Defence acquisition proposals worth Rs 4,444 cr cleared

New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Wednesday approved proposals worth Rs 4,444 crore, including the purchase of four helicopters for survey vessels at Rs 2,324 crore, but deferrred a decision on a joint bid of Tata Sons Ltd and Airbus for replacing IAF’s Avro transport fleet.

Besides giving its go-ahead to acquire four choppers, the DAC, under Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, also cleared the upgradation of the mobile integrated electronic warfare system, Samyukta, at a cost of Rs 1,682 crore, a Defence Ministry spokesperson said. The DAC also cleared a proposal relating to purchase of P-7 Heavy Drop Platform, which is used for military logistics, for Rs 402 crore, the official said. Another proposal of Rs 36 crore for acquiring propeller engine for offshore patrol vessel of the Coast Guard was also given a go-ahead, the spokesman said. The DAC, however, could not arrive at a decision on a joint bid by Tata Sons Ltd and Airbus to replace the Indian Air Force’s Avro transport fleet, according to sources. European consortium Airbus Defence and Space has made a joint bid with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for 56 medium-transport aircraft of IAF valued at Rs 20,000 crore (USD 3 billion). The euro 14 billion (USD 17.8 billion) Airbus Defence has tied up with Tata Sons’ subsidiary (TASL) as its Indian production partner for the order. The bid is for 56 twin-turboprop tactical military aircraft, including 16 in fly-away condition from the Airbus Defence final assembly line and the remaining 40 to be built and assembled by TASL in Hyderabad. The aircraft is in the six-eight tonne class, with a cruise speed of 800 kms per hour and a range of 2,500-2,800 kms. The IAF had floated the tender after the DAC had on July 19 cleared the proposal for manufacturing the 56 transport aircraft in the private sector, excluding state-run defence firm Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), which built the Avro planes. Source : Defence News

Obama’s defence secy nominee Ashton Carter instrumental in reviving ties with India

Washington: Ashton Carter, nominee for the US Defence Secretary, was instrumental in reviving India-US defence ties, a top American lawmaker today said, while others welcomed his nomination for the top Pentagon post.

“He (Carter) was instrumental in reviving the US-India defence relationship, a major development that continues to bear fruit, and he has helped forge new security ties with former Communist bloc nations,” House Democratic Whip Steny H Hoyer said after President Barack Obama nominated Carter.
Hoping that the Senate will confirm Carter quickly so he can get to work without delay, Hoyer said Carter is an excellent choice to serve the next Secretary of Defence.
“He has the experience and the judgment required to lead the Department of Defence as it confronts ISIL in Iraq and Syria, brings our troops safely home from Afghanistan, and counters threats against the United States and our allies around the world,” he said.
Congressman Mac Thornberry, Chairman-elect of the House Armed Services Committee, said Carter knows the Pentagon, and he knows that some reforms are essential if they are to meet the national security needs of the country.
Welcoming the nomination, Senator Jim Inhofe, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he has worked with Carter over the years and consider him qualified for the position and look forward to his confirmation hearing.
Senator John McCain said Carter is a highly competent, experienced, hard-working, and committed public servant.
“Throughout Carter’s previous tenure at the Pentagon, I have worked closely with him on a number of issues, including defence acquisition reform,” he said, adding that he was looking forward to his confirmation hearing.
Senator Lindsey Graham said Carter has the knowledge and capability to serve as Secretary of Defence during these difficult times.
“I expect he will face tough questions at his confirmation hearing about President Obama’s failing national security policy, but I expect he will be confirmed,” the Republican Senator said.
Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Carter is highly qualified and experienced, and well-versed in the challenges that the next secretary of defence will face.
“Carter understands the threats that confront our country and I believe his experience at the Pentagon will make him an effective leader for our military. Given the many critical national security issues confronting the United States, it is my hope that the Senate will work swiftly to consider and confirm President Obama’s nominee to this critical post,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said.

Source : Defence News

11 Unbelievable Weapons That Only America And Its Closest Allies Have

U.S. policymakers are girding the American public for a long fight against ISIS, with Secretary of State John Kerry saying that the jihadists could take several years to defeat.
ISIS has one of the most extensive arsenals of any non-state armed group in modern history. But even if not all of their weaponry is applicable to the fight against extremists in the Middle East, it’s worth remembering that the U.S. and its partners still have the overwhelming advantage in hardware.
And it’s not just an advantage over nonstate groups like ISIS.
The U.S. is in possession of a range of weapons that the rest of the world simply doesn’t have.

Weapons like the MQ9 Reaper Drone, the Laser Avenger and the ADAPTIV cloaking give U.S. troops the a leg-up on any battlefield around the world – including in the ongoing battle against jihadist groups across the Middle East.

India is an emerging Democratic Superpower : Australian PM

MUMBAI: Describing India as an “emerging democratic superpower”, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott today said he looks forward to making the most of the abundant opportunities for business in the country.
Kicking off his two-day India visit from the commercial capital, Abbott said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call “come, make in India” was “close in spirit and in intent” to the phrase he had used in respect of Australia that “we are open for business”.
“This is a country which has amazed the world over the last few decades with its growth and its development – the world’s second most populous country; on purchasing power terms, the world’s third largest economy, clearly, the emerging democratic superpower of the world and a country with which Australia has long and warm ties.
“The purpose of this trip, as far as I am concerned, is to acknowledge the importance of India in the wider world, acknowledge the importance of India to Australia’s future, to let the government and the people of India know what Australia has to offer India and the wider world for our part, and to build on those stronger foundations,” he said addressing a 30-member business delegation accompanying him on the trip at Hotel Taj Palace.
Noting how India has changed “enormously” since his last visit 33 years ago as a backpacker, Abbott, who has expressed keenness to sign a nuclear deal with the country, said, “I can remember on my first day in Mumbai watching a bullock cart take material to a nuclear power station.
“Well, 33 years on, there aren’t that many bullock carts left in urban India, and the power stations – the nuclear power stations – are more sophisticated than ever,” he said.

Abbott, who had visited Taj Hotel, India’s icon of hospitality, during his 3-month trip in 1981, and had lunch there, described it as one of the truly magnificent hotels in the world.
“Back in 1981 I spent three months as a backpacker roaming around India – this mysterious, fascinating, enthralling sub-continent, this world in one country – and I spent a lot of time in third-class compartments of railway carriages, I’d spent a lot of time in two rupee a night hotels and I thought, I’m going to have to treat myself.
“So, I came here to the Taj Hotel and I had the best lunch this hotel could provide and I’m sure that the breakfast we’re about to enjoy will be no less splendid than the lunch I had here 33 years ago,” he told the delegates, fondly reminiscing about his visit.
Abbott said though there is no dearth of opportunities elsewhere in the vicinity of Australia, there is “an abundance of opportunities” in India.
“I am determined to make the most of them, I know all of you are determined to make the most of them and I look forward to working very closely with you and with our Indian interlocutors over the next two days,” he told the delegation.

Source : Defence News

US endorses India-Japan strategic partnership

WASHINGTON: The US has welcomed the just announced India-Japan Strategic Partnership and said it is looking forward to strengthen its trilateral co-operation with them.

“The US strongly supports India’s collaboration and cooperation with its neighbours in the Asia Pacific. We actively support such collaboration through our trilateral dialogue and other activities with India and Japan, and look forward to strengthening further our trilateral cooperation,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.  The US strongly supports a prosperous India playing an important role on the global stage, she said. It is during the Obama Administration that India, Japan and the US have started trilateral meetings.  “As we have long said, a strong, prosperous India contributes to regional and global peace and prosperity,” Psaki said responding to questions about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan this week. During a meeting between Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, the two sides announced India-Japan strategic partnership and deepening of defence relationship.  The Pentagon welcomed the decision of India and Japan and said that the latter’s participation in the Malabar exercise would be routine. “We are very excited that Japan’s participation in Exercise Malabar is becoming routine and believe that credible, ready, and inter-operable maritime forces help to preserve peace, prevent conflict, and foster a spirit of cooperation to meet regional and global challenges for mutual benefit,” Jeffrey S Pool, a Defence Department spokesperson said.  American think-tank community has described Modi’s Japan visit a great success. “Modi’s visit to Japan has been lauded by all corners as a great success,” said Alyssa Ayres, Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, a top American think-tank.  “The United States has strongly supported strengthened ties between India and Japan (the US-India-Japan trilateral just one example), and the deliverables announced in the Tokyo Declaration complement components of US-India relations,” Ayres said. The joint emphasis on democracy, upgraded defence relations, science and technology, and a robust catalogue of economic undertakings all illustrate similarity with priorities in the US-India relationship, she said.  One major difference lies in the Japanese government’s ability to mobilise large amounts of Overseas Development Assistance, particularly through soft loans, she added. “The Tokyo Declaration puts Prime Minister Abe’s commitment at 3.5 trillion yen over five years (around USD USD 33 billion). That’s a much larger sum than the United States government typically mobilises, and at a time when the US Congress has not renewed the US ExIm Bank’s charter, shows where Washington has a diminished ability to support similar projects,” Ayres said. “Countries like Japan are working with economic policy tools to meet the strategic interests of partners like India, especially on infrastructure. Some good lessons for us here,” she said. Writing for “Asia Unbound” a CFR foreign policy blog, Sheila A Smith wrote that in his five-day visit this week, Narendra Modi has made Japan’s pivot to India even more enticing – and far more likely to succeed.  Modi’s election in May has brought more energy to the relationship, she noted. “As the television footage suggested, the two leaders seem to have a good chemistry, and enjoyed their time together. Modi even sent out messages of thanks to Abe via social media as he visited Kyoto and other spots in Japan,” Smith said.  Abe, according to her, must be satisfied to see one of his main diplomatic efforts take root. He has put considerable energy into developing new partners and opportunities for balancing China’s rise, and India has long been an option that Tokyo’s strategic thinkers have looked to develop, she observed. Source: Defense News

India, Japan agree to strengthen defense ties

In his first state visit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met with a kindred spirit, Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe. The two leaders, wary of China's glowing clout in Asia, have agreed to strengthen defense ties.

semco tech services

During his visit to Japan on Monday, Indian Prime Minister Modi warned Asian powers against territorial expansionism, in a veiled reference to China's ambitions in the region.

"The 18th century situation of expansionism is now visible," Modi said, after holding talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the historic city of Kyoto. "Such expansionism would never benefit humanity in the 21st century."

Modi didn't specifically mention Beijing, but China and India contest several regions along their common border. Abe shares Modi's suspicion of China's intentions in the region. Beijing and Tokyo dispute the Senkaku Islands, called the Diaoyu in Chinese.

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Modi's Japan visit signals strengthening of bilateral ties

Indian PM Narendra Modi will be heading to Japan on his first bilateral visit outside South Asia. Topping his agenda is the modernization of India's infrastructure and military, analyst Rajiv Biswas tells DW. (27.08.2014)

Over the summer, Prime Minister Abe's Cabinet approved a reinterpretation of Japan's pacifist constitution, permitting Tokyo to defend allies and deploy troops abroad for combat missions.

'Strategic, global partnership'

Although Abe and Modi failed to set up a permanent forum for their foreign and defense ministers to hold regular consultations, they did agree to "upgrade and strengthen" their defense ties. Tokyo is keen to sell New Delhi US-2 amphibian aircraft. The two countries also agreed to participate in joint maritime drills, and for Japan to continue participating in US-India drills.

"Together, working hand-in-hand with Prime Minister Modi, I intend to fundamentally strengthen our relationship in every field to elevate our relationship to a special strategic and global partnership," Prime Minister Abe said.

The two leaders also agreed to double Japan's investment in India over the course of five years to a total of 3.5 trillion yen ($33.6 billion, 25.5 billion euros).

slk/kms (AFP, dpa, Reuters)

Source : http://www.dw.de/