that joined a
Chinese task force of two frigates and a fleet supply ship just for counter-piracy
does not make operational sense, the navy has pointed out. An SSBN (subsurface ballistic nuclear) submarine - that also forms part of the Chinese PLAN
(People's Liberation Army Navy) fleet - transiting the same route as the SSN
would have brought India within range of a missile, the navy reported to the
government. An SSBN, unlike an SSN, is both nuclear-powered and equipped to
launch nuclear-tipped missiles. The Chinese task force was also joined by a
research vessel capable of bathymetric studies - mapping the depth of the ocean
floors. The Indian Navy has told the government the Chinese may have been
conducting hydrological studies in India's western seaboard. But the navy said it
did not spot the Chinese boats in Indian territorial waters. The ships formed part
of the Chinese PLAN flotilla called the 18th convoy fleet from its South Sea Fleet.
The Indian Navy had been studying the Chinese counter-piracy deployment since
2008. Even the US Navy - the largest expeditionary force of its kind in the world was impressed by the PLAN's deployment. The Indian Navy has now responded
by prolonging the deployment of its own frigates in counter-piracy patrols. While
the practice was to recall each ship after a month's deployment, the navy has
now prolonged the deployment of its warships to three months. Nuclearpowered submarines are capable of staying submerged for much longer periods
than conventional diesel-electric submarines that have to surface every two or
three days to recharge batteries. The longer a submarine remains underwater,
the more undetectable it is. The deployment of the Chinese SSN submarine
followed objections from India after a Chinese conventional submarine had
docked in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, in September last year. India views Sri
Lanka as a strategic partner and it's support to a Chinese military asset was
frowned-upon by New Delhi. PLAN's 18th convoy fleet returned to its homeport
in Guangdog over the weekend after a seven-month deployment and another
flotilla - the 19th convoy fleet - has set sail to continue with the anti-piracy
patrols off the Horn of Africa.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150325/jsp/frontpage/story_10739.jsp#.VRN12_mUe5U
*
First two upgraded IAF Mirage 2000 jets delivered to India:
The first two upgraded IAF Mirage 2000 combat jets were on March 25 handed
over to the Indian authorities at a ceremony at the Dassault Aviation Flight Test
Centre at Istres in the south of France. The aircraft were received by Indian
Ambassador Arun K. Singh at a ceremony also attended by Dassault Aviation
Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier and Thales Executive Vice President (Defence
Mission Systems) Pierre Eric Pommellet. The contract for the upgrade of Mirage
2000 fleet was signed in July 2011. “The maiden flight of the first upgraded
Mirage 2000 was completed successfully by Dassault Aviation on October 5,
2013, following a two year development phase dedicated to the equipment kit
provided by Thales including the radar, the electronic warfare suite and the
mission computer,” a joint statement from the two companies said. “Today’s
ceremony is the result of the excellent understanding between the Indian and
French partners and of our commitment to India,” Trappier said while speaking
on the occasion. Noting that India was Dassault Aviation’s first export client, he
said “the historical relationship we nurtured with the Indian Air Force has
spanned 60 years, growing from strength to strength”. Dassault is also the
manufacturer of the Rafale fighter that the IAF has chosen after a comprehensive
selection process for a medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA). Pointing
out that over 40 of the IAF's Mirage 2000s would be upgraded in India,
Pommellet said this would make the government's Make in India initiative
“something concrete and real”. “Thales has been operating in India since 1953
and employs 300 people across the country. We are trusted partners of the
Indian armed forces and have developed a strong local supply chain which
helped us to make the upgrade of the Mirage 2000 a real success story,”
Pommellet added.
Source: http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=306738
*
7 Indian Navy aircraft disasters in the last decade:
Nurturing pilots and maintaining aircrafts play a crucial role in the strength of a
country's defence systems. Hence, it's a huge setback when an aircraft crashes
and is also an irrecoverable loss for the families of the brave pilots. The Indian
Air Force has suffered several crashes over the years, with the MiG jets being the
culprits in most of these cases. The Indian Navy too has see some such crashes in
the past. Here is a list of the incidents that have cost the Indian Navy over the
years.
1. May 6, 2005 - A Chetak helicopter crashed near Chennai killing all three crew
members. According to police reports, the helicopter's rotor blades had
developed a snag.
2. August 19, 2005 - A Kamov-28, Navy's Submarine hunter helicopter crashed
near Belgaum in Karnataka. Four out of six personnel onboard were killed in the
crash. Naval officer Sandeep Singh was found after four days and another crew
member Beant Singh went missing.
3. November 11, 2006 - Five naval officers miraculously survived after crash
landing in a paddy field.
4. March 25, 2009 - Naval Chopper crash landed into the Arabian Sea near the
Goa shores. Three people on the aircraft survived the crash. It was again a
Kamov-28 chopper used in anti-submarine warfare.
5. June 2, 2010 - On a routine training, a Chetak Helicopter crashed near
Anakapalli. Three crew members miraculously escaped but a sailor on board,
Krishna Kumar, was not so fortunate when the chopper touched a high tension
wire as it was crashing into the river.
6. March 5, 2013 - Another Chetak crashed in the sea off INS Dega,
Vishakhapatnam. The crash killed commander Krishna Kumar.
7. March 24, 2015 - A Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft crashed at around
11 pm in the night. Pilot Cdr Nikhil Joshi has been rescued while the other two
on-board are still missing.
Source:
2071803
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-7-indian-navy-aircraft-disasters-in-the-last-decade-
*
Indian Navy commissions 3 Immediate Support Vessels at
Eastern Naval Command:
The Indian Navy on March 24 commissioned the second batch of three
Immediate Support Vessels (ISVs) at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) base.
Two of the vessels were built by Rodman Spain and the other one by Abu Dhabi
Ship Builders (ADSB). The project is a joint collaboration between Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd, Ship Builders, and the Indian Navy. A base
for the 84th ISV squadron will be set up in the city. Speaking on the occasion,
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC, Satish Soni said these vessels were
delivered at Mumbai naval dockyard.Later, they sailed almost 1,200 nautical
miles from Mumbai to Visakhapatnam. He said the ISVs proved their sturdiness
by successfully crossing the Gulf of Mannar facing strong winds and high seas.
Besides being armed with heavy machine guns (HMGs), state-of-the-art radar
and navigation system, the ves sels are fitted with two caterpillar engines of
1,600 MHP each to provide water jet propulsion, which helps the vessels gain a
high speed of 40 knots and an endurance of 500 nautical miles. These ships are
capable of carrying out day and night surveillance and can be used for rapid
insertions or extraction of MARCOS for military intervention. He said the
induction and deployment of these ships will augment the ongoing efforts to
bolster coastal security and provide protection to offshore assets from
asymmetric threats. These ships will enhance Indian Navy's capability in
furthering its mandate of maritime safety and security over the offshore
development areas on the Eastern Sea Board.
Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-Navy-commissions-3-Immediate-SupportVessels-at-Eastern-Naval-Command/articleshow/46683600.cms
*
Stealth submarines upgraded for India could hit targets at sea
and on land:
Russian-built Varshavyanka (or Kilo class stealth) submarines, upgraded for
India, could hit not only vessels, but also targets on land with cruise missiles,
experts said. The modernization would also involve the submarines’ avionics.
After an upgrade, the Russian-made Indian ‘Varshavyanka’ submarines of Project
877 EKM will be able to strike not only vessels, but also ground targets with
cruise missiles, Igor Vilnit, CEO of the CDB ME “Rubin” that designed the
submarines, said. He also said the possibilities of the strike missile complex ClubS, installed on these submarines, would be expanded, reports TASS. Russia offers
to help repair India’s Kilo class submarines “After the modernization, ships of
877EKM project will be able to use two types of missiles - 3M-54E against naval
targets and 3M-14E against ground targets,” - Vilnit said. In addition, the
modernization process would involve part of the submarines' avionics. “In some
cases, the Indian side installs their own equipment. The architecture of the ship
allows for it, as it has a substantial modernization potential,” the head of “Rubin”
said. The Russian ‘Varshavyanka’ stealth submarines, which are being built
under project 636.3 for the Black Sea Fleet, is a further development of the
project 877EKM. These submarines have been significantly upgraded and
equipped with the latest weapon systems, electronics and acoustics for the
Russian Navy. In August last year, Andrey Baranov, “Rubin” deputy director of
foreign trade and military-technical cooperation, reported that Russia has
decided to offer assistance to India as reparation for all non-nuclear submarines.
This is the second repair and extension of service life of nine diesel-electric
submarines of Project 877 EKM, Baranov explained. ....
Source:
http://in.rbth.com/economics/2015/03/24/stealth_submarines_upgraded_for_india_could_hit_targets_at_s
ea_and__42171.html
*
India Said to Plan Army Drone Exports to U.S. in Role Reversal:
India, the top global arms importer, is in talks to export drones and spy
equipment to the U.S. and its allies as the world’s largest democracies boost
security ties, two Indian defense officials with knowledge of the matter said.
AeroVinronment Inc.’s Raven drone and Lockheed Martin Corp.’s ‘Roll On-Roll
Off’ kits, which turn jumbo transport jets into surveillance aircraft, are set to be
made in India and sold overseas, according to the officials, who asked not to be
identified because the discussions were confidential. The drones and
surveillance hardware are two of four defense technologies the U.S. agreed to
jointly produce in India, a deal reached during President Barack Obama’s trip to
New Delhi in January. India’s market for both items is limited, so exports would
make production viable, the officials said. The U.S. is boosting joint production
with India to profit from its $150 billion modernization plan and help it counter
China’s growing military capabilities. The deals also help Prime Minister
Narendra Modi create manufacturing jobs and reduce India’s reliance on arms
imports. The arrangement is “a win-win for both India and the U.S.,” said Surya
Gangadharan, a security analyst in New Delhi who has written about India’s
defense industry for more than 20 years. “As long as we can leverage this
relationship to counter China in whichever way possible, it is going to be useful.”
The Raven is a lightweight, hand-launched drone used by about 20 countries for
intelligence gathering. While India has just six C-130J transport aircraft, more
than 300 of the planes are in use in about a dozen countries.
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-24/india-said-to-plan-army-drone-exportsto-u-s-in-role-reversal
*
Indian Army chief to attend inaugural UN meet on peacekeeping:
Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag will attend an inaugural UN
conference on peacekeeping operations later this week that will bring together
the defence chiefs of UN member states. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will
open the first ‘Chiefs of Defence Conference’ organised by the Departments of
Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support on March 27. India, the largest
contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping operations, will be represented by Gen
Suhag. While Pakistan’s Army Chief General Raheel Sharif was originally
scheduled to participate in the conference, sources told PTI that he would not be
attending the meet and will be represented by one of his corps commanders.
India has contributed more than 180,000 peacekeepers in 44 UN peacekeeping
missions so far and has lost 158 of its soldiers in these missions, the highest by
any country, serving in the line of duty....
Source:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/indian-army-chief-to-attend-inaugural-unmeet-on-peacekeeping/
*
Navy Chief Dhowan Rushes to Goa to Monitor Search
Operations:
Navy chief Admiral RK Dhowan rushed for Goa naval base on March 25 morning
to supervise the search and rescue operation being underway to locate two
missing Naval officers after their Dornier surveillance aircraft crashed on late
March 24 night. Navy chief RK Dhowan is also expected to meet family members
of the missing naval officers. According to Navy officials, Dornier, which was on
routine training sortie lost its contact at around 10:08 pm and its last known
position was was 25 nautical miles south South- West Goa. In accident, one naval
pilot was rescued and full scale seach and rescue operation was launched to
locate two more officers (one pilot and an observer). So far, navy has launched
nine of its warships including INS Satpura, INS Betwa, INS Subhadra, INS Koruva,
INS Kondul, INS Makkar and INS Matanga and a Indian Coast Guard ship Amal.
Dornier aircraft, produced by the Defence PSU HAL, has been known for its
incident free track record. Indian navy and coast guard have increased its
surveillance on the western coast after an incident of a Pakistan terror boat
made an attempt to sneak into Porabnader coastline. But after being
intercepted, four occupants of the terror boat blew themselves. In November,
Navy lost its four personnel including an Officer after torpedo recovery vessel
sank off the coast of Visakhapatnam. Naval headquarters has ordered a Board of
Inquiry to establish reasons behind the Dornier crash which led to missing of
two naval officers
Source:
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Navy-Chief-Dhowan-Rushes-to-Goa-to-MonitorSearch-Operations/2015/03/25/article2729594.ece
II
Homeland Security
*
Maoist Papers Reveal Bid to Expand Turf in TN, Kerala:
Maoist underground literature seized by security forces reveals ultras expansion
plans in Sahyadri mountain range at the tri-junction of Kerala-Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu. The seized document claimed that Western Ghats Special Zonal
Committee (WGSZC) also carried out politico-military campaign from November
2014 to January 2015 to open a new war front in the southern states and to carry
out propaganda for future recruitment. Intelligence agencies had earlier warned
about ultras shifting to tri-junction areas to strengthen the naxalites base in
Malappuram, Wynad and Kannur, the three districts of Kerala. But, the 5-page
details in underground literature ‘People’s March’ on tri-junction claimed that
WGSZC’s “Urban Action Team” have also launched propaganda in the urban
centres to tap sympathizers and underground Maoists supporters. A Home
Ministry official said Maoists may have floated some front organisations in the
region to carry out ‘urban propaganda’ and whenever such reports were
received, appropriate action was taken by the authorities. The Maoists document
for the first time admitted that its ‘southern expansion plan’ that was earlier
launched a decade ago to penetrate in three states had miserably failed due to
major offensive and counter operations by vigilant forces of Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka and Kerala. It also admitted that several senior naxalites were killed
in the operations that also inflicted severe damage to its movement in the trijunction region. However, it says, the ultras have learned the mistakes while
reviewing the experiences and now they have pooled all its capacities in the
three southern states. It maintained that combing by Kerala-Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka Police in tri-junction forests created hurdles but they were successful
in inter-linking of squad areas in the region despite offensive. The document
admitted that Maoists plan to strengthen its base across the Sahyadri range was
hit by the two-pronged strategy of development and security operations. It
admitted that reform measures have been speeded up.
Source:
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Maoist-Papers-Reveal-Bid-to-Expand-Turf-in-TNKerala/2015/03/26/article2730573.ece
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