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Inside this issue:

Arjun Mark II and Futuristic main battle

tank (FMBT)

LSP-5 gears up for first flight

Kaveri engine on path to become flight

EDITORIAL PANEL worthy
MANAGING EDITOR
7
AJAY NAIK
Why Israel Should be Part of AMCA
EDITORIAL ADVISOR Project

VINAYAK SHETTY
7
RAKESH SHARMA
Tejas Pv-1 waits for Kaveri Integration
EDITORIAL PANEL
VINAYAK SHETTY
Nag Man Portable ATGM Program 8
AJAY NAIK goes on backburner
SUJIT KULKARNI

SANKAR BALU
7 pilots and 19 Mig-21 Crashes in last 8
SUJIT KULKARNI Five Years
NEERAJ KAKAR

DINAKAR PERI

JOYDEEP GHOSH

Email Managing Editor

Idrw.org@gmail.com

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May the sun in this course visit no land more free…

More happy , more lovely , than this our own country ….

Happy Independence Day

Idrw.org has launched a new free online Monthly Magazine for the
readers and members of idrw.org called has " SECURITY " , and we
are launching the Inaugural sample Magazine for viewers on India's
Independence Day

Happy Independence Day

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Arjun Mark II and Futurisc main bale tank (FMBT)

Vinayak Shetty security Editorial Panel

If latest Times of India reports are to be believed , then its seems that Arjun Mk-2 and FMBT will be two
different tanks , in their report TOI have told that Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establish-
ment (CVR&DE) is working on Arjun Mk-2 and is also working on Futurisc main bale tank (FMBT)
which it plans to field by 2020 .

It was rumored that army wanted Arjun Mk-2 to be a FMBT MBT and where not interested to induct
any further numbers from Arjun MBT , but a4er impressive show by Arjun MBT when pied against T-
90s , Army not only ordered more 124 Arjun Mk-1 but also was interested in Arjun Mk-2 variant.

FMBT will be completely new tank with new modern design features , and will incorporate futurisc
Armor and weapons control systems , Indian army earlier had planned for a joint venture with Russia
on new Main bale tank but Russians them-self have canceled their futurisc T-95 MBT program and
also have scrapped their a parallel Tank program know as Black Eagle and are working on further im-
provements on their exisng T-90s MBTs , this could be the main reason for Indian army to sck with
Indigenous FMBT MBT Project .

Arjun MBT MK-2 will have Panoramic Commander's Sight as per another report and it will have beer
Bale field awareness and along with more powerful locally developed 1500 BHP engine along with
ERA Armor protecon , CVR&DE plans to offer new Arjun Mk-2 for trials to army with next three years

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INDESEC Expo 2010

India's only exhibition and conference dedicated to homeland security

INDESEC Expo 2010 is India’s only exhibition and conference dedicated to homeland security. Building on the phenomenal
success of 2009, INDESEC Expo 2010 maintains its total focus on the Indian Governments urgent need to procure the most
advanced technological solutions to meet their homeland / national security requirements. Senior visitors will include ministers
and decision makers from the Ministry of Home Affairs, central police and paramilitary organisations, the intelligence services,
Ministry of Defence, Coastguard, individual state ministries and senior police representatives – the people in india responsible
for determining and meeting India’s maritime, border, airport, transport, critical infrastructure security and disaster

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LSP-5 gears up for first flight

Vinayak Shetty security Editorial Panel

ADA and HAL is all geared up to conduct first flight of LSP-5 and as per source ,ground runs are been carried out
and first flight is expected by mid or second last week of this month , LSP-5 will be carrying new layout of the cock-
pit as per suggestions from the pilots who have been flying them and it also will be carrying Radio aid which will be
used for Weapons Testing.

LSP-4 From its first Flight

LSP-5 will have all integrated sensors that includes having night lighting within the cockpit, and an auto-pilot , this
will be third LSP Tejas to be rolled out of HAL Complex this year , in April this year LSP-3 with MMR radar was
rolled out making it first Tejas to have an on-board radar .

HAL is also working to complete LSP-6 and have its first flight by end of this year LSP-6 will be used to further ex-
plore Angle of Attack (AOA) and also do minor improvements to its airframe , as per unconfirmed information pro-
vided by source to www.lca-tejas.org LSP-6 will also be a Test bed aircraft to incorporate newer avionics and oth-
er subsystems which will be developed for Tejas Mk-2 ,we have to still verify this claim from multiple sources .

Kaveri engine on path to become flight worthy

Ajay Naik security Editorial Panel
Defence minister yesterday in parliament declared that GTRE has successfully carried out Al-
titude testing where Kaveri K-9 under belly of IL-76 aircraft carried out different engine perfor-
mance simulation at various altitude and second part of testing will see that working engine
from IL-76 will be replaced by Kaveri K-9 engine and this engine will actually power the air-
craft .

Tests have been conducted currently at Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI), Russia, on
a IL-76 Flying Test Bed (FTB) ,after this trials are successfully , GTRE will integrate the Ka-
veri engine with a Tejas Air frame (Mostly likely PV-1) and plans to have its first test flight by
end of 2010 or early 2011.

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Why Israel Should be Part of AMCA Project

Vinayak Shetty security Editorial Panel

ADA along with HAL have embarked into developing a 5th generation aircraft all alone , AMCA project has per
IAF ASR (Air staff requirement) has to be Fully stealth aircraft and also should be a multirole aircraft able to play
role of both Air superiority fighter and also be able to carry precision air strikes ,very similar role which Tejas MK2
might have to carry out when inducted into Air force .

Constant delays in Tejas program have made many Defence experts in India, question the whole AMCA project
which India wants to carry out on its own with out any International Defence partner , Many including Defence Ex-
pert Rakesh Sharma have suggested an international Defence partners help to carry out this project , and why
Israel fits the bill for the AMCA project .

Israel have technical knowing and might bring its expertise in Avionics and its subsystems to develop a highly ca-
pable aircraft , and in return India will get an international partner for Export and they will also play a crucial role in
getting export orders for AMCA in international market , Israel are currently disappointed regarding F-35, since
they will not be able to do any local upgrades to F-35 they indent to purchase and rising cost of this aircraft already
has forced Israel to cut back on number which they earlier indented to induct .

while induction numbers of F-35 might be small for Israeli air force , Israel will also face another problem since it
will have to carry out fleet replacement of older F-16 and F-15 in service with them , Israel is second largest opera-
tor of F-16 in the region and soon older Blocks will require replacement and Israel might struggle to replace them
in one to one basis with F-35 ,and to avoid shrinking of aircraft they too will require adding new variant of fighter
aircraft or induct more similar aircrafts already in their force .

A Joint Venture between two will be a win win situation for both countries and their respected air force , it will also
benefit whole AMCA project since it will cut down time for development of many systems and subsystems which
India needs to develop for a 5th generation aircraft , and whole aircraft project will take shorter time to turn into
reality , this will also keep Bossy IAF happy and steady export customer for ADA and HAL will make the whole
project feasible and it might also lead to further orders in international market .

Tejas Pv-1 waits for Kaveri Integration

Vinayak Shetty security Editorial Panel

In a busy Hangar in Hal complex a lone Tejas Pv-1 in the corner of the Hanger waits for Integration with the Ka-
veri engine , mating should have taken place a decade ago but delays in kaveri engine by GTRE only delayed
the whole event , this also shows how off track whole Kaveri engine Project really is . PV-1 has been pulled out
of the current rigorous Tejas Test program since it no longer has all the new avionics equipment's and its subsys-
tems , nor does it has weapons integrated to carry out weapons testing ,but it will not join the fate of TD-1 and TD
-2 where both have been dismantled and usable parts already been removed from the aircraft and waits it last
resting place neither in a museum or a IAF Base . Efforts are on to integrate Kaveri engine to its airframe , PV-1
is the only aircraft which was designed keeping Kaveri engine in mind , but it flew with American Ge engine , it
still needs a lot of rework on its fuel lines and also on plumping systems ,so does LRU in the aircraft, Tejas LSP
aircrafts have gone lot of changes recently to match LSP , PV-1 will also require number of changes to its mis-
sion computer and software . Sources close to www.lca-tejas.org have told us that PV-1 up gradation and rework
may delay the whole integration of Kaveri engine , HAL engineers are also working on possibility of integrating it
with Tejas LSP-1 which is a newer airframe and has better equipment on-board then Pv-1 . Which aircraft will
take the honor will be decided soon and Kaveri engine will fly on board a Tejas Air frame by early 2011 or some
time later in the year

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Nag Man Portable ATGM Program goes on

backburner
Vinayak Shetty security Editorial Panel

Recent agreement to purchase Third Generation American made Man portable Javelin anti-tank guided mis-
siles (ATGM) as a replacement for Second Generation French Milans might be a death blow to Nag Man portable
version of ATGM which DRDO wanted to build locally in India.

DRDO in 2006 had announced its intention to built a 14kg `Man Portable’ Nag , Work has been going for a while
and after Nag had successfully completed its final validation trials and orders placed by army for 443 missiles for
Rs 335 crore.

DRDL was expecting Army to wait for Man Portable Nag to be ready to be offered to them since Recently Army
had placed orders for 4100 new Milan ATGM which has been produced in India, under license from European firm
MBDA, over the past 30 years, Sudden purchase might put whole program into back burner since Army has not
cleared its intention regarding Nag Man Portable version yet .

Army Sources are confident that Javelin ATGM is only interim purchase to induct new generation ATGM into the
force and NAG man portable version when ready and after validation will be inducted into army .

The Javelin, introduced in 2002, weighs 22.3 kg (49 pounds, with disposable launch tube and battery/seeker cool-
ant unit) and is fired from a 6.4 kg (14 pound) CLU (command launch unit). The CLU contains a 4x day sight and a
9x heat sensing night sight. The missile has a tandem (two warheads, to blast through reactive armor) that can hit
a target straight on, or from the top. This latter capability enables the Javelin to destroy any existing tank (including
the U.S. M1) with its 8.2 kg (18 pound) warhead. Maximum range is 2500 meters.

MMRCA Race : 3 In and 3 out claims Defence Magazine

Ajay Naik security Editorial Panel
STRATEGIC AFFAIRS magazine has reported in their latest report in their magazine that three aircrafts are still
in the race while other three have been shown the door by India air forces trial report which has been already
submitted to MOD.

Whats surprising is that the aircrafts which STRATEGIC AFFAIRS magazine are completely contradictory to
what Times Now report earlier in the week claimed , Times Now had claimed that Euro-fighter and Rafale had
made the cut and F-18SH was under consideration.

STRATEGIC AFFAIRS report claims that Euro-fighter , F-16IN and Mig-35 have made the cut and while other
aircrafts lost due to non meeting of particular requirements of the IAF , and the whole MMRCA procurement is
moving now at the faster pace ,what surprise us (idrw.org) is that F-16 has been included in the suggested pan-
el , it seems to be done on purpose to keep Americans happy and avoid any further pressure from them , if this
aircrafts are the top three then there is no doubt that Euro fighter will emerge the winner in MMRCA race

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Why Migs Have Shorter Shelf life ?

Vinayak Shetty security Editorial Panel

Retiring of more then 60 % of 250 Mig-21 seems to be a blessing for IAF ,since it has brought down the attrition of
the fighter aircrafts down considerable ,while retiring of Mig-23 might have also boosted over haul safety records
of Iaf , Mig-23 when inducted into iaf in early 80′s had a very disastrous service life in iaf and had more accidents
then even older Mig-21 .

Now Mig-27 which shares most of Mig-23 design characters is fast turning out to be another flying coffin for experi-
enced pilots , experts believe that Mig-23 and Mig-27 have excellent design way head of its time when it was in-
ducted but poor workman ship and poor quality of metallurgy in soviet era meant that this aircraft comes with very
little life span , IAF is the largest operator of Mig-27 now with more then 140 aircrafts in the force , USSR have
already retired their aircraft few years ago and have kept them in reserve .

Soviet built jets which came at throw away price to its export customers where built in keeping in mind short span
of time they will operate , many aircrafts of soviet era like Mig-21,23,27 and sukhoi-7 in Soviet air force never
served more then 25 years , even IAF which operated 80 plus Sukhoi-Su-7 at the start of 1971 war with Pakistan
only served for less then 20 years in IAF.

first Airframe of Mig-27 was inducted into Iaf in 1986 ,it already has served more then 24 years in service , Experts
believe that aircraft is showing signs of aging and design defects in its engine is only making matter worse for the
serviceability of the aircraft , Russia long realized design defects in the aircraft engine and had offered rewiring of
the Mig-27 with Al-31 engine which also powers Sukhoi Su-30 Mki aircrafts in IAF , but after internal inquiry it was
determined that at best the aircraft can be in service more next 6 to 10 years , but it will not solve issues related to
poor workmen ship of the airframe , so the engine upgrade was dropped .

Questions remains how long Mig-27 and Mig-21 will serve IAF , half the fleet of Mig-27 will be retired by
2015 ,while other will depart by 2020 , while small numbers of Mig-21 will be operational till 2016 ,till Tejas Mk-1
and MMRCA aircrafts starts replacing them .

7 pilots and 19 Mig-21 Crashes in last Five Years

Ajay Naik security Editorial Panel

In a reply to query in Parliament , A.k.Antony has informed Rajya Sabah that Indian air force has lost 19 Mig-21
in past five years and has lost 7 pilots due to crashes involving Mig-21 , he also informed Parliament that IAF has
already lost two aircrafts this year till august ,.
He said 29 air crashes involving different types of aircraft have taken place in the last 28 months. “13 accidents
occurred during 2008-09, 14 accidents during 2009-10

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Boeing AH-64D Apache a Favorite in Helicopter race for IAF

Vinayak Shetty security Editorial Panel

Indian Air force has been conducting trials for 22 attack helicopters ,while Boeing AH-64D Apache which arrived
first for trials has successfully demonstrated it capability in deserts of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan few weeks ago , and
will also be conducting similar grueling tests in the icy Himalayan heights of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir in
month of August .

While its main competitor Russia’s Mi-28 will be arriving in India in mid of August for similar trials , but as per
sources Boeing’s AH-64D Apache has impressed IAF Helicopter pilots mostly who have operated IAF’s current Mi
-25s/35 Hind Attack choppers , Indian Air force have recently upgraded Mi-25s/35 Hind with latest hardware that
includes night vision capability better sensors making it all weather capable ,but what might have impressed Iaf
pilots seems to be shear fire power and better situation awareness capability of the Apache .

Retired Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major who himself was a Helicopter pilot was greatest Supporter of IAF ac-
quiring Apache into force ,it has been said that Major had a chance to fly one Apache once and he loved it had
appreciated Apache many times in Indian Media .

while its competitor Russian Mi-28 doesn’t lack behind Apache and is an all-weather day-night two-seater anti-
armour attack helicopter. It carries a single gun in an undernose barbette, plus external loads carried on pylons
beneath stub wings. It has two heavily armored cockpits. Its engines are two 2,200 hp Isotov TV-3-117VM (t/n
014) gas turbines.

$550 million-tender to replace the ageing helicopter fleet was issued last year. And six contenders Sikorsky for the
Black Hawk, Boeing for the Apache AH 64D, Bell for the Super Cobra , Euro copter for the Tiger, Russian Mil for
the Mi28 and Augusta Westland for the Mangusta responded for the RFI and RFP ,while other backed out due to
various reasons including not able to meet technical requirements set by IAF .

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