Update India SAM Missile Systems

The SAM Systems-- to detect and destroy hostile aircraft, drones and helicopters at ranges between 25 and 70 km – codenamed Akash Systems, are the indigenous missile systems , and the two other Systems being developed with the help of Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) -- the long-range SAM (LR-SAM) and medium-range SAM (MR-SAM).

Akash systems are already on course to be inducted, with the IAF order being worth Rs 6,200 Crore and the Army's Rs 12,402 Crore. The first IAF Akash squadron, with two `flights' of four launchers each, is expected to be operational by next year. Six of the squadrons will subsequently be based in the North-East.

The 70-km-range LR-SAM project -- with multi-function surveillance and threat radars, weapon control systems and missiles -- is slated for completion by May 2012. In the first phase, it will arm the three destroyers being built at Mazagon Docks.

Under the MR-SAM project, which will also have a strike range of 70 km, the delivery of the first firing unit to the IAF is scheduled for March 2013, with the 18th one coming in October 2016.

Read full Report: Update India SAM Missile Systems


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Dassault Systems and Infosys in Pact

Infosys Technologies, India, signed a pact with French software company Dassault Systems to become its global system integration partner. The deal will help in promoting Dassault solutions in India and the other markets in South Asia, Europe and North America.

Dassault offers imagining and simulating solutions across sectors like aerospace, defense, ship building, engineering, construction, and life sciences.

Dassault centres in India work with other centres (globally). The company has three R&D centres in Pune, Bangalore and Chennai.

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Credit: PTI, New Delhi.

Obama's India Visit: US-India Defence Industry Co-operation and ‘ A Sticking Point’

The U.S. may withhold several subsystems until India ratifies certain specific Agreements, which govern current and future transfers of high-tech military systems to India. India is not ready to commit to the security pacts for various reasons.

President Obama has removed certain Indian companies and Govt. organizations from the U.S. Entities list, a clause that has been blamed for holding back India’s development of major missile systems and space programs.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (the country’s prime production agency for missile systems) as well as many of their respective laboratories are set to benefit from the Entities list action. Laboratories at the DRDO dropped from the list include the Armament Research and Development Establishment, Defense Research and Development Laboratory, Missile Research and Development Complex and the Solid-State Physics Laboratory. ISRO’s subordinate entities include the Liquid Propulsion Systems Center, Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant, Sriharikota Space Center.

India has welcomed amongst others, steps to expand the cooperation in space, civil nuclear, defense and other high-end sectors.

India’s inhibition to sign the security pact was not discussed publicly but is understood to have been a sticking point between the two countries. Still, India is purchasing 10 C-17 heavy-lift military transports, eight P-8I maritime patrol jets, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Apache attack helicopters and Chinook transport helicopters, all manufactured by Boeing. Anticipating the announcement, Boeing noted prior to Obama’s visit that the Harpoons would not be ensnared by the security pact.

Full Report: Security Pact Remains U.S.-India Hurdle


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