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[Defense] Rafael MMRCA jet deal, UAV Panchi, Global

Hawk Drone, Schilka system, Akash Missile
Posted By Mrunal On 31/12/2014 @ 12:00 pm In Diplomacy | 43 Comments

1. [Block-1] Airforce
1. Jet: Rafael MMRCA
2. Rafael: the salient features
3. Jet: Naval LCA (NP1)
4. UAV: Panchi with Wheels (DRDO)
5. UAV: Global Hawk Drone (USA)
6. Helicopter: Dhruv
7. Helicopter: S-70B
8. Airdefense: Schilka system
9. Airdefense: Akash Missile
10. Computerized Pilot Selection System
2. [Block-2] Indian Army and Missiles
1. Indian Missiles in News
2. Agni-4
3. Chinese JL-2 missiles
3. [Block-3] Indian Navy
1. Dismantling of INS Vikrant begins
4. [Block-4] Defense exercises and Misc. developments
5. Mock Questions
Selected defense topics from last three months- October to
December 2014.
Utility: At MCQ and interview level of three UPSC exams: CSE, CDS
and CAPF.

[Block-1] Airforce

Jet: Rafael MMRCA

In future wars, we need fighter jets to cripple the advancing Chinese
or Pakistani columns first, before our (large but slow moving) Army
and naval formation can attack them.
At present, Indian Airforce (IAF) has 34 fighter squadron, we need

atleast 44 squadrons to be combat effective against China and

Pakistan.
Prospective IAF force in 2020 [Exact figures not
important]
Role
Aircraft
No. Squadrons
Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 280 15
Air
superiority MiG-29
50
3
50
3
Air Combat Mirage 2000
(MMRCA) MMRCA (Rafael)
126 ~7-11
Air combat
Tejas
125 7
(Light)
Strike
Jaguar
119 6
Total
~740 ~45
We are working on fifth Generation fighter aircraft (FGCA) project
with Russia, but that is unlikely to finish before 2020.
So in the meantime, we need a fourth generation Medium MultiRole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) aircraft such as Rafael.
Rafael acquisition: Chronology of Events:
Tender invited for purchase of MMRCA.

2007-21

2012

Eurofighter (British Aerospace)

Rafael (Dassualt, France)
F-16 Superviper (Lokheed Martin)
F/A-18 Super hornet (Boeing)
MiG-35 (Russia)
JAS-39NG Gripen (Sweden)
Other companies failed to clear sectional cutoffs so, we begin
negotiations to buy 126 Rafael fighter jets from at a cost of
$10 billion Dollars.

2014Feb.

Defense Minister AK Antony postponed the purchase

citing financial reasons and need to curb fiscal deficit.

2014Dec.

New Defense ministry Manohar Parrikar agreed to fast

track negotiation. Although delay has escalated the cost
from $10 billion to $20-30 billions.
Rafael deal likely to be completed in 2015. Salient features

are likely to be:

2015

2016

IAF to fly this jet for 40 years, Dassult will help in

maintenance.
Industrial Offset: Dassult will have to outsource some
of its work to Indian companies, so that 50% of the deal
money returns back to India. French labour union
opposed to this, fearing jobloss.
Transfer of Technology: France will give 18 jets right
away and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) will build the
remaining 108 planes in India, under Transfer of
Technology (ToT) agreement. Thus total 126 jets.
First 18 Rafaels will be delivered.

Rafael: the salient features

Mainly for Group discussion level at CDS-SSB
good
bad
1. Spectra electronic warfare
system to protect itself from
incoming missiles.
2. Comes in one-seater and
two-seater versions.
3. Can be equipped with air-toair, air-to-ground and air-toship missiles, precision
guided bombs.
4. Can carry upto 20,000
pounds of ordinance.
5. Helmet mounted sight and
display for active and passive
targeting.
6. Its RBE2 radar can track 8
targets simultaneously.
7. Saturn UHF anti-jam radio,
with voice-encryption facility.
This provides seamless
communication between
pilot vs. ground stations,
AWACs and Navy ships.
8. can be refueled in flight

1. Rafaels stealth system is

outdated compared to some
of its rivals.
2. Rafael doesnt have STOVL
facility (Short take off and
vertical landing) like F-35-B, in
similar price range.
3. Brazil was also interested in
buying Rafael, but after
problems AESA-scanners and
HUD (Heads up display) during
trials, they opted to buy
Swedish Gripen jet.
4. Rafael was selected (Mainly)
because it was the lowest
bidder among others.
5. but if we include the cost of
spareparts, maintenance,
transfer of technology

9. can fire 2500 cannon-rounds

per minute.
10. India is familiar with French
technology: Dassult Ouragan
in the 50s, Mirages served
well in Kargil war.

agreement- the final bill will

be far higher than its rival
companies.

UAV: Panchi with Wheels (DRDO)

Nishant

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Panchi

Launched using
catapult
Lands using a
parachute
Nishant can be used for
surveillance and
correcting artillery fire.
More chances of radar
detection

Panchi is UAV Nishants new version with

wheels.
So, it can take-off and land from airstrips like a regular aircraft.
Can do all functions of Nishant, while staying
in air for a longer period, because Panchis
weight is lighter than Nishant.
Panchi has smaller cross-section, low chances
of radar-detection, compared to Nishant

UAV: Global Hawk Drone (USA)

Technical high altitude, long endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial
name Vehicles (UAV)

Mfg.

USA. India may purchase it during Obamas visit on 26th

January parade.
Indian also interested in buying Apache attack
helicopters and Chinook heavy lift helicopters

Type

non-combat drone, for surveying ocean and coastal

areas- 24/7.
Americas largest unmanned aircraft system

Jet: Naval LCA (NP1)

Naval version Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). 4th plus(+) generation

aircraft.
It needs hardly 200m airstrip. Can be used from air-craft carriers
such as INS Vikramaditya (Admiral Gorchakov)
Has facility of Hands-free Takeoff using Ski-jump platform.
Test flight done in 2014, December.

Helicopter: Dhruv
Why in News? During SAARC-Kathmandu visit, Modi gifted a Dhruv MarkIII Advanced Light Helicopter to the Nepal Army.
Features of this helicopter
Can work in all weathers
Hindustan Aeronautics has built it, using Shakti Engines.
Can play multiple roles: logistics, rescue and attack for Army, navy,
Airforce and coast guards.
Dhruv has infrared jammers, radar and missile detectors. It can fire
anti-tank NAG missiles.
Dhruv was used Operation Rahat and Surya Hope for Uttarakhand
floods in 2013.

Helicopter: S-70B
It is the naval version of the US Armys Black Hawk helicopter.
S-70B is an attack-helicopter for both anti-surface and antisubmarine warfare.
Manufactured by USAs Sikorsky company.
Why in News? Indian navy aims to buy 16 such multi-role
helicopters for Rs.6,000 crores.

Airdefense: Schilka system

Who? Russians designed this system in 1970s, with four 23mm guns
Purpose: low-level air-defense for Indian Army.
Recently, BEL made following upgrades to Sachilka system
24/7 all weather tracking system
AC cabin for crew
Fire detection and modern communication faciltiies.
Filter for NBC attacks (Nuke, biological and chemical)

Airdefense: Akash Missile

Designed by DRDO and testing by Indian Air Force (IAF) at Chandipur

near Balasore in Odisha.
Medium range (25 kms), surface to air missile (SAM). Can destroy
cruise missiles and fighter jets.
Can carry payload upto 60kg.
Akash can simultaneously track and attack several targets
simultaneously, with help of a ground radar Rajendra.
Both Indian army and Airforce use Akash missile system.
Other surface to air missiles are: Astra, Trishul.

Computerized Pilot Selection System

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalams brainchild, jointly developed by DRDO and
allied research agencies.
To conduct pilot aptitude tests for Indian Airforce, in a more
scientific manner using computer system.
Will help reducing flying accidents by pilot error.

[Block-2] Indian Army and Missiles

Indian Missiles in News

List not exhaustive
Missile
range and features
Prithvi 1 150 km, surface to surface
Prithvi 2 250 km, surface to surface
Brahos

Brahmos
Mini

290 kms, Supersonic cruise missile. India and Russia

have jointly developed it.
Brahmos-II will be a hypersonic missile.
Range of 290 kms and supersonic speed of 2.8 Mach
speed.
Brahmos mini missiles weight just 1.5 tonnes- quite
lighter than the regular version.
Theyre designed for navy submarines (Project 75I) and
airforce (Su-30MKI)
India-Russia planning to sell them to friendly nations in
near future.

Prithvi 3 350 kms. Its naval version called Dhanush

Agni-1 700 kms. All Agni series missiles are surface to surface.

Nirbhay

Agni-2
Agni-3

Agni-4

800+ kms. Subsonic cruise missile, similar to USAs

Tomahawk missile.
Nirbhay is based on Lakshya Drone system, hence can
be controlled remotely. It is Nuclear capable, with land
and sea variants planned in future..
Nirbhay is a Loitering missile, tree top missile (hard to
detect on radar), seeker missile (can lock on target after
launch).
2000 kms. Test fired in 2014, November.
3000 kms
4000 kms. Test fired in 2014, December. Although Hindu is
gone crazier than usual in covering this topic during
December 2014 so it ought to be the most important topic
for next prelims. But since UPSC already asked Agni-4 in in
CSAT-2014, so less likely to re-appear again in CSAT-2015.
Above 5000kms
It is Indias first Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Agni-5

India is the 7th country to have ICBM. Other 6 are US,

Russia, China, UK, France and Israel.
Taepodong-2: North Koreas ICBM.

Agni-4
Both Prithvi and Agni are Surface to surface missiles.
20 meters tall. Two stage solid fuel engine.
Can carry nuclear weapons upto 1 tonne. Range 4000 kms
Has heat shields so missile can even withstand above 4000C
temperature, When it re-enters earths atmosphere
RINS: Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS), to
correct inflight disturbances.
Agni missiles are designed by DRDO and tested by Armys Strategic
Forces Command (SFC), At Odishas Wheeler Island.

Chinese JL-2 missiles

Chinese
missiles

USAs strategic concerns

Can be launched only from Missile silos. USA can

Dongfeng5A

Dongfeng31A

destroy silos using conventional missiles.

This missile needs lot of pre-launch preparation
because it uses liquid fuel, giving sufficient time to USA
forces to launch a preemptive strike.
10,000 kms range.
But, difficult to hide from USAs Global Hawk drones
(India also interested in buying those drones!)

Upgraded version of Dongfeng 31A, to reach most

DongfengAmerican and European cities. Later DF-41 missiles with
31B
12,000 kms range to reach every American city.
USAs Asian pivot policy to increase military presence in the
region by 2020- particularly to deter China and North Korea.
Now, China aims deploy Julang (JL-2) long range nuclear missiles on
its submarines. Range: 7350 kms.
This will help China launch a second strike on Alaska and Hawaii. IF
USA destroy all its nuclear weapons on land.

[Block-3] Indian Navy

Dismantling of INS Vikrant begins

Aircraft carriers of Indian Navy
Vikrant
Vikrant (UK)
Virat
Vikramaditya
(Desi)
HMS Hercules
built at
Admiral
Who?
Britain
(Britain)
Kochi
Gorchakov(Russia)
bought in 2004, got in
Joined? 1961
2013
1987
2013
2017Retired 1997
??
??
18
In
TRIAL
NOPE
YES
YES
service?
PHASE
Story of INS Vikrant
1961 to 1997: INS Vikrant served in Indian navy, participated in
blockade of Pakistan during 1971s war.
2014: Navy sells INS Vikrant to a Mumbai company for scrap metal
at 63 crore rupees.

Bombay Highcourt rejects PIL to convert Vikrant into a naval

museum.
Maharashtra Government says it doesnt have enough money to
maintain this vessel as a museum, better just scrap it.
TheHindu goes more emotional than usual, running same news
story for almost 2 weeks in December 2014. Hence topic
automatically becomes important for competitive exams.
Navy: Misc. Developments

INS
Sindhuratna

Late 80s: Submarine commissioned in Indian Navy

2013, August: Submarine caught fire, 18 personnel
killed. Admiral DK Joshi resigned taking the moral
responsibility.
2014, Dec: New Defense ministry Manohar Parikkar
says inquiry yet to finish.

Project 75I

This project will Build 6 diesel-electric powered

stealth submarines in India.
With Anti-air-independent propulsion system to
prevent enemies from detecting submarines.
Will have Land attack capability using Brahmos Mini
missiles.

AirIndependent
Propulsion

It contains 2nd generation hydrogen fuel cell, so

submarine can recharge its batteries underwater,
without coming on surface. This prevents enemies
from detecting our submarines
DRDO will fit the AIP system on Scorpene
submarines . And later in Project 75-I submarines.

HUMSA-NG

Hull mounted sonar. NG stands for new

generation.
These Sonars will help our navy to detect enemydivers trying to attack Indian harbors.

INS Kolkata Largest Anti-submarine warship, built by India.

[Block-4] Defense exercises and Misc. developments

Defense Exercises held in November 2014

Defense
of Gujarat

Hand in
Hand

Avir Indra

TRV
Navy Day
Armed
Forces Flag
Day
INS
Sukanya,
Deepak
etc.
Binola,
Haryana

Xiaomi

Navy, Coast guard and Airforce

To prevent repeat of 26/11 terrorist attack.
To combat smuggling, trans-national crimes and
terrorism.
Indian and Chinese Army, Held at Pune, 4th Edition.
Focus: Counter-terrorism. Confidence building and
future joint operations as UN peacekeeping forces.
Joint Indo-Russia airforce exercise.
Location: Halwara, Punjab.

Misc. developments
Torpedo recovery vessel. This ship sank at
Visakhapattanam coast in 2014, November.
Celebrated on December 4. To mark the success of
Operation Trident, in which Indian navy devastated Karachi
harbour.
Observed on December 7, since 1949.

Delivered fresh water to Maldives after countrys

desalination plant got damaged.
Government will setup Indian national defense university
here.
Chinese Mobile company. It forwards IMEI, address
book, text message to its Beijing server.
Hence IAF (Airforce) ordered personnel not to use
this phone due to security reasons.

Mock Questions
Q1. Consider following statements about Rafael
1. It is a fifth generation combat aircraft.

2. Under the proposed deal, France will supply 108 jets, remaining 18
will be produced by HAL under transfer of technology.
3. Dassult company will be required to INVEST back 50% of the
amount in India, under offset policy
Which of the above statements are wrong?
A.
B.
C.
D.

Only 1 and 2
Only 2 and 3
Only 1 and 3
None of them

Q2. UAV Panchi is a wheeled version of UAV ____, while Nirbhay

Missile is based on UAV _____.
A.
B.
C.
D.

Nethra, Nishant
Nishant, Nethra
Nishant, Lakshya
Lakshya, Nishant

Q3. Consider following statements about Dhruv helicopters

1. They can be used for transport, surveillance and relief operations
only.
2. Dhruv helicopters use Shakti Engine.
3. Theyre manufactured by Pawan Hans ltd.
Correct statements are
A.
B.
C.
D.

Only 1 and 2
Only 2 and 3
Only 1 and 3
None of them

Q4. Consider following weapon systems:

1. Akash missile
2. Schilika
3. NAG
Which of them are ideal against enemy-aircraft?
A. Only 1 and 2
B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3

D. All of them
Q5. Consider following missiles
1.
2.
3.
4.

Agni-4
Nirbhay
Prithvi-3
Akash

Arrange them in ascending order of their range?

a.
b.
c.
d.

1234
1243
2143
4321

Q6. Nirbhay is a ____sonic missile and Brahmos is a ___sonic missile.

a.
b.
c.
d.

Sub, sub
sub,super
sub,hyper
hyper,sub

Q7. (CSAT-2014) Which reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the

following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.
2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
1.
2.
3.
4.

1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Q8. Find incorrect pairs

a. INS Viraat: HMS Hercules
b. INS Vikramaditya : Admiral Gorchakov
c. INS Sindhuratna: Fast petrol vessel.
Incorrect pairs are
A. Only 1 and 2

B. Only 2 and 3
C. Only 1 and 3
D. All of them
Q9. Correct statements about INS Vikrant
a. It was an aircraft carrier, purchased from France.
b. Vikrant was decommissioned after its last service at rescue-relief
operations during 2004s Tsunami
c. Both A and B
d. Neither A nor B
Q10. Correct statements about Dhanush Howitzer?
a. They indigenously manufactured, using Israels Spike howitzer
design.
b. It can deliver upto half-tonne artillery shells about 50 kms away.
c. Both A and B
d. Neither A nor B
Q11. Hand in hand is a joint _____ exercise between India and ____.
a.
b.
c.
d.

mechanized warfare, USA

airforce, China
Navy, Russia
Counter terrorism, China

Q12. Avir Indra is a joint airforce exercise between India and ____,
held at ____ in 2014.
a.
b.
c.
d.

USA, Bangaluru
USA, Punjab
Russia, Bangaluru
Russia, Punjab

Interview
1. Has India made the right choice in purchasing Rafael as our MMRCA?
2. Has India made the right choice in scrapping the legendary INS
Vikrant rather than turning it into a naval Museum?

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