Indian Defence Review

Russian Presence at the Expo

Historically one of the largest suppliers of defence equipment to India, Rosoboronexport of Russia, was present at the Defexpo with 37 companies showcasing more than 150 products for military application. With continuing dependence on tanks of Soviet origin on account of the lack of success in the indigenous Arjun MBT programme, the Russian delegation was present to offer the T-90S, a new modernisation package for the T-90 tank being produced under licence in India. Although described as a new tank, it is merely an upgraded version of the vintage T72 which is no longer on order by the Russian army. The prototype of the T-90S Modernised Main Battle Tank was the central focus of the Russian display at the exposition. It is the first time the tank has been shown outside Russia since the time it was unveiled at the Russian Arms Expo 2011 in September last year.

The Russian aerospace industry is also pitted against European and American companies for three different Indian tenders for helicopters for which it has fielded the KA226T light utility helicopter and the MI26T2 heavy lift machine for the IAF as also the KA28 for the Indian Navy. It already has orders for 80 MI17V5 medium lift helicopters currently under delivery to the IAF.

Israeli Companies at the Defexpo

Israel, the other major supplier of defence equipment to India, had perhaps the largest pavilion occupying nearly 1,300 square metres of space. On offer at the venue were active defence systems comprising a wide range of sensors, battle command systems and missiles for land and air platforms, surface ships and submarines, advanced weaponry including a range of precision-guided weapons, command, control and communications solutions as also modern electronic surveillance and electro-optical systems. For the first time in India, the Israel Aerospace Industry (IAI) presented the Advanced Virtual Training Solution MI-NET and the comprehensive and high quality mission trainer, Unmanned Aerial Systems Mission Trainer (UMT-UAS).

Also on offer from IAI were the EL/I-3360 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and the Heron I, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial System for strategic and tactical missions. The MPA is a multi-role airborne system designed to operate as a fast-deployment independent asset providing comprehensive situational awareness and maritime domain superiority.

One of the highlights of the show was an agreement between Indian private sector major Mahindra & Mahindra Limited and Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. The agreement has been to form a joint venture with Israel’s Rafael to develop and manufacture naval systems at a factory in Pune. The products will include Anti-Torpedo Defence Systems, Electronic Warfare Systems, Advanced Armouring Solutions and Remotely Operated Weapon Stations for Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicles.

The French Connection

With 25 companies big and small, showcasing a wide range of innovative products and technologies at the exposition, France was well represented. The French Pavilion was coordinated by GICAN, the French Marine Industry Association and GICAT, the French Land Defence Industry Association. The three major projects with the French defence industry i.e. the Scorpene Submarines for the Indian Navy, upgrade of the Mirage 2000 fleet and the mega deal for the 126 Rafale combat aircraft for the IAF, have strengthened the strategic partnership between France and India. Exhibitors from France amongst others included leading entities such as DCI, DCNS, EADS, Euronaval, MBDA, Nexter, SAFRAN Group and Thales. India will procure 500 Mica air-to-air missiles from French firm MBDA for the Mirage 2000 aircraft fleet being upgraded by Dassault-Thales. Other options offered to the Indian Armed Forces by MBDA in ground-to-air systems include the SHORAD (short range air defence) program, for which the company is offering the 20-kg infra-red guided Mistral missile.

At this Defexpo, DCNS France signed through its Indian subsidiary a 50 million euro contract with Indian company SEC industries for the local manufacture of equipment for P75 Scorpene submarines. The contract covers the manufacture of equipment like hull hatches, cofferdam doors, hunkle hoses, ballast vent valves, high pressure air cylinders, weapon handling and storage systems.

European Companies at the Expo

Apart from France, European defence majors had a sizeable presence at the Defexpo. Under the Italian defence major Finmeccanica, there were its group companies AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi, DRS Tactical Systems, SELEX Galileo, Oto Melara and WASS exhibiting products, platforms and technological solutions in the field of helicopters, aeronautics, radar systems, naval/ land armaments and underwater systems. For Finmeccanica, the strategic importance of the Indian market has grown over the years and the company now has its office in India.

Alenia Aermacchi had a wide range of products to offer to the Indian aerospace sector. These included the C-27J Tactical Transport Aircraft for the IAF, the ATR 72 MP Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard, a range of trainer aircraft such as the SF-260E and the SF-260TP for the basic training and the M-345 and the M-346 for advanced training and Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Present in India since 1970, AgustaWestland was awarded the contract for 12 AW101 helicopters to the IAF for VVIP travel. At Defexpo, the company exhibited its range of modern military helicopters including the AW101, the AW119Ke, the AW109LUH, the AW139 Coast Guard, the naval version of the NH90. Earlier during the month, the company entered into a joint venture with Tata Sons designated as Indian Rotorcraft Limited to establish a helicopter production facility in Hyderabad. The facility will be operational by mid-2013 adding a new dimension in the capability of the Indian aerospace industry in the private sector.

EADS was represented at the Expo by Airbus Military, Eurocopter and Cassidian, all three set to make inroads into the Indian defence market through collaboration with the Indian aerospace industry both in the public and private sector and the R&D organisations. Airbus Military has participated in the Flight Refuelling Aircraft tender for the IAF fielding the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), the only new generation tanker/transport flying and certified today. Airbus Military is also offering the maritime variant of the proven C295 or CN235 aircraft for the Indian Navy.

Eurocopter had on display scale models of its AS550 C3 Fennec, AS565 MBe Naval Panther and EC725 rotorcraft, all of which are competitors for ongoing and future contracts for the Indian Armed Forces. Eurocopter is the first global aerospace major to establish an Indian subsidiary to provide services network countrywide. Cassidian is into a joint venture with Larsen & Toubro for design, engineering, manufacturing, distribution and marketing products in the fields of electronic warfare, radars, avionics and mobile systems for military application. It provides consultancy for the Tejas programme and has successfully demonstrated to the Indian Army the Tracker, its mini tactical UAV for surveillance and intelligence roles.

DRS Technologies offers its Indian customers ultra-rugged computing, night-vision systems and display solutions for data presentation, situational awareness and command and control decision-making; solutions that can operate efficiently even in critical operational theatres. At the Defexpo, DRS Technologies exhibited its range of products.

With SELEX Galileo India Private Limited, the parent company SELEX Galileo has expanded its footprint in India. The company had on display its Electronic Warfare products such as the Aircraft Gateway Processor which is now part of the standard fit on the Apache AH-64, the next-generation ELINT system SAGE to meet the needs of India’s Rustom-2 MALE UAS and the SEER Radar Warning Receiver which is the perfect fit for India’s Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer. SELEX Galileo was also displaying the Mirach 100/5 aerial target drone, under order by the DRDO and its latest Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, the Seaspray family of surveillance radars, the PicoSAR Synthetic Aperture Radar and elements of their Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance avionics suite which, mated with the Seaspray radar technology, is currently focused on a number of Indian competitions. A range of modern Electro-Optic cameras and fire control systems were also on display.

At the Defexpo, Oto Melara which is already the market leader in India with the 76/62 Super Rapid medium-caliber naval gun, produced under license by BHEL, exhibited the 127/64 Light Weight Naval Gun Mount Mock up, the DART Ammunition, the Vulcano 127/64 Ammunition and at the Pipapav stand, the HITFIST OWS.

WASS, which has operated in India since 1976, displayed the Black Shark Heavy Weight Torpedo, the A244/S Mod. 3 Light Weight Torpedo, the C310 Countermeasure system for submarines and the Black Snake. The company also formally unveiled at the show the Flash-Black, the next generation Light Weight Torpedo.

Saab’s portfolio for the DefExpo included products from the air, land, naval and civil security domains. The focus was on Land and Naval Systems, with a highlight on the RBS 70 NG a versatile missile system and its Autonomous Underwater Vehicle systems designed for long range missions. In the air domain, Saab’s portfolio covered a range of surveillance aircraft as well as the Gripen, a fourth-generation combat aircraft. Also on offer was the Skeldar V-200, a fully autonomous and mobile Unmanned Aircraft System that is suitable for missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance and identification. The Saab 2000 MPA is a multi-role airborne surveillance platform for Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance role and maritime patrol.

The Future

Estimates are that India will continue to be a huge arms market and over the next decade, the government is likely to spend $250 billion to procure weapons and systems. Of the total estimate, $20 billion is expected to be spent on Homeland security. The IAF alone is expected to invest over $80 billion in the next five years to restore its combat potential through capital acquisition of fighter aircraft and other allied weapon systems. The Defexpo is undoubtedly set to grow in the years ahead driven essentially by the growing demand for weapons and other systems to meet with the needs of national security.