US admiral plays down reports of floating Gulf base

WASHINGTON, February 1 - A top US admiral has denied media reports that an aging warship will be serving as a floating base for special forces in the Gulf, saying the vessel would instead be used to help clear mines.  The USS Ponce, a 1970s-era amphibious transport ship, is undergoing an overhaul to support naval forces in the Middle East, said Admiral John Harvey, US Fleet Forces command chief, told reporters Tuesday. But its primary mission is not to serve as a "mothership" for elite commandos, as reported by the Washington Post and other news outlets. "I think they put two and two together and got 22," Harvey said when asked about the reports. "It is not going over there as a special operating forces 'Deathstar ...Galactica' coming through the Gulf," Harvey said, referring to a sci-fi television series. The upgrades to the USS Ponce grew out of a standing request from US Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, to help with efforts against potential mines in the Gulf, Harvey said. Iran has threatened to shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US and European sanctions. In the 1980s, Tehran relied on mines to disrupt shipping in the area during its war with Iraq. The Ponce can carry MH-53 helicopters and support patrol craft, the admiral said. Such aircraft and vessels are often used by special forces. Confusion about the Ponce's mission may have been the result of a call for private bids to carry out the improvements to the ship, he said. The procurement documents included references to upgrades that would make some spaces accessible to special operations forces. Harvey said the revamped Ponce should be ready to sail to the Gulf by June.

The Navy hopes to develop a new line of ships in the coming years that would serve as floating bases, and the altered Ponce could serve as a "bridge" to the new vessels, Harvey said. Source: AFP

Indian Defence Minister to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar

Indian Defence Minister to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar

Posted on: May 06, 2011

As part of India’s efforts to increase bilateral defence cooperation in the Gulf region, Indian Defence Minister A. K. Anthony will be heading for Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week. This will be the first visit by the Defence Minister to both the countries and his delegation will include Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. A. S. Lamba and other senior defence officials.

The three-day visit by Indian Defence Minister will begin with Saudi Arabia where the Indian delegation will hold meetings with top Saudi Arabian leaders to try and increase the scope of defence interactions through military trainings as well as technical exchanges.

Incidentally, 10 bilateral agreements including a defence pact were signed between the two countries in November 2008 during the Indian Prime Minster’s visit. The second stop will be Doha in Qatar where issues pertaining to bilateral exchanges as well as other regional security issues will be discussed. It is felt that India and Qatar can play a major role in maintaining permanent peace in the Indian Ocean.

In the past few years, India has enhanced its military ties with both Saudi Arabia and Qatar with bilateral visits and exchange programmers. The current visit by the Defence Minister will also look into the measures for anti-piracy in the region. The Indian Navy had earlier suggested joint patrolling of the Arabian Sea to ward-off piracy and has remarked that the Saudi navy is one of the best in the world. Saudi Arabia also is part of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium initiative by India, which sought to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the world. The Indian delegation will also discuss the possibility of joint naval and military exercises with Saudi Arabia.

Apparently, Vice Chief of the Indian army (retd. 2010), Lt. Gen. Milan Naidu had visited Riyadh and met the commanders of land and air defense forces and the chairman of the committee on security affairs last year. This resulted in greater synergy between the two nations and heightened cooperation in the fields of training, technical assistance and military hardware. An agreement was also reached to hold joint military exercises in Saudi Arabia with the Royal Saudi Land Force

http://www.defencenow.com/news/167/indian-defence-minister-to-visit-saudi-arabia-qatar.html

Indian and Saudi Arabia defence cooperation

India and Saudi Arabia to Conduct Joint Naval and Military Exercises and Help Eliminate Piracy

Posted on: April 06, 2011

India is taking diplomatic steps to ensure greater cooperation in the Middle East with its latest plan to hold joint naval and military exercises with Saudi Arabia. The process of increasing defence ties with Saudi Arabia will be corroborated by the Indian Defence Minister, A.K.Anthony’s planned visit to Saudi Arabia this month.

While India and Saudi Arabia have fomented strategic geo-political and defence ties over the years, a much more substantial approach in the area of maritime cooperation is aimed for mutual benefit besides augmenting other military capabilities. Recently, the Indian Navy’s Vice Admiral K.N. Sushil had described the Saudi Arabia’s Navy as one of the finest in the world and called them to join hands in warding off piracy in Arabian Sea region. Saudi Arabia also is part of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium initiative by India which aims to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the world.

According to sources, the Indian Army has agreed to hold joint military exercises in Saudi Arabia with the Royal Saudi Land Force. In fact, there are talks of India establishing a mountain warfare training school to help Riyadh improve their offensive and defensive capabilities. Hopefully, all these issues will be taken up during the two day visit by Indian Defence Minister.

India and Saudi Arabia have been interacting regularly to improve strategic ties and last year, the Vice Chief of the Indian Army, Lt. Gen. Milan Naidu, visited Riyadh and met the commanders of land and air defense forces besides other dignitaries. Even the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Riyadh and there has been enhanced interaction and better cooperation in the fields of training, technical assistance and military hardware ever since.

Currently, the threat and disruption cause by piracy has become the main reason for sustaining joint military ties between India and Saudi Arabia and the need to have a collective strategy and resources. As of now, 14 navies of the world are conducting anti-piracy patrols along the Somali coast and India and Saudi Arabia will be contributing to ward off this terror.

At present, naval ship INS Tir is currently anchored at the port of Jubail along with the INS Krishna and ICGS Veera as part of a goodwill visit to Saudi Arabia. Indian Navy Vice Admiral K.N. Sushil has called for joint and sustained efforts to eliminate piracy off the coast of Somalia. This will affirm India’s presence and interest in the region of Arabian Ocean. Since both countries have mutual interest in security considering the threat perception from neighbouring countries as well as from piracy, it is natural that they are aiming at training programs and joint exercises and dialogue at different levels on issues from which both nations can benefit.

http://www.defencenow.com/news/135/india-and-saudi-arabia-to-conduct-joint-naval-and-military-exercises-and-help-eliminate-piracy.html

Indian and Saudi Arabian Defence Cooperation

India, Saudi Arabia Agree to Set Up Panel for Defence Cooperation

Posted on: February 16, 2012

To provide a boost to their fledgling defence ties, India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to set up a joint committee that will look at ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.

This was agreed to by Saudi Defence Minister Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and Indian Defence Minister AK Antony during the latter's two-day visit to Riyadh Monday and Tuesday.

The committee will work out the contours of the bilateral relationship in the defence sphere.

Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz met Antony in the presence of his deputy Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz. This was the first time an Indian Defence Minister was in Saudi Arabia on an official visit. 

"To give a boost to the defence ties between the two countries, India and Saudi Arabia have decided to set up a Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation to work out the contours of the relationship. The decision was taken at the delegation level talks between the two countries in Riyadh," Indian defence ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said.

Antony had Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, Indian Army vice chief Lt. Gen. S.K. Singh and Indian Navy deputy chief Vice Admiral Satish Soni as part of his delegation to Saudi Arabia.

The proposed joint panel will evolve plans for cooperation in numerous areas of defence cooperation, including high level reciprocal visits at the political, official and the three armed forces levels, ship visits and conducting passage exercises during such port calls.

Among the possibilities thought of at the talks are signing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in hydrography, increased participation of both sides in training programs, and examine the possibility of cooperation in defence industries.

Antony's suggestion for a Saudi Arabian delegation to visit India to study Indian defence production facilities was agreed to by Prince Salman, as also an invitation from Antony to visit India later this year. 

The two sides expressed concern at the spread of piracy in the Indian Ocean region.

India suggested that the navies of the two countries should explore practical cooperation in the fight against piracy and that the Royal Saudi Navy play an active role in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) construct. The Saudi defence minister agreed. 

Earlier, Antony had met Saudi King Abdullah Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, who offered to increase its export of crude oil to India. "King Abdullah offered all assistance, including additional supply of crude oil, should India require the same. He expressed eagerness to strengthen relations with India," the spokesperson said. 

During the 30-minute meeting, the two leaders also expressed satisfaction over the enhanced cooperation in strategic relations, especially in security, defence, economic and political fields, according Kar, who accompanied the Indian minister.

http://www.defencenow.com/news/531/india-saudi-arabia-agree-to-set-up-panel-for-defence-cooperation.html

Indian Defence Minister visit Saudi Arabia

Defence Minister Antony’s Debut Saudi Arabia Visit to Build Defence Ties Starts Today

Posted on: February 13, 2012

India’s defence ties with the Arab world are set to escalate as the Indian Defence Minister AK Antony embarks on a 2-day visit to Saudi Arabia today. This will be the first-ever visit by the Defence Minister to Riyadh and he will be accompanied by a high-level military delegation including the deputy head of the Indian Army and Defense Secretary. He will hold meetings with top Saudi Ministers and other political leaders with the aim of holding a security dialogue to provide thrust to the two countries' defence cooperation.

During the Saudi visit, Antony will hold crucial discussions with his counterpart, Prince Salman-bin-Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, besides meeting other senior government members. Both nations are keen to heighten their defence ties and chalk out areas of mutual benefits. Indian and Saudi Arabian defence cooperation includes training exchanges, ship visits and high-level visits by senior officials. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia is one of the largest suppliers of oil to India and India is a leading trade partner.

In February 2011, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh undertook a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia. While the Indian Defence Minister Antony was also slated to visit Saudi Arabia the same year, the unrest in the middle-east with the Arab spring made him cancel the visit. While joint military exercises and training takes place between the two sides, a formal defence cooperation agreement is yet to materialize. The military cooperation between the two countries is also expected to include training Saudi Arabian forces tackle terrorism in the mountainous areas bordering Yemen. 

Meanwhile, since Saudi Arabia is part of the Indian Ocean Naval initiative, the increase in maritime cooperation Indian Navy is also inevitable. Both naval forces have been cooperating with bilateral port visits as also in the anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. India has already exchanged visits of its service chiefs and naval ships while Saudi officers have participated in the training programs at National Defence College as well in the past. 

The high-level delegation led by the Indian Defence Minister will include Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, Vice-Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General S K Singh, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Satish Soni and Air Vice Marshal M R Pawar. With greater cooperation in regional affairs and trade, the defence ties are also expected to be stepped up after this visit. A concrete defence roadmap is expected to be finalized with a formal pact for defence cooperation is also on the agenda.

http://www.defencenow.com/news/520/defence-minister-antonys-debut-saudi-arabia-visit-to-build-defence-ties-starts-today.html

Indian Team Visits Russia to Finalize Exercise Indra-2012 Between the two Armies

Indian Team Visits Russia to Finalize Exercise Indra-2012 Between the two Armies

Posted on: February 08, 2012

India and Russia are currently finalizing the details of their joint military exercise called INDRA-2012 which will take place in Russia in the middle of this year. A high-level Indian delegation visited Russia earlier this week to discuss the details of the exercise and has surveyed the terrain where the joint exercises will be held. 

The Indian military delegation was in Ulan Ude where they were received by top military officials in Russia’s Eastern Military District. The Indian Army troops will head for Russia in a few months to participate in INDRA-2012 exercise between the two armies. The INDRA-2012 exercise will unfold many tactical exercises by both the armies which include the use of state-of-the-art technology. Both armies will share battle experiences, tactics and techniques of combat in hostile situations.

India and Russia have conducted five of the INDRA-series joint ground and naval exercises since 2003 and the last one was held between in India in October 2010. Last year,  Russia cancelled both INDRA-series ground and naval exercises despite an earlier announcement by the Russian General Staff that INDRA drills may be held every year and involve three branches of the armed forces. The naval exercise between the navies was cancelled since Russia had sent its ships for rescue operations in Tsunami-hit Japan.

Indian Army will hold around 15 military exercises this year with friendly foreign countries. The Indian Army stated that it will be engaging in a host of joint military drills with top nations such as US, Russia, France and neighborhood countries such as Singapore, Indonesia and Bangladesh.  To begin with, India is engaging with armies of Singapore and Indonesia in war games to gain experience in counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations. A platoon-level 22-day exercise consisting of 30 troops would be held with the Indonesian Army at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Mizoram from February 12 this year.  Following that, 'Bold Kurukshetra' with Singapore Army will be initiated in Jhansi, India in March. The two sides will field their mechanised forces in the training engagement.  

The Indian Army troopers will also engage the US mechanised forces in the deserts of Rajasthan in the exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' in March this year. For the first time in Indo-US war games, the US will deploy their tanks outside their country and will also deploy around 200 men accompanied by armoured personnel carriers for the war games.  In the previous ‘Yudh Abhyas’ in 2009, US brought its Stryker infantry armoured vehicles outside of its operational area to a foreign country. India is planning similar exercises with the armies of France as well.

http://www.defencenow.com/news/506/indian-team-visits-russia-to-finalize-exercise-indra-2012-between-the-two-armies.html

India-Sri Lanka Defence Interactions

India-Sri Lanka Defence Interactions to Rise after the Inaugural Defence Dialogue

Posted on: February 03, 2012

In the recently concluded Annual Defence Dialogue, India and Sri Lanka have discussed areas of bilateral defence cooperation and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region. The inaugural Annual Defence Dialogue was chaired by Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and his Indian counterpart Shashikant Sharma co-chaired the meeting. Delegates from both nations as well as Defence Ministry officials and member of the Armed Forces were also a part of this meet in New Delhi.

While various issues relating to bilateral defence interactions came up for discussion, the regional security situation including issues of maritime security in the Indian Ocean region dominated the inaugural Annual Defence Dialogue. The two Defence Secretaries extensively reviewed the state of their defence cooperation and agreed to strengthen their current defence ties, especially in the field of training and service exchanges. 

The Sri Lankan delegation comprised Defence Secretary Rajapaksa who was assisted by Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam and senior officials of the Sri Lankan Army, Navy, Air Force and Police. Both the Defence Secretaries also held a meeting with India's Defence Minister A.K. Antony in South Block. Defence Secretary Rajapaksa also met India's National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai. 

India and Sri Lanka have already held several exchange programs and exercises in the past and aim to enhance the importance of defence and security in the Indian Ocean Region. India and its defence establishment already offer training opportunities for officer cadets of Sri Lankan armed forces at the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Indian Military Academy (IMA) and other military institutions. 

India has been trying to reconsolidate defence ties with Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka in 2010. A high-level India-Sri Lanka talks were held in order to enhance the defence cooperation. India has been treading carefully to build its defence ties with Sri Lanka after 2010. During the time of the conflict, India had restricted military assistance to non-lethal aspects such as enhancing the Armed forces' maritime and aerial domain awareness. When Sri Lanka sought arms from other countries including Pakistan, New Delhi enabled Colombo to seal a $300 million armaments deal with its old ally Moscow. Even India has supplied two warships, hand-held missiles, air defense radar and other weaponry to the island nation in the past.

After India and Sri Lanka restored defence ties in 2010, they conducted joint naval exercises in September 2011. The six-day exercise, code named SLINEX-11 included 16 warships, the new stealth frigate INS Shivalik, a Rajput-class destroyer and a missile corvette from the Indian side. As for Sri Lanka, they showcased two large off-shore patrol vessels, one fast-missile vessel, two fast gun boats and six fast-attack craft. Since the inaugural defence dialogue in New Delhi has been a success, it has already been decided that the next annual defence dialogue meeting will be held in Colombo in January 2013.

http://www.defencenow.com/news/499/india-sri-lanka-defence-interactions-to-rise-after-the-inaugural-defence-dialogue.html

Indian Planned War exercises in 2012

India to Conduct About 20 War Exercises This Year with Top Nations and Neighbors

Posted on: January 31, 2012

India is all set to enhance its military ties with top nations and neighbors as it plans to hold around 20 bilateral wargames in 2012. These multi-national military-to-military exercises are aimed at sharpening the skills of the troops for operational preparedness and increasing interoperability. The wargames will involve top nations such as US, Russia, France and Britain besides the neighboring Indian countries.

Most of these wargames will focus on anti-insurgency and anti-terrorism operations since India has considerable experience in these areas. Besides, the diverse terrain of India and its highly experienced armed forces have always inspired other nations to indulge in such wargames. The first exercise this year will be with Singapore at Babina in Uttar Pradesh in March. During the India-Singapore exercise, to be called ‘Bold Kurukshetra’, both the nation’s mechanized forces along with tanks will be pitted in a mock battle in an urban scenario.

After the ‘Bold Kurukshetra’, the mechanized forces of the Indian Army will hold ‘Yudh Abhyas’ in Rajasthan this year, when they will both field their tanks and armoured personnel carrier. For the first time in Indo-US wargames, US will deploy their tanks in ‘Yudh Abhyas' scheduled to be held in the Mahajan field firing ranges in the Rajasthan desert in March. India will field its Russian-origin BMPs along with tanks for the wargame. 

Besides exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’, the Special Forces of India and the US will also test their skills in a mountain exercise codenamed 'Vajra Prahar in Chaubatia in Uttarakhand in August this year. The navies of the two countries are also scheduled to exercise with each other in 2012. Indian Infantry troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles regiment will also fly to California to engage their American counterparts in the Exercise Shatrujeet.

While similar exercises are planned with the armies of France and Russia, most other exercises are still being programmed while the venues and dates will be revealed soon. The other nations to join the exercises this year will be Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar, Australia, and Central Asian nations. 

Top global powers like US, Russia and the European nations are keen to extract from the reservoir of experience which the Indian troops have in terms of insurgency operations in the most hostile terrains. The Indian troops have braved it in the harshest environment including the high-altitude terrain of Jammu and Kashmir as well as jungles of the North eastern region. In 2011 too, India had held 16 military exercises with other friendly nations such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia. 

According to Indian Army officials, these exercises with the foreign armies are an indispensable way to further diplomatic military ties and helps inter-operability in the future. In 2011, India had held 16 military exercises with other friendly nations a few months back, India held its first ever army exercise with French Army called "Shakti-2011" at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand.

While most of the foreign nations are eager conduct joint exercises with India due to its varied terrains and the exemplary operational experience of the Indian armed forces, joint exercises with China are still to materialize due to its tumultuous defence relationship with India. As for joint exercises, India and China have held two such exercises in the last four years with the last exercise in 2009

http://www.defencenow.com/news/494/india-to-conduct-about-20-war-exercises-this-year-with-top-nations-and-neighbors.html

India's Coastal Security

India's Coastal Radar Chain By This Year-End

Posted on: February 16, 2012

India's post-Mumbai 26/11 terror strike plans to have a chain of radar stations as part of its coastal security apparatus will be ready along the peninsular mainland by the end of 2012 and those in the island territories by 2013, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Director General Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan has said.

"We have a chain of radar stations that have been set up for the entire coastal security network which will be ready at the end of this year along the mainland and early next year it will be ready in our island territories," Muralidharan said in Kolkata on India's east coast where he commissioned a new Inshore Patrol Vessel for the maritime security force INS Rajshree.

"Coastal security and sea-based piracy have emerged as concerns that demand rapid capacity and capability building of all maritime forces. What we can do is to enhance our presence in the sea by both naval (forces) as well as the Coast Guard. We have vessels which have been patrolling in the ocean and also we have the aircraft in the air which are continuously patrolling," he said.

The radar stations, Muralidharan said, will help the Coast Guard enhance surveillance to monitor vessels to counter sea-based piracy.

He noted that the Coast Guard was planning to increase its presence in the seas around India for safety and welfare of Indian fishermen.

"We are looking for more vessels...we are getting more units. In the next five years or so, we will reach some level," he said, pointing out that the Coast Guard would grow into a 150-vessel and over l00-aircraft maritime force by 2018.

"As of today, there are over 100 ships in various stages of construction both at the defence public shipyards and private shipyards across the country," he noted.

The long-delayed $133.75-million contract for coastal radars, to be put up by defence public sector Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) in collaboration with a foreign firm, was inked in September last year. The project envisages 36 coastal radars in the mainland, six in Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands, and four in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The plan is to have the radar chain for the mainland in a year and the island ones to become operational in another six months after that.

Apart from existing lighthouses on which the radars with electro-optic sensors will be installed, 13 towers are being constructed on the mainland for housing them. Under the Phase-II of the project, 45 additional radars will follow.

http://www.defencenow.com/news/530/indias-coastal-radar-chain-by-this-year-end.html

CAG Report Exposes Pitfalls in Naval Warship Projects and State-Run Shipyards

CAG Report Exposes Pitfalls in Naval Warship Projects and State-Run Shipyards

Posted on: March 24, 2011

The Indian Navy’s flagship projects, including the building of Shivalik class frigate, Kolkata class destroyer and Kamorta class anti-submarine warfare corvettes, have all attracted severe criticism with the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and its latest report tabled in the Parliament. 

CAG, a leading Indian audit watchdog, has exposed the almost farcical nature of these naval projects and the lack of foresight and synergy between the Defence Ministry, Indian Navy and the state-owned shipyards in carrying out crucial indigenous projects in the country. 

The latest CAG report points out that India’s plan to build indigenous warships have been constantly derailed by time and cost overruns. CAG has noted that the Shivalik project cost has gone up by 240 per cent and the Kolkata class destroyers have become costlier by 226 percent. In effect, these two projects are expected to cost $ 4.39 billion as opposed to the initial $ 1.29 billion. CAG has added that these colossal hikes have been the result of constant fiddling with the warship design besides the decrepit infrastructure and shoddy work culture of the public-sector shipyards. 

In fact, state-owned Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL) has been accused of including arbitrary costs arising from non-admissible items to the warship construction project, in turn causing unreasonable cost escalation. MDL has delivered only one frigate as opposed to the three it was supposed to deliver as per schedule. Both the major naval projects, including Project-17 to build three 4,900-tonne Shivalik-class stealth frigates and Project-15A to construct three 6,500-tonne Kolkata-class destroyers, are five years behind schedule at MDL.

The CAG report has indicated that Project-28 involving the construction of four 2,400-tonne anti-submarine warfare corvettes at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) at Kolkata is facing similar problems. Till date, only one frigate (INS Shivalik) has been commissioned as against the expected nine warships by August 2010.

The CAG report findings have highlighted the fact that cost escalation with the passage of time has not been taken into consideration. As a result, the actual costs of all these projects will be even higher since the projects are still in progress. Besides, the time-overrun will only have a negative impact on the Indian Navy since timely induction of crucial military assets will not occur. The CAG report points out that by year 2012, the Indian Navy’s frigate strength would reduce to 61 percent. Also, it would lose more than half of its destroyers and 80 percent of corvettes, meaning the Indian Navy may retain only 44 per cent and 20 per cent of the envisaged force levels for destroyers and corvettes.

The ill-planned work mode and the overloaded state-run shipyards would never be able to plug the gap in the shortfall of frigates, corvettes and destroyers in the naval fleet. The Indian Navy is also facing problems with its submarine fleet which an earlier CAG report has already highlighted

http://www.defencenow.com/news/112/cag-report-exposes-pitfalls-in-naval-warship-projects-and-state-run-shipyards.html

India to Supply Coastal Radars, Dornier Plane to Seychelles

India to Supply Coastal Radars, Dornier Plane to Seychelles

 Posted on: February 16, 2012

Amid China's bid to step up ties with Seychelles, India has signed three pacts with the Indian Ocean archipelago nation to combat piracy by supplying coastal surveillance radar systems and Dornier aircraft.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his Seychelles counterpart Jean-Paul Adam held wide-ranging discussions on international, regional and bilateral issues and took stock of the current status of the ties between the countries, including security cooperation.

Expanding counter-piracy cooperation figured prominently during the talks, even as India reiterated its commitment to continue its support to Seychelles for its security, development, and in its capacity building efforts, the external affairs ministry said.

"Both sides emphasized the need to continue joint surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Seychelles and anti-piracy surveillance to ensure safety of the Indian Ocean region," said the ministry. 

"Other areas of cooperation discussed include trade and investment, culture, hydrocarbon sector, and fisheries. Both sides emphasized the need to continue joint surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Seychelles and anti-piracy surveillance to ensure safety of the Indian Ocean region,” it said.

Both sides also discussed the regional situation and matters pertaining to Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU).

Apart from the memorandum of understanding to supply the coastal surveillance radar systems, the two sides also signed an agreement for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to supply a Dornier aircraft to Seychelles.

India has already deployed one of its naval Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft in Seychelles for helping that country in anti-piracy operations.

The visit of Seychelles foreign minister comes less than a fortnight after President James Alix Michel visited Delhi for the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit.

During that visit, the two sides focused on security issues, piracy and ways to expand developmental cooperation between the two countries.

The leader of Seychelles had briefed India about new developments, including the context in which Seychelles last year offered China its harbour for use to refuel and stocking of Chinese warships stationed in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations.

This set the alarm bells ringing in New Delhi, but Beijing later clarified that it will not be a military base, but just a refueling and supply facility.

Defence cooperation between India and Seychelles, the strategically-located island state, has been growing.

http://www.defencenow.com/news/532/india-to-supply-coastal-radars-dornier-plane-to-seychelles.html

IAF to Procure 71 More Mi-17 V5 Choppers for USD 800 Million

IAF to Procure 71 More Mi-17 V5 Choppers for USD 800 Million

Posted on: February 19, 2012

The IAF is planning to procure 71 more Mi-17 V5 choppers including 12 for the Ministry of Home Affairs for over USD 800 million for strengthening its helicopter fleet.

These choppers would in addition to the 80 already ordered from Russia. Of the 80 choppers ordered earlier, Defence Minister A K Antony formally inducted their first batch on Friday.

59 of the 71 choppers would be provided to the IAF for replacing its old Mi-8 and Mi-17IV choppers and six would be given to the Border Security Force. Another six would be distributed among the other paramilitary forces, sources said to defencenow.com.

Earlier the IAF was proceeding with the acquisition of 59 choppers only but later on the MHA requested to club its requirements also in the same Defence Ministry proposal, they said.

In 2008, India had signed a deal with Russia to supply 80 Mi-17s to augment its existing fleet of around 150 Mi-8 and Mi-17 medium-lift choppers, which have over five tonne load carrying capability and are also used to ferry troops and VIPs.

The Air Force had felt the need of inducting more medium-lift choppers after a spate of natural disasters following the tsunami in December, 2004 and the heavy snowfall in Kashmir in 2005.

The MI-17 V5 falls in armed helicopter category, with substantial and effective firepower. It has the latest and more powerful engines that will enhance its payload carrying capability at higher altitudes.

http://www.defencenow.com/news/536/iaf-to-procure-71-more-mi-17-v5-choppers-for-usd-800-million.html

Indian navy commissions new fleet tanker; sets up base in lakshwadeep island

Indian navy commissions new fleet tanker; sets up base in lakshwadeep island

Posted on: February 07, 2011

The Indian Navy has inducted a new fleet tanker called INS Deepak which will become a critical part of its Western Fleet and enable combat missions distant from India’s coast.

INS Deepak fleet tanker will be the main re-supply vessel for INS Vikramaditya which the Indian Navy will induct in a couple of years besides promoting India’s maritime interests and homeland security. INS Deepak will sustain the Indian fleets at sea for prolonged periods and augment operational flexibility.

INS Deepak fleet tanker is one of the largest vessels of the Indian Navy and was commissioned into the fleet by Defence Minister A.K.Anthony.

INS Deepak has been designed by the Italian Fincanteri Shipyard specifically for the Indian Navy. It has a displacement of 27,500 tonnes and will help refueling of large vessels besides its capacity to carry more than 500 tonnes of weapons for combat operations. Its fuel transfer rate  is roughly about 1,500 tonnes per hour.

INS Deepak is the first of the two new Italian fleet tankers being inducted into the Indian Navy and the other ship, the Shakti, is expected to arrive before the end of this year.

Besides the induction of INS Deepak to ensure operations for prolonged periods at sea, the Indian Navy is also opening up an operations base in the Lakshadweep islands to step-up coastal security. This is the second Indian Navy base in the island territory of India.

According to the Indian Navy, it will initially open a detachment in the Lakshadweep chain and base warships there and will also ensure aerial patrols in the region. The Indian Navy has already commissioned a Coast Guard district headquarters in Kavaratti and a station in Minicoy, both in the Lakshadweep islands. The island of Lakshwadeep will develop into a full-scale operations base shortly.

Lakshwadeep island lies in the Arabian sea where there has been an increasing fear of attacks and hijackings of merchant vessels. The recent hijacking of a Bangladeshi-flagged merchant vessel about 80 nautical miles off Minicoy in Lakshwadeep triggered major concerns and forced the Indian Navy to permanently deploy two warships in the central and eastern Arabian Sea.

The Arabian Sea witness’s heavy commercial shipping activity all year long and robust security in the island territories is essential. The Naval presence in Lakswadeep island will ward off pirates, terrorists as well as poachers that try to trespass the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial waters.

http://www.defencenow.com/news/79/indian-navy-commissions-new-fleet-tanker-sets-up-base-in-lakshwadeep-island.html