SP's Naval Forces - April-May 2018

Issue Features

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  Cover Story
  Indian Navy's Acquisition and Modernisation Plans
  

  Despite the severe setbacks especially in submarine build-up plan causing serious capability gaps, Indian Navy’s acquisition and modernisation plans, spanning over three plan periods 2005-2022 are well on track, although some prestigious projects have missed the delivery milestones

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  Maritime Diplomacy
  India-US Maritime Cooperation
  

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has indicated a maritime vision for Indian–Pacific Region and the concept of Indo-Pacific security. He is convinced that India’s development depends upon the freedom of sea lanes of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

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  Unmanned Systems
  Navy's Spy in the Sky
  

  Compared to the fixed wing UAVs, it is much simpler for rotary systems to operate from the ships deck. This has led to the development of naval rotary UAVs (NRUAVs) who can perform all the maritime UAV missions with the addition of search and rescue but without the problems of landing and take off by fixed wing UAVs.

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  Countermeasures
  The Maritime Mine Hunters
  

  It is understood that the acquisition process will start again with the invite sent to Kangnam Corporation, Intermarine of Italy, Navantia of Spain, Lockheed Martin of US, ThyssenKrupp of Germany and Russian shipyards

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  Exercise
  Exercise Paschim Lehar and Maldivian Imbroglio
  

  Recently concluded Exercise Paschim Lehar extensively tested and revalidated the operational plans and manoeuvres in a hostile maritime scenario on India’s Western seaboard

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  Exercise
  Friendship Across the Seas – MILAN 2018
  

  From an event of sub-regional context, MILAN has now grown into a prestigious international event and encompasses participation by maritime forces from not just the Bay of Bengal and South East Asia but the larger Indian Ocean region

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  Exercise
  Indo-French Naval Exercise – Varuna 2018
  

  “We want India as our first strategic partner here, and we want to be India’s first strategic partner in Europe, and even the western world.” —Emmanuel Macron, the President of the Republic of France

• News in Brief
  Work on Tamil Nadu Defence Quad begins
  

  As per the directions of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the work for preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Tamil Nadu Defence Quad has been initiated by Department of Defence Production...

• News in Brief
  Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) clears procurement worth 1,850 Cr
  

  The DAC, chaired by Defence Misniter Nirmala Sitharaman, accorded approval to Capital Acquisition Proposals of the Services valued at over 1,850 crore on February 20.

• News in Brief
  RRM visits Andaman & Nicobar Command
  

  Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Ramarao Bhamre visited Andaman & Nicobar Command from February 25-27.

• News in Brief
  Indo-US Delegation meets for Defence Cooperation
  

  As part of lndo-US Bilateral Defence Cooperation, the 8th Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) Inter Agency Task Force Meeting was held on February 26 at Delhi.

• News in Brief
  Dhanush Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile successfully test-fired
  

  The Indian military successfully test-fired the Dhanush missile from a warship off the coast of Odisha on February 23.

• News in Brief
  US Navy Awards Concept Design Contract
  

  The US Navy has awarded General Dynamics Bath Iron Works a $14.9 million contract for the concept design of the Navy’s planned Guided Missile Frigate (FFG(X)).

• News in Brief
  Orbital ATK received contract for US Navy’s GQM-163A
  

  Orbital ATK received on February 14, a $79.4 million US Navy contract for development, testing and evaluation of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Ground Launch Drone Missile (GQM-163A).

• News in Brief
  US Navy missile contract for Raytheon
  

  The US Navy will exercise an option with Raytheon Missile Systems for engineering and technical services on the Standard Missile-2 and Standard Missile-3.

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  News in Brief
  European Multi-Mission Frigate starts visit to Middle East
  

  European Multi Mission Frigate (FREMM) Carlo Margottini of the Italian Navy set sail from the port of La Spezia for a campaign that will involve her in the Indian Ocean...

• News in Brief
  Indian Navy to buy additional Russian Frigates for $3 billion
  

  It is reported that India has finalized a contract to acquire four new stealth frigates from Russian Federation for about $3billion.

• News in Brief
  PLA Website Confirms Sea Trial of Shipborne Railgun
  

  Chinese papers have revealed, quoting delegates of the People’s Liberation Army who are attending the annual parliamentary session in Beijing that sea tests...

• News in Brief
  Pakistan Signs Contract to Upgrade Second Agosta 90B
  

  According to an announcement by the Turkish defence contractor Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.S. (STM) on February 28...

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  News in Brief
  Contract to Lockheed Martin for Mk 41 Vertical Launching System
  

  BAE Systems has tapped Lockheed Martin to supply its Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) for the three City-class Type 26 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates on order for the British Royal Navy.

• News in Brief
  Austal delivers seventh LCS to US Navy
  

  Austal today delivered the seventh vessel in the Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) class to the US Navy.

• News in Brief
  Appointments
  

  Vice Admiral Srikant, Inspector General, Nuclear Safety appointed as the Commandant National Defence College, Vice Admiral S.V. Bhokare, Commandant Indian Naval Academy appointed as Inspector General, Nuclear Security and...

• News in Brief
  Pakistan Navy and Air Force exercise with live anti-ship missiles
  

  The navy and air force of Pakistan have conducted joint live-fire exercises of antiship missiles. Conducted on March 5 The Chinese-made C-802 missiles were fired on March 5...

• News in Brief
  Contract for General Dynamics for Virginia Class Submarines
  

  General Dynamics has received a $696 million contract modification for additional material associated with fiscal 2019 Virginia-class submarines and fiscal 2020 Virginia-class submarines (SSN).

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  News in Brief
  Navika Sagar Parikrama – Tarini Departs Cape Town
  

  Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini left Cape Town on March 14 for the final leg of circumnavigation passage to Goa.

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  News in Brief
  F-35C Carrier Qualifications aboard Lincoln
  

  Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln completed fleet carrier qualifications (CQ) for the F-35C Lightning II programme, marking another milestone for the new aircraft.

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  Editorial
  

  This issue of Naval Forces coincides with India’s International Land, Naval and Internal Homeland Security Systems exhibition named Defexpo India 2018; which is being held in Chennai from April 11 to 14. DefExpo 2018 for the first time and will project India’s Defence manufacturing capabilities to the world.