SEA FUTURE 2018 was held from 19th to 23rd June 2018 at the La Spezia Navy Base of Italian Navy with above 180 companies attending from Peru to India, over 40 High Rank Navies Delegations from around  the world visited. Event Sponsors included: Fincantieri, Leonardo, MBDA, Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, Cabi Cattaneo, L3 Calzoni, Elettronica, CEIA, AIAD. Edge Lab and L&T’s AMOGH Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Leonardo’s AW HERO Unmanned Naval Helicopter, IDS Drone on Launcher, and many warships were on view, with Fincantieri Frigates.

Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri, Shakti and Kamorta of the Eastern Fleet under the Command of Rear Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet were on an overseas deployment to South East Asia and the Western Pacific, arrived at Guam on 7th June 2018 to participate in the 22nd Edition of Exercise Malabar, off Guam, USA from 7th to 16th June 2018.

Eurosatory 2018, the Exhibition for Land Systems, Air-Land Defence and Homeland Security, was  held from 11th to 15th June 2018 at Paris Villepinte. Major Companies participated at this exhibition displaying their Equipment and Systems and also conducted live indoor and outdoor demonstrations. 1,802 exhibitors from 63 Nations participated, with 39 National Pavilions.

The biennial Farnborough International Air Show 2018 will be held from 16th to 22nd July 2018 at the Farnborough Aerospace Centre Hampshire Airfield in UK, having participation from most of the major Commercial and Defence Aerospace & Aviation manufacturers. Farnborough 2018 has above 1,500 Exhibitors from 52 Countries participating, with 29 International Country Pavilions.

Navantia Juan Carlos I, the 27,000-tonne Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) of the Spanish Navy came calling at Mumbai from 2nd to 6th June 2018. As part of the select group of journalists that were invited to see the LHD and its multitude of capabilities, one can conclude that the capability that this Vessel would bring to the Indian Navy’s Air Power & Amphibious Operations would be manifold

The First Biannual IAF Commanders' Conference of 2018 was inaugurated on 31st May 2018 by the Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) at Air Headquarters Vayu Bhawan.

Eurosatory 2018, the Exhibition for Land Systems, Air-Land Defence and Homeland Security, will be  held from 9th to 15th June 2018 at Paris Villepinte. Major Companies participate at this exhibition displaying their Equipment and Systems and also conduct live indoor and outdoor demonstrations. Eurosatory presents strategic trends, technological developments and innovations in Future Defence.

SEA FUTURE 2018 will be held from 19th to 23rd June, 2018 at La Spezia Navy Base of Italian Navy with above 140 companies attending, from Peru to India, 37 High Rank Navies Delegations from all over the world expected to visit, with about 1,500 B2B meetings and 4 Days of Conferences and Seminars .

The Indian Air Force conducted the Pan-India Exercise Gagan Shakti 2018 from 8th to 22nd April 2018. The aim of the exercise was real-time coordination, deployment and employment of Air Power in a short and intense battle scenario.

The ILA 2018 Berlin Air Show, an exhibition for the Aerospace Industry, was held at Schonefeld Airport Berlin ExpoCenter from 25th to 29th April 2018 with above 1,100 exhibitors from about 41 countries participating, with France being the ‘Partner Country’ this year.

The 16th Defence Services Asia 2018 was held from 16th to 19th April 2018 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this time incorporating NATSEC Asia 2018, focussed on Internal Security as well. The DSA Series has gone from strength to strength and is the largest Tri-Services Defence Show in Asia, which again this time attracted about 1,500 exhibitors from about 60 countries, including 30 International Group Pavilions.

Defexpo India 2018, the Tenth in the Series of biennial Land, Naval & Internal Homeland Security Systems Exhibitions, was held at Thiruvidanthai in Kanchipuram, near Chennai, Tamil Nadu, from 11th to 14th April 2018. Defexpo India 2018 did not show any growth, for the first time, and received mild International & Indian companies response, with lesser companies participating at Chennai than most Defexpo Shows. There were only about 670 companies exhibiting from 23 countries, compared with above 1,000 claimed last time.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the Forward Army Posts in Arunachal Pradesh and Air Force Base in Eastern Assam. The visit to the Forward Army & Air Force Bases followed her visits to Bomdilla and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman made her maiden visit to Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), Avadi, Chennai. The RM was taken to various Technology Centres by Director, CVRDE to witness the products and systems/technologies developed by CVRDE.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved yet another feat on 7th November with the successful test flight of NIRBHAY - India’s first indigenously designed and developed Long-Range Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile, which can be deployed from multiple platforms.

IAF successfully fired the BrahMos Air Version Anti-Ship Missile from its Frontline Su-30MKI Fighter aircraft off the Eastern Coast. The Air-Launched BrahMos Missile is a 2.5 ton Supersonic Air-to-Surface Cruise Missile with ranges of more than 400 kms.

Defense & Security 2017, the Tri-Services Asian Defence & Security Exhibition & Conference was  held from 6th to 9th November 2017 at IMPACT Exhibition Centre in Bangkok, Thailand, which has positioned itself as a major event in the ASEAN Region. Defense & Security 2017 featured over 400 companies exhibiting from about 50 countries.

Indian Air Force is going through a Transformation process acquiring state-of-the-art platforms and systems, and through Upgrades, to boost India’s Air Power Dominance capabilities, with Su-30MKIs, Upgraded Mirage 2000s & Jaguars, Rafale MMRCAs, FGFA, LCA Tejas, C-17s, C-130Js, Do-228s, Avro replacement with C295W MTAs, ALH Dhruv, Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs), Mi-17V5s, Chinook Heavy-Lift & Apache Longbow Attack Helicopters, AEW&Cs/AWACS, FRA, Trainers, etc. and various types of Radar Systems, Weapons Systems and SAGW Systems, either being inducted or in final stages of contract negotiations. Chanakya Interviewed AIR CHIEF MARSHAL B. S. DHANOA, CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF (CAS), who covered almost all the IAF programmes of Modernisation, including Fighters & Weapons, Upgrades, AWACS/AEW&Cs, Refuellers, Trainers, Transporters, Akash Missile System & BrahMos-A Missile, Astra BVRAAM, UAS/RPAs, etc. We feature the Exclusive Interview of the Air Chief with Chanakya. Excerpts:

The 15th Dubai Air Show 2017 was held at DWC Dubai from 12th to 16th November 2017. The Dubai Air Show had 159 Aircraft displayed, with above 1,200 exhibitors from about 60 countries. Dassault Aviation’s Rafale & Mirage 2000-9 Fighters; Saab Gripen; Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet & F-15 Fighters, Apache & Chinook Helicopters; Lockheed Martin’s F-16 and C-130J Super Hercules, Sikorsky CH-53K; Airbus Defence & Space’s C295 Airlifters, the Eurofighter Typhoon; Pilatus PC-12NG, were amongst the aircraft presented at Dubai.

While the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be inducting the Next-Generation Rafale Fighters in the current F3R Standard from September 2019 onwards, the Rafale F4 Standard is to start a six-year Development Phase soon, where new and modern Advanced Combat Missile and Engine Technologies will be introduced. Rafale F4 will include Weapon Integration modifications, including new Variants of Air-to-Air MICA, SCALP and the Nuclear Cruise Missile ASMP-A.

A select group of Indian journalists were invited to Marignane in France to witness the handing over of the last two AS565 MBe Panther Helicopters to the Mexican Navy. There are three Naval Helicopter programmes in the pipeline in India - the Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH), Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH) and Naval Multi-Role Helicopter (NMRH). Airbus Helicopters, which has Mahindra Aerospace as a ‘Strategic Partner’ in India, is fielding the AS565 MBe Panther for the NUH programme and the helicopter leader is now concentrating on finalising a location for the facility and building an Indian Supply Chain that would eventually form part of the global supply chain in the years to come.

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi commissioned INS Kalvari (S-21), the first of the six Scorpene-Class Submarines built under Project 75 (Kalvari-Class) into the Indian Navy at an impressive ceremony recently held at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Subhash Bhamre, National Security Advisior Ajit Kumar Doval, and Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Chief of the Naval Staff were present on this significant occasion.

The year 2017 has witnessed significant capability accretion through induction of a number of state-of-the-art Combat Platforms into the Indian Navy, including the 3rd Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette INS Kiltan, which has about 80% indigenous content, the Water Jet Fast Attack Craft and Fast Interceptor Craft, Landing Craft Utility Ships, etc. The commissioning of INS Kalvari, the first Ship of Scorpene-Class Submarines, was an important milestone in the indigenous Shipbuilding programme, alongwith the 2nd Scorpene Khanderi undertaking trials, with the Arihant-Class Submarine, will further boost the Indian Navy’s combat potential. The construction of the first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant is progressing at Kochi. The Navy is also finalising plans and design for the next Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-II), said the Navy Chief at the Annual Pre-Navy Day Press Conference. We feature a Special Report on the Indian Navy.

Interview of Senior-most serving Submariner - Vice Admiral Srikant, Inspector General Nuclear Submarines (IGNS) on occasion of Submarine Day celebrated on 8th December 2017, when the Indian Navy’s Submarine Arm completed 50 Years of Service.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
ADMIRAL SUNIL LANBA,
CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF
“Transition Into Modern Multi-
Dimensional Force Commendable”

The Rafale Combat Aircraft will come with various India-specific modifications including Israeli Helmet Mounted Displays, Radar Warning Receivers and Low-Band Jammers, most importantly, delivering nuclear weapons and will be equipped with the latest Missiles and PGMs giving the IAF greater supremacy over rivals. The improvements under the proposed F4 Standard, still under discussion, will reportedly transfer to the IAF’s Rafale Fleet when ready.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
T. Suvarna Raju, Chairman & Managing Director, HAL

“It is Planned to Complete the Order for 40 LCA Mk.1 by 2019-20”

One of the largest Aeronautics Companies in Asia, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) is involved in manufacturing of Aircraft, Navigation and related equipment and is also into Designing, Fabrication and Assembly of Aircraft, Jet Engines, Helicopters and Spare parts. In an Exclusive Interview, T. SUVARNA RAJU, CMD, HAL speaks to Chanakya, updating us on most projects that HAL is currently undertaking.

INTERVIEW: Brian Sinkiewicz, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Textron Systems Weapon & Sensor Systems

“Fury Light-Weight Precision Guided Glide Weapon is Proven to be Accurate Within One Meter”

Textron Systems’ offers its Aerospace, Defence and Civil customers a fascinating array of Systems and Solutions for Aerospace and Defence applications. At Aero India 2017, Textron Systems is displaying models of Textron Systems' Precision-Guided Munitions, Fury™ Light-Weight Precision-Guided Glide Weapon, which is proven to be accurate within one meter of a designated target and the G-CLAW™ - the Precision-Guided Glide Weapon System that optimizes effects against a broad target set, through utilising Dual-Mode Fuzing - impact or height of burst. BRIAN SINKIEWICZ, Senior VP & GM, Textron Systems Weapon & Sensor Systems, fields questions pertaining to these Precision Weapon Systems. Excerpts:

India has finally signed the Rafale MMRCA contract for the IAF. A potent nuclear deterrence platform, the Rafales will come equipped with MBDA’s Meteor BVRAAM, Storm Shadow/SCALP & MICA Missiles. The induction of Rafale Fighters will enhance the IAF's strategic reach and provide superior technological edge through Air Dominance. The version of Rafale Fighters being supplied to India will have better operational capabilities than the Rafales operated by other Air Forces with better Radar, better detection and survival features and will have capabilities for operations from high-altitude airfields as well.

TERMA SYSTEMS

CHRIS RAO, VICE PRESIDENT,
UTC AEROSPACE SYSTEMS
 

LOIC PIEDAVACHE, MBDA COUNTRY HEAD, INDIA

JEAN-MICHEL PALAGOS, PRESIDENT &
CEO, DEFENSE CONSEIL INTERNATIONAL (DCI)
 

SUDHIR MISHRA, CEO & MD, BRAHMOS AEROSPACE