Weekly Defence News Review (WDNR) - November 09-15, 2009

NATIONAL

• India to Purchase Upgraded Barak for $1.1 billion

Reports noted that India has signed a $1.1 billion contract with Israel for an upgraded tactical air defence system, Barak-8 (see image right; Source: Press TV). The system, to be delivered by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (IAI) by 2017, is designed to shoot down incoming missiles, drones and planes. Although the system is configured to be used abroad ships, its advanced system can also be deployed on land.

• Antony Reviews Costal Security

Defence Minister A K Antony reviewed the costal security mechanism put in place post-Mumbai terror attacks. Presiding over a high-level meeting, the Minister urged top officials from the Navy and the Coast Guard to meet the acquisition deadlines of Patrol Vessels, Interceptor Boats, Surveillance Aircraft and Radars, for which the government is providing vast amount of money. In the meantime, the Sagar Prahari Bal of the Indian Navy is in process of acquisition 80 Fast Interceptor Crafts at the cost of Rs. 320 crores. In a major capability build up, the Coat Guard is acquiring a number of platforms at the cost of Rs. 6,000 crores, including 70 ships/high speed boats/hovercrafts, seven Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) and four Dornier aircraft. To boost the costal surveillance, the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) is installing 46 radars at the cost of Rs. 300 crores, along the Indian coast.

• Rigid Offset Policy Curbs Samtel-Thales Joint Venture

Reports noted New Delhi’s rigid offset policy could curb the growth of Samtel Thales Avionics, a joint venture (JV) between India’s Samtel Display Systems and French multinational Thlaes. The JV in question has intended to manufacture TopSight-I, a Helmet Mounted Display System (HMD) that enables the pilot “to aim a weapon merely by looking towards the target” for a range of fighter aircrafts. Thales is interested to transfer the necessary technology to the JV, in which it holds 26 per cent stake, provided all the production from the unit is eligible for offset banking. However the MoD’s offset policy mandates that foreign vendors can bank offset credits to the tune of their actual investment.

INTERNATIONAL

• US Starts Construction of Ford Class Aircraft Carrier

In a first design change since 1960s, the US officially started the construction of nuclear powered, Ford Class aircraft carrier. Named after Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president of US, the first ship, numbered CVN 78, is expected to be delivered in 2015, at the cost of $8.7 billion. The new carrier will have a “smaller crew than previous flattops and incorporate new technologies, including an Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launching System, advanced arresting gear and dual-band radar.” Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor of the ship.