INDIAN ARMED FORCES CHIEFS ON
OUR RELENTLESS AND FOCUSED PUBLISHING EFFORTS

SP's MAI - Issue No. 17 | September 01-15, 2012

Issue Features

• 

  MILITARY / REPORT
  Admiral D.K. Joshi at the helm
  By Rear Admiral (Retd) Sushil Ramsay

  ‘For the Navy to fulfill its mandate as a maritime power for national prosperity, 24 x 7 attention would need to be paid at all levels to ensure that there are no gaps in our security preparedness’

• 

  AEROSPACE / INTERVIEW
  ‘Boeing sees great value in partnering with India’

  Dennis D. Swanson is now the International Business Development Vice President for Boeing Defence, Space and Security in India. In an interview with SP’s M.A.I., Swanson spoke at length about Boeing’s plans to deepen its presence in the country through long-term and strategy partnerships.

• 

  INTERNAL SECURITY / VIEWPOINT
  Special Forces Command
  By Lt General (Retd) P.C. Katoch

  While the Commando Forces should have an integrated tri-Services set up, the Special Forces should be delinked from the military...

• 

  CORPORATE
  Saab appoints Lars-Olof Lindgren to lead India business

  Saab has announced the appointment of Lars-Olof Lindgren as head of Market Area India from December 1. Lars-Olof Lindgren is the former ambassador of Sweden to India; he held that position for five years before joining Saab. Lars-Olof Lindgren’s experience and relationships with the Indian and Swedish governments and industries will further reinforce Saab’s long-term commitment to the Indian market.

• 

  TECHNOLOGY
  Hiding in plain sight

  Hiding in plain sight This robot is made of silicone. It can walk, change colour and light up in the dark. It can even change temperature. And it can do all of this for less than $100. In the future, robots like this might be made for just a few dollars.

• 

  MILITARY / VIEWPOINT
  Uncalled for delays
  By Air Marshal (Retd) B.K. Pandey

  While the DPP may have been crafted with the noble objective of eliminating manipulation in the acquisition of defence hardware...

• 

  AEROSPACE
  RAF surveillance aircraft clock up 20,000 flying hours

  Surveillance aircraft based at RAF Waddington have notched up a collective total of 20,000 flying hours protecting British and other ISAF forces in Afghanistan.

• 

  INTERNAL SECURITY
  American airports: Morpho streamlines ID checks

  The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has chosen Morpho (Safran) to develop a solution to optimise ID and boarding pass checks.

• 

  CORPORATE
  DCNS profitable growth continues

  DCNS performed very well during the first half of 2012. “Our growth was in line with our target to double Group revenue between 2010 and 2020.

• TECHNOLOGY
  QinetiQ awarded contract by DSTL to lead research

  QinetiQ has been awarded a prime contract worth £6.4 million by Ministry of Defence (MOD) scientists following an open competition to deliver key aspects of a four-year, programme of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) research.

• 

  MILITARY
  Chinese Defence Minister in India

  China’s Defence Minister General Liang Guanglie is on a five-day visit to India. His visit, the first by a Chinese Defence Minister in eight years, since General Cao Gangchuan’s trip in March 2004, comes at a time when the two Asian giants are aiming at getting a firm grip across the continent for resources.

• 

  AEROSPACE
  Sweden confirms sale of Gripen to Switzerland

  The sale of 22 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden to Switzerland was confirmed on August 28 for a price of more than three billion Swiss francs ($3.1 billion).

• 

  INTERNAL SECURITY / BREACHES
  Kim Kardashian pelted with 'flour-bomb'

  In March 2012, American reality star Kim Kardashian was pelted with a flour-bomb while stepping out to promote her new fragrance at the London Hotel in West Hollywood.

• CORPORATE
  General Dynamics acquires two companies - Fidelis and Gayston defence unit

  General Dynamics has completed its previously announced purchase of Fidelis Security Systems, Inc., a market leader in cyber security tools that provide real-time network visibility, analysis and control.

• 

  MILITARY
  Commissioning of Indian Coast Guard Ship Rajkiran

  Indian Coast Guard Ship Rajkiran, the third of the series of eight Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs), designed and built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata...

• 

  AEROSPACE
  Royal Thai Army 480B deliveries complete

  Enstrom Helicopter Corporation recently completed delivery of 16 480B turbine training/utility helicopters for the Royal Thai Army (RTA).

• 

  INTERNAL SECURITY / BREACHES
  UNHCR alarmed over security incidents at Dadaab

  Last December, UNHCR stated it was alarmed by a string of recent security incidents targeting the Dadaab refugee complex in northern Kenya.

• CORPORATE
  Saab strengthens position in India

  Defence and security company Saab has signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding) regarding a strategic investment in the Indian company Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Co Ltd. In conjunction to this the companies have signed a technical partnership agreement (TPA).

• 

  MILITARY
  Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha appointed FOC-in-C, Western Naval Command

  Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, currently Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC)...

• 

  AEROSPACE
  Cirrus Aircraft chosen for French Air Force

  Cirrus Aircraft announced today that Cirrus SR20s and SR22s have been selected by Cassidian Aviation Training Services (CATS) in a public tender for the French Air Force and Navy.

• INTERNAL SECURITY
  Militant groups of the North-east

  There are reports that Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) have been using Myanmar territory for safe sanctuary. Manipur-based Meiti insurgent groups like People’s Liberation Army (PLA), United National Liberation Front (UNLF)...

• CORPORATE
  Restructuring of Denel to sustain the business turnaround

  Defence manufacturer, Denel, has initiated a realignment of companies in the group that will lead to savings, increased efficiencies and more effective corporate governance.

• 

  MILITARY
  Prithvi-II successfully test-fired

  The Strategic Forces Command has successfully test-fired the surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile from Chandipur in Odisha’s Balasore district on August 25.

• 

  AEROSPACE
  Airbus Military ferries first C212 to Vietnam Marine Police

  Airbus Military has delivered to Vietnam the first of three C212-400 maritime patrol aircraft ordered by the Vietnam Marine Police.

• INTERNAL SECURITY
  Naxal attack on infrastructure

  Since 2009, a total number of around 1,183 incidents of damage to economic infrastructure by the Maoists have been reported from different parts of the country.

• CORPORATE
  Navistar names Lewis B. Campbell Executive Chairman and Interim CEO

  Navistar International Corporation has appointed Lewis B. Campbell, former Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Textron Inc., Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and interim Chief Executive Officer.

• 

  MILITARY
  JV with Russia for indigenous production of Smerch rockets

  Ordnance Factory Board signed a memorandum of understanding for a joint venture with Rosoboronexport, Russia and Splav “SPA”...

• 

  AEROSPACE / UNMANNED
  Piramal Enterprises picks up 27 per cent stake in Bluebird Aero Systems

  Piramal Enterprises, of the Ajay Piramal-led group...

• INTERNAL SECURITY / BREACHES
  Youth gains entry into captain’s quarters of ship

  A 20-year-old Eric Carrero of Yonkers, New York, was apprehended after he was found unauthorisedly in the captain’s private quarters of a cargo ship, Andromeda Leader.

• CORPORATE
  Dr Andreas Schwer on Executive Board of Rheinmetall Defence

  Dr Andreas Schwer, 46, joins the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Defence, the defence technology arm of the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group.

• 

  MILITARY
  US Army and Marine Corps pick JLTV winners

  The US Army and Marine Corps awarded Oshkosh, AM General and Lockheed Martin 27-month contracts to compete in the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle...

• 

  AEROSPACE / UNMANNED
  Israel's long-range UAV is ready for action

  The Israel Air Force’s most advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Heron TP, known as the Eitan...

• INTERNAL SECURITY / BREACHES
  'Active shooter' sends security in a tizzy

  An initial report about a suspicious gunman at Davis-Monthan US Air Force Base in 2011 led to a series of communication breakdowns during a chaotic security incident.

• 

  MILITARY
  Bradley upgrades continue

  BAE Systems received a $306 million contract modification to upgrade 353 Bradley fighting vehicles—one of the most survivable and reliable combat systems in theatre.

• 

  AEROSPACE / UNMANNED
  Rockwell Collins introduces small mission computer for UAS

  Rockwell Collins has introduced the GPC-3000...

• 

  MILITARY
  Oshkosh delivers 10,000 FMTVs to the US Army in two years

  The US Army and Oshkosh Defense recently commemorated the production of the 10,000th Oshkoshbuilt Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles...

• AEROSPACE
  Lockheed delivers final three F-16s to Morocco

  Three Block 52 F-16s for the Royal Moroccan Air Force line up for take-off for the final delivery flight to Morocco on August 22, 2012, from NAS Fort Worth JRB.

• 

  MILITARY
  France entering final qualification phase for Nexter Munitions

  France is entering the final qualification phase for Nexter Munitions’ and Junghans’ first artillery system with trajectory correction.

• AEROSPACE
  T-50s complete trials of initial approach to a flight refuelling aircraft

  Sukhoi Company has completed trials of T-50s (5th generation fighter aircraft PAK FA) initial approach to a flight refuelling aircraft.

• MILITARY
  Thales launches Australian Munitions

  Thales Australia has officially launched Australian Munitions – a business dedicated to providing a wide range of munitions that deliver a battlefield advantage to Australia’s warfighters.

• AEROSPACE
  Acquisition of the Growler electronic attack capability

  Australian Government has decided to acquire the Growler electronic warfare system for the Super Hornet, at a cost of around $1.5 billion.

• MILITARY
  BEL, Thales to make high-tech radars

  Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and Thales have signed a memorandum of understanding to make high-tech radars for military and civilian use.

• AEROSPACE / UNMANNED
  UAS Europe acquires IP rights

  UAS Europe, Sweden, has announced that they have acquired the intellectual property rights, manufacturing capabilities and airframe stock for two different unmanned aircraft from UAV Services and Systems, Germany.

• MILITARY
  DRS Signal Solutions unveils nextgen SDR

  DRS Technologies has announced that its DRS Signal Solutions business unit has unveiled the Picoflexor, a next generation high-performance, softwaredefined radio (SDR).