India Cuts its Defense Budget

Big shock for a military trying to catch up with the Chinese
The Indian Finance Ministry appears to have put a stop to the headlong dash by the country's military to enlarge its defense forces to meet the China challenge, slashing the military budget by US$2 billion this year.

The cuts are necessary, officials say, because of economic distress and a ballooning fiscal deficit of 5.8 percent, up from 4.1 percent in 2011. But the fiscal adjustment, which has raised eyebrows, might not only have an impact on the country's defense preparedness but also throw off kilter vital acquisition projects of aircraft, choppers, howitzers and missiles.

The cut, for instance, appears likely to affect the already much-delayed $20-billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to acquire 126 French Rafale fighter jets, ministry sources sway.

India began a massive military buildup in 2010 after a November, 2008 attack by Pakistani militants on luxury hotels and other facilities in Mumbai that took 166 lives, and after an admission by military officials that they were unable to retaliate with a full-scale attack against Pakistan because they didn't have the military readiness to do so.

"New Delhi is in the throes of finalizing important contract negotiations to bolster segments like the artillery, aviation, air defense, night-fighting, anti-tank guided missiles and specialized tank and rifle ammunition. All these will now be pushed to the back burner," a source told Asia Sentinel.

The Army too, had sought a 30 per cent budget hike allocation for the 12th Plan (2012-17) including upgrading its rapid reaction ground force capability against China by building two specialized divisions in high-altitude areas at a cost estimated at more than US$11 billion. This plan too, will now have to wait.

What has most surprised policy watchers is that the current squeeze comes in the wake of Defense Minister AK Antony's campaign for an additional outlay of US$8.18 billion for 2013 due to "new ground realities" and the "changing security scenario" against the backdrop of a disquieting China-Pakistan collusion.

However, Antony has hinted that given the grim economic situation, his Ministry would be hard pressed to get the allocated money. "I am struggling to get the budgetary amount," he acknowledged on being probed about additional funds for the modernization of the three services.

Unfortunately, the defense's belt tightening coincides with a corresponding rise in India's security challenges. Already, the country's defense outlay of $35.09 billion seems paltry against China's official outlay of $106.41 billion. (Beijing's actual military spending is suspected to be twice as much). It is also an open secret that the Chinese are topping up their war supplies with strategic missiles, space-based assets, aircraft carriers, fighter jets, warships and more.

With India's GDP growth plummeting to between 5 to 6 percent (from 9 percent in 2009), there may be more forced thrift in the offing, reveal sources. With elections for the lower house (Lok Sabha) in 2014, and no less than 10 states going to polls this year, the ruling UPA (United Progressive Alliance) will also be under pressure to invest funds in populist measures rather than defense procurement.

"The defense squeeze at this juncture will also disappoint the global defense industry which has been salivating at the thought of snapping up lucrative defense contracts from the Indian government," said Abhijeet Deodhar, a foreign policy analyst. Delhi last year, he said, earmarked an estimated US $80 billion for military modernization over the next three years. The cut, he adds, will hit the global players hard as they are already facing shrinking business prospects from western economies caught in an economic slowdown.

The squeeze notwithstanding, India's defense establishment could surely do with some fund infusion. In a letter from army Chief V.K. Singh to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year that was leaked to the Indian press, Singh described in detail the sorry state of affairs in the Indian army. "The state of the major (fighting) arms i.e. mechanized forces, artillery, air defense, infantry and special forces, as well as the engineers and signals, is indeed alarming," the army chief wrote in the letter.

The army's entire tank fleet is "devoid of critical ammunition to defeat enemy tanks", while the air defense system is "97 percent obsolete and it doesn't give the deemed confidence to protect… from the air," he wrote. The infantry is crippled with "deficiencies" and lacks night fighting equipment, while the elite Special Forces are "woefully short" of "essential weapons".

At current levels of around 2 percent of GDP, India's defense spending is miniscule as compared to its neighbors, an analyst said. "The sensitive security situation arising out of the critical geopolitical theater that Asia has become necessitates that we gird up our own capabilities," says a former senior Army official. "We have China flexing its muscles ready to synergize operations with our traditional bete noire Pakistan. There are territorial disputes with countries, there is instability in Pakistan and Afghanistan and internal issues like the Maoists to grapple with. We just can't afford to be complacent." Interestingly, a 2010 Deloitte study projected India's arms procurement to balloon from US$41 billion in 2011 to US$120 billion by 2017. The study triggered an intense debate in the country on whether India ought to be spending billions on defense procurement when it was hosting almost half the world's poor. India's skew in spending 2 percent of its GDP on the military, pointed out the anti lobby, was in stark contrast with its spending on health and family welfare (0.34 percent) and education (0.73 percent).

Be that as it may, many strongly feel that defense spending is hardly an either-or situation. "We can't choose social development over national security," said developmental economist Shubranghshu Roy in an interview. "It's not a toss-up. Economic development and defense needs are both vital and not mutually exclusive."

However, insiders say the current budget trim is largely due to the existing inefficiencies in defense expenditure and continued profligacy. "With finance minister Palaniappan Chidambaram on a strict expense-control trip to bolster the economy," adds Roy, "the military ought to look for fiscal and procedural efficiency to ensure that modernization is on track."

In view of the cost-cutting measures, defense forces have also been asked by the ministry to concentrate on prioritizing their procurements. However, while the Navy and Air Force IAF are relatively better placed, say sources, India's 1.13-million Army needs rejuvenation. It has not bought a single new artillery gun since the Bofors scandal exploded on the international scene in the late 1980s nor has its US$4-billion artillery modernization plan appeared

India's defense expenditure, add ministry sources, may be further challenged by the UPA government's attempts to ride back to power a third time on the back of recently unleashed economic reforms and controlled spending to rein in the fiscal deficit. It seems the defense forces might just have to brace themselves for more squeezes down the line.

Singapore and Indian Armies Conduct Artillery Exercise

A combined artillery live-firing was conducted by the Singapore and Indian armies during Exercise Agni Warrior 12 in Devlali, India.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Indian Army (IA) conducted the eighth bilateral artillery exercise, codenamed Exercise Agni Warrior, from 24 Nov to 8 Dec 2012 in Devlali, India. As part of the exercise, the two armies carried out a combined artillery live-firing. The exercise has enhanced mutual understanding and interoperability between the two armies.

Exercise Agni Warrior is conducted under the ambit of the Bilateral Agreement for Joint Army Training and Exercises between both armies. The Agni Warrior series of annual bilateral exercises underscores the warm defence ties between Singapore and India. Apart from bilateral exercises, the SAF and the Indian Armed Forces also interact regularly through visits, courses, seminars and other professional exchanges.

India Investigating Tatra Trucks Deal

Government has taken cognizance of alleged irregularities in purchase of Tatra trucks.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been requested to investigate comprehensively into alleged irregularities in purchase of Tatra trucks. CBI has registered a case on 30.3.2012 under Section 120 B read with 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against one of the owners of the Company and unknown officials of Ministry of Defence, BEML Limited and unknown persons of TatraSipox UK limited.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri RudraMadhab Rayand others in Lok Sabha today.

Ashok Leyland eyes business in Brazil

Ashok Leyland has approached the Brazilian government to sell its heavy defence truck Stallion MK-IV (above), under a joint venture agreement.

eavy trucks maker Ashok Leyland has approached the Brazilian government to sell its heavy defence truck Stallion MK-IV, under a joint-venture arrangement. The move comes as the terrain of Latin America requires heavy trucks for logistic purposes, and currently the ones being used in countries like Brazil, Columbia, Peru and Equador are US and China made, which are expensive. Brazil however, was scouting for a cheaper option. These Ashok Leyland vehicles can perform the same tasks and are cheaper.

The tie-up between Ashok Leyland and the Brazilian company would meet the logistic requirements of neighbouring countries like Columbia, Peru, Equador, as well, but the main assembly plant will be in Brazil. As of now it is not yet known which Brazilian company will tie up with Ashok Leyland, which has offered its vehicles at almost one-third the price of the US and Chinese vehicles.

Over 70,000 of these trucks are already in use in the Indian army to supply logistics in far-flung areas. The proposal was forwarded through the Ministry of External Affairs recently, to the Ambassador of Brazil, in the form of a presentation.

These heavy vehicles will be all-weather and all-terrain vehicles. According to a source, the terrain in and around countries like Peru, Brazil, Columbia and Equador is such that heavy vehicles are required, because of which this is being seen as a win-win situation for both nations. Partnership is still unclear, but most probably a private company from Brazil will enter into partnership with Ashok Leyland for assembling the 4 into 4 truck, which has automatic integral power steering. The truck with an overall height of 3000 mm has a rear and pneumatic brake at the front, and a fully floating steerable driven axle. Powered by a maximum speed of 85 kmph, it can carry a payload of 5000 kg. With an overall width of 2500 mm and length of 7395 mm, the truck has an angle of approach of 35 degrees.

Still in the initial stages, the deal is yet to be finalised but is being looked at very seriously by Brazil. The numbers are not yet known as to how many of these would be required by Brazil and other countries.

Apart from Stallion Ashok Leyland also makes other models like the Colt and Super Stallion for defence purposes, along with which serve as Rapid Intervention Vehicles, Field Artillery Tractors, Water Bowsers, Truck Fire Fighters etc. for the Indian armed forces, to meet their mobility and logistic needs.

India’s First Aerospace SEZ On the Move

In a strategic step towards meeting the diverse and sophisticated forging requirements of the Indian and foreign aerospace and defence entities, QuEST Global Manufacturing, an Indian aerospace  engineering and precision manufacturing  major, has  set up SQuAD Forging India Private limited in collaboration with Aubert Duval, SA, France and Setforge Societe Nouvelle S.A.S. This facility covering an area of 50,000-sq ft and  located within India’s first aerospace SEZ(Special Economic Zone) promoted by QuEST Global Manufacturing in 2009-- on the outskirts of Belgaum --will become operational in 2013.Incidentaly, QUeST Global  aerospace SEZ is considered a major aeronautical hub outside Bangalore, the traditional nerve centre of Indian aerospace activities. According to Aravind Melligeri, co founder and Chairman of QuEST Global, the setting up of this state of the art forgings facility is in keeping with  the vision of bringing to the Indian aerospace sector the “capabilities and expertise” that are either non existent or difficult to come by within the country. Melligeri is quick to point out that high quality forging is one of the key components of the modern aerospace industry.

Significantly, QUeST Global has  pulled off the distinction of becoming  the first Indian private sector player to manufacture components for direct delivery to Airbus Industries under a long term agreement. This is apart from the MOU that QuEST had earlier signed with the Belgian aerospace entity SABCA for manufacturing metallic parts and assembly work for the Airbus A-350 XWB flap track structure. QuEST Global SEZ  is also into the supply chain   eco-system of Boeing. Under a contract with Swedish defence and aerospace major Saab, QuEST Global, is producing machined and sheet metal parts of the cargo door of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

   QuEST Global aerospace SEZ, spread over an area of 300 acres, also boasts of Aerospace Processing India(API), an independent company that QuEST Global has floated  in tie up with Magelan Aerospace. API is the only facility of its kind in the Indian private sector to have built up the capability to offer high quality surface treatment facility. API is patronised by many of  the privately  owned Indian  aerospace and defence outfits including the companies promoted by Tata Industries. API continues to not only expand the portfolio of surface treatment through the addition of new and innovative techniques but also give a “green touch” to the entire process of surface treatment. This scalable facility, which has been in operation  since January 2009.like other facilities within SEZ has been approved by OEMs and Tier-1 customers.

  The current strength of QuEST Global aerospace SEZ lies in  aero-structures and actuation systems. Of course, as noted by Melligeri, further into the future, his aerospace SEZ will look into engineering the entire integrated assemblies   for global aerospace OEMS. But then Melligeris makes it clear that as of no the focus of the aerospace SEZs would be on metallic components, thereby implying that composites are  not on its radar. But he was quick to add that if some entrepreneur wants to set up a composite facility catering to the needs aerospace sector within the SEZ, he will be welcomed and provided all the support.

  Melligeri states that the growth of the aerospace SEZ would be realized through the joint venture route rather than through the path of acquisition. But Melligeri  also made a point that he is not averse to the process of acquisition if some good opportunities come by.  In 2011,QuEST Global  acquired the engineering services division of GKN Aerospace and entered into a long term agreement with the company to provide the engineering skills and resources  to support GKN Aerospace’s long term growth strategy.  

  Melligeri is also quite bullish about the prospects of offset deals that his SEZ could reap in the wake of a series of multi billion dollar defence deals India has signed with global defence and aerospace outfits.  Melligeri revealed that a few offset contracts have been signed without  giving out details. In particular, Melligeri pins hope on the lucrative opportunities inherent in the US$12-billion dollar contract that India would finalize for the acquisition of 126 medium multi role combat aircraft(MMRCA).

Everything going as planned  , India will seal the contract for the acquisition of 126  Rafale combat aircraft, the MMRCA  contest winner, before March.2013.

In the ultimate analysis, Melligeri’s strategy is to place the aerospace SEZ as a one stop shop offering design to build services--right from the concept design to finished product—and provide a total ecosystem for the aerospace sector. According to Melligeri, the strategic advantage of having players across the  value chain in the same location would be the amount of the time saved in moving parts from one location to another as well as associated cost of logistics.

Radhakrishna Rao, 1921,5^th Cross,2^nd Phase JP Nagar Bangalore-560078

Radhakrishna Rao in Belgaum

 

Indian PM unlikely to visit Pakistan in November

The November 2008 Mumbai attacks have become the main sticking point in efforts to improve ties between India and Pakistan. So much so that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s maiden visit to Islamabad has been linked to bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice.
The Indian prime minister, who was invited to visit Pakistan in November by President Asif Ali Zardari, is unlikely to undertake the trip this year due to what is being termed as “slow progress” to prosecute those behind the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan is keen to host the Indian premier next month on the eve of celebrations of the 544rd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. Be that as it may, Pakistani officials told The Express Tribune that the Indian government had not yet indicated if Singh would be traveling to Islamabad next month.
India’s reluctance to accept President Zardari’s invitation is being attributed to snags in the prosecution of Mumbai attacks suspects currently being tried by an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi. Diplomatic sources said India was not content with certain recent developments in the case, which have further delayed the prosecution of suspects.

New Delhi had also voiced concerns over the anti-terrorism court’s rejection of a report submitted by a judicial commission, which traveled to India earlier this year in connection with Mumbai attacks investigation.
The anti-terrorism court said the commission’s report could not be used as evidence against the seven Pakistani suspects because commission members were not allowed to cross-examine key witnesses in India.
Indian officials, however, argued that they allowed the eight-member Pakistani judicial commission to perform its functions, according to the terms of references agreed between the two sides.
When contacted, foreign ministry spokesperson Moazzam Ali Khan said Pakistan would welcome the Indian prime minister without divulging whether New Delhi had accepted the invitation.
“Our invitation is there and we are looking forward to his visit,” said Khan.
Islamabad has long been pushing for Singh’s visit, but the Indian premier is believed to have been reluctant to cross the border before the two sides had made a major breakthrough on some of the key issues stalling the peace process. The official stance of the Indian government has also remained that the Indian premier would visit Pakistan when the atmosphere is “ripe” and something “worthwhile” comes out from such a trip.
“India should show some reciprocity and must not hold hostage the process of rapprochement to one single incident,” commented Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, Jinnah Fellow at the Oxford University London.
Source

Spying devices' found in vegetable consignment from India: Report

 A vegetable consignment from India was seized on Wagah border on Friday and “spying equipment” was recovered during security screening, Express News reported.
The devices hidden inside a crate of tomatoes included sound recorders and other equipment.
Express News quoted sources as saying that four men, transporting the consignment have also been detained and are being investigated. Their nationalities could not be ascertained as yet.

The devices have been sent off to experts for inspection.

India-Russia Defence Talks Postponed to 10th October

The meeting of the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) which was to be held tomorrow has been deferred due to the inability of the Russian Co-Chair of the Commission and the Defence Minister Mr. Serdyukov to travel to India as scheduled.

It has been conveyed by the Russian side that the Russian Defence Minister was required to stay in Russia for his urgent participation in a programme of the Russian President.

The IRIGC-MTC meeting will now be held on 10th October, which is an annual meeting at the level of Defence Ministers of the two countries.

India’s SSBN Shows Itself

Could it be? It is not entirely clear, but a new satellite image might be showing part of India’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the Arihant.

A new satellite image appears to show part of India’s new SSBN partly concealed at the Visakhapatnam naval base on the Indian east coast

 

The image, taken by GeoEye’s satellite on March 18, 2012, and made available on Google Earth, shows what appears to be the conning tower (or sail) of a submarine in a gap of covers intended to conceal it deep inside the Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Naval Base on the Indian east coast.
The image appears to show a gangway leading from the pier with service buildings and a large crane to the submarine hull just behind the conning tower. The outlines of what appear to be two horizontal diving planes extending from either side of the conning tower can also be seen on the grainy image.

Asian defence news

The Arihant was launched in 2009 from the shipyard on the other side of the harbor and moved under an initial cover. An image released by the Indian government in 2010 appears to show the submarine inside the initial cover.

The new cover, made up of what appears to be 13-meter floating modules that can be assembled to fit the length of the submarine, similarly to what Russia is using at its submarine shipyard in Severodvinsk, first appeared in 2010. Images from 2011 show the modules in various configurations but without the submarine
inside.

        The Indian government published this image in 2010, apparently showing the Arihant inside the initial concealment building.

The movement of the Arihant from the initial cover building to the module covers next to the service facilities and large crane indicates that the submarine has entered a new phase of fitting out. The initial cover building appeared empty in April 2012 when the Indian Navy show-cased its new Russia-supplied Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine: the Chakra.
It is thought that the Arihant is equipped with less than a dozen launch tubes behind the conning tower for short/medium-range nuclear-armed ballistic missiles. Before it can become fully operational, however, the Arihant will have to undergo extensive refitting and sea-trials that may last through 2013. It is expected that India might be building several SSBNs.
Like the other nuclear weapon states, India continues to modernize its nuclear forces, despite pledges to work for a world free of nuclear weapons.

India / Tajikistan: towards a long-term strategic partnership

In early September, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi in order to strengthen relations between the two countries, particularly in the areas of trade, energy and Safety. The IDSA (Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses) said in a report released Sept. 18 issues of the "strategic partnership".

At this meeting in early September, the two leaders had agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in many areas - including political, economic, scientific, defense, fight against terrorism. President Rahmon's visit shows the willingness of India to grant a greater role in Tajikistan's foreign policy, describing it also as a "key partner." According to the IDSA, the importance of India to Tajikistan is primarily geostrategic, partly because the country bordering China, Afghanistan and is located near the Pok (Pakistan human rights of migrants). In the current contexts of Afghanistan where the Taliban have a big impact and Pakistan, where violence continues to grow, Tajikistan is therefore of great importance for India. On the one hand, extremist forces could infiltrate the country, which would have serious consequences for the security of India near the Pok and Kashmir. On the other hand, Tajikistan has the largest water resources of the region, is a hydroelectric power. It is the largest producer of hydroelectricity in the CIS after Russia. The country also has many reservations mercury and zinc, real opportunities for India.

It is in this context that Tajikistan and India have strengthened their relationship in the field of defense and security to deal with extremism and terrorism. India and Tajikistan have wanted to improve the dialogue between their security agencies and their foreign ministers to coordinate their efforts to work within the JWG (Joint Working Group) in the international fight against terrorism. According to the IDSA, the strengthening of relations shows that India intends to play an increasing role and to consolidate its power in the region Central Asia. Through the new policy "Connect Central Asia", India increases its economic and military capabilities to ensure a strategic influence in the region. President Rahmon's visit confirms the commitment of both countries to boost their cooperation in order to create a long-term strategic partnership. However, the success of this partnership depends on the effective implementation of individual agreements made ​​(political, security, economic, energy and cultural).

INS Vikramaditya Trial Malfunctions to Delay Handover

Malfunctions detected during trials of Indian Navy aircraft carrier Vikramaditya will delay the vessel’s handover to India, the Kommersant business daily reported on Monday.
The Vikramaditya, formerly the Russian Navy's Admiral Gorshkov, is to be handed over to India after ongoing sea trials following a much-delayed refit. According to the latest agreements, it was to have been handed over on December 4, but the deadline has been postponed again until October 2013.
The problems started when the vessel tried to gain maximum speed.
“Seven out of eight steam boilers of the propulsion machinery were out of order,” an official told Kommersant.

The official, who prepared the Vikramaditya for sea trials, said the reason for the boilers’ failure was that India refused to use asbestos as a means to protect the boilers from heat, fearing that the material was dangerous for the crew.
He said the boilers’ designer had to use firebrick, which proved not sufficiently heatproof, the official said.

Couach book the last three interceptors controlled by India

The last three of a series of 15 interceptors controlled by the Indian navy were delivered by Couach.Constructed by site-Gujan Mestras, these stars have left the port of Arcachon August 20. Embarked on a freighter, they must arrive in India after a month of transit. Type 1300 FIC (Fast Intervention Craft), these interceptors range Plascoa measure 13 meters long and 3.8 meters wide. Equipped with two MAN diesel engines of 800 hp, they exceeded 50 knots during trials. Manned by a crew of five men, they have a 12.7mm gun and two positions for carriages 7.62mm. The first three stars were delivered in March 2011.Superstructures are shielded with a material type Twaron, based on aramid fibers.

ILA: MiG-29 production takes off, as Indian carrier trials near end

RAC MiG is boosting production activities to meet increased demand for its MiG-29 series of combat aircraft, with the design bureau also close to completing a series of aircraft carrier-based trials for India.

Following its receipt of major orders to supply the Indian and Russian navies with its MiG-29K deck fighter and MiG-29KUB trainer, MiG's production partners will complete 24 aircraft in 2012, up from 11 last year. A further dramatic increase is expected, however, with chief executive Sergey Korotkov having indicated that the annual rate may have to grow to 36 units to keep up with demand.
MiG says it is on track to complete embarked tests with the MiG-29K/KUB aboard the ex-Russian navy vessel the Admiral Gorshkov, which will soon re-enter Indian use as the INS Vikramaditya.
"The testing flights are to be fulfilled before the ship's handing over to the Indian navy, scheduled for December 2012," MiG announced at the show, with the work including using the carrier's "ski jump" ramp.
The service has already received a first batch of 16 aircraft, and will get the first four examples from a follow-on order for 29 more later this year.

Russia's navy will also later field 24 MiG-29K/KUBs with its lone aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, under a contract signed in February.
While the opportunity to make further sales with the K-series fighter is narrow, Korotkov sees the land-based MiG-29M/M2 as holding great potential. Boasting open-architecture avionics, a new radar and with an expanded range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, the type is already being offered to possible customers.
"We are certain that as per its cost-efficiency ratio, the MiG-29M/M2 is capable to compete with any modern fighter," Korotkov says. "Many countries, who initially had declared a fast-track transition to Western weaponry, after complex analysis have corrected their approaches."

India: First Meeting of India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Co-Operation

The first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation was held here today. The 11-member Saudi delegation was headed by Maj Gen Suleiman Saleh Al-Khalifa, Chief of the Armed Forces Operations of Saudi Arabia. The Indian delegation was headed by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence. 

The establishment of the Joint Committee had been decided during the meeting of the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony with the Saudi Defence Minister (and now also Crown Prince) Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, during the Defence Minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia in February, 2012. The Joint Committee was mandated to formulate a programme to develop areas of cooperation between the defence establishments of both countries. 

During the meeting both sides expressed their interest in further enhancing defence exchanges and interactions between their armed forces. Proposals for exchange of high level visits, training exchanges and functional exchanges in various areas were discussed and will be finalized over the coming weeks. 

India: No space war with China

ISRO on Sunday denied it is locked in a space war with China and said its Mars Mission was aimed at learning more valuable lessons as a scientific community. “We never raced with anybody. In space, science drives technological development and that will subsequently result in developing an ISRO scores on 100th mission, PSLV rocket launch successful application,” ISRO chief Dr K Radhakrishnan said in reply to a question from a reporter on whether India is locked in a space war with China.

He said the Mars Mission has a relevance and one may understand many problems, including methane (there). “The mission, approved recently by the Cabinet, is a challenge and ISRO is geared to face it,” he said.

Radhakrishnan said the Mars Mission is a time-bound programme which would ensure development of new technology and applications. He said India is one among the top six countries to have a successful space programme.

The satellite would be ready by November 2013 and the conducive period to launch it would be during that time when Mars would come close to Earth, he said. “Challenges include developing new technology, reliable launch vehicle and the objective was to achieve an elliptical orbit of 500 km closest and 80,000 km farthest,” he said.

The mission would involve a voyage of 300 days and there would be a series of operations after the vehicle leaves Earth’s orbit, the ISRO chief said.

“From the lessons learnt in Chandrayaan (lunar) mission, we need to build on-board automation so that the satellite will manage itself in any eventuality,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after the successful launch of two foreign satellites on board PSLV here, a jubilant ISRO chief said more such foreign ventures, including SPOT 7, were in the pipeline.

ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle placed in orbit French spacecraft SPOT 6 and Japanese micro satellite PROITERES some 18 minutes after lift-off at 9.53am on Sunday.

The historic mission was described as a “spectacular success” by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who watched the launch sequence at the mission control centre at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, about 110km from Chennai.