[sacw] IPARMW No.6 (19 dec.99)

[Harsh Kapoor]

INDIA PAK ARMS RACE & MILITARISATION WATCH NO.6
(19 December 1999)
__________________

[1.]
Janes Defence Weekly
Vol 32 No 24
15 December 1999

Pakistan discusses Al-Khalid's entry into Turkish MBT race
A delegation of Chinese and Pakistani defence officials were in Ankara
last week to discuss with the Turkish authorities the possibility of
entering Islamabad's new Al-Khalid into Turkey's multi-billion-dollar
main battle tank (MBT) co-production project.

******
[2.]
DAWN
17 December 1999 Friday

Agosta B-90 submarine arrives

KARACHI, Dec 16: Agosta B-90 submarine, arrived here on Thursday, will
be commissioned in Pakistan Navy fleet on December 21. Agosta B-90 known
as Khalid is the first of the three submarines agreement for which was
inked with a French company, DCN International, in 1994.
During the construction of the submarine Pakistani engineers and
technicians got special training in France. The second Agosta submarine
is under-construction at Pakistan Navy dockyard and will be sailed in
the year 2001.
The third submarine is being built in a special design hall of the
Navy's dockyard which at present is in the form of three modules.-APP

[3.]
Rediff on the Net
December 17, 1999
(http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/dec/17drdo.htm)

CAG drops a bombshell on DRDO

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

=46inally, it is the turn of the Defence Research and Development
Organisation, the cash-rich developer of military technology and weapon
systems, to answer some embarrassing questions.

An extensive audit of some of the important DRDO projects undertaken by the
Comptroller and Auditor General of India for period ending March, 1988 has
brought to light investments running into billions that are unlikely to
yield desired results. Hidden away from the media glare and public scrutiny
in the name of national interest, projects of DRDO have always been carried
out in utmost secrecy.

Consider these findings of the audit:

* Though the DRDO has spent almost Rs 20 billion on the ambitious Light
Combat Aircraft project, the Indian Air Force is currently looking for
foreign alternatives. The Indian Navy too, having lost all hopes of getting
a naval version of the LCA, is planning to acquire MiG-29s for a new
aircraft carrier that is being built at Cochin.

* After spending several billions of rupees on building an Air Surveillance
Platform and other related systems, the project is on the verge of being
rendered redundant as the IAF and the navy are importing their own Airborne
Warning and Control System.

* Development of the multi-barrel rocket launcher system (Pinaka) too has
failed to meet the defence requirements and the time frame specified. A
disgusted army is proposing to acquire Russian manufactured MBRL system.

* Add to this yet another humiliating failure: a two-decade old project to
develop the Indian Army's main battle tank 'Arjun' has almost been shelved.
The army is now planning to buy T-90s from Russia.

While the Arjun tank shame was already out, the CAG audit has thrown up
several fresh questions about the achievements of DRDO.

True, in missile technology the organisation has made credible progress.
Its achievements in nuclear technology too are well acknowledged. But then,
it is a well documented fact that missile technology is among the most
common and simplest of military technologies. In fact, Indian scientists
were ready for the next round of tests in 1974.

According to the report, which was tabled in Parliament on December 14, the
government has pumped in close to Rs 20 billion in the development of the
Light Combat Aircraft without any major breakthrough.

"The LCA, which was scheduled to replace the ageing Indian Airforce fleet
in nineties, is still at the development stage and is facing many
uncertainties," the CAG has said. The LCA development at the Aeronautical
Development Agency (ADA), Banglore, a subsidiary of DRDO "has been beset
with delays for almost every vital component of the aircraft," the report
says.

The project, initiated in 1983 is behind the schedule by almost a decade,
and "as per present indications and the ministry's optimism, the LCA can
not be expected to be inducted, if at all, before 2005."

Pointing out that a frustrated air force has lost all hope of inducting the
LCA into its fleet, the CAG has said the IAF is seeking interim "measures
to cover the shortfall in force level by upgrading the MiG Bis with the
help of a foreign firm at Rs 2,135 crore."

The reports also points out that the development of airframe by ADA;
multi-mode radar by HAL and Electronics and Radar Development
Establishment; flight control system by Aeronautical Development
Establishment; Kaveri engine by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE);
and digital electronic engine control jointly by HAL and GTRE "are all
lagging behind the schedule with no amount of certainty about their
expected date of satisfactory development and final cost of development."

Any of these "falling further behind or failing to meet the required
quality is likely to jeopardise the LCA programme in terms of time costs."

The air frame model that the ADA is presently working on is "heavier than
what has been specified in the air staff requirements and the aerodynamic
configuration too is not acceptable to the air force. These (factors) are
likely to affect the performance of the aircraft with reference to the
qualitative requirements."

The cost too has overshot several times. The original estimate of Rs 5.6
billion has "overshot approximately four times to Rs 21.88 billion for the
first phase of the project. Phase II is yet to be sanctioned."

The report says that the delay in the LCA programme has "compelled the air
force to exercise other options to fill the gap in the force level. The
Defence Ministry concluded a contract for upgradation of 125 MiG Bis with
their manufacturer at a cost of US $ 626 million,"

A contract was also concluded in November 1996 for import of 40 Sukhoi-30s
from Russia at a cost of Rs 61.30 billion to "minimise the adverse impact
of delay in development of LCA on the combat force level of the Air Force."

The development of an Air Surveillance Platform, which would be capable of
providing continuous, comprehensive and long-range air defence cover
against low-level attacks, began 1985 with when a feasibility study was
carried out. The study was completed in 1991 and the same year the
government kicked off the ASP programme.

"ASP programme undertaken at a cost of Rs 6,080 million is running behind
schedule by over three years and will be ready for demonstration only by
the turn of the century. The main attributes of the technology demonstrator
ASP being developed have fallen short of the projected requirements of the
services in the area of endurance, speed, altitude and detection range,"
the CAG report has said.

"The ASP being developed is based on the rotodome approach, while the AWACS
(Airborne Warning and Control System) which the government proposes to
acquire soon, use array approach. The advanced technology of the imported
system would render ASP being developed redundant," the audit has warned.

While the air force had pointed as early as in 1992 that the specifications
meant for ASP were not likely to meet the air staff requirements, the
defence ministry in February 1999 claimed the ASP "was not meant to meet
the requirements of users but was aimed at demonstrating the technology by
utilising the only viable platform."

However, the CAG report points out that the ASP "development programme was
taken up as a first step towards the development of full fledged AWACS, the
need for which was projected by the services in early 1980s."

Since 22 months would be required for the first demonstration of ASP after
the primary radar was fully developed "the ASP would be ready for
demonstration only by the end of 2000, provided all the sub-systems are
ready by 1998." Even if developed, the ASP would "fall short of the
qualitative requirements projected by the services way back in 1984.
Moroever, the qualitative requirement of the services based on which the
ASP programme had been launched would be outdated due to technological
advancements in the field."

The air force had in 1996 finalised the import of first batch AWACS with
technology transfer package leading to indigenous development of subsequent
systems. The AWACS is "based on different platform which uses phased array
inside a fixed rotodome," which is different from the platform of ASP. This
too can render the ASP redundant.

The CAG has also termed "questionable" the wisdom of DRDO top brass to
sanction the development of a second sub-system for ASP programme based on
rotodome technology on HS-748 aircraft in May 1997 at a cost of Rs 100
million, when the IAF had already contracted AWACS for a different
technology.

The story of multi barrel rocket launcher system (Pinaka) too is not very
different. The Defence Ministry had in 1981 decided to induct regiments
equipped with this launcher from 1994, but it still remains a distant
possibility.

"Far from reaching the production stage, DRDO is yet to develop the various
critical components of the system despite an expenditure of Rs 420 million
against the original sanction of Rs 260 million and revised sanction of Rs
4,040 million. The re-revised expected date of completion of development is
end 2000 with re-revised cost of around Rs 800 million," the report says.

Only seven out of the 29 general staff qualitative requirements had been
met in the trials. Some of the qualitative requirements, which had not been
fully met, viz range, area that can be neutralised, fire power, loading
time of salvo and deployment time are crucial for the desired level of
performance, the CAG has said.

While the development and selection of the launcher vehicle for the system
is yet to be completed, the loader-cum-replenishment also yet to be
approved despite splitting it into two separate vehicles. "The combined
vehicle took up to 40 minutes to load one salvo in place of the designed
four-five minutes," the report points out.

=46urther, the development of the command-post vehicle has also been delayed
due to selection of an inappropriate chassis, which "did not match the
mobility of the launcher vehicle." Thus, all the three important vehicles,
necessary for launching the rockets, loading and replenishment and command
had not been developed more than 11 years after the project was sanctioned.

Though there was a requirement of eight types of warheads for the rockets,
the Armament Research and Development Establishment and High Energy
Material Laboratory had developed only three. "Even out of these, one was
not acceptable to the army," the report says.

If the army had Pinaka with it during Kargil, the casualties among the
Indian soldiers could have been much lower, army sources believe. They said
MBRL systems can pulverise an area of 500 sq metres in no time.

In the wake of Kargil, the army is reportedly going ahead with the purchase
of MRBL systems from Russia. This could spell doom for Pinaka.

The story of MBT 'Arjun' is no different either. The controversy had hit
headlines a couple of years back, and today the army is all set to finalise
the contract for purchasing T-90 tanks from Russia.

Though no body in DRDO is ready to comment on the audit report, a senior
defence ministry bureaucrat said: "They are trying to build from nothing.
It will take too much of labour, too much of money, and may be a lot of
time." He said CAG audit is a "very simplified way of looking at the
complex set up of DRDO."
*******
[4.]
Indian Express
Sunday, December 19, 1999

India to deploy air defence shield system soon

BANGALORE: India will soon deploy an air defence system complete with
radar which can identify multiple targets and lock on surface-to-air
missiles, a defence official said Saturday, reports AFP.

"The radar has been integrated with the weapon system and is undergoing
field evaluation," George Cleetus, director of Electronics and Radar
Development Establishment told a radar conference.

He said the air shield, to detect and shoot down enemy aircraft and
missiles, would be inducted by mid-2000 and deployed around important
cities, nuclear power stations and petrochemical refineries. "The
multi-function phased array radar is called 'Rajendra' (King) and has
been designed for multiple target search and track, multiple missile
acquisition and tracking and command guidance of the missiles," Cleetus
said. He said the radar would activate the surface-to-air Akash (Sky)
missile, which has a range of 25 kilometres (15.5 miles), as soon as it
locates an enemy aircraft or missile.

Sources in the Defence Research and Development Organisation said
'Rajendra' would consist of a radar and a battery of three to six Akash
missiles. "It will help to intercept aircraft or missiles upto a range
of 400 to 600 kilometres (372 miles). Each radar will have the
capability to detect several targets because they are fitted with more
than 4,000 radiating elements," a defence source said.

"The phase-shifters built into the transmitter and the radiating
elements help change the direction of the electronic beam in less than a
millisecond which will help identify aircraft performing stealth
manoeuvers," the source added. He said the radar can also evade jamming
by enemy fighter jets or missiles. "The radar and the missiles have been
tested against airborne targets at different locations and its
performance has been established," the source said. Akash has been
tested 31 times in the past nine years and the missile can carry a
payload of 55 kilogrammes (121 pounds).

India has an ambitious programme to build a full rack of guided missiles
including the ballistic missile series Agni (Fire), which can carry
nuclear warheads. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in August said
India would push ahead with its long-range missile projects despite
international opposition, mainly from the United States.

In April, India fired its Agni-II, prompting two ballistic missile
launches by Pakistan. The tests sparked fresh calls for restraint
between the estranged neighbours, which in May 1998 conducted their
first underground nuclear tests.
*******
[5.]
Indian Express
Sunday, December 19, 1999

Yet another successful test launch of Trishul missile

KOCHI: The naval version of 'Trishul' India's prestigious indegenous
quick reaction short range surface to air and surface to surface missile
was successfully test fired from INS Dronacharya here this evening as
part of its ongoing trials. Dr Siva Thanu Pillai, chief controller,
research and development wing of the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) told PTI shortly after the launch that the test
firing of the missile today was to test its anti sea skimmer capability.
Currently on here is the fourth test firing campaign of the missile.

He said the naval version of the missile which had been undergoing
trials for the last several months was today fired against a floating
incoming target. 'the test firing was 100 per cent success' he said. He
said in its anti sea skimmer role the missile could travel just above
the sea surface and destroy any incoming missile either from a
submarine, ship or even from air.
*******
[6.]

News Network Inernational
=46riday 17th December, 1999
Russian KA-31 helicopters to be delivered to India

NEW DELHI (NNI): Four KA-31 airborne early warning helicopters costing
55.80 million dollars with tools, spares and ground support equipment
are to be delivered by Russia to Indian navy in two batches, Indian
Defence Minister George Fernandes told Lok Sabha Thursday.
In a written answer, Fernandes said payments to the supplier are to be
made at various stages of production of these helicopters, each costing
13.95 million dollars. As the navy has been operating Kamov class
helicopters since 1981-82, it was not considered necessary to test this
helicopter in equatorial water in advance, he said.
Pinaka: A single barrel launcher of the Pinaka system was deployed on
experimental basis during the Kargil operation, he said, adding a
decision to productionise the system is to be taken only after it has
been accepted by the army.
Terrorists: Government is aware that there was a concentration of
terrorists belonging to various pro-Pakistan outfits opposite Uri and
Poonch sectors during June and July 1999, the defence minister said.
However, there are no reports to confirm the presence of Taliban forces
for intrusion into Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
Howitzer: M/s Celsius of Sweden has offered for field trials of 155 mm
gun mounted on a vehicle on "no cost no commitment" basis but no
decision has been taken in this regard, he said.
Ads: Necessary steps to replace INS Vikrant and Virat have been taken
and the construction of an air defence ship has already been sanctioned,
he said.
He fruther said Russia had indicated that it would refit and modernise
the aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov" at a cost of about 549 million
U.S. dollars, the Lok Sabha was informed today. Complete details are yet
to be worked out, he added.
In addition to considering the offer of the Russians for acquiring the
warship, the government is also taking the necessary steps to arrive at
a precise cost in consultation with the naval headquarters and the
Russian side, he said.
He said necessary steps are also being taken by the government to ensure
the availability of spares, if the ship is inducted into the Indian
navy.
*******
[7.]
The Asian Age
19 December 1999

MiG-21s worry IAF, they keep going down
By Rezaul H. Laskar
New Delhi: Almost half of the 28 Indian Air Force aircraft which crashed
this year were MiG-21s, and this has sparked off concern within Air
Headquarters about the operational capabilities of the ageing MiG-21
fleet.
The MiG-21s, all of which are at least 20 years old, form the backbone
of the IAF, and the force finds itself in a Catch 22 situation today -
if the MiG-21s are grounded, there will be gaping holes in its
operational capabilities and training programmes; if they continue to
fly without upgradation, the likelihood of more crashes cannot be ruled
out.
Sources in the IAF said the most recent MiG-21 crash - in Sonitpur
district of Assam on Thursday - underscored the seriousness of the
situation.
The aircraft belonged to the Air Force's elite Tezpur-based MiG
Operational Flying Training Unit, and it crashed due to technical
problems about 15 minutes into a routine training flight. "If the
aircraft being used to train pilots are themselves unreliable, how can
the pilots be properly trained?" the sources said.
The lack of an advanced jet trainer, which would allow pilots to make a
smooth transition from basic trainer jets like the Kiran and Iskra to
aircraft like the MiG-21, is not the only problem confronting the IAF.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation's failure to adhere to
innumerable deadlines for the development of the much-vaunted Light
Combat Air-craft has forced the IAF to delay plans to phase out the
MiG-21s and to go in for a Rs 2,500 crore programme in March 1996 to
upgrade 125 MiG-21bis aircraft with Russian assistance. So far, only two
prototypes have been upgraded in Russia, and these are yet to complete
the required number of test flights. The sources said the programme for
upgrading the other 123 MiGs at HAL facilities in Nasik is unlikely to
be completed for at least another three years. The IAF also has MiG-21
variants which are over 20 years old and these will be phased out over
the next few years.
Although the first flight test of the LCA is yet to be completed, the
defence ministry has projected December 2005 as the date for its final
operational clearance. "The actual induction of the LCA into the IAF
will, however, take some more time. Till then, we may have no option but
to depend on the MiG-21s," the sources said.

*******
[8.]
South China Morning Post
Saturday, December 18, 1999
=20
INDIA
Accused arms dealer fires closing salvos
JON STOCK in New Delhi

Peter Bleach, a British arms dealer currently on trial in India,
completed his own summing up yesterday at the High Court in Calcutta,
exactly four years after he was caught trying to deliver arms to a Hindu
fundamentalist cult in the eastern state of West Bengal.
He stands accused of "waging war against India" for his part in an
international sting that was reportedly financed out of Hong Kong and
which has cast grave doubt on India's national security.

The arms were parachuted over the remote district of Purulia in West
Bengal on the night of the December 17, 1995. The cache included 548
assault rifles, 11.3 tonnes of ammunition, and 165 rocket launchers, and
was intended for the Ananda Marga, a violent sect that organised a
campaign of civil unrest against the state's communist government in the
1970s.

According to India's Central Bureau of Investigation, the entire
operation was financed by two businessmen based in Hong Kong and a
Danish national called Niels Christian Nielson. An agreement was reached
between the men at a hotel in Hong Kong on September 22, 1995, to supply
arms to the cult, which Nielson had joined a few years earlier.

Bleach was duly hired by Nielson to buy 77 cases of arms from Bulgaria,
which were loaded onto a Russian Antonov cargo plane that Bleach had
bought in Latvia.

Nielson and Bleach were both on board as the arms were dropped, but only
Bleach was arrested when the plane was forced to land in Bombay by two
Indian air force fighters. Nielson slipped away into the night and has
never been found.

Bleach claims he made no effort to escape because he was working for
British intelligence services, who had forewarned their Indian
counterparts about the deal.

Earlier this year his story seemed to be supported when he
cross-examined a British police officer, whom he had met in the summer
of 1995 to discuss the arms deal.

He told the officer that he kept the British Ministry of Defence fully
informed of the delivery, even giving exact geographical co-ordinates of
the parachute drop.

The officer admitted in the Calcutta High Court that notes of his
conversation had been altered "on advice from the security service" and
"as a result of security measures".

Bleach has been an inmate at the Presidency Jail in Calcutta for almost
four years, often in solitary confinement, and has used the time to
study Indian law.

According to those present in court, he delivered an outstanding
courtroom performance, speaking articulately without using notes.

One Calcutta lawyer, Biswajit Deb, said: "He now knows all there is to
know about our complex laws.

"I saw him cross-examining one witness - his legal knowledge is quite
excellent."

Bleach decided to represent himself when the trial started two years ago
and has been helped by a young student who dropped out of law school
after he became disillusioned with judicial corruption.

Deepak Prahladka, 25, who has taken on and won several high-profile
cases in West Bengal, has been coaching Bleach on legal technicalities,
which could prove crucial in the case. In particular, he has helped
Bleach contest that he cannot be accused of waging war because the
Ananda Marga have not been involved in civil unrest for many years.

Bleach, who has been married three times, was a former lance corporal in
the British Army intelligence corps.

He also worked in the prison service in Rhodesia and as a private
detective in Britain.

The trial is expected to finish before Christmas and a verdict given in
January.

Interpol are still searching for Nielson. His motives for the deal are
still not clear, prompting conspiracy theorists to suspect he was
working for the CIA.

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'India Pak Arms Race & Militarisation Watch' (IPARMW)
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South Asians Against Nukes
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