"If there is a World War III, the winner will be the side that can best control and manage the electromagnetic spectrum. " Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Thomas Hinman Moorer.
Electronic countermeasures and counter-countermeasures maintain their quick evolution, as electronic warfare, optical warfare, and cyber warfare blend into a new discipline called spectrum warfare. Since the introduction of stealth during the Gulf War, new counter stealth technologies have been designed involving multiple radars and very long over the horizon (OTH) radar antennas working in different wavelength, and combining active and passive detection systems, creating a sensor fusion of multiple data (different sensors detect and track the same target, the track and identification data are merged automatically) which targets stealth platforms. So instead of one target, the radar operator sees three, five or 10, and he does not know where to fire. New processing technologies include “multiple hypothesis” tracking, in which weak returns are analysed over time and either declared as tracks or discarded based on their behaviour. IR has limited range, the fact is that for a solid target lock-on, a lot goes on within the processing unit of a radar missile or IRST. For a valid lock on a target the signals need to be above the mean noise level, little irregularity between these signals and lots of strong pulsed returns for a solid lock. 'Noise' being applicable to background clutter for IR signals or radar. 200 miles out, the background clutter spectrum may overwhelm the signals given off by the presence of a target. For a solid lock you need a constant, above the clutter rejection threshold, regular and strong signal or else the signal that you get off the target will be dismissed as noise into the clutter. A fighter 200 miles out will give a small return, the return would be irregular, could be below the noise level. One of the limitations of AESA in the fighter role is that the signal is weaker at extreme fields of regard – an AESA can only see well at up to 60 degrees to the side. This issue will be addressed in the new hybrid tilting radars for the Typhoon and Gripen E/F, which are AESAs mounted on tiltable plates. Russia’s PAK FA will also address the ‘field of regard’ issue with cheek-mounted arrays (additional to the AESA in the nose). Hans Hollmann was an electronic specialist who made several breakthroughs in the development of radar. As early as 1942, the German air defense net included not only early warning radar, but radio-directed fighters, and anti-aircraft guns, all closely coordinated in air defense sectors or boxes.
Integrated Air Defence SystemAirspace surveillance radars cannot be used as targeting radars, hence you need an anti-access network of integrated air defence systems. Russian aviation launched guided bombs or missiles from a safe distance, forcing Ukrainian military to position air defense systems to come closer to the front line so that Russian Lancet loitering munitions can target these air defense positions. Without Air-Defence systems, artillery Targeting (supporting fire) resources will not survive. Without long-ranged artillery combined arms, both infantry & armour units cannot survive. Without armoured forces, mechanised infantry will not survive. Finally, all battle units must be led by large-scale quick close air-support (CAS) e.g. naval gunfire/artillery cover, army's attack helicopters, while air-force fighters do the targeting. This isn’t something that just happens. These force must have “bake in” integration and train “like they fight, fight like they train.” Russia has one major EW system per 10 km of frontage, usually situated approximately 7 km from the frontline. "Multiple Russian columns have been sent forward beyond the reach of their own air defence cover, and in others cases accompanying SAM batteries have been caught inactive in military traffic jams without making any apparent effort to provide situational awareness and defence against Ukrainian air assets. This has allowed the surviving Turkish-made Ukrainian Bayraktar TB-2 armed UAVs to operate with considerable effectiveness in some areas, inflicting significant losses on Russian vehicle columns." China can only surprise target us in Leh, from Hotan (in Xinjiang) by using 370 km range version of their rockets while also remain hidden and have cover of integrated air-defence. If they use 300-mm rockets (range 130-160 km) variant, they have to come onto their G-219 highway, and their entry & exit will be visible for miles. So what we need to do first is keep them under surveillance, then hunt them down with our special forces or trans-border patrols. We need to have dedicated surveillance capability. This means our sensor-to-shooter links have to be of a very high order, including communications and procedures, which we don't have now. If you deny them the G-219, then they are confined to firing from Xinjiang. As the saying goes, more small shells do greater damage than a few large shells. Compared to the (Russian) Smerch, the Pinaka is dead cheap. Plus, you have the capability to expand the range. Using ramjet-propelled rockets, you can go to 200-250 km. Unless you have ranges for longer-range systems and fire them and test them, at high altitude, we are in trouble. “Some say that the development of modern anti-access, area denial threats make an amphibious assault impossible. That has been said before, and it was not true then, and it is not true now. The challenge is to leverage the asymmetric advantages we have in functions like ISR, precision-first, and sea-basing. The challenge is to use the sea as a maneuver space in the context of the modern threat. We don’t need to give up on the capability. We need to think our way through the challenge.” - Maj. Gen. Robert Walsh. Divya Drishti is a programme with the aim of interception, monitoring, direction finding and analysis (IMDFAS) of communication signals. The system will be installed at various locations on static & mobile stations. All stations will be connected through a satellite communication network. The system caters to the mission of building aircraft flight profile (mission analysis).
The SA-6 mobile SAM system was used to protect Egypt’s ground forces while they retook the Sinai region from Israeli forces by shooting down many of Israel’s strike aircraft. The Israel suffered major losses to the new SA-6 missiles at the time, and only when Egypt’s army moved beyond the SA-6s protection zone did Israel regain an advantage in the conflict by using its air force. Fire control elements turn on radars at the last minute to achieve surprise and to avoid exposing themselves to enemy electronic or physical attack (including anti-radiation missiles). Operator training stresses electronic counter-countermeasure skills and the use of radio and electronic silence where possible. Learning from the experience with the SA-6, Israel’s conflict with Syria in 1982 led to new techniques using miniature air-launched drones carrying powerful new electronic counter like jamming equipment is used to interfere with radar signals from SAM sites. Those drones would have to be combined with stealthy long-range missiles. Both Gulf Wars in 1991 and 2003 and air operations over the Balkans, shows how effective this strategy can be. In the recent Libya campaign, the US and its allies did not lose a single aircraft to enemy fire - despite the Gaddafi regime fielding effective SAM technology. During Operation Desert Storm, in addition to its anti-aircraft mission, Patriot BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) was assigned to shoot down incoming Iraqi Scud short range ballistic missiles launched at Israel and American troops (in Saudi Arabia). In the most devastating Iraqi stroke of the Gulf War, an Iraqi missile demolished a barracks housing more than 100 American troops on Monday night, killing 27 and wounding 98, the American military command in Riyadh said early today. Beyond/Over-the-horizon radar (OTH) The bulk of Western IRST experience is held by Selex-ES, which is the lead contractor on the Typhoon’s Pirate IRST and the supplier of the Skyward-G for Gripen. In the past year, Selex has claimed openly that its IRSTs have been able to detect and track low-RCS targets at subsonic speeds, due to skin friction, heat radiating through the skin from the engine, and the exhaust plume. The U.S. Navy’s Greenert underscored this point in Washington in early February, saying that “if something moves fast through the air, disrupts molecules and puts out heat . . . it’s going to be detectable.” The origins of predilection for VHS band search and acquisition radars fall without doubt into the late 1940s, when Soviet designers gained access to a large volume of captured German equipment. There can be no doubt that this booty included components and complete systems, including the VHF band GEMA Wasserman and GEMA Mammut phased array equipment. Through the 1950s and 1960s, Soviet industry developed and manufactured a wide range of VHF band radars. By far the most numerous were of the Knife Rest and Spoon Rest series, deployed to support Frontal Aviation fighters, and as acquisition radars for the early S-75 Dvina / SA-2 Guideline Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system. The first to be deployed in strength were the P-8 Delfin / Knife Rest A and P-10 Knife Rest B, 2D radars using a now characteristic antenna arrangement with two rows of multiple element VHF Yagi antennas, attached to a rotating horizontal boom. These were soon followed by the more capable 180 kilowatt peak power class P-12 Yenisei / Spoon Rest A, with an array of 12 Yagis. Typically, however, those lower-frequency radars do not provide what Pentagon officials call a “weapon's quality” track needed to guide a missile onto a target. Airspace surveillance radars cannot be equated to targeting radars. “Even if you can see an LO [low observable] strike aircraft with ATC radar, you can’t kill it without a fire control system”. The problem with VHF and UHF band radars is that with long wavelengths come large radar resolution cells. That means that contacts are not tracked with the required level of fidelity to guide a weapon onto a target. These limitations can be overcome with signal processing. Phased array radars—particularly active electronically scanned arrays (AESA). Stealth and electronic attack always have a synergistic relationship because detection is about the signal-to-noise ratio. Low observables reduce the signal, while electronic attack increases the noise. Electronic jamming capabilities of EA-18G Growler can weaken the operability of the Russian air shield in Syria but not neutralize it completely. But the Tomahawks (range of 1,600km) demonstrated the vulnerability of the S-400 to low-flying missiles. To engage low-flying missiles, you first have to locate them in flight and then have missile systems within range to engage or to located close to the intended targets. It is now an open question whether Russian’s military command in Syria deliberately opted not to engage the US missiles or, in contrast, was unable to react to it. The antenna was invented in 1926 by Shintaro Uda of Tohoku Imperial University, Japan, with a lesser role played by his colleague Hidetsugu Yagi. This appears to have been due to Yagi filing a patent on the idea in Japan without Uda's name in it, and later transferring the patent to the Marconi Company in the UK. Yagi antennas were first widely used during World War II in radar systems by the British, US and Germans. After the war, they saw extensive development as home television antennas. By the early 1960s, the basic P-12 was replaced by the improved P-12M, followed by the P-12MP. Later variants such as the P-12MA and P-12NA introduced the characteristic two van arrangement, and included side-lobe cancellers to deal with clutter and US jamming equipment, a facility for strobed or short burst emissions to defeat US anti-radiation missiles, as well as a remote operator station allowing the radar crew to be located 1,500 ft from the radar head. By the late 1970s, Soviet air defence commanders sought a more capable mobile 2D VHF radar, and development of the 1L13 Nebo SV / Box Spring was initiated in 1981. The 1L13 Nebo SV / Box Spring was accepted into service in 1986, and widely deployed with Soviet PVO-SV, V-PVO and Frontal Aviation VVS units. The system can be deployed or stowed in 40 minutes. A separate IFF interrogator is carried by trailer, and linked to the 1L13 control van. Less known is the fact that the much larger 55Zh6UE Nebo U/UE 3D semi-mobile radar shares a large number of components with the 1L13 series, as both were designed concurrently. The Nebo SVU departs from the Nebo SV in many respects. It is a solid state phased array with electronic beam-steering in azimuth and elevation, it is considerably more accurate, it has much better mobility. It retains the VHF element design, but uses vertical polarisation. Deployed as a target acquisition radar for a modern SAM system like the S-300PMU1/2 / SA-20 Gargoyle or S-400 / SA-21 Growler it will significantly complicate engagement tactics for users of VLO/LO fighters, as it can not only deny surprise engagement of the missile battery, but it is accurate enough to provide mid-course guidance data for both Surface-Air Missile shots and Air-Air Missile shots. These lacked an integral height finding capability and relied wholly on integration with external, typically S-band, nodding height-finders. Confronted with the shock of Saddam's air defence system being utterly impotent against the F-117A. The choice of vertical polarisation is unusual for a VHF design intended to track aerial targets, and is best explained by the dual role use of the radar for ballistic missile defence purposes, as the shape of ballistic missile targets presents a higher RCS in the vertical polarisation. Russian literature covering the 1L119 describes it as capable of detecting and tracking aircraft and ballistic missile class targets. For a VHF DMTI the issue is rejection of ground clutter, but also other unwanted effects such as Doppler shifted chaff and weather. China’s modern radars DWL002 uses paired primary wide-band apparatus. Features such as heat absorbing surface materials, smooth surfaces and hidden engines render stealth aircraft like F-22 Raptor undetectable by conventional radar. However, China’s DWL002 passive radar system (which consists of three stations) reads the electronic signals emitted by aircraft to detect their presence. It can allegedly detect fighter aircraft (including stealth) within 400 km. China's DWL002 is a development of the YLC-20 Passive Direction-Finding And Locating Radar, a product of inspired from two other passive detection systems: one of them being the Czech VERA-E and the other is Ukrainian Kolchuga developed from the KRTP-91 Tamara-M (NATO name: Trash Can). Voice of Russia says that DWL-002 is an improved version of China's Type-26 and Type JY-27A radars (however, they are too big to be installed on AEW&C aircraft). China claims it has a new passive detection “radar” capable of identifying stealth aircraft, including the more advanced F-22 Raptor fighter based at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. KRTP-91 Tamara-M (NATO name: Trash Can) was the third gen Czechoslovak electronic support measures (ESM) system that was used to accurately detect and track airborne emitters. It has been succeeded by the VERA family of sensors. In 2004, the US blocked the sale of the Czech VERA-E passive detection systems to China, but the “Chinese had an opportunity to closely inspect the systems.” When China could not buy the VERA-E, they bought Ukrainian Kolchuga passive surveillance system. The Kolchuga-M passive sensor is an ESM system developed from the KRTP-91 Tamara-M (NATO name: Trash Can), in the Soviet Union and manufactured in Ukraine. Frequently referred to as Kolchuga Radar, the system is not really a radar, but an ESM system comprising three or four receivers, deployed tens of kilometres apart, which detect and track aircraft by triangulation and multi-lateration of their RF emissions. Technically the power levels of these sources are likely to be so small, if at all, that there would be insufficient energy for Kolchuga to measure these effects at one site, let alone the two or more required for triangulation. They would also be almost impossible to distinguish for normal background RF noise and would not appear like the conventional emissions types Kolchuga is designed to receive and analyse. Iran has also bought the Kolchuga passive surveillance system from Ukraine. China originally imported this Ukrainian and later started domestic production after Ukraine provided the technologies to China. They also provided technical expertise in integrating the active phased array radar with ESM and the anti-stealth radar with Yagi antenna. China's Type 348 C-band multifunction Active Phased Array Radar with 4 antenna arrays Gamma-DE 3D solid-state radar History of ScudProject Devil was one of two early liquid-fueled missile projects developed by India, along with Project Valiant, in the 1970s. The goal of Project Devil was to reverse engineer the Soviet SA-2 Guideline missile. The successful launches of A-2 rockets shortly before Christmas 1934 became a vindication for Wernher von Braun and his rocketeers in Kummersdorf. Skeptics were shown that a liquid propellant rocket could fly far and high. Much more importantly for Von Braun's army sponsors, it was now clear that this novel technology could be used as a weapon of war, perhaps exceeding the capabilities of long-range artillery. At the time of the A-2 launches, a much more advanced rocket, the A-3, was already in advanced stage of design. However the development of the more powerful engine for the A-3 was beset by endless problems, which repeatedly delayed the project. The rocket's aerodynamic shape also went through three re-designs from July to September 1936, as wind tunnel tests revealed potential problems with its stability. Instead of a crude flywheel stabilization system, which kept the A-2 on course, the A-3 would sport a three-axis gyroscopic assembly, flight control jet rudders and rudder actuators. Original plans called for the A-3 to break the sound barrier, but ever-increasing mass of payloads pushed that task beyond reach. Only after the ill-fated A-3 launch campaign was over, were the rocket's gyroscopes ultimately suspected to be culprit. As it transpired, a number of associates to Johannes Boykow, late head of the gyroscope development team, had questioned some of his solutions previously. In the end, an entire new flight control system was proposed with an estimated development cycle of 18 months. To test the new control system and other advanced features, a new A-5 rocket was proposed, while, the designation A-4 remained reserved for a much larger rocket, which had been conceived before the A-3 started flying. The A-1 was the grandfather of most modern rockets. The engine, designed by Arthur Rudolph, used a pressure-fed propellant system burning alcohol and liquid oxygen, and produced 300 kgf of thrust for 16 seconds. Since the design was thought to be unstable, no further attempts were made, and efforts moved to the A2 design V-2 (Vergeltungswaffe or "retaliation weapon" 2) surrounded by not Germans, but Americans in this photo taken after the war. The liquid-propellant rocket was the world's first long-range combat-ballistic missile and first known human artifact to enter outer space. The Aggregate series was a set of rocket designs developed in 1933–1945 by a research program of Nazi Germany's army. Its greatest success was the Aggregat-4 (A4), more commonly known as the V-2. The German word Aggregat refers to a group of machines working together.he German word Aggregat refers to a group of machines working together. The V-2 was the most expensive development project of the Third Reich. Facing a worker shortage, the Nazis would turn to slave labor to continue production, mostly using prison camp inmates. It is estimated that 20,000 these slave laborers died in the production of the V-2. Scud Evolution & Derivatives Ballistic missile programs in Pakistan and Iran were built on SCUD technology, which originated in the Soviet Union. The Scud is a mobile, Russian-made, short-range, tactical ballistic surface-to-surface (hence the nomenclature abbreviation SS) missile system. The SCUD-series guided missiles are single-stage, short-range ballistic missiles using storable liquid propellants. The Scud is derived from the World War II-era German V-2 rocket. Unlike the FROG series of unguided missiles, the SCUDs have movable fins. The V-2 was the first ballistic missile used in warfare and a significant advancement in rocket technology. Also known as the A4, it was developed by Nazi Germany during World War II and used against the Allies, primarily as a terror weapon. Because it was so inaccurate (it could barely hit a city-size target). Adolf Hitler named it his "Vengeance Weapon 2"or "V-2" because it wreaked vengeance upon a helpless population. (The "Vengeance Weapon 1," or "V-1", was a cruise missile.) Despite its relative inaccuracy, the V-2 incorporated several major technological advances in rocketry. Its engine was 17 times more powerful than the largest rocket motor constructed up to that time; it flew at five times the speed of sound; and it could still fly relatively accurately to targets nearly 190 miles (306 kilometers) away. While the names of most ballistic missiles are obscure, the Scud has become almost a household name. The SS-1A 'Scud' was designed a short time after the end of World War II by captured German scientists and is based upon the Nazi V-2 rocket which was used against London in the second World War. In essence, the 'Scud' is the AK-47 of the missile world: reliable, simple and ubiquitous. The missile was produced in huge quantities and not even the Russians know exactly how many they built, let alone the number copied by foreign companies. Developed as a tactical ballistic missile by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the SS-1 SCUD was exported to many other countries. Unlike the V-2, the Scud can be stored for years. It can be transported fully fuelled and set up and fired in 90 minutes. ("Mushak" short-range surface-to-surface primitive solid-fuel missile is comparable to the unguided Soviet Frog missile and to the Pakistani as Hatf 1 missile, which flies about 80 km. The first Mushak, also known as the Iran-130, was test-fired in early 1988, and was designed to fly to a maximum range of 130 km. By March 1988, five Mushak missiles had been fired at Iraq during the War of the Cities. And by August 1988, Tehran had test-fired a 160 km-range Mushak and announced that mass production would soon follow. Iran claimed that the Mushak was designed and produced without foreign support, but Chinese assistance was suspected.) The SS-1B or R-11 Zemlya (Scud A) was soon replaced with the SS-1C or R-17 Elbrus (Scud B), also designated R-300 during the 1970s. The new missile had the advantage of being compatible with MAZ-543 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) and could thus be deployed into position quickly and covertly. The launch sequence for each SS-1 SCUB-B can be conducted onsite, but was usually done from a command vehicle from a different location. The SCUD-B can carry nuclear, chemical, conventional or fragmentation warheads. By 1965, the new 'Scud B' missile was operational in many European and Middle Eastern counties. SCUD-B replacement system was 9K714 Oka (SS-23 Spider). This system was phased out in compliance with the INF Treaty in the late 1980s. SCUD D is known in North Korea by the name, Hwasong. It is a single stage, liquid-fueled missile with a range of up to 500 miles. SCUD B and SCUD C can reach only South Korea, but the SCUD D could target Japan. However, its accuracy is extremely poor. North Korea's Hwasong-5 was a derivative. North Korea obtained its first R-17 missiles from Egypt in 1979 or 1980, in return for assistance during the Yom Kippur War. Iran's ballistic missile program began during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), when Iraq's air superiority prevented Iran from striking from ranges greater than 150km. In response, Iran acquired the Soviet R-17 (R-300; NATO: Scud-B) from Libya, resulting in the War of the Cities. The Shahab 1 (Meteor 1) is based off of the Hwasong-5 ‘Scud B’ platform. Since the late 1980s Tehran has actively sought to develop an indigenous missile program, relying heavily on missile components imported from North Korea in the 1980s and 1990s to establish this capability. Yemeni rebels backed by Tehran are using Soviet-era Scud missiles and North Korean copies of Scud missiles known as the Hwasong-5. The Houthis have also used Iranian Burkan 1 and Burkan 2 missiles, which are probably based on North Korean derivatives of the Scud. Another missile, the Qahr, is descended from the SA-2 missile. In 2015, these rebel lunched a devastating missile attack killed 45 UAE troops at a forward base in Yemen, an attack that also damaged or destroyed Apache attack helicopters. In response, Saudi Arabia and the UAE began erecting a missile shield to protect their population centers, economic targets, and forces operating in and around Yemen. Patriot operators in the Middle East have shot down these more than 100 enemy ballistic missiles. All Pakistani missiles are named Hatf (meaning “doom” in Arabic, but often mistranslated as “vengeance”). The missiles are numbered from I to IX, with each missile type also having a specific name. Hatf I (version of France's powerful Eridan) low-cost, unguided, highly-mobile, tactical SAM (designed to be used like artillery rockets). It was Pakistan's answer to the Indian version of Soviet SA-2 Guideline guided missile development program. Władysław (Józef Marian) Turowicz is generally credited for establishing rocket fuel factories and rocket technology research institutes and labs in Pakistan. Under Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Turowicz was tasked with the responsibility of developing an indigenous missile program capable of carrying nuclear weapons. As a result, the Hatf Missile Program emerged in 1977 under his able guidance. He was responsible for the development of electronic delivery systems and inertial turbine engines for the rocket. Unfortunately, this was a period marked by severe political turmoil. Bhutto had been executed and General Zia-Ul-Haq had taken over. Turowicz and his team had to wait for several years before their hard work could materialize in operational form. Turowicz died in a car accident in 1980 along with his brother. Near the end of 1948, Władysław (Józef Marian) Turowicz and 45 airforce veterans of World War II from Poland, opted to relocate to a country that was a rather new entry on the world map: Pakistan. Initially, they established technical institutes in Karachi. In 1967, Ayub Khan appointed Turowicz as head of the Aeronautical Engineering Division of Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). He was the Chief Designer of the Sonmiani Satellite Launch Centre based in the coastal city of Sonmiani in southeast Balochistan. NASA had extensively used this facility to conduct its own space and rocket technology research during the Cold War. In October 2005, Russia launched Iran's first satellite, the Sina-1, on a Russian rocket. From that point, Iran began to pursue the technology needed to launch a satellite into space on its own. February 2008 saw the inauguration of an Iranian space center in Semnan Province, marked by the test launch of Iran's Kavoshgar 1 two-staged liquid-propellant-driven rocket, probably a derivative of the Shahab-3.
"By the late 1990s, the Defence Research & Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Hyderabad-based Defence R & D laboratory (DRDL), under the auspices of Project Sangraha, had succeeded in developing the Ajanta family of combined ESM/ELINT systems (comprising the Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 variants), while the Bangalore-based Advanced Systems Integration and Evaluation Organisation (ASIEO) had developed a high-power radar reflector antenna designed specifically to jam the active radars of inbound anti-ship cruise missiles. Two such antennae are mounted port and starboard in the main mast, just below the topmast-mounted Ajanta. When integrated with a bigger ECM system (housed inside the main mast) and offboard countermeasures dispensers like the Russia-supplied PK-10 or Elbit Systems’ Desceaver), the ECM section came to be known as Ellora. The twin high-power radar reflector antennae can be clearly seen on board the Project 15 Delhi-class guided-missile destroyer (DDG) just above the Orekh illuminating radars, and on the main masts of the Project 16A FFG (INS Betwa). The Project 25 and Project 25A guided-missile corvettes and all five Kashin II-class DDGs are equipped with the Ajanta ESM/ELINT intercept system integrated with PK-10 countermeasures dispensers and Nettuno ECM-4000 system, while each of the three Project 17 Shivalik-class FFGs and three Project 15A Kolkata-class DDGs will each have on board the Ajanta Mk3 ESM/ELINT section, while the ECM section will comprise the twin high-power radar reflector antennae, as well as Elettronica Spa’s planar phased-array ECM section. This section is also housed within the main masts of the three Project 15 DDGs" : Prasun K. Sengupta Ballistic Missiles Solid fuel rocket motors are cheaper to maintain and enable a missile to be made ready in less than 30 minutes. Multi-staged ballistic missiles cannot be kept inside sealed canisters for more than 6 months; since its various stages (guidance & navigational systems, sensors & transmitters, engine & fuel-flow pumps) have to be regularly checked & re-calibrated. That’s why only ICBMs are stored in silos and are kept on standby mode. The SLBMs on-board submarines are always removed the moment it comes back from its operational patrol. In solid propellant, surface area of the burning propellant is critical in determining the amount of thrust being generated. Cracks in the solid propellant increase the exposed surface area, thus the propellant burns faster than planned. If too many cracks develop, pressure inside the engine rises significantly and the rocket engine may explode. Hence, manufacture of a solid propellant is an expensive, precision operation. India uses Safran's Sigma guidance system that is active during the terminal phase, just before the weapon impacts its target. In 2018 Peter Zuccarelli was sentenced for conspiring to smuggle radiation hardened integrated circuits (microchips that can operate despite the increased radiation found outside the atmosphere) to China and Russia. These microchips are also needed in ICBM guidance and control systems. There was another middleman involved, a Pakistani who is a naturalized citizen. Surface-to-Surface Tactical Missiles PLARF is the world leader in terms of land-based precision missiles. Anti-radar seeker sub-munitions and smart loiter munitions are going to extend the range of PLA artillery and its lethality, thus altering the deterrence correlation in the future. China's Central Base Depot, which stores warheads, is strategically located inside Mount Taibai among the Qin Mountains in Central China. Indian military planners need to have a deeper knowledge on their battle doctrine and tactics on each domain (land, air, sea, space, EW, cyber, information, psychological & political). The Strategic guidelines direct the PLA to win in “Informatized Local Wars,” when the dominant mode of warfare is confrontation between “information-based systems-of-systems”. The EL/M-2288 S-Band transportable radar system, also known as AD-STAR (Air Defense Surveillance, Threat Alert and Air Traffic Control Radar), belongs to a family of multi-assignment air defense radar systems produced by Elta. The AD-STAR antenna can be folded on its container roof to enable its transportation on standard roads, under standard bridges and inside a C-130 Transport A/C. AD-STAR is a digital radar that combines advanced technology for a large number of beams that simultaneously scan selected areas. As a result, the radar provides precise 3D data about the located targets, while simultaneously carrying out several other tasks, such as classifying and following a large number of targets, guiding weapons for defense and assault, air control, and more. The radar can be transported via air, sea, or land, and can be quickly deployed in the field. Another $4 million contract was also signed between Elta and a foreign client for supplying air defense radar systems. The ELM-2106NG three-dimensional radar is used for tactical defense and is intended for supporting ground forces. The radar increases the survivability of the forces against air attacks of helicopters, low-altitude fighters, and airborne weapon systems. The radar system identifies a wide range of air platforms, and provides precise information about them such as the range, azimuth, and height of each target. The radar systems thus allow for utilizing effective protective measures against the threats that endanger tactical ground forces. In a contract valued at $39 million, Elta will supply an unnamed foreign client with three-dimensional fire-control radar systems for surface-to-air weapon systems such as cannons and missiles. The fire-control radar system seeks and follows targets with high maneuverability that includes fighter aircraft and missiles. The radar’s advanced Active Electronically Steered Array (AESA) technology supports a number of high-level capabilities. China developed the solid-fuel, medium-range DF-21 through the 1980s, with deployment starting in the early 1990s. Deployments did not begin in earnest, however, until the late 1990s. The Chinese refer to having two variants of the missile — the DF-21 and the DF-21A, which correspond to the IC designation CSS-5 Mod 1 and Mod 2, respectively. China's Dong Feng DF-21D (Delta) / CSS-5 Mod-5 / East Wind 21 was developed with assistance from Ukraine. The basic DF-21 is a 15 ton, two stage, solid fuel missile that is 10.7 meters (35 feet) long and 140 cm (4.6 feet) in diameter. Range varies (from 1,700-3,000 kilometers) depending on model. The DF-21D is believed to have a range of 1,500-2,000 kilometers. China has more than 40 DF-21E medium-range missiles. China has reportedly developed and tested the world's first high hypersonic, land-based, anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) called DF-21D, with a maximum range of around 2,700 kilometres in 2005, according to the US. It is estimated to have reached initial operating capability in 2007 or 2008. It could develop into a "MIRVd" DF-21D with multiple independent missiles. Four land-based DF-21 variants are operational, and the derivative ineffective JL-1 SLBM. DF-21 variants serve as the basis for the KT-1 space launch vehicle and the SC-19 direct-ascent ASAT weapon system. There is also the fear that some of US technology is already deployed on the DF-21 series of missiles, with stolen Pershing II Missile guidance. As the story goes, the Chinese have reverse engineered, reinvented or stolen the 1970s technology that went into the U.S. Pershing ballistic missile. This 7.5 ton U.S. Army missile also had an 1,800 kilometers range, and could put its nuclear warhead within 30 meters of its aim point. This was possible because the guidance system had its own radar. This kind of accuracy made the Russians very uncomfortable, as it made their command bunkers vulnerable, and agreed to a lot of nuclear and missile disarmament deals in order to get the Pershings decommissioned in the 1980s. This would be the world's first ASBM and the world's first weapons system capable of targeting a moving aircraft carrier strike group from long-range, land-based mobile launchers. These would combine manoeuvrable re-entry vehicles (MaRVs) with some kind of terminal guidance system. On the DF-21D warhead itself, sensors would use infrared (heat seeking) technology for their final approach. Such a missile may have been tested in 2005-6, and the launch of the Jianbing-5/YaoGan-1 and Jianbing-6/YaoGan-2 satellites would give the Chinese targeting information from SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) and visual imaging respectively. The US Navy has responded by switching its focus from a close blockade force of shallow water vessels to return to building deep water ballistic defence destroyers. DS-21 is too fast for the Pac-3 anti-missile missiles Taiwan is installing around crucial installations. The DF-21D so far has not yet proved its ability to strike a carrier-sized target over the horizon. True, the problem could be solved by placing a nuclear warhead on the missile, but that “solution” would invite a massive U.S. response, one reason that China emphasizes the conventional capabilities of the DF-21D. Use of such missile has been said by some experts to potentially lead to nuclear exchange, regional arms races with India and Japan, and the end of the INF Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union, to which the People's Republic of China is not a party. China is reported to be working on an Over-the-horizon radar to locate the targets for the ASBM. As early as 2005, descriptions of the long-awaited conventional DF-21 were described as the DF-21C — which would presumably correspond to a CSS-5 Mod 3. That seems to be the mystery missile carried by various pictures of China’s shiny new TEL.
DF-16 missile replaces older DF-11 and DF-15. DF15 (M9) is basically a redesigned DF-11. In 1991, Washington sanctioned China for supplying Pakistan the M9 /DF-15 (CSS-6) is Hatf-IV is Shaheen-1 missile, in violation of MTCR norms. India had finished developing SS-150 Prithvi-1. China also supplied to Iran the "M9" or DF-15 (CSS-6) which is called Ghadr-101 Samen. DF-17 hypersonic missile is set to gradually replace DF-11 and M9 /DF15. India’s tested Agni-2 missile in 1999. Pakistan then got the Hatf-6 is Shaheen-2 which is evidently a version of the Chinese DF-25. Ghadr-110 system's heritage clearly has a link to the Chinese DF-25 class system too. The Shaheen-3 is maybe a version of the Chinese M-18 missile, which was originally shown at the 1987 Beijing air show as a two-stage missile with 1000 km range carrying a 400-500 kilogram payload. This M-18 missile had the longest range of any of the current M-series missiles. Shaheen-3 is a two-stage, solid-fuelled medium-range ballistic missile in development by Pakistan. The missile is reportedly capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional payloads to a range of 2,750 km, which would make it the longest range missile in Pakistan’s strategic arsenal. The full heritage goes back to not merely China's M-18, DF-21 that in turn came from Republic of South Africa's RSA-2, RSA-3 strategic boosters SLV’s which Israel also benefited from. The solid-fuelled Pralay is a truck-mounted conventional long-range rocket artillery based on 750-600 km single-stage, mobile, cannister-encased Shaurya hybrid propulsion missile (without its booster), like a semi-ballistic missile, it is powered by solid fuel; and, like a cruise missile, it can guide itself right up to the target. Pralay (and BrahMos) will be used by Strike Corps located in the Indian Army’s rear-areas—typically located 150km inside friendly territory. Pralay missile will carry 800 kg payload to target C4ISR installations, radars, and comms infrastructure, 70km deep to 120km wide, into the enemy territory. While QR-SAM air-defence will be used to protect the Strike Corps. QR-SAM and Pralay missile systems will allow India’s Strike Corps to use them as Shield and Sword on the battlefield. India needs to make 200 (or a minimum of 60) Pralay missiles per year for a decade, to match China. 600-km Shaurya is a canisterised single-stage surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile variant of two-stage K-15 or B-05 Sagarika nuclear-capable submarine-launched medium-range ballistic missile (whose name has been variously given as Sagarika or even Dhanush, officially code named as Programme B-05). It is 12 m long, 0.8 m wide, uses a two-stage solid propellant and has a range of 3,000-3,500 km. Its launch weight is 17,000 kg, and it can carry a 2,000 kg warhead which is likely to be a nuclear bomb. China recently introduced, for the export market, the M20 (4th gen) ballistic missile SRBM (in the PLA Rocket Force, it's designated as the DF-12). This is a system where two of these 3-4 ton missiles are carried on a large 8X8 TEL truck transporter/launcher vehicle. They have a 174-mile range (261-mile in Rocket Force) and a reported accuracy of 66- to 98-foot CEP (circular error probable) accuracy. 9M729 cruise missile is a modernized version of the 9M728 cruise missile that is part of the Iskander-M (also known as the SS-26 Stone) new road-mobile tactical missile system was the second attempt to replace the Scud missile since the first attempt, the Oka (SS-23), was eliminated under the INF Treaty. The Iskander appeared to have several different conventional warheads, including a cluster munitions warhead, a fuel-air explosive enhanced-blast warhead, an earth penetrator for bunker busting and an electro-magnetic pulse device for anti-radar missions. Iskander-K – top secret version with Cruise missile P-500 with range up to 2000 km Development of the 3.5 ton M-11 ballistic missiles began in 1985, with the DF-11A (CSS-7 Mod 2) ballistic missiles following in 1993. It has a range of 280-300kms with one ton warhead and a range of 600 kms with half ton warhead. In 1987, China began exporting at least 80 M-11 or DF-11 (CSS-7 Mod 1) ballistic missiles and 50 launchers to help Pakistan create a nuclear deterrent. Originally shown as part of the M-18 two-stage system in 1987, components of the M-11 (and possibly the M-9) have been sold to Pakistan, in an effort to bypass the MTCR guidelines. By early 1990, Pakistan had inked a $516 million deal with China to establish localised facilities for servicing a total of 64 solid-fuelled missiles such as the Hatf-3 Ghaznavi and Hatf-4 Shaheen-1. The US then initiated economic sanctions on both countries in 1993. Despite denials by both countries, it is widely believed to be the basis of Pakistan's Hatf-3 Ghaznavi solid-fuel, tactical ballistic missile program development. Presently, the Pakistan Army deploys two Missile Groups each of the Ghauri-1 and Hatf-3 Ghaznavi. Co-produced with Turkey, China's B-611 is a low-cost tactical SR-BM (CSS-X-11) which was an improved version of Chinese M-11 or DF-11 (CSS-7 Mod 1) short-range tactical guided "rocket"-powered missile was developed as an interchangeable alternative to the Soviet's SS-1 Scud B (R-17 Elbrus), and this solid-fuel missile can be launched from the Soviet MAZ-543 transporter/launcher. It has maneuvering capability to defeat missile defenses and can be "hot launched". A successor of B-611, the B-611M has been developed and entered Chinese service, utilizing the experienced gained from both B-611 and P-12 missiles. The basic performance of B-611M is similar to that of B-611, but the firepower is doubled when adopting the same practice of P-12 missile: putting two missiles on a single transporter / erector / launcher. China exports (Shen-Ying: Divine Eagle)180 km SY-400 that can carry either 6 or 12 rockets or two heavy but short-range BP-12A or BP-12B "rocket"-powered missiles. Earlier version was the Shen-Ying SY-300 is based on Wei-Shi WS-2/3 series predecessors. China is calling these systems as a long-range guided artillery MBRL system, hence it is not limited by 300 km range export restrictions set by MTCR. It was introduced in 2008 to compete with the export version of Russian Iskander-M tactical ballistic missile system. B-611 was sold to Turkey and SY-400 to Qatar. It appears that CM-400AKG air-launched anti-ship cruise missile may have evolved from the earlier SY-400 short-range tactical guided "rocket"-powered missile. Pakistan has ordered 60 additional CM-400AKG supersonic cruise missiles for the air force for USD100 million. China's liquid-fuelled missiles were replaced by M-11 / DF-11 SR-BM (Pakistan renamed it Hatf-3 Ghaznavi and Iran renamed it Fateh-110). China replaced M-11 / DF-11 with the DF-16 tactical missiles. India had finished developing SS-150 Prithvi-1. China also replaced M9 /DF15 (which is basically a redesigned DF-11) with the DF-16. DF-17 hypersonic missile is set to gradually replace DF-11 and M9 /DF15. The Turkish J-600T SRBM is based on the B-611 SRBM developed by China as a low cost tactical missile system, with a range of up to 250 km in improved versions such as the B-611M, and as a replacement for the M-11 (CSS-7 and DF-11) missiles in Chinese inventory. The development of the missile closely mirrors that of the Chinese B-611, a missile that shares similar size and performance specifications with the Zelzal missiles. Because the solid-propellant technology used in the Zelzal missiles represents a huge advance in Iranian missile technology, it is likely that the missiles were developed with some Chinese assistance. Iran's Fateh 110 or Syria's M-600, believed to be a guided version of the Zelzal-2, is an Iranian copy of the Chinese DF-11 ballistic missile. While the program is based in Iran, the missile is believed to incorporate components from Chinese contractors. In 2010 some of these were transferred to Hezbollah. Iran's Fateh A-110 is designed to replace many of the ageing Scud systems currently used in the Middle East. A 2008 report suggested that Syria was building a surface-to-surface missile with Iranian assistance, the A-110B (or Fateh 3). It uses a single-stage solid propellant engine and has a range of 210 km (130 miles), although it is possible that Iran will add extra boosters in order to increase its range to 400 km (249 miles). The missile might be as accurate as 100 m CEP using a combination of inertial guidance and a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system, though some sources suggest that the accuracy is much lower, as they do not think that the missile is capable of much inflight maneuvering or correction. Iranian sources claim that the weapon has a high degree of accuracy, a claim that would suggest in-flight control systems that are not apparent from photos of the missile. For stabilization, the Zelzal missiles use spin-motors that create a gyroscopic effect. The lack of a guidance system makes the system only useful as an artillery system to bombard a general area or a large target. Although Iran has improved the missile's overall ability, its accuracy makes the Fateh A-110 ineffective against moving military targets. However, the missile is capable of hitting most large military targets, such as bases and airfields. China sold 200 M-7 (derived from Soviet SA-2) to Iran in 1989. HQ-6 is a ground-to-air version of the PL-11 air-to-air missile which is largely based on the Italian Selenia Aspide missile (similar to AIM-7 Sparrow missile). Raad 500 is similar to in design to the larger solid-fuel ballistic missile, the Dezful, with a range of 1,000 kilometers. Dezful appears to be an upgrade of the Zolfaghar missile (first Iranian missile made of carbon fiber body and not steel), which had a range of 750 kilometers. It is unclear how many Zolfaghars Iran has, especially since this missile is difficult to manufacture. Iran apparently has limited production capability for carbon fiber missile body and rocket motors. China's P-12 / BP-12 / SY-300 (Pakistan's Hatf-2 Abdali) are varients of B-611 SR-BM (CSS-X-11). By the early 1960s the basic P-12 was replaced by the improved P-12M, followed by the P-12MP. Later variants such as the P-12MA and P-12NA introduced the characteristic two van arrangement, and included sidelobe cancellers to deal with clutter and US jamming equipment, a facility for strobed or short burst emissions to defeat US anti-radiation missiles, as well as a remote operator station allowing the radar crew to be located 1,500 ft from the radar head. DK-10 is another surface-to-air missile derived from PL-12 series. The next model, the DF-11 Mod 2, displayed in 1999, is believed to have a greater range and carry a larger warhead than the Mod 1. It reputedly uses GPS technology to achieve greater accuracy on unsurveyed targets. Taepodong-1: Estimated range of 1,550 miles. A missile launched in August 1998 flew over Japan and shocked the world because it was well beyond North Korea’s known capability at the time. Both lower stages are liquid-fueled, with a potential solid-fuel third stage. Accuracy is believed poor, with no meaningful strike capability. Taepodong-2: Three-stage rocket with potential range of more than 4,100 miles, putting Alaska within striking distance. First two stages are liquid-fueled, while the third is believed to be solid-fueled. Similar to Iran’s Safir-Omid space launch vehicle, the rocket suggests extensive cooperation between the two nations. U.S. and South Korean officials say the North launched a Taepodong-2 rocket in April but it landed in the ocean. South Korean officials said the rocket’s second stage splashed down about 1,900 miles from its launch pad. That is far better than a 2006 launch of a missile that fizzled 42 seconds after lift-off. Under development. Potential range of about 5,000 miles, putting the U.S. west coast, Hawaii, Australia and eastern Europe within striking distance. North Korea says this, and all Taepdong missiles, are launch vehicles for satellites, though satellite and missile technologies are considered interchangeable. Note: Luna-M or FROG-7B (9K52, 9M52, R-70): The FROG-7B, introduced in 1968, is essentially the same unguided rocket as the FROG-7A but with a longer warhead section. The FROG-7 is the latest addition to the "Free Rocket Over Ground" family of unguided, spin-stabilized, short-range (battlefield support) artillery rockets. The rocket is of conventional single-stage design, with a cylindrical warhead of the same diameter as the rocket body, giving it a cleaner, more modern appearance than its predecessors. The FROG-7 has a range of 70 km and a 550 kg warhead, and an impact area of approximately 2.8 km long by 1.8 km wide. DRDO’s Agni 2: The 1,500km medium-range Agni-II ballistic missile is 20 m long, 2.3 m wide and has a launch weight of 16,000 kg. The missile has two solid-fuel stages and a Post Boost Vehicle (PBV) integrated into the missile’s Re-entry Vehicle (RV). It is a road/rail-mobile launch missile. Although the missile entered service in the Indian military in 2003 and was first test-launched in 1996, it's experienced test failures as recently as 2011, while the missile used in this week's test did not hit its intended target even though it reached its intended distance and altitude. It was replaced with Agni-4. "The Pralay is a conventional long-range rocket artillery for replacing the SS-150 Prithvi SS-BSM. Although the DRDO had in the previous decade developed a solid-fuelled Prithvi-3 Precision-guided SS-BSM with a CEP of 30 metres at its max range of 600 km (through the adoption of RLG-INS units imported from the TAMAM Division of Israel Aerospace Industries), the IA was dissatisfied with its solid-propellant’s low burn rate of 10 mm/s and instead had specified a solid-propellant with a burn rate of min. 70 mm/s. This became available only in 2015 from the DRDO’s Nashik-based Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials (ACEM), following which it was decided to develop the Pralay precision-guided SS-BSM as a derivative of the cannister-encased, land-mobile Shaurya SS-BSM, which can carry a 1-tonne nuclear warhead over a distance of 750 km, weighs 6 tonnes, has a diameter of 0.74 metres and is 10 metres long."trishul-trident.blog Agni 1 variants are Pakistan-centric. Agni-I (around 700 km within 9 minutes and 36 seconds), is a rail-mobile, single stage version of the Agni-II missile. The original DRDO’s Agni-TD was an amalgam of the (relatively primitive, liquid fuelled, single-stage) Prithvi-I missile and the SLV-3 booster; which (using strap-down inertial reference systems for navigation) could dump a nuclear bomb on a target 150-250 kms away. Agni-1P (P stands for Prime) will replace the Russian 60s-era technologies that powered the Prithvi and the early Agni-1 missiles. It has a range greater than 2,000 km. It will have relatively modern technologies, which were developed for the Agni-4 and Agni-5 missiles. The 12-ton Agni-1P will be a two-stage, solid-propellant missile, which imparts it a speed of 2.5 km/s. It can carry both conventional and nuclear payload of about 1000 kg. Weighing less but having the same thrust, the missile has added acceleration. Both stages will have composite rocket motors, guidance systems with electro-mechanical actuators, and inertial navigation systems based on Israeli advanced ring-laser gyroscopes. By combining several avionics packages into one, the designers improved reliability and saved space and weight by reducing cabling and harnesses. Agni-III (Above 2,000 km to at least 3,000 km intermediate range, rail-mobile) is an intermediate-range ballistic missile. It uses a two-stage solid propellant engine, has a range of 3,000-5,000 km and is capable of hitting targets deep inside China including Beijing and Shanghai. It is 16.7 m long, 1.85 m wide, launch weight 48,000 kg and carries a single 2,000 kg warhead which is a 200-300 kT nuclear fusion bomb. Equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system and guided by an innovative guidance scheme. Some missiles have multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV), which means they can annihilate several targets simultaneously. The naval variant of surface-to-surface missile is Dhanush which has undergone multiple testing since 2012. Dhanush, with a liquid propellant, is a short-range, anti-ship weapon, designed to destroy both sea and shore-based targets. It is 8.53 m long, 1 m in diameter, launch weight 5,600 kg and can carry nuclear, high explosive, submunitions, Fuel-Air Explosive (FAE) or chemical weapons over a range of 250-400 km. It entered service in 2010. Agni-IV (over 3,000 km to atleast 4,000 km), earlier known as Agni IIA Prime. The 20 m long missile is lighter (carbon composite motor casing) in weight, has a two-stage solid propulsion system and the payload has a re-entry heat shield. Its equipped with state of the art Avionics, 5th-generation on board computer and distributed architecture. The missile is equipped with latest features to correct and guide it for in-flight disturbances. The most accurate Ring Laser Gyro based highly advanced Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and supported by highly reliable redundant Micro Navigation System (MINGS), ensured the vehicle reach the target within two digit accuracy. It’s re-entry heat shield, capable of withstanding high temperatures that may reach as high as 4000 degree centigrade and above during reentry of missile in earth’s atmosphere, makes sure that the inside temperature remain less than 50 degree centigrade. Agni-IV had been launched successfully 5 times earlier in 2011, 2012, twice in 2014 and once in 2015. Agni-VI (it replaced Agni-II), a road mobile, containerized strategic missile with a range of 6,000 km that would be capable of carrying between 4 to 6 independently targeted warheads, according to unnamed DRDO sources. The number of warheads carried by the 20m long, 2m diameter and 65-70 ton missile would depend on the types of warheads deployed. SAM Air Defense System The US Glide Phase Interceptor to protect against hypersonic threats using a multi- layered solution to defend against hypersonic glide vehicles. There is currently no effective counter to adversary loitering munitions and drone swarms. "You can see video of tanks being hit by an unmanned aerial system, artillery positions being hit by an unmanned aerial system, troops being hit by an unmanned aerial system". |
The HQ-17A SHORADS Low Altitude Air Defense is a Chinese development of the Tor-M1E system with multiple improvements (like incorporating datalink). The system is capable of firing on the move with the vehicle traveling at a max speed of 25 kph. It carries a total of 8 missiles and can engage up to 4 targets at the same time. In the 1990s, the China purchased dozens of Tor-M1E missile systems at high cost. Russia upgraded Tor M2-U SR-SAM air-defense systems (ADMS) (NATO name: SA-15 Gauntlet) comprises the 9A331 combat vehicle and the 9M331 SAM. | |
Long-ranged Vectors: Rockets & Tubed artillery
Towed artillery, 10 to 15 minute displacement times [are] not going to work against an enemy. Russian and Chinese push waves of infantry into selected locations on the front lines, concentrating their armour and artillery forces to saturate the enemy's defences. So we still need to modernize our fires, but we need to continue to look at robotic solutions to artillery. Attrition warfare emerges when neither side can achieve a clear asymmetric advantage. The US Army is trying to automate the resupply of its self-propelled artillery that would cut crews by half and double the rate & volume of fire.
China has 3,800 self-propelled artillery, while India has 235 self-propelled artillery.
In 2015, 6 PLA Second Artillery Bases (51 to 56), were upgrade into an independent service called PLA strategic Rocket Forces (identified only by their assigned unique 5-digit unit number). Each of the subordinate regiments was upgraded to a brigade. This secretive force has a dual identity, as it also controls all land-based nuclear missiles.
Logistics is the lifeblood in cannon and rocket wars, along with the power of robust precision targeting and integrated air defence. Artillery is a class of weapons built to fire munitions far beyond the range of normal rifles and machine-guns. It is an important part of any army or armed force as artillery not only supports ground troops but also helps in destroying enemy strongholds.
Soviet Artillery doctrine considered use of artillery as a ‘fighting arm’ rather than as a ‘support arm’. The phrase ‘God of War’ used to describe the role of artillery as a battle winning arm in the modern battlefield originated in the former Soviet Union. Israel learned that firepower of infantry & artillery combined arms, were the keys to the survival of armored vehicles. Only long-range artillery and aviation, which need time to deploy, will do any good against constantly moving tanks.
Russia could not afford GPS-guided systems and found that its laser-guided bombs and missiles systems for dumb bombs were not prepared for the desert dust and heat conditions encountered in Syria. The problems were fixed, but not before a lot of pilots (and Russian air controllers on the ground) complained that accuracy was often way off. Further investigation found that Russian laser designators which worked quite well under most conditions, especially in European conditions, were often way off in Syria due to misleading heat and light conditions sometimes encounters on the ground.
Russia's BM-30 MLRS entered service in the late 1980s, and was seen as the Russian answer to the U.S. MLRS. Because of the success of the GPS version of the U.S. MLRS rocket the smaller, truck mounted MLRS (HIMARS) rocket launcher system has become more popular. This enables one HIMARS vehicle to provide support over a frontage of 170 kilometers, or, in places like Afghanistan, where the fighting can be anywhere, an area of over 20,000 square kilometers. This is a huge footprint for a single weapon (an individual HIMARS vehicle), and fundamentally changes the way you deploy artillery in combat.
Russia's doctrine calls for massive artillery barrages. This led to huge ammunition dumps being positioned close to the front for convenience. It also meant that those huge stocks of artillery shells were within range of rockets (MLRS). The adaptations Russia made in response to HIMARS "included displacing logistics hubs out of range, hardening command posts, and introducing decoys to make targeting more difficult".
China's heavy 12-tube 300mm PHL-03 is a copy of Russian BM-30 Smerch and includes technology provided by the Russians for its launch system, trajectory control system besides rockets and warheads. Russian old favourite was the 300mm BM-30 Smerch. Tornado-S guided rocket system is an upgraded BM-30 Smerch.
The launcher had 6 rails (instead of 12 found in Smerch MLRS). The armament portion of the 9A52-4 rocket launcher vehicle is adaptable to the battlefield need. The launcher is capable of supporting launch tubes of 122mm, 220mm or 300mm in caliber though the larger the rocket used, the lower the total number of rockets launched. 15 x 122mm rockets can be carried, compared to 8 x 220mm types or 6 x 300mm types.
Since 2015, Russia has been using the highly automated Tornado-G (upgraded BM-21) MLRS with an improved fire control system, however, the Russians have few rockets available and lack the sophisticated and very effective target acquisition. 9K58 Kama highly automated MLRS project is a version of the lightweight and universal 300mm 'Tornado-S' guided rocket system. The new high-mobility 300mm 'Sarma' guided rocket system will be able to fire "smart" guided precision-guided munitions (equipped with an inertial navigation system with satellite adjustment). It will be a continuation of the Kama project.
PLA has been trying to transition away from traditional artillery capability and evolving towards long-arm mobile rocket forces. The actual changes are yet to be made, except this force has been elevated to equal position in the army leadership ranks. China's artillery modernization plan aims at developing an in-depth precision strike systems with integrated ISR, and control capabilities to operate in Taiwan and Tibet.
The launcher had 6 rails (instead of 12 found in Smerch MLRS). The armament portion of the 9A52-4 rocket launcher vehicle is adaptable to the battlefield need. The launcher is capable of supporting launch tubes of 122mm, 220mm or 300mm in caliber though the larger the rocket used, the lower the total number of rockets launched. 15 x 122mm rockets can be carried, compared to 8 x 220mm types or 6 x 300mm types.
Since 2015, Russia has been using the highly automated Tornado-G (upgraded BM-21) MLRS with an improved fire control system, however, the Russians have few rockets available and lack the sophisticated and very effective target acquisition. 9K58 Kama highly automated MLRS project is a version of the lightweight and universal 300mm 'Tornado-S' guided rocket system. The new high-mobility 300mm 'Sarma' guided rocket system will be able to fire "smart" guided precision-guided munitions (equipped with an inertial navigation system with satellite adjustment). It will be a continuation of the Kama project.
PLA has been trying to transition away from traditional artillery capability and evolving towards long-arm mobile rocket forces. The actual changes are yet to be made, except this force has been elevated to equal position in the army leadership ranks. China's artillery modernization plan aims at developing an in-depth precision strike systems with integrated ISR, and control capabilities to operate in Taiwan and Tibet.
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| India also has 36 Smerch-M MBRLs and around 150 BM-21 Grad MLRSs. "India's Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) signed a MoU for a joint venture with Rosoboronexport and Splav SPA to manufacture 5 versions of Smerch Rockets based on the technology received from Russia". This weapon was successfully tried and tested to be able to hit 90 kms in the Kargil war to evict the Pakistanis. However, Russia backed out from an agreement with India to provide any technology transfer for rockets used in the Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS). Shtil-2 (SS-N-12) SAM system is a ship-based Smerch which are fitted on Indian (Talwar & Delhi class), Chinese & Russian destroyers with 3S90M "Smerch" (SA-N-12 'Grizzly') missiles. This was an improved missile, with the designator 9M317, which was developed specifically for the Buk-2M (SA-17) and Shtil-1 (SA-N-7B or SA-N-12) systems. The range of the system is estimated at up to 50km and is capable following and hitting targets flying at speeds up to Mach 4. There are similarities between the Buk-M1 (SA-11 'Gadfly') and Buk-2M (SA-17 'Grizzly') missiles and the US RIM-66 Standard, and the Buk-2M missile also bears a resemblance to the Vympel NPO R-37 air-to-air missile. SA-19/SA-N-11 development further into combined short to medium range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery weapon system, Pantsir-S1 that and represents the latest air defence technology by using phased-array radars for both target acquisition and tracking. |
The Israeli IAI with the Spanish Expal and Escribano have proposed the latest variant of the Lynx, the PULS, for the Spanish Army's future SILAM (Sistema de Lanzacohetes de Alta Movilidad) High Mobility Launcher System. It is the evolution of the LAR-160 system designed in the 1970s, initially on AMX-13 chassis.
In 1981, Indian Army flagged its need for a long range artillery system. India bought 26 Smerch-M from Russia. But Russia backed out from an agreement with India to provide the technology transfer for rockets used in the 12-tubed BM-30 Smerch 300mm guided multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) that can hit targets upto 90 kms. Russia’s refusal to provide India with Transfer of Technology for 300mm BM-30 Smerch led to the development of indigenous 214mm 'Pinaka' Mark-1 (meaning: whirlwind) unguided 12-Barrel Rocket Launcher System (MBRL) that will replace Russian-made BM-21 Grad. A state-of-the-art system better electronics than even Russian frontline MBRLs. It is the first Indian prototype weapon to be used in an actual combat. Its success has been well documented during Kargil conflict and has earned the confidence of our Indian armed forces.
The DRDO’s choice of L&T and Tata Power as industrial partners in the Pinaka project ensured that a quality design was enhanced by skilled manufacture. Ordnance Factory Chanda, near Nagpur, builds the Pinaka rockets and warheads. Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) builds the Tatra high mobility vehicles on which the system is mounted, as well as its mobile logistics systems. Tata Power SED had delivered one regiment of Pinaka Launcher and Command Post in the period of 2006 – 2010 and has receive another order for the same. The order is worth over Rs 200 crore includes supply of 20 Launchers and 8 command posts. 10 more contracts has been cleared by the Government. The Pinaka system is 92% local, supports 43 Indian industries. It is rumoured that a 120km range rocket, carrying a 250 kg payload, is also being contemplated.
Guided Pinaka 1 provides better reaction time than liquid-fuelled Prithvi ballistic missiles. Pinaka-1 has been replaced by Pinaka DPICM. A single Pinaka DPICM regiment can obliterate a target beyond 30 kms to 37.5 kms away by pouring down 72 rockets onto it in just 44 seconds. Its an area weapon system, with two different types of warheads, aimed at supplementing the existing artillery guns. It is capable of acting as a force-multiplier and has a quick reaction time and high rate of fire. Each rocket delivers 100 kilograms of high explosive onto the target. ADM warhead is capable of neutralizing an area of more than 10,000 square meters.
The Pinaka rocket’s “pre-formed fragmented” (PF) warhead breaks into 21,000 high-density, tungsten alloy spears when it strikes its target, tearing through anything in the area. Unfortunately, some of them could not reach the full distance and some of the rockets had burst in the launcher itself. Hence, Israel IMI Systems has resumed supplying TCS modules for Pinaka-1 MBRL rockets to target beyond 35 km (IMI was blacklisted in 2012) after the DRDO-replicated clone of the TCS modules failed. Safran Sigma guidance system that is primarily or solely active during the terminal phase, just before the weapon impacts its target.
The Pinaka-ER (Enhanced) Rocket System (EPRS) rocket has pre-frag, incendiary, practice and three types of submunition warheads. Pinaka-ER has 45km range. An ideal weapon for striking terrorist camps across the Line of Control (LoC) with pinpoint accuracy, eliminating the need to risk soldiers crossing the border on “surgical strikes”. The guided Pinaka with TCS module has a range of 65 km, compared to 37.5-40km of Mk I, which had an error probability of one meter with the help of GPS. GPS signals can be distorted by the operator or jammed by an enemy. In future, the guided Pinaka Mark-2 will have a diameter of 300mm and 135km range.
The DRDO’s choice of L&T and Tata Power as industrial partners in the Pinaka project ensured that a quality design was enhanced by skilled manufacture. Ordnance Factory Chanda, near Nagpur, builds the Pinaka rockets and warheads. Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) builds the Tatra high mobility vehicles on which the system is mounted, as well as its mobile logistics systems. Tata Power SED had delivered one regiment of Pinaka Launcher and Command Post in the period of 2006 – 2010 and has receive another order for the same. The order is worth over Rs 200 crore includes supply of 20 Launchers and 8 command posts. 10 more contracts has been cleared by the Government. The Pinaka system is 92% local, supports 43 Indian industries. It is rumoured that a 120km range rocket, carrying a 250 kg payload, is also being contemplated.
Guided Pinaka 1 provides better reaction time than liquid-fuelled Prithvi ballistic missiles. Pinaka-1 has been replaced by Pinaka DPICM. A single Pinaka DPICM regiment can obliterate a target beyond 30 kms to 37.5 kms away by pouring down 72 rockets onto it in just 44 seconds. Its an area weapon system, with two different types of warheads, aimed at supplementing the existing artillery guns. It is capable of acting as a force-multiplier and has a quick reaction time and high rate of fire. Each rocket delivers 100 kilograms of high explosive onto the target. ADM warhead is capable of neutralizing an area of more than 10,000 square meters.
The Pinaka rocket’s “pre-formed fragmented” (PF) warhead breaks into 21,000 high-density, tungsten alloy spears when it strikes its target, tearing through anything in the area. Unfortunately, some of them could not reach the full distance and some of the rockets had burst in the launcher itself. Hence, Israel IMI Systems has resumed supplying TCS modules for Pinaka-1 MBRL rockets to target beyond 35 km (IMI was blacklisted in 2012) after the DRDO-replicated clone of the TCS modules failed. Safran Sigma guidance system that is primarily or solely active during the terminal phase, just before the weapon impacts its target.
The Pinaka-ER (Enhanced) Rocket System (EPRS) rocket has pre-frag, incendiary, practice and three types of submunition warheads. Pinaka-ER has 45km range. An ideal weapon for striking terrorist camps across the Line of Control (LoC) with pinpoint accuracy, eliminating the need to risk soldiers crossing the border on “surgical strikes”. The guided Pinaka with TCS module has a range of 65 km, compared to 37.5-40km of Mk I, which had an error probability of one meter with the help of GPS. GPS signals can be distorted by the operator or jammed by an enemy. In future, the guided Pinaka Mark-2 will have a diameter of 300mm and 135km range.
The fuses for artillery munition in India are licence assembled by BEL from Israel's Reshef Technologies & South Africa's Reutech.
In the 1990s to 2000s, IMI specialists, together with Romanian specialists on a number of projects, carried out work on the creation of systems for launching rockets of 122 mm, 160 mm, 220 mm, 300 mm calibre.
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400mm Hatf-9 NASR (Victory) MBRL (not to be confused with Iran's cruise missile with the same name, Nasr / Kosar)
Pakistan apparently got the Hatf-9 NASR from China's WS-2 technology. The missile is supported by Chinese satellites for strategic non-line-of-sight targeting.
It has a range of 60 km to 380 km, and has in-flight maneuver capability. Its purpose is to quickly deter any conventional responds from India, even after they strike first.
Its in-flight maneuverability is being improved to defeat potential any short-range missile defense (against artillery rockets and ballistic missiles) such as the Israel's Iron Dome system.
The apparent size and range of the Hatf 9 is similar to the 1970s OTR-21 (SS-21).
All Pakistani missiles are named Hatf (meaning “doom” in Arabic, but often mistranslated as “vengeance”). The missiles are numbered from I to IX, with each missile type also having a specific name.
Pakistan apparently got the Hatf-9 NASR from China's WS-2 technology. The missile is supported by Chinese satellites for strategic non-line-of-sight targeting.
It has a range of 60 km to 380 km, and has in-flight maneuver capability. Its purpose is to quickly deter any conventional responds from India, even after they strike first.
Its in-flight maneuverability is being improved to defeat potential any short-range missile defense (against artillery rockets and ballistic missiles) such as the Israel's Iron Dome system.
The apparent size and range of the Hatf 9 is similar to the 1970s OTR-21 (SS-21).
All Pakistani missiles are named Hatf (meaning “doom” in Arabic, but often mistranslated as “vengeance”). The missiles are numbered from I to IX, with each missile type also having a specific name.
South Korea KTSSM “artillery killer” low-cost tactical short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) is a key asset that is designed to attack long-ranged artillery and MRLs (multiple rocket launchers). They are GPS-guided to hit targets within two meters and have a shaped thermal warhead that can penetrate bunkers and hardened, underground targets.
300mm PHL-03 variants include the Weishi family of multiple rocket launcher systems AR1 (or WS-1), AR1A, AR2, and AR3. PCH191, as well as its export variant, Weishi A-300E (AR-3 version), fitted with GNSS, has also emerged and supports a 370mm Fire Dragon battlefield rocket while retaining support firing the earlier 300mm rocket type.
Only a very limited number of the PHL96 unguided multi-missile rocket launcher system has entered Chinese service, since its successor, the digitized PHL03 began to enter service shortly after.
North Korea's unguided 300mm rocket launcher first appeared in a late 2015 parade, it is speculated that the missile is actually a copy of China's A-300E (AR-3) of unguided multi-missile rocket launcher system, which is an upgraded version of Chinese PHL-96 (which is not a copy but very similar to Russia's BM-30 Smerch 9K58 in rocket diameter, range, rate of fire and appearance, as previously thought).
Only a very limited number of the PHL96 unguided multi-missile rocket launcher system has entered Chinese service, since its successor, the digitized PHL03 began to enter service shortly after.
North Korea's unguided 300mm rocket launcher first appeared in a late 2015 parade, it is speculated that the missile is actually a copy of China's A-300E (AR-3) of unguided multi-missile rocket launcher system, which is an upgraded version of Chinese PHL-96 (which is not a copy but very similar to Russia's BM-30 Smerch 9K58 in rocket diameter, range, rate of fire and appearance, as previously thought).
China's SR5 universal (122mm to 300mm) unguided multi-missile rocket launcher (MBRL) system entered service in 2013 and has already been exported to UAE, Algeria, Bahrain, Venezuela and Thailand.
Fatah-I and Fatah-2 variants, mark a significant milestone for Pakistan, as these rocket systems boast ranges of 140km and 400km respectively
The 10-tubed Weishi A-100E system is China's first attempt to break into the tactical weapons market. It was rejected by the PLAGF. A100E (AR-1A version) fires unguided 300 mm rockets with a range of 40 to 50 km, while AR-2 (fitted with GPS) version has a range of 85 km to 120 km. A100E AR-2 has been exported to Morroco. These are fitted with a High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead. A complete system takes 20 minutes to be reloaded with 10 new rockets. Two regiments (36 launchers) were procured by the Pakistan Army but during field trials, it was found wanting.
60-km to 150-km Prahar & Pragati are quick-reaction battlefield tactical missiles battlefield-support missile for the Air Force and Army for destroying enemy targets in high-altitude at short ranges (but that are out of reach for MBRL). The uniqueness of the missile system is that in one salvo, six missiles can be fired with multiple targets. Pragati will be offered for export.
150-200-km Pranash is a tactical nuclear missile which will be an advanced version Prahar or Prahaar (meaning: to strike) road-mobile, quick-reaction, single stage, solid propellant, tactical nuclear battlefield support missile for India's tri-services Strategic Forces Command. The Prahar will eventually replace all existing Prithvi SS-150 missiles that are now deployed by the 3 Missile Groups attached to the Indian Army’s 2 Field Artillery Divisions. The 1.3 ton missile is powered all the way up to its target, just like an MBRL rocket.
It would not be wrong to claim that the 'Prahaar' is an Israel Aerospace Industries-built EXTRA long-range artillery rocket with Indian characteristics. Thus, the solid-fuelled ‘Prahar’ is, in essence, a product that overcomes all the deficiencies displayed by the Prithvi family of battlefield support missiles (the SS-150, SS-250 and SS-350), which makes uses of liquid fuel and is consequently cumbersome both in terms of transportation and launch readiness procedures.
The 40 km to 150 km range missile is 6.7m to 7.3m long, diameter of 380 mm to 420 mm wide, has a launch weight of 1,280 kg and can be launched within minutes in all weather. It can carry a single nuclear, high explosive or submunitions warhead weighing 200 kg. Prahar, an omni–directional, hypersonic, multi-warhead missile, in response to Pakistan’s TNW carrier Hatf-9, has blunted Pakistan’s strategic advantage. Prahar can take out multiple targets and can be moved to any place. DRDO developed Prahar (to strike) in two years, to specifically bridge the gap in the range between the unguided Pinaka rocket, which has a range of 45 km, and the guided Prithvi missile variants, that can take out targets 250 km to 350 km away. It carries a 200-kg conventional warhead. The ‘Prahar’ reportedly boasts a 3-element flight-control system, with the third and final stage comprising only the manoeuvring warhead section. A separate wheeled vehicle is being developed to act as a missile resupply station, carrying 6 canister missile rounds. Prahar is a unique missile because it has high maneuverability, very high acceleration and excellent impact accuracy. It will bridge the gap between the multi-barrel rocket system, Pink and the Prithvi missiles.
Missile's Strategic Importance: The Prahar is the latest missile to be added to India's arsenal of ballistic missiles and was developed keeping in mind the Indian Army's 'Cold Start' doctrine, which envisions a rapid thrust by armoured regiments into Pakistan in the event of a provocation. The Prahar would play a key role in disrupting and destroying enemy infrastructures as well as lines of communication before Indian ground forces move in.
The missile was developed with two main factors in mind: accuracy and rapid response. Accuracy was important as it allows for the targeting of individual, tactical targets, as opposed to an artillery strike or rocket barrage which is usually directed at broader areas of impact.
The Prahar is also designed to carry various types of sub-munitions or a unitary warhead. For example, it will be able to carry up to 400 AT/AP bomblets, scatterable mines, anti-runway munitions and similar loads, making it effective for a wide number of targets.
The Prahar's payload compartment is being developed by the DRDO in cooperation with Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) MLM Systems Integration Division and Israel Military Industries' (IMI) Rocket Systems Division. Prahar would fill the gap for a battlefield weapon system in the country's missile arsenal and would replace the unguided Pinaka and Smirch rockets of 90 km range.
Highlights of Missile: A few Prahar missiles could do the job of many Pinaka rockets, in devastating wide areas. It is an all-weather missile that can be launched from canisters. Since it can be fired from a road mobile launcher, it can be quickly transported to different places. It can be deployed in various kinds of terrain, such as snow-bound areas or jungles.
With its range of 150 km, it is comparable to the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) of the United States. Prahar can carry different types of conventional warheads. Six Prahaar missiles can be launched in salvo mode in different directions.
The missile has a quick reaction time, that is, it can be launched within a few minutes. It has sophisticated inertial navigation, guidance and electro-mechanical actuation systems. Its onboard computer helps it to home in on the targets with an accuracy of 10 meters. Prahaar is a single stage missile, propelled by solid fuel. It is 7.3 meters tall, has a diameter of 42 cm and weighs 1.3 tonnes. The missile reaches a height of 35 km before reaching the targets 150 km away. According to DRDO, India's interceptor missile was converted into Prahaar. That is why it has a range of 150 km.
According to DRDO Prithvi was never a quick-reaction system and its flight trajectory can be easily tracked by early warning radars as it is a single-stage missile. But 'Prahar' boasts a three-element flight-control system, with the third and final stage comprising only the maneuverings warhead section.
The Prahar is expected to replace all existing Prithvi SS-150 missiles that are now deployed by the three Missile Groups attached to the Indian Army's two Field Artillery Divisions. Being multi-directional and auto-loading in nature, Prahar will be extremely useful in emergency situations. Its launch time is estimated to be two to three minutes and no preparation is required. The missile has been under development for the past four years. It was first unveiled in 2010.
It would not be wrong to claim that the 'Prahaar' is an Israel Aerospace Industries-built EXTRA long-range artillery rocket with Indian characteristics. Thus, the solid-fuelled ‘Prahar’ is, in essence, a product that overcomes all the deficiencies displayed by the Prithvi family of battlefield support missiles (the SS-150, SS-250 and SS-350), which makes uses of liquid fuel and is consequently cumbersome both in terms of transportation and launch readiness procedures.
The 40 km to 150 km range missile is 6.7m to 7.3m long, diameter of 380 mm to 420 mm wide, has a launch weight of 1,280 kg and can be launched within minutes in all weather. It can carry a single nuclear, high explosive or submunitions warhead weighing 200 kg. Prahar, an omni–directional, hypersonic, multi-warhead missile, in response to Pakistan’s TNW carrier Hatf-9, has blunted Pakistan’s strategic advantage. Prahar can take out multiple targets and can be moved to any place. DRDO developed Prahar (to strike) in two years, to specifically bridge the gap in the range between the unguided Pinaka rocket, which has a range of 45 km, and the guided Prithvi missile variants, that can take out targets 250 km to 350 km away. It carries a 200-kg conventional warhead. The ‘Prahar’ reportedly boasts a 3-element flight-control system, with the third and final stage comprising only the manoeuvring warhead section. A separate wheeled vehicle is being developed to act as a missile resupply station, carrying 6 canister missile rounds. Prahar is a unique missile because it has high maneuverability, very high acceleration and excellent impact accuracy. It will bridge the gap between the multi-barrel rocket system, Pink and the Prithvi missiles.
Missile's Strategic Importance: The Prahar is the latest missile to be added to India's arsenal of ballistic missiles and was developed keeping in mind the Indian Army's 'Cold Start' doctrine, which envisions a rapid thrust by armoured regiments into Pakistan in the event of a provocation. The Prahar would play a key role in disrupting and destroying enemy infrastructures as well as lines of communication before Indian ground forces move in.
The missile was developed with two main factors in mind: accuracy and rapid response. Accuracy was important as it allows for the targeting of individual, tactical targets, as opposed to an artillery strike or rocket barrage which is usually directed at broader areas of impact.
The Prahar is also designed to carry various types of sub-munitions or a unitary warhead. For example, it will be able to carry up to 400 AT/AP bomblets, scatterable mines, anti-runway munitions and similar loads, making it effective for a wide number of targets.
The Prahar's payload compartment is being developed by the DRDO in cooperation with Israel Aircraft Industries' (IAI) MLM Systems Integration Division and Israel Military Industries' (IMI) Rocket Systems Division. Prahar would fill the gap for a battlefield weapon system in the country's missile arsenal and would replace the unguided Pinaka and Smirch rockets of 90 km range.
Highlights of Missile: A few Prahar missiles could do the job of many Pinaka rockets, in devastating wide areas. It is an all-weather missile that can be launched from canisters. Since it can be fired from a road mobile launcher, it can be quickly transported to different places. It can be deployed in various kinds of terrain, such as snow-bound areas or jungles.
With its range of 150 km, it is comparable to the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) of the United States. Prahar can carry different types of conventional warheads. Six Prahaar missiles can be launched in salvo mode in different directions.
The missile has a quick reaction time, that is, it can be launched within a few minutes. It has sophisticated inertial navigation, guidance and electro-mechanical actuation systems. Its onboard computer helps it to home in on the targets with an accuracy of 10 meters. Prahaar is a single stage missile, propelled by solid fuel. It is 7.3 meters tall, has a diameter of 42 cm and weighs 1.3 tonnes. The missile reaches a height of 35 km before reaching the targets 150 km away. According to DRDO, India's interceptor missile was converted into Prahaar. That is why it has a range of 150 km.
According to DRDO Prithvi was never a quick-reaction system and its flight trajectory can be easily tracked by early warning radars as it is a single-stage missile. But 'Prahar' boasts a three-element flight-control system, with the third and final stage comprising only the maneuverings warhead section.
The Prahar is expected to replace all existing Prithvi SS-150 missiles that are now deployed by the three Missile Groups attached to the Indian Army's two Field Artillery Divisions. Being multi-directional and auto-loading in nature, Prahar will be extremely useful in emergency situations. Its launch time is estimated to be two to three minutes and no preparation is required. The missile has been under development for the past four years. It was first unveiled in 2010.
15.5 feet long 'Rampage' (earlier MARS) is a (cheaper alternative to SPICE bomb) supersonic air-launched standoff-weapon built from ground-launched EXTRA guided artillery. It's not the first time a ground-launched guided missile has been adapted for aerial use. Recently, Russia revealed Kinzhal, an air-launched version of Iskander missile. It can hit stationary targets only and fills the gap between long-ranged cruise missiles and guided glide-bombs.
Israel introduced LORA (Long Range Artillery Rocket) system in 2007 which was an improvement on the American ATACMS (introduced in 1986) which was fired from a MLRS launcher that normally carries 6 of the standard 228mm MLRS rockets. GPS guidance is standard (with jam proof INS backup) which will land the warhead within 10 meters (30 feet) of the aim point. Both LORA and ATACMs are 610mm rockets that weighed about the same and used GPS/INS guidance system. Both are basically short range ballistic missiles. Where LORA differed was in that it was carried, four to a sealed launcher, on a heavy truck. Moreover LORA was designed from the beginning to be operated from ships and to use additional guidance system options.
Israel decided to replace most of its 155mm artillery with GPS guided rockets in 2011. That was followed by training some of these rocket battalions to fire GPS guided rockets into inhabited areas. Israel has all but eliminated the use of the traditional artillery barrage. These changes began after Israel noted the success the US were having with GPS guided rockets in Afghanistan since 2004. Israel introduced LORA in 2007 and back then it was noted that the Israeli weapon was similar to the U.S. ATACMS introduced in 1986. Both LORA and ATACMs are 610mm rockets that weighed about the same and used GPS/INS guidance system. Where LORA differed was in that it was carried, four to a sealed launcher, on a heavy truck. Moreover, LORA was designed from the beginning to be operated from ships and to use additional guidance system options. Israel has other guidance system options which are not advertised, like a pattern matching system that will provide even more accuracy and is jam proof (no GPS or radio link).
BEL Atulya new-generation X-band air-defence target acquisition fire control radar (AD-FCR) LRDE system produced by L&T replaces the old RPK 2 radar for Indian Army's L-70 and ZU-23 anti-aircraft artillery guns used by CADA. This is Ericsson Radar Electronics designed Upgraded Super Fledermaus (USFM) "Super Bat" fire control pulse-radar (doppler) which is license developed by BEL. The digital system contains a built-in simulator as well as a signal jammer. The radar was first used for mobile anti-aircraft double-barrel gun (SPAAG) by German army (Bundeswehr).
66 no. of IAI's new-generation 3-D surveillance and tracking Radar for $500 Million will replace the Flycatcher radar current used by the Indian Army. The radar has been developed by Elta especially for the Indian Army.
Flycatcher is a self-contained, all weather unit; that can track multiple aerial targets and provide data for the battery of L70 guns under its control.
Flycatcher is a self-contained, all weather unit; that can track multiple aerial targets and provide data for the battery of L70 guns under its control.
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Firefinder radars track the path of incoming shells, rockets, mortars, etc., and calculate the point they were fired from. The system is a long-range version of “weapon-locating radar,” designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for counter-battery fire.
They currently come in 2 versions. This one is specifically designed to counter medium range enemy weapon systems out to a range of 24 kms, while the TPQ-37 can locate longer-range systems, and even surface launched missiles, out to 50 kms. Indian Air Force has 12 TPQ-37 Firefinder WLRs.
They currently come in 2 versions. This one is specifically designed to counter medium range enemy weapon systems out to a range of 24 kms, while the TPQ-37 can locate longer-range systems, and even surface launched missiles, out to 50 kms. Indian Air Force has 12 TPQ-37 Firefinder WLRs.
Initially known as EQ-36 (where E stood for Enhanced), the U.S. Army changed the designation of the, Enhanced-AN/TPQ-36 radar, to AN/TPQ-53 (also known as Q-53) quick-reaction solid-state non-rotating counter-fire radar in September 2011. It replaces the AN/TPQ-36 & AN/TPQ-37 medium-range radars. US Army currently uses the remote-controlled automatically leveled AN/TPQ-53 (Q-53) FMTV truck-mounted mobile MMR system, which provide 360-degree protection from threats and is worth $85 million. The Q-53 radar showed it can be readily adapted to provide both air surveillance and counter fire target acquisition in one tactical sensor. Singapore has acquired 6 AN/TPQ-53 (Q-53).
Also the Humvee-mounted AN/TPQ-50 Light-weight gap-filler radar (for U.S Special forces) by SRECTec effective out to a range of greater than 10 kilometers and a minimum range of 500 meters against rockets, artillery and mortar fire. It is powered up by 5-kilowatt. Both the Q-50 and Q-53 radars are configured to integrate with ground-based Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar systems designed to protect forward operating bases. C-RAM provides an integrated system with Fire Control Radar capability engineered to detect, track and destroy incoming hostile fire.
Also the Humvee-mounted AN/TPQ-50 Light-weight gap-filler radar (for U.S Special forces) by SRECTec effective out to a range of greater than 10 kilometers and a minimum range of 500 meters against rockets, artillery and mortar fire. It is powered up by 5-kilowatt. Both the Q-50 and Q-53 radars are configured to integrate with ground-based Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar systems designed to protect forward operating bases. C-RAM provides an integrated system with Fire Control Radar capability engineered to detect, track and destroy incoming hostile fire.
The PAF had acquired AN / TPS-77 radars from Lockheed Martin, which have the unique capability to provide valley coverage and long range detection capabilities. If we compare India’s Rajendra radar with a TPS-77, we can observe that the latter is better in surveillance and engaging of targets. It is a mobile, active phased array, long range, L-band, three-dimensional solid-state radar designed to perform airspace surveillance missions. It also has an advantage of being active in nature unlike the Rajendra which is passive. Furthermore, the An / TPS-77 radar can be deployed in a single C-130 and by only two medium trucks. It can be operated by a crew of 6 and set up can be done in less than 30 minutes. The radar system provides detection and tracking against targets till a distance of 450 km.
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A derivative of the multi-function Rajendra passive phased array Battery Level Radar (BLR), Swathi is a coherent C-band pulse doppler Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) is a deep-penetration, mobile artillery locating phased array radar. 4 haves been sold to Armenia in Europe for $40 million beating Russia and Poland It can locate mortars 20kms away and gun positions 30 kms away. It was inducted in 2008. While it was developed, as an interim measure Raytheon AN/AN-TPQ-37 radars were being used. The WLR is similar to the AN/TPQ-37 radar in design and performance. The sensor is on a single vehicle, and the radar has automatic projectile acquisition and data transmission even in high density fire environment. It has high resolution as well as remote displays with the facility to change sector coverage as required in a battlefield. The range of the radar was not specified but it is believed to be 40-plus km. This counter-battery radar is designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for Counter-battery fire. The Army also used WLRs to further their "shoot and scoot" doctrine using self-propelled guns and artillery to loosen up defence before an offensive onslaught into hostile territory.
| The letters “AN” were originally part of the Joint Army-Navy nomenclature with later became known as the Joint Electronics Type designation. US made (originally made by Hughes Aircraft, which was acquired by Raytheon) AN-TPQ-36 (V9) counter-fire target acquisition Radar. Indian Air Force has purchased 12 AN/TPQ-37 (V) which is a long-range version of “weapon-locating radar” (WLR) designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for counter-battery fire. Its upgraded radar has an issue if the incoming mortar was fired too far below the radar, FireFinder could not accurately spot where the fire was coming from. India tried and found out that they WLR type of radars (TPQ-37 Firefinder and also the Ericsson Arthur WLR) have no impact on high-altitude battlefields. Pakistan has had the advantage of US-supplied radars from the mid-1980s, and they were also built by Raytheon, but an earlier model, old AN-TPQ-36 which requires 3 trailers, 3 vehicles and a 6-man crew. The version supplied to India, Firefinder AN-TPQ-37, has longer range and reach, and the additional capability to destroy some artillery missiles. The system consists of the 4-man Support group (Antenna-Transceiver Group & Command Shelter) and 60 kW Generator. There was however no Transfer of Technology (ToT) in the WLR acquired from the US. During the Kargil War, according to Army Headquarters reports, the Pakistanis could detect Indian fire and counter attack while Indians were at the receiving end and had to deploy massively disproportionate fire-power later to suppress the Pakistanis. |
The original MO-120-RT is a mortar designed and manufactured by Thomson-Brandt. Its impressive range (up to 5 km) and ease-of-use endeared it to many foreign armies, including the US Marine Corps.
In what appears to be a genuine case of historic irony, the MO-120 is used by the successor states that replaced the fabled Gunpowder Empires: Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and India. It deserves mention how each of these countries have enormous requirements for artillery and other crew-served weapons. It’s unknown how many MO-120’s are used by the Indian Army, but the OFB still considers it part of its product line.
In what appears to be a genuine case of historic irony, the MO-120 is used by the successor states that replaced the fabled Gunpowder Empires: Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and India. It deserves mention how each of these countries have enormous requirements for artillery and other crew-served weapons. It’s unknown how many MO-120’s are used by the Indian Army, but the OFB still considers it part of its product line.
India is still depended on Israeli-built Barak 1 to provide security cover for close encounters. After India’s Indigenous Trishul SRSAM Missile project was scrapped in 2008 , India has been looking for a replacement project since then and in meanwhile ordered two regiments of Spyder quick-reaction SAM systems from Rafael has interim solutions for the Indian Army.
The Army convinced the Indian Defence Ministry there is an urgent requirement for SRSAM, said Army sources, and did not want to wait for the Maitri project conceived four years ago. India and France have not been able to agree on details of the Maitri project, including funding arrangements. The Maitri project was proposed to be jointly developed by India's Defence Research and Development Laboratory and MBDA.
IAF's IIR-guided SpyDer Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) SAM and is being procured in limited quantities as an interim solution (18 systems with 750 Python-5 & 750 Derby missiles at cost of $260 or $395.2 million in September 2009.). The state-of-the-art missile has a strike range of about 15 km in low altitude. The shorter the range, the more difficult it would be for the missile to attack a moving target. The U.S. Javelin and the Israeli Spike had lock-on-before launch systems but the range was only 2.5 km.
The Spyder-SR is the culmination of joint R & D efforts undertaken by RAFAEL and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The 46km Derby is actually a larger Python (Israeli version of AIM-9L Sidewinder missile), with more fuel and a radar controlled guidance system. Both missiles are equipped with lock-on before launch (LOBL) and lock-on after launch (LOAL) modes for faster response time and improved engagement flexibility. Derby will eventually be replaced by the quick-reaction Astra-1 SHORAD version with Ku-band seeker, which is under development. RF-guided SAM will focus on hostile airborne aircraft.
The IAF refers to the Spyder-SR as a low-level quick-reaction missile (LLQRM), while the Army calls it a quick-reaction surface-to-air missile (QR-SAM). It can target can tackle both hostile aircraft & cruise missiles & hence offers more bang-for-the-buck (unlike Akash-2 SAM that can only target aircrafts). Both the IAF and the Army, Israel's Rafale SPYDER will reportedly replace India’s Russian-made OSA-AKM/SA-8 Gecko and ZRK-BD Strela-10M/ SA-13 Gopher SAM systems, and the purchase has decisively shelved the Indian DRDO’s failed Trishul project.
IAF’s requirement in July 2008, was for an initial 18 launchers (making up one squadron) for $293 million which was delivered in 2012. Indian Army received initial 4 regiments of the Spyder-SR for $900 million. The IAF's current requirement is for multi-functional active phased array radar for early warning of a 3D target and linking this information to a central fire control unit to activate the air defence mechanism. This procurement will be over and above the 18 MRSAM units that India is buying from Israel in a $1 billion deal signed in 2009.
The MRSAM will be capable of all-weather, all-terrain and day-and-night operation with a 3.5 km altitude ceiling. The system will be capable of engaging multiple targets against all types of targets in a network-centric operations environment. Rafael claims to have upgraded new missile with new seeker that employs an advanced solid state software-defined radar which is derived from Tamir interceptor used in Rafael’s Iron Dome System.
This truck-mounted system mixes radar and optical tracking. It is a low-level (from 20 metres through to 9,000 metres altitude) integrated, all-weather air-defence system that makes use of the ground-launched ultra-agile short-range (15km range) 5th generation Python 5 imaging infra-red guided and short to medium-range Derby 4 radar-guided missiles, which complement each other in their target detection, tracking and pursuit profile.
The radar can simultaneously track and engage up to 60 targets at a range beyond 35km (depending on the terrain). The command-and-control unit interfaces with the missile launch vehicles via wireless data-link (for up to as distance of 100km) to enable optimal unit dispersion for effective area coverage, mutual protection and survivability.
In order to create a versatile system adapted for a wider range of threats. A typical SPYDER squadron consists of 1 Mobile Command and Control Unit, plus 4 Mobile Firing Units with with their own built-in power supplies and missile sets of 4-8 missiles.
Spyder has been sold to ten (UAE, Ethiopia, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Georgia, Peru and Singapore) export customers but not the Israeli military. Israel depends on Iron Dome and David's Sling as well as the Arrow (for defense against long range ballistic missiles).
Starting with the Shafrir series, the Shafrir-1 missile was developed in 1959, followed by the Shafrir-2 in early 1970s. Subsequently, the missiles were given the western name of "Python" by the parent company for export purposes, starting with the Python-3 in 1978. The missile was adapted from the US ALM-9L Sidewinder heat-seeking missile and has a high degree of US technology. Israeli sold its Python to China. China all aspect PL-8 missile (Project Number 8) is legal licensed production of Israel's Rafael Python missile. China in-turn sold some to Iraq. Experience gained it helped China greatly in developing its PL-9 missile, that appears to be designed on the French Matra “Magic” airframe.
Since then, Israel's Python missile has been further developed and evolved into the Python-4, Python-5, Derby and also, the SPYDER, an advanced ground-based air-defence system. Though technically not part of the "Python" family, the missile is basically an enlarged Python-4 with an active-radar seeker. The Python-4 is a 4th generation AAM with all-aspect attack ability, and integration with a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) system.
The Army convinced the Indian Defence Ministry there is an urgent requirement for SRSAM, said Army sources, and did not want to wait for the Maitri project conceived four years ago. India and France have not been able to agree on details of the Maitri project, including funding arrangements. The Maitri project was proposed to be jointly developed by India's Defence Research and Development Laboratory and MBDA.
IAF's IIR-guided SpyDer Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) SAM and is being procured in limited quantities as an interim solution (18 systems with 750 Python-5 & 750 Derby missiles at cost of $260 or $395.2 million in September 2009.). The state-of-the-art missile has a strike range of about 15 km in low altitude. The shorter the range, the more difficult it would be for the missile to attack a moving target. The U.S. Javelin and the Israeli Spike had lock-on-before launch systems but the range was only 2.5 km.
The Spyder-SR is the culmination of joint R & D efforts undertaken by RAFAEL and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The 46km Derby is actually a larger Python (Israeli version of AIM-9L Sidewinder missile), with more fuel and a radar controlled guidance system. Both missiles are equipped with lock-on before launch (LOBL) and lock-on after launch (LOAL) modes for faster response time and improved engagement flexibility. Derby will eventually be replaced by the quick-reaction Astra-1 SHORAD version with Ku-band seeker, which is under development. RF-guided SAM will focus on hostile airborne aircraft.
The IAF refers to the Spyder-SR as a low-level quick-reaction missile (LLQRM), while the Army calls it a quick-reaction surface-to-air missile (QR-SAM). It can target can tackle both hostile aircraft & cruise missiles & hence offers more bang-for-the-buck (unlike Akash-2 SAM that can only target aircrafts). Both the IAF and the Army, Israel's Rafale SPYDER will reportedly replace India’s Russian-made OSA-AKM/SA-8 Gecko and ZRK-BD Strela-10M/ SA-13 Gopher SAM systems, and the purchase has decisively shelved the Indian DRDO’s failed Trishul project.
IAF’s requirement in July 2008, was for an initial 18 launchers (making up one squadron) for $293 million which was delivered in 2012. Indian Army received initial 4 regiments of the Spyder-SR for $900 million. The IAF's current requirement is for multi-functional active phased array radar for early warning of a 3D target and linking this information to a central fire control unit to activate the air defence mechanism. This procurement will be over and above the 18 MRSAM units that India is buying from Israel in a $1 billion deal signed in 2009.
The MRSAM will be capable of all-weather, all-terrain and day-and-night operation with a 3.5 km altitude ceiling. The system will be capable of engaging multiple targets against all types of targets in a network-centric operations environment. Rafael claims to have upgraded new missile with new seeker that employs an advanced solid state software-defined radar which is derived from Tamir interceptor used in Rafael’s Iron Dome System.
This truck-mounted system mixes radar and optical tracking. It is a low-level (from 20 metres through to 9,000 metres altitude) integrated, all-weather air-defence system that makes use of the ground-launched ultra-agile short-range (15km range) 5th generation Python 5 imaging infra-red guided and short to medium-range Derby 4 radar-guided missiles, which complement each other in their target detection, tracking and pursuit profile.
The radar can simultaneously track and engage up to 60 targets at a range beyond 35km (depending on the terrain). The command-and-control unit interfaces with the missile launch vehicles via wireless data-link (for up to as distance of 100km) to enable optimal unit dispersion for effective area coverage, mutual protection and survivability.
In order to create a versatile system adapted for a wider range of threats. A typical SPYDER squadron consists of 1 Mobile Command and Control Unit, plus 4 Mobile Firing Units with with their own built-in power supplies and missile sets of 4-8 missiles.
Spyder has been sold to ten (UAE, Ethiopia, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Georgia, Peru and Singapore) export customers but not the Israeli military. Israel depends on Iron Dome and David's Sling as well as the Arrow (for defense against long range ballistic missiles).
Starting with the Shafrir series, the Shafrir-1 missile was developed in 1959, followed by the Shafrir-2 in early 1970s. Subsequently, the missiles were given the western name of "Python" by the parent company for export purposes, starting with the Python-3 in 1978. The missile was adapted from the US ALM-9L Sidewinder heat-seeking missile and has a high degree of US technology. Israeli sold its Python to China. China all aspect PL-8 missile (Project Number 8) is legal licensed production of Israel's Rafael Python missile. China in-turn sold some to Iraq. Experience gained it helped China greatly in developing its PL-9 missile, that appears to be designed on the French Matra “Magic” airframe.
Since then, Israel's Python missile has been further developed and evolved into the Python-4, Python-5, Derby and also, the SPYDER, an advanced ground-based air-defence system. Though technically not part of the "Python" family, the missile is basically an enlarged Python-4 with an active-radar seeker. The Python-4 is a 4th generation AAM with all-aspect attack ability, and integration with a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) system.
30kms QR-SAM is an on-the-move, cannisterised, air defence system. It is currently 90% indigenous. The entire software code and logic is indigenous. The launcher has six missiles and can target 6 different targets in 360 degrees. The launcher is manufactured by L&T and the missiles by BDL. The multi-function radar and control systems are manufactured by BEL. QR-SAM was developed at the cost of 476.43
The Indian Army is looking for a highly mobile QR-SAM system that has 900-meter-per-second missiles with a reaction time of 6 seconds or less, with an engagement range of 15 kms kilometers out and at altitudes of not less than 6 km. On 22 December, a test of the QRSAM failed at Chandipur-on-Sea in Odisha because an actuator not responding to a software command, which led it to hit turbulence within 1.5 seconds of launch. Low-Level Quick Reaction Missile system (LLQRM) is an Indian Air Force requirement that should not be confused with the similar Indian Army Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) requirement, which was supposed to be a joint project with the French.
Its canister launched version should be able to target ballistic missiles range up to 25 kms in azimuth in less than one minute. It's looking for a weapon that delivers a single shot kill probability (SSKP) of at least 70% for a single missile fired, and 85% for a salvo shot involving 2 missiles with RF seekers. The missile also needs to be able to threats moving at speeds ranging from 0 km/h (a hovering helicopter) to 500 m/s at 20 kms on fast jets. It hit the target within 30 seconds. The Army is hoping for systems that deploy missiles that have ECCM capabilities and compatibility with vehicles currently in use. The launchers should be able to operate 24 hours a day, move 50 kmph for 8 hours without refueling (150 kms a day) and have nuclear-biological-chemical protection.
The all-weather, tracked-chassis Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), intended to defend on the move Army formations operating in plains and semi-desert areas, was required to have an advanced RF seeker which can engage all kinds of target handling capability, including aircraft at altitudes up to 9 kms, hovering helicopters, missiles up to 900 m/s and low-flying targets, including those that suddenly appear at close range. It is an all-weather and all-terrain missile having electronic counter measures against all known aircraft jammers. The QRSAM's AESA radar with X-band should be able to track while scanning out to 28 kms and Battery Surveillance radar range upto 120 kms anf Fire Control radar tracking range upto 80 kms; provide 3-D, 360-degree coverage; recognize identification-friend-or-foe beacons; detect ballistic and cruise missiles; and guide four missiles to separate targets.
The Indian government has cleared the way for a massive $2.2-billion procurement effort for quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles (QR-SAMs) to arm eight air defence regiments of the Indian Army. The missiles are intended to replace obsolete Soviet medium-level 2K12E "Kub" (SA-6 Gainful) Kvadrat mobile air-defence systems (designed to protect ground forces), most of which are unserviceable anyway. This marks the second effort by the army in the last 5 years, after the indigenously developed Akash SAM. The QR-SAM system is considered to be a unique system in its class, the missile is expected to supplement medium range surface-to-air missile Akash.
QR-SAM and Pralay missile systems both will be truck mounted canister missile systems, which will allow India’s Strike Corps to use them as Shield and Sword on the battlefield.
The Indian Army is looking for a highly mobile QR-SAM system that has 900-meter-per-second missiles with a reaction time of 6 seconds or less, with an engagement range of 15 kms kilometers out and at altitudes of not less than 6 km. On 22 December, a test of the QRSAM failed at Chandipur-on-Sea in Odisha because an actuator not responding to a software command, which led it to hit turbulence within 1.5 seconds of launch. Low-Level Quick Reaction Missile system (LLQRM) is an Indian Air Force requirement that should not be confused with the similar Indian Army Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) requirement, which was supposed to be a joint project with the French.
Its canister launched version should be able to target ballistic missiles range up to 25 kms in azimuth in less than one minute. It's looking for a weapon that delivers a single shot kill probability (SSKP) of at least 70% for a single missile fired, and 85% for a salvo shot involving 2 missiles with RF seekers. The missile also needs to be able to threats moving at speeds ranging from 0 km/h (a hovering helicopter) to 500 m/s at 20 kms on fast jets. It hit the target within 30 seconds. The Army is hoping for systems that deploy missiles that have ECCM capabilities and compatibility with vehicles currently in use. The launchers should be able to operate 24 hours a day, move 50 kmph for 8 hours without refueling (150 kms a day) and have nuclear-biological-chemical protection.
The all-weather, tracked-chassis Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM), intended to defend on the move Army formations operating in plains and semi-desert areas, was required to have an advanced RF seeker which can engage all kinds of target handling capability, including aircraft at altitudes up to 9 kms, hovering helicopters, missiles up to 900 m/s and low-flying targets, including those that suddenly appear at close range. It is an all-weather and all-terrain missile having electronic counter measures against all known aircraft jammers. The QRSAM's AESA radar with X-band should be able to track while scanning out to 28 kms and Battery Surveillance radar range upto 120 kms anf Fire Control radar tracking range upto 80 kms; provide 3-D, 360-degree coverage; recognize identification-friend-or-foe beacons; detect ballistic and cruise missiles; and guide four missiles to separate targets.
The Indian government has cleared the way for a massive $2.2-billion procurement effort for quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles (QR-SAMs) to arm eight air defence regiments of the Indian Army. The missiles are intended to replace obsolete Soviet medium-level 2K12E "Kub" (SA-6 Gainful) Kvadrat mobile air-defence systems (designed to protect ground forces), most of which are unserviceable anyway. This marks the second effort by the army in the last 5 years, after the indigenously developed Akash SAM. The QR-SAM system is considered to be a unique system in its class, the missile is expected to supplement medium range surface-to-air missile Akash.
QR-SAM and Pralay missile systems both will be truck mounted canister missile systems, which will allow India’s Strike Corps to use them as Shield and Sword on the battlefield.
"The solid-fuelled Pralay is a conventional long-range rocket artillery for replacing the SS-150 Prithvi SS-BSM. Although the DRDO had in the previous decade developed a solid-fuelled Prithvi-3 Precision-guided SS-BSM with a CEP of 30 metres at its max range of 600km (through the adoption of RLG-INS units imported from the TAMAM Division of Israel Aerospace Industries), the IA was dissatisfied with its solid-propellant’s low burn rate of 10 mm/s and instead had specified a solid-propellant with a burn rate of min. 70 mm/s. This became available only in 2015 from the DRDO’s Nashik-based Advanced Centre for Energetic Materials (ACEM), following which it was decided to develop the Pralay precision-guided SS-BSM as a derivative of the cannister-encased, land-mobile Shaurya SS-BSM, which can carry a 1-tonne nuclear warhead over a distance of 750km, weighs 6 tonnes, has a diameter of 0.74 metres and is 10 metres long."trishul-trident.blog
Akash-NG (New Generation) cannisterised Quick Reaction Missile system for IAF is rumoured to also be used to supplement Barak-8’s (shorter range) 50km variant by the Indian Army, for air defence as well anti-PGM capabilities. The command-n-control and fire-control systems of the Akash-NG would be almost identical to those of the QR-SAM Low-Level Quick Reaction Missile system (LLQRM). The system will be capable of search, track and fire while engaging 10 targets at ranges up to 40 km with configuration.
Akash-NG will have dual-mode guidance and will have passive semi-active RF seeker & also integral IIR micro-seeker for accurate target lock-on in the terminal stage, apart from higher energetic propellants for extended ranger. The second stage air-breathing solid ramjet engine has been ditched in favor of lighter dual-pulse solid rocket motor. The system has been conceptualised with solid propulsion, wing-body-tail configuration, electro-mechanical control system, active RF seeker and laser proximity fuze. Each Akash-NG system will have 4 Akash-NG missiles with active RF seekers and 4 Akash-NG with IIR seekers.
Akash-NG will have dual-mode guidance and will have passive semi-active RF seeker & also integral IIR micro-seeker for accurate target lock-on in the terminal stage, apart from higher energetic propellants for extended ranger. The second stage air-breathing solid ramjet engine has been ditched in favor of lighter dual-pulse solid rocket motor. The system has been conceptualised with solid propulsion, wing-body-tail configuration, electro-mechanical control system, active RF seeker and laser proximity fuze. Each Akash-NG system will have 4 Akash-NG missiles with active RF seekers and 4 Akash-NG with IIR seekers.
Long-ranged Vectors: Tubed artillery |
105mm is more efficient than 155mm for suppression (although mortar is always far better for suppression fire), 155mm are better for best coverage and lethality (casualties and damage). 122mm is also better than 105mm, however, it requires a very wide carriage for stability and has limited barrel elevation angle. 152mm and 155mm can fire from longer distance and more resistant to damage or destruction by counter-battery fire when compared to 122mm. Soviet 130mm 'chunky' M46 was not capable of high angle fire and had a very long 55-calibre barrels.
A 105mm artillery shell or a 120mm mortar shell, is way less expensive than a Small Diameter Bomb. The 105mm L118 Light Field Guns is one of the most remarkable modern artillery pieces ever produced. Barely weighing 2 tons it can be transported by land, sea, or air; and operated in difficult terrain without fuss. But the 105 mm lacks range. It’s used by at least 20 nations. Currently, 105 mm gun is being operated from U.S Air Force AC-130 gunships.
The L118 first entered service with the British Army in 1975 and was soon snapped up by allied countries, including a modified variant for the US Army. Its the workhorse for the Indian Army who has several hundred of these. India is one of the largest users of 130mm artillery in the world.
The L118 first entered service with the British Army in 1975 and was soon snapped up by allied countries, including a modified variant for the US Army. Its the workhorse for the Indian Army who has several hundred of these. India is one of the largest users of 130mm artillery in the world.
The 130mm M-46 was developed in the late 1940's to replace the 122mm A-19 for long-range shelling and counter battery fire. Until its proper designation was known it was called the M1954 in the West.
India is one of the largest users of 130 mm artillery in the world and it was agreed that if the option for further upgrades is implemented, Soltam will cooperate with local Indian industry in the upgrades of gun-tubes there. This ‘up-gunning’ move will increase the gun’s range and ability to deliver heavier explosives. 180 pieces of 130 mm M46 guns have been upgraded to 155 mm/45 calibre with kits supplied by Soltam of Israel. Another 300 guns are proposed to be upgraded soon.
M-46 has a sturdy split trail two wheeled carriage and a gun shield is fitted for crew protection. The M-46 has a 58 calibres long 130mm ordnance that is fitted with a pepper-pot muzzle brake. Normally a crew of 8 is used to operate the weapon. The M-46 fires its own range of 130 mm ammunition out to 27.2 km. This allows it to out-range virtually early Cold War artillery including the US M59 Long Tom. It is however unable to match the latest lighter 155mm L/52 artillery, even with base bleed rounds. The maximum rate of fire is 5 to 6 rpm, although several sources claim 8 to 10 rpm.
Soltam offers an upgrade package for the 130mm M-46 called the 155mm 45 cal M-46S towed gun in 2000. The upgrade is provided to the Indian Army into 155 mm guns similar to the ones used by the Israel Defense Forces. This replaces the 130mm ordnance with a 155mm gun, which may be either a L/39 or L/45 one. The ordnance is similar as used on the M839 and M845 howitzers and results in increased range and fire-power. The changes to the pieces involve the replacing of the gun tubes and the firing mechanisms. The upgraded guns will have six-meter tubes and ranges of up to 39 kilometres. These upgrade is in use with India which designates the system Mephisto.
The company is currently modernizing the Indian 130mm M46 artillery systems for $47.5 million, converting them to the M46S version, the conversion utilize the existing carriage and recoil system of 180 Russian original 130mm gun, fitted with the 155/45 cal tubes, which use standard 155mm artillery ammunition including ERFB/BB projectiles with charge 11 which extend the firing range up from 27.2 up to 39 km. A decision on an option for the upgrading of an additional 220-250 artillery pieces will be made by Indian officials later. Three entities are also competing for a Rs 720-crore order to upgrade the Army’s vintage 130mm M-46 artillery guns to the 155mm standard.
The M-46 has been copied and produced under license in China as the Type 59 which includes some changes. The Type 59-I incorporates some parts taken from the Type 60 field gun, mainly in the carriage. The Type 59-I has the same 58 caliber 130mm ordnance, which is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake in the Chinese version.
India is one of the largest users of 130 mm artillery in the world and it was agreed that if the option for further upgrades is implemented, Soltam will cooperate with local Indian industry in the upgrades of gun-tubes there. This ‘up-gunning’ move will increase the gun’s range and ability to deliver heavier explosives. 180 pieces of 130 mm M46 guns have been upgraded to 155 mm/45 calibre with kits supplied by Soltam of Israel. Another 300 guns are proposed to be upgraded soon.
M-46 has a sturdy split trail two wheeled carriage and a gun shield is fitted for crew protection. The M-46 has a 58 calibres long 130mm ordnance that is fitted with a pepper-pot muzzle brake. Normally a crew of 8 is used to operate the weapon. The M-46 fires its own range of 130 mm ammunition out to 27.2 km. This allows it to out-range virtually early Cold War artillery including the US M59 Long Tom. It is however unable to match the latest lighter 155mm L/52 artillery, even with base bleed rounds. The maximum rate of fire is 5 to 6 rpm, although several sources claim 8 to 10 rpm.
Soltam offers an upgrade package for the 130mm M-46 called the 155mm 45 cal M-46S towed gun in 2000. The upgrade is provided to the Indian Army into 155 mm guns similar to the ones used by the Israel Defense Forces. This replaces the 130mm ordnance with a 155mm gun, which may be either a L/39 or L/45 one. The ordnance is similar as used on the M839 and M845 howitzers and results in increased range and fire-power. The changes to the pieces involve the replacing of the gun tubes and the firing mechanisms. The upgraded guns will have six-meter tubes and ranges of up to 39 kilometres. These upgrade is in use with India which designates the system Mephisto.
The company is currently modernizing the Indian 130mm M46 artillery systems for $47.5 million, converting them to the M46S version, the conversion utilize the existing carriage and recoil system of 180 Russian original 130mm gun, fitted with the 155/45 cal tubes, which use standard 155mm artillery ammunition including ERFB/BB projectiles with charge 11 which extend the firing range up from 27.2 up to 39 km. A decision on an option for the upgrading of an additional 220-250 artillery pieces will be made by Indian officials later. Three entities are also competing for a Rs 720-crore order to upgrade the Army’s vintage 130mm M-46 artillery guns to the 155mm standard.
The M-46 has been copied and produced under license in China as the Type 59 which includes some changes. The Type 59-I incorporates some parts taken from the Type 60 field gun, mainly in the carriage. The Type 59-I has the same 58 caliber 130mm ordnance, which is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake in the Chinese version.
Haubits FH77 is a Swedish 155 mm howitzer. It was developed and manufactured by Bofors (now owned by British multinational BAE Systems). It was available in two versions, the original (sometimes referred to as Haubits 77 A) with a sliding block mechanism, and the later FH77 B export version with an interrupted screw breech. India is currently developing an upgraded (155mm/45 calibre) version of the MoD-owned Ordinance Factory Board's (OFB) FH-77B05 L5 (further development of the successful FH 77B02 L3) 155mm Artillery. It has muzzled velocity radar and inertial navigation system. The tender for modernising the Bofors FH-77B, involves overhauling the gun, fitting a state-of-the-art sighting system, and upgrading the barrels from 39 calibre to 52 calibre. The barrel upgrade will allow the guns to fire heavier ammunition, inflicting heavier damage on targets. Undeterred by Bofors’ withdrawal, the MoD-owned Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) and the Tata group have stepped forward and bid for the Bofors upgrade programme. Neither has ever developed an artillery gun earlier. The OFB, however, has the technical drawings of the Bofors FH-77B gun, which were handed over by Bofors when India signed the contract in the mid-1980s. For BAE Systems, the decision not to bid was a difficult one. It had set up a JV with MDS --- with BAE Systems holding a 26% stake, the maximum permissible --- primarily to build artillery systems in India. Last year the JV had written to the MoD offering a sweetener: if it won artillery deals like the Bofors upgrade, it would give the influential Indian defence production establishment a share of the work. The OFB would be given the work of manufacturing the gun barrels; public sector Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) could make the sighting systems; while the gun trails and gun carriages (on which the guns rest, fire and move) would be built in the new BAE-MDS factory in Faridabad. Despite all this, BAE Systems has not bid. Industry sources say BAE is confident that the OFB and the Tatas will prove technically unable to upgrade the Bofors guns. | 155x45mm caliber Dhanush-45 Ver.1 (Upgraded Bofors) gun has a range of 38km as against the gun range of 27km of the imported Bofors gun. Overall the indigenous composition of the gun is at 87% with the barrel being made by OFB. It can fire 3 rounds in 15 seconds and 8 rounds a minute. It has thermal sights at gunners display. Indian Army planned to induct 414 numbers of Dhanush howitzer by 2020. However, Indian Army has placed an initial order for only 114 guns and OFB can produce only about 14 Dhanush howitzer per year. Dhanush howitzers costs Rs. 14 crore per piece. As per earlier plan, the first regiment with 18 guns was to be inducted by 2017-end and the remaining guns in batches of 36 and 60 by 2019. The main drawback of Dhanush is its weight, as it uses heavier materials, which takes its weight to close to 12,000 kgs. Three Dhanush guns were fired in high-altitude range in Leh. Six guns were fired at Pokhran in May 2017 and July 2017. Defects in the muzzle brake have been found in two guns. Dhanush had suffered a temporary setback in August 2013 when the barrel of the fourth prototype burst during tests in Pokhran, Rajasthan. Investigations revealed that the reason was not due to any problems with the quality of the barrel, but due to the defective ammunition that was fired. The shell used for that test was 12 years old. |
Under Indian Army’s Field Artillery Rationalisation Plan (FARP) of 1999, the Regiment of Artillery had decided to standardise the calibre of all its guns at 155 mm so as to ensure commonality of ammunition. The plans were to acquire a total of 2,820 guns to replace obsolescent guns and to equip the new regiments that will form part of 17 Corps. The single largest artillery acquisition will be of 1,580 pieces of towed 155 mm/52 calibre guns over a period of 12 to 15 years.
Sweden's Archer is an FH77 155mm/L52 howitzer mounted on a modified Volvo 6x6 dump truck. The vehicle, with the howitzer on board, weighs 30 tons. It costs about $5 million.
France was the first to develop a truck-mounted 155mm/52 calibre artillery gun called the CAESAR (CAmion Equipped with an ARtillery System). The 17 or 18 tonne Caesar costs $4.9 million, but it has poor "shoot n scoot" to avoid enemy fire. Comparison between TATA Power SED’s solution and the Caesar reveals the fact that the latter’s overall design is superior, as it is air transportable by A400M or even a C130 for the 6×6 version. In 2024, the DGA will have two options: either to launch the production of 109 new Caesar Mk.2, or to launch the production of 33 new Caesar Mk.2 supplemented by the retrofit of the 76 Caesar in service today.
The New Generation NG Caesar Mark 2 Upgrade, is equipped with a new engine (will benefit from a 460 HP engine, compared to 215 HP on the current vehicle), a new automatic gearbox and a new chassis. In addition, the vehicle's mobility has been completely redesigned by Arquus. Finally, the Caesar Mk.2 cabin will feature the latest generation fire control software that is used during a firefight and its cabin will be designed to accommodate the new generation CONTACT NCT-t radios and BARRAGE jammers. Caesar Mk.2 will be delivered to the French army's artillery regiments by 2031.
It has a firing range of approximately 42 kilometres (26 miles) using an Extended Range, Full Bore (ERFB) shell, and more than 50 kilometres (31 miles) using rocket assisted shells. The CAESAR is an excellent solution for high-intensity combat that can be put in and out of battery in less than 45 seconds, fire 6–8 rounds per minute in sustained fire and resupply very quickly (18 rounds per minute) in order to maintain its mobility, the only effective protection against modern guided munitions. Which mean Trajan's sustained fire rate is the good part of Caesar.
Being the lightest in its class, it demonstrates unmatched tactical, operational, strategic mobility and fuel efficiency. Other nations have built heavier (20-30 ton) systems, usually on a 6x6 heavy truck chassis. Nexter is adding a Level-2 mine and ballistic armoured cabin, resistant to improvised explosive devices and small-calibre ammunition. The CAESAR holds 18 rounds and can be operated by as few as three persons. Afghanistan was the first time Caesar has served in combat and was successful. Caesar has also been combat proven along the Thai-Cambodian border.
The New Generation NG Caesar Mark 2 Upgrade, is equipped with a new engine (will benefit from a 460 HP engine, compared to 215 HP on the current vehicle), a new automatic gearbox and a new chassis. In addition, the vehicle's mobility has been completely redesigned by Arquus. Finally, the Caesar Mk.2 cabin will feature the latest generation fire control software that is used during a firefight and its cabin will be designed to accommodate the new generation CONTACT NCT-t radios and BARRAGE jammers. Caesar Mk.2 will be delivered to the French army's artillery regiments by 2031.
It has a firing range of approximately 42 kilometres (26 miles) using an Extended Range, Full Bore (ERFB) shell, and more than 50 kilometres (31 miles) using rocket assisted shells. The CAESAR is an excellent solution for high-intensity combat that can be put in and out of battery in less than 45 seconds, fire 6–8 rounds per minute in sustained fire and resupply very quickly (18 rounds per minute) in order to maintain its mobility, the only effective protection against modern guided munitions. Which mean Trajan's sustained fire rate is the good part of Caesar.
Being the lightest in its class, it demonstrates unmatched tactical, operational, strategic mobility and fuel efficiency. Other nations have built heavier (20-30 ton) systems, usually on a 6x6 heavy truck chassis. Nexter is adding a Level-2 mine and ballistic armoured cabin, resistant to improvised explosive devices and small-calibre ammunition. The CAESAR holds 18 rounds and can be operated by as few as three persons. Afghanistan was the first time Caesar has served in combat and was successful. Caesar has also been combat proven along the Thai-Cambodian border.
Production-engineering machinery imported by Kalyani from RUAG of Switzerland can produce barrels up to 9 metres in length, while the rifling and autofrettage machines can make bores ranging from 105mm to 8-metre long 155mm/52-cal. The most difficult part of an artillery gun is barrel and breech because the amount of calculations created for, the pressure, the ballistics data, the strength of material data etc are humongous; and even for computer simulation, a lot of real technical knowledge is required, which no foreigner, whether it's Israel, France, US, is ever going to give away for sure. That is why organisation like DRDO is extremely important for Indian national security since they have a lot of scientific-based library of data with them, and they have people who are experts in each area. The conceptual design is done by DRDO. They don't do every detail like board and produce some 10,000 drawings of every component. They give their production partner a basic envelope design. The production partner uses their own engineering knowledge while keeping the original performance characteristics. That is a good approach because with this approach, you get the best of industry capability and the best of applied research capability of DRDO. While fundamental research is happening in academic institutes like IITs.
Nitrochemie & Rheinmetall Waffe Munition (RWM) achieved the longest effective range (76 kms) ever attained with a conventional 155mm artillery round using a G6 L52-25l howitzer with a non-JBMoU-compliant 52-calibre gun developed and manufactured by South Africa's Denel Land Systems. It was introduced in 2002 but was unable to find any export customers. This gun served as evidence of the feasibility of a new 60-calibre howitzer with a range of 83 km for Rheinmetall-Denel Munition (RDM).
Kalyani had developed an improved GC-45 (Gun Canada 45 cal) named it Bharat-45. Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd (KSSL) has purchased production rights from Maschinenfabrik Liezen (earlier Noricum), and developed an improved model named Bharat-45. High-strength steel alloys for the barrels are sourced from the Kalyani Carpenter Special Steels. The Bharat-45 vectronics suite comes from Israel’s ELBIT Systems.
GC-45 was developed by Project HARP's ballistics expert Dr. Gerard Bull, was selected by South Africa as the design basis of what would become the G-5 howitzer. In 1981, basic SRC International GC-45 production rights were sold to Noricum (now Maschinenfabrik Liezen), who developed an upgraded version, GHN-45 in Austria in 1979. In the mean time, SRC International had been developing a second-generation CG-45, the FGH-155.
The CG-45 was also produced under license by NORINCO in China as the PLL-01 (export, ASH-1) and Soltam (now owned by ELBIT Systems) in Israel as the Soltam 845P / ATHOS 20-25. ELBIT has quoted €1.2 million for ATHOS per unit cost, which is 40% less than the Nexter's Trajan system.
GC-45 was developed by Project HARP's ballistics expert Dr. Gerard Bull, was selected by South Africa as the design basis of what would become the G-5 howitzer. In 1981, basic SRC International GC-45 production rights were sold to Noricum (now Maschinenfabrik Liezen), who developed an upgraded version, GHN-45 in Austria in 1979. In the mean time, SRC International had been developing a second-generation CG-45, the FGH-155.
The CG-45 was also produced under license by NORINCO in China as the PLL-01 (export, ASH-1) and Soltam (now owned by ELBIT Systems) in Israel as the Soltam 845P / ATHOS 20-25. ELBIT has quoted €1.2 million for ATHOS per unit cost, which is 40% less than the Nexter's Trajan system.
L&T 155mm / 52 Calibre Tracked Self Propelled Artillery Nexter Systems of France to provide TRAJAN 155mm towed howitzer based on the Caesar 155/52 mm barrel). Nexter has quoted €1.94 million for Trajan per unit cost, which costs 40% more that Soltam (now owned by ELBIT) ATHOS system.
Indian Army top priority is to induct 1,580 155mm/52 calibre Dhanush-52 motoried towed artillery guns for 79 artillery regiments at a cost of Rs 8000-12,460 crore. This will form the core of the artillery inventory, replacing the 105mm 1FG and the 122mm guns. However, design defects on the Dhanush, an indigenous version of the FH-77B Bofors, have jeopardised the current Indian Army's order for 114 guns. |
ATMOS, developed by Soltam, is the first truck-mounted 155mm artillery vehicle to enter service. The current version of ATMOS 2000 uses a 22-ton 6x6 vehicle. It can fire shells at the rate of four to six a minute. Over 70 ATMOS systems have been sold so far, including some modified and built under license in Romania and Poland. Philippines and Thailand also bought a few to be used as mobile artillery support against remote camps of Islamic terrorist and communist rebels. The Israeli army only recently ordered some ATMOS 2000 vehicles to replace elderly M109 self-propelled armoured 155mm guns.
The 17-18 ton 155mm 52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a second heavier version of Dhanush-52 (the indianised ver. of the imported Bofors gun) due to a 6-round magazine chamber of 25-liters instead of a standard 3-round magazine of 23-liters due to which the gun weighs slightly more than normal due to the larger chamber size. It is going to be an upgraded version from the current 155x45mm caliber to 155x52mm caliber to be used in Indian desert terrain 50 degree+. ATAGS gun has the capability to fire BMCS zone 7 at 13,000 feet to 15,400 feet altitude.
The ATAGS is India’s first indigenous 155mm/52-caliber towed artillery gun, which will be a joint project of two private-sector corporations. Tata Power manufactured ‘G1’ prototype and Kalyani Group Bharat Forge’s ‘G2’ prototype. The Winning L1 Bid will be awarded a contract to build 107 of the 150 ATAGSs while the runner-up will be allowed to manufacture the remaining 43 guns initially but in total order will be close to 2000 guns over 800 Dhanush Guns. At present, only 120 units of ATAGS are required by the Indian Army. Kalyani Group has said it can look into the weight issue if the Indian Army insists on weight reduction and has already come up with plans to use of special High Nitrogen Steel alloys along with titanium components to further reduce the weight of the gun, but use of special metals will mean that it is likely to shoot up the unit cost of each gun further.
The ATAGS exceptional range stems from a 25-litre chamber, which holds larger propellant charges (to fire the warhead a longer distance) than the 23 litre chambers in most contemporary 155-millimetre guns. This allows the gun to be fired with more explosive, propelling the warhead further and to absorb the higher “shock of discharge". ATAGS offers longer range than its contemporaries due to 6 round magazines instead of a standard 3-round magazine. Like the ATAGS, the American M777A2 Extended Range (ER)CA’s larger chamber allows for larger propellant charges. According to public statements from the US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, they have for the first time used “Zone 6” propellant, which is more voluminous than the “Zone 5” top charge they ever fired earlier.
The challenge in making such enhancements is to strengthen the gun to absorb the higher “shock of firing”, without making the gun unacceptably heavy. A 25-litre chamber volume for the barrel was specified and developed, which noone else in the world uses it, as it increases the pressure inside the barrel when using the 155mm rounds. The ATAGS has had mixed results: ATAGS weighs in at 17-18 tonnes, while comparable guns worldwide weigh 14-15 tonnes. In contrast, the newly modified M777A2 (ER)CA’s enhancements have increased its weight by just 500 kgs. Simultaneously, along with the larger chamber, both are also incorporating longer barrels – a time tested way to increase range.
Until the total weight comes down from 18 ton to 14.5 ton, no bulk orders will be placed. The weight restrictions are because most bridges in the mountainous forward areas are designed to bear 18-tonne loads. However, on the plains, the added weight can lead to mobility issues because the army’s 6×6 artillery towing trucks are designed for 12-tonne guns. The ATAGS weighs 18 tonnes, so it's 6-tonne over its weight limit. Inducting ATAGS in its present form would mean more investments in heavier trucks. The imported towed artillery pieces, they point out, weigh only 15 tonnes. The weight issue, the army points out, flows from the DRDO increasing the gun chamber’s capacity-where the shell is actually ignited-from 22 litres to 25 litres. A larger chamber meant higher pressure and thus greater range, but it increased the weight.
It was developed for a modest project cost of Rs 282 crore, sanctioned to the DRDO in 2014. The aim is to meet the army’s need for more than 2,000 towed artillery pieces, generating indigenous manufacture for over Rs 30,000 crore. Development of the ATAGS system has been divided into 9 “work packages”, with each package competitively tendered within India. Some of the salient features are:
The ATAGS is India’s first indigenous 155mm/52-caliber towed artillery gun, which will be a joint project of two private-sector corporations. Tata Power manufactured ‘G1’ prototype and Kalyani Group Bharat Forge’s ‘G2’ prototype. The Winning L1 Bid will be awarded a contract to build 107 of the 150 ATAGSs while the runner-up will be allowed to manufacture the remaining 43 guns initially but in total order will be close to 2000 guns over 800 Dhanush Guns. At present, only 120 units of ATAGS are required by the Indian Army. Kalyani Group has said it can look into the weight issue if the Indian Army insists on weight reduction and has already come up with plans to use of special High Nitrogen Steel alloys along with titanium components to further reduce the weight of the gun, but use of special metals will mean that it is likely to shoot up the unit cost of each gun further.
The ATAGS exceptional range stems from a 25-litre chamber, which holds larger propellant charges (to fire the warhead a longer distance) than the 23 litre chambers in most contemporary 155-millimetre guns. This allows the gun to be fired with more explosive, propelling the warhead further and to absorb the higher “shock of discharge". ATAGS offers longer range than its contemporaries due to 6 round magazines instead of a standard 3-round magazine. Like the ATAGS, the American M777A2 Extended Range (ER)CA’s larger chamber allows for larger propellant charges. According to public statements from the US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, they have for the first time used “Zone 6” propellant, which is more voluminous than the “Zone 5” top charge they ever fired earlier.
The challenge in making such enhancements is to strengthen the gun to absorb the higher “shock of firing”, without making the gun unacceptably heavy. A 25-litre chamber volume for the barrel was specified and developed, which noone else in the world uses it, as it increases the pressure inside the barrel when using the 155mm rounds. The ATAGS has had mixed results: ATAGS weighs in at 17-18 tonnes, while comparable guns worldwide weigh 14-15 tonnes. In contrast, the newly modified M777A2 (ER)CA’s enhancements have increased its weight by just 500 kgs. Simultaneously, along with the larger chamber, both are also incorporating longer barrels – a time tested way to increase range.
Until the total weight comes down from 18 ton to 14.5 ton, no bulk orders will be placed. The weight restrictions are because most bridges in the mountainous forward areas are designed to bear 18-tonne loads. However, on the plains, the added weight can lead to mobility issues because the army’s 6×6 artillery towing trucks are designed for 12-tonne guns. The ATAGS weighs 18 tonnes, so it's 6-tonne over its weight limit. Inducting ATAGS in its present form would mean more investments in heavier trucks. The imported towed artillery pieces, they point out, weigh only 15 tonnes. The weight issue, the army points out, flows from the DRDO increasing the gun chamber’s capacity-where the shell is actually ignited-from 22 litres to 25 litres. A larger chamber meant higher pressure and thus greater range, but it increased the weight.
It was developed for a modest project cost of Rs 282 crore, sanctioned to the DRDO in 2014. The aim is to meet the army’s need for more than 2,000 towed artillery pieces, generating indigenous manufacture for over Rs 30,000 crore. Development of the ATAGS system has been divided into 9 “work packages”, with each package competitively tendered within India. Some of the salient features are:
- It's the world’s one-of-a-kind gun with a 6 round “automated magazine” loads, which lets it fire a 6-round burst in just 30 seconds. Most other guns in service have 3 round magazines that must be reloaded after firing three rounds. Firing off 6 rounds in 30 seconds is an important capability, since artillery causes most casualties in the initial burst of fire, which catches enemy soldiers in the open.
- The ATAGS has an advanced hydraulic drive system that provides effective manoeuvrability in different terrain such as on roads, cross-country terrain, deserts and high-altitude areas.
- With a firing range of 40 km to 48 km, the gun boasts of advanced features such as quick deployability, auxiliary power mode, high mobility, advanced communication system, automatic command and control system with night firing capability in direct fire mode.
- ATAGS comprises a breech mechanism, barrel, muzzle brake and recoil mechanism to fire 155 mm caliber ammunition.
- The system is configured with an all-electric drive.
- ATAGS can fire at low angle, howitzers at high angle.
If you put a rocket-propelled ammunition on it, it will go 70 kilometres. Just one or two countries in the world has the capability to reach 90 or 100 kilometres.
After 2014, the 203mm 2S7 Pion / "Malka" self-propelled heavy artillery guns were reactivated by Russia. It has a range of 55 kilometers for a 100 kg rocket-assisted shell.
There are reports of M777ER prototype's barrel getting easily damaged when pulled by the iron ring (lunette) during fire. A better version is in development.
Light-Weight (3.4 to 4.2 ton) 155mm M777 "Triple Seven", formerly known as the Advanced Towed Cannon System, is an Ultra-lightweight Field Howitzer that has replaced the 8 ton M198 howitzer. It is a British design and, at 4.2 tons, is the lightest 155mm towed howitzer ever fielded. It has a range of 24 km to 39 km. M777 sustained rate of fire is 2 rounds a minute, with 4 rounds a minute for short periods. If you fire the longer range shells (which the marines did) barrel life is much reduced (to about a thousand rounds). To deal with the barrel wear problem, a new full-bore chrome-lined barrel had already been developed. This more expensive barrel lasts about 50% longer than current howitzer barrels. M777 are maintenance heavy. It is difficult to repair on the battlefield, and even minor breakdowns can't be fixed without getting specialized personnel. The acquisition of 145 M777-A2 ultra-light howitzers from the U.S.-arm of BAE Systems Inc. for about $700 million has also been initiated for “sword arm” formation of seven artillery regiments in India's northeast mountains, where the shortage of roads and tracks make its portability extremely useful. The order will require the arsenal to manufacture other parts to the howitzer system, such as breech blocks, muzzle brakes, and breech rings. Each of the sub-parts to the order will require extremely tight machining tolerances that will be measured in thousandths of an inch. Indian Army has acquired Excalibur GPS guided artillery ammo under the emergency procurement for long-range accurate strikes by units across Line of Control. | The Indian Army is also going to raise 7 regiments of 145 M777 howitzers. This is the first time that guns are being purchased for the Indian Army since bofors in 1987. In 2016 India ordered 145 lightweight M777 howitzers for $750 million (about less than $5 million each). While 25 guns will come in a fly-away condition, the rest 120 will be assembled in India by the BAE Systems in partnership with Mahindra Defence. In 2018, Mahindra Defence tied up with US-based BAE Systems to manufacture M777 howitzers. The basic gun is the same as the howitzers that the U.S. military uses. However, the Indian version has the battle-proven fire-control system that Canada uses on their howitzers. Core components like titanium forgings and fabrications of the M777, which make the M777 light, is being currently manufactured in the company’s UK facility produces. Significantly, the gun barrel of the gun cannot be made in India due to the Berry Amendment, a U.S. Congressional Act. |
China's 155mm/39 calibre light-weight (4.5 ton) AH4 howitzer can be airlifted by the PLA’s Changhe Z-18 medium transport helicopter and rapidly deployed even in mountainous terrain. The new AH-4 will, in all likelihood, be deployed by units stationed along the mountainous China-India border. This weapon was basically a (slightly longer) copy of the older British M777, but a little lighter and a lot cheaper. As the AH4 line matures, the China will be among a handful of players in the world capable of fielding lightweight 155mm howitzers.
With its hydro-pneumatic suspension system, the AH-4 can be deployed in a firing position within three minutes and made ready to be moved in two minutes. The gun’s full crew consists of seven artillerymen. The maximum rate of fire is four rounds per minute. The gun’s effective range is 25 kms, but rocket-assisted round is 40 kms.
The disadvantage of the AH-4 is its shorter barrel, metal fatigue, instability while firing, and damage from violent recoil, cannot be fully resolved. Compared with the M777, the AH-4 is quite different in two aspects. One is the muzzle brake and anti-recoil device. The AH-4 uses a porous crack recoil structure muzzle brake, while the M777 is a dual-chamber impact muzzle type muzzle brake. The second is M777 is densely covered with various sensors and receivers, while the AH- 4 is basically not equipped with such equipment but is in development.
There is also a Ultra-Lightweight 3.4 ton AHS4 “mountain gun” version for rapidly deployed even in rough mountainous terrain. PLA Army Aviation only has Mi-17 helicopters, which cannot carry all the AH-4 equipments at once.
With its hydro-pneumatic suspension system, the AH-4 can be deployed in a firing position within three minutes and made ready to be moved in two minutes. The gun’s full crew consists of seven artillerymen. The maximum rate of fire is four rounds per minute. The gun’s effective range is 25 kms, but rocket-assisted round is 40 kms.
The disadvantage of the AH-4 is its shorter barrel, metal fatigue, instability while firing, and damage from violent recoil, cannot be fully resolved. Compared with the M777, the AH-4 is quite different in two aspects. One is the muzzle brake and anti-recoil device. The AH-4 uses a porous crack recoil structure muzzle brake, while the M777 is a dual-chamber impact muzzle type muzzle brake. The second is M777 is densely covered with various sensors and receivers, while the AH- 4 is basically not equipped with such equipment but is in development.
There is also a Ultra-Lightweight 3.4 ton AHS4 “mountain gun” version for rapidly deployed even in rough mountainous terrain. PLA Army Aviation only has Mi-17 helicopters, which cannot carry all the AH-4 equipments at once.
In 2017, Egypt hosted a strong competition between French Nexter’s Caesar, South Korean K9 Thunder, Russian Koalitsiya-SV, and Chinese PLZ-45 for the Egyptian Armed Forces howitzer, with a final competition between the Caesar and the K9, which the latter won. Egypt’s land forces currently operate ageing versions A2, A3 and A5 of the US-made M109 howitzer.
The largest K9 sale was to India. Indian Army top priority is to get 250 K-9s, but budget problems limit the current deal to 100. The Indian 'K9 Thunder' variant (South Korean Hanwha made) is called Vijra-T 'Thunderbolt' and will cost about $7 million each and half the work will be done in South Korea while the rest will be done in India by Larsen & Toubro (L&T). The 46 (or 47) or 48 ton K-9 beat Russia’s 42 ton MSTA-SP (2S19) gun modified to 155/52 standards and mounted on a T-72 tank chassis. The gun is an enhanced version of Hanwha Tech Win’s K9 Thunder – self-propelled Howitzer – and is customised and co-developed by L&T to suit the specific requirements of the Indian Army in its Western sector, including desert operations.
In 2017, L&T won the contract for Rs 4,500 crore to supply 100 units of the K9 Vajra-T 155 mm/52 calibre Tracked Self-Propelled high-tech howitzers systems to the Indian Army’s southern and south-western command armoured strike corps for desert formations. The K-9 SPHs would be built at L&T's Talegaon plant outside Pune in western India as part of a joint venture with Samsung; despite the K-9 Vajra falling under the “Buy Global” procurement category, which allows over-the-counter sales of military hardware. L&T sources said the SPHs would include 50% indigenous content. This would involve fabricating the K-9's hull, the turret structure and 14 sub-systems such as the fire control and communication systems will be locally made. The barrel and diesel engine will be imported from South Korea.
Indian Army's 5 existing regiments of Vajras (each regiment has 18 guns, not counting the 2 in reserve) were acquired not for the mountains, but to operate with the Indian army's three strike corps ranged across the plains of the Punjab and the semi-deserts of Rajasthan. The guns drove up from Leh to the forward areas of eastern Ladakh on their own power (instead of a tank transporter-trailer), demonstrating their ability to operate independently. The platform demonstrated the independence of movement of a tank, rather than requiring a vehicle and trailer for transport, like similar guns. The gun was originally developed for the rugged South Korean mountains, similar to the Himalayas. Indian manufacturer still had to add a "special low-temperature kit". The guns are believed to have performed exceedingly well, which strengthened their case for more guns. A repeat order of 200 more 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, worth over Rs 10,000 crore.
Samsung's defence arm Techwin 'K9 Thunder' 155 mm/52-calibre self-propelled tracked (SPT) howitzer was developed in 1998 as a replacement for the K55 self-propelled howitzer, a variant of the 28 ton M109-A3. 46 tons K9 is a heaver (M109 is 28 ton), carries more ammo and has twice the range of M109 (up to 56 kms in part because of the barrel is a third longer than M109). They will transfer technology to its tie-up with L&T. Turkey (350) has dubbed its variant, T-155 Firtina. The chassis also has been exported to Poland. Egypt is currently testing the K9. There is special system known as MRSI (Multiple round simultaneous impact) which fire 3 round in 15 to 30 seconds. The sustained rate of fire is a round per minute for an hour. The system has a direct fire capability and can effectively engage a tank at 1 km.
The howitzers will be mounted and integrated into a tank. It is powered by a German-designed MTU MT881 Ka 500 V8 water-cooled 1,000 hp diesel engines coupled and driven by a fully automatic US-origin Allison transmission system, the K-9 is operated by a crew of 5. It can drive at a max speed of 60 kmph and has a shelling range over 38-43 or 50 km. Fitted with an automatic fire-control system, the artillery has a maximum rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute and is capable of multiple-round simultaneous-impact firing various projectiles with strike ranges of between 18 and 43 or 50 km, the K-9 has an operational range of 450 km. The K9's hydro-pneumatic tracked suspension and high ground clearance ensure good mobility across varied rough terrain. They can move at 72 km per hour, and they can also go on sand. It can ford up to a depth of 1.5 meters and go across a trench 2.8 meters wide. Together with the K10 Ammunition Loading/Re-supply Vehicle, the system is recognized for its functionality and unrivaled performance. KT-10 is an automatic re-ammunition Supply Van carrying 104 rounds. However, the SPH's supplementary K-10 munitions supply vehicle, built on the K-9 platform, is not part of the tender.
The Indian Army eventually want more than 150 to 250 K-9s but due to limited budget India has signed a deal for 100 modified K-9 self-propelled howitzers for over USD 750 million (Rs 4,366 crore) with the option for an additional 50 K-9s. Deliveries will be completed within 3 years. This is based on the creation of at least 3 K-9 Vajra regiments for each of the army’s 3 armoured divisions, as well as another 3 regiments for the independent armoured brigades within the army’s 3 strike corps. K9 Vijra-T meets the requirements based on the following missions:
Constructed of all-welded steel armour and capable of withstanding 14.5 mm armour-piercing shells and 152 mm rounds, the K9's design incorporates an automatic fire control and loading system, a modular azimuth position system, and a powered gun elevation and turret traverse system. L&T will procure (from Russia’s JSC V. A. Degtyarev Plant) and install the NSV 12.7mm heavy machine guns on the K-10 Ammunition Loading/Re-supply Vehicle, and will also equip all vehicles with the BEL-supplied FOG-based autonomous land navigation system, IRDE-developed driver uncooled thermal imagers, and STARS-V Mk.3 radios for communicating with the IA’s DRDO-developed ‘Shakti’ artillery fire-assault direction system.
The K9 driver is provided with a night vision system enabling him to drive in pitch darkness, making the weapon system capable of operating round the clock. Crew comfort in deserts is addressed by an air cooled overall / vest linked to an air conditioning system. The K9 thunder is fitted with NBC protection system. During the production phase of the Indian tracked artillery program, the joint offering would have over 50% indigenous content including components like fire control system, communication system, NBC & AC, APU, life support system, etc which have already been used in India. This phase will also include significant localization of hull /turret structure and major subsystems.
The latest K-9 deal comes after a merger and acquisition agreement over Samsung Techwin. Samsung Group agreed to sell a 32.4% stake in Samsung Techwin for $765 million to Hanwha Corp., a defense business arm of Hanwha Group. Hanwha also gained managing rights over Samsung Thales, an electronics weapon maker jointly funded by the French Thales Group, as Techwin owns a 50% stake in Samsung Thales.
In 2017, L&T won the contract for Rs 4,500 crore to supply 100 units of the K9 Vajra-T 155 mm/52 calibre Tracked Self-Propelled high-tech howitzers systems to the Indian Army’s southern and south-western command armoured strike corps for desert formations. The K-9 SPHs would be built at L&T's Talegaon plant outside Pune in western India as part of a joint venture with Samsung; despite the K-9 Vajra falling under the “Buy Global” procurement category, which allows over-the-counter sales of military hardware. L&T sources said the SPHs would include 50% indigenous content. This would involve fabricating the K-9's hull, the turret structure and 14 sub-systems such as the fire control and communication systems will be locally made. The barrel and diesel engine will be imported from South Korea.
Indian Army's 5 existing regiments of Vajras (each regiment has 18 guns, not counting the 2 in reserve) were acquired not for the mountains, but to operate with the Indian army's three strike corps ranged across the plains of the Punjab and the semi-deserts of Rajasthan. The guns drove up from Leh to the forward areas of eastern Ladakh on their own power (instead of a tank transporter-trailer), demonstrating their ability to operate independently. The platform demonstrated the independence of movement of a tank, rather than requiring a vehicle and trailer for transport, like similar guns. The gun was originally developed for the rugged South Korean mountains, similar to the Himalayas. Indian manufacturer still had to add a "special low-temperature kit". The guns are believed to have performed exceedingly well, which strengthened their case for more guns. A repeat order of 200 more 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, worth over Rs 10,000 crore.
Samsung's defence arm Techwin 'K9 Thunder' 155 mm/52-calibre self-propelled tracked (SPT) howitzer was developed in 1998 as a replacement for the K55 self-propelled howitzer, a variant of the 28 ton M109-A3. 46 tons K9 is a heaver (M109 is 28 ton), carries more ammo and has twice the range of M109 (up to 56 kms in part because of the barrel is a third longer than M109). They will transfer technology to its tie-up with L&T. Turkey (350) has dubbed its variant, T-155 Firtina. The chassis also has been exported to Poland. Egypt is currently testing the K9. There is special system known as MRSI (Multiple round simultaneous impact) which fire 3 round in 15 to 30 seconds. The sustained rate of fire is a round per minute for an hour. The system has a direct fire capability and can effectively engage a tank at 1 km.
The howitzers will be mounted and integrated into a tank. It is powered by a German-designed MTU MT881 Ka 500 V8 water-cooled 1,000 hp diesel engines coupled and driven by a fully automatic US-origin Allison transmission system, the K-9 is operated by a crew of 5. It can drive at a max speed of 60 kmph and has a shelling range over 38-43 or 50 km. Fitted with an automatic fire-control system, the artillery has a maximum rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute and is capable of multiple-round simultaneous-impact firing various projectiles with strike ranges of between 18 and 43 or 50 km, the K-9 has an operational range of 450 km. The K9's hydro-pneumatic tracked suspension and high ground clearance ensure good mobility across varied rough terrain. They can move at 72 km per hour, and they can also go on sand. It can ford up to a depth of 1.5 meters and go across a trench 2.8 meters wide. Together with the K10 Ammunition Loading/Re-supply Vehicle, the system is recognized for its functionality and unrivaled performance. KT-10 is an automatic re-ammunition Supply Van carrying 104 rounds. However, the SPH's supplementary K-10 munitions supply vehicle, built on the K-9 platform, is not part of the tender.
The Indian Army eventually want more than 150 to 250 K-9s but due to limited budget India has signed a deal for 100 modified K-9 self-propelled howitzers for over USD 750 million (Rs 4,366 crore) with the option for an additional 50 K-9s. Deliveries will be completed within 3 years. This is based on the creation of at least 3 K-9 Vajra regiments for each of the army’s 3 armoured divisions, as well as another 3 regiments for the independent armoured brigades within the army’s 3 strike corps. K9 Vijra-T meets the requirements based on the following missions:
- Deep fire support with its longer firing range;
- qualitative superiority to overcome a numerical inferiority with its higher rate of fire and accuracy and
- effective and reliable fire support in all kinds of circumstances with its higher mobility and protection.
Constructed of all-welded steel armour and capable of withstanding 14.5 mm armour-piercing shells and 152 mm rounds, the K9's design incorporates an automatic fire control and loading system, a modular azimuth position system, and a powered gun elevation and turret traverse system. L&T will procure (from Russia’s JSC V. A. Degtyarev Plant) and install the NSV 12.7mm heavy machine guns on the K-10 Ammunition Loading/Re-supply Vehicle, and will also equip all vehicles with the BEL-supplied FOG-based autonomous land navigation system, IRDE-developed driver uncooled thermal imagers, and STARS-V Mk.3 radios for communicating with the IA’s DRDO-developed ‘Shakti’ artillery fire-assault direction system.
The K9 driver is provided with a night vision system enabling him to drive in pitch darkness, making the weapon system capable of operating round the clock. Crew comfort in deserts is addressed by an air cooled overall / vest linked to an air conditioning system. The K9 thunder is fitted with NBC protection system. During the production phase of the Indian tracked artillery program, the joint offering would have over 50% indigenous content including components like fire control system, communication system, NBC & AC, APU, life support system, etc which have already been used in India. This phase will also include significant localization of hull /turret structure and major subsystems.
The latest K-9 deal comes after a merger and acquisition agreement over Samsung Techwin. Samsung Group agreed to sell a 32.4% stake in Samsung Techwin for $765 million to Hanwha Corp., a defense business arm of Hanwha Group. Hanwha also gained managing rights over Samsung Thales, an electronics weapon maker jointly funded by the French Thales Group, as Techwin owns a 50% stake in Samsung Thales.
Pakistan's 25-40 ton SH-15 air-transportable self-propelled artillery system (for difficult mountainous terrain) is the export version of 155mm PCL-181 and the second Chinese truck-mounted howitzer (uses the new Shaanxi 6x6 truck with armoured cabin). China will deliver a total 236 of SH-15 artillery guns to Pakistan. Since 2008, Pakistan has been manufacturing 155mm rounds under licence from French and South Korea.
SH-15 is based on the AH-2 155 mm howitzer (which itself is based on Russian towed howitzer D-30) which is able to fire all standard 155 mm NATO ammo, as well as Chinese-made ammunition developed by NORINCO. It has a maximum firing range of 20 km with standard ammunition and 53 km with 53 km. The maximum rate of around 6 rounds per minute.
NORINCO 155x39mm SH-15 howitzer mounted at the rear of the truck uses a semi-automatic loading system. It has 4 boxes for carrying 60 rounds of ammunition as first line. The 155 mm 52 caliber ordnance is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake and when travelling the ordnance is held in position by a clamp, located to the immediate rear of the cab, which is operated by remote control.
SH-15 is based on the AH-2 155 mm howitzer (which itself is based on Russian towed howitzer D-30) which is able to fire all standard 155 mm NATO ammo, as well as Chinese-made ammunition developed by NORINCO. It has a maximum firing range of 20 km with standard ammunition and 53 km with 53 km. The maximum rate of around 6 rounds per minute.
NORINCO 155x39mm SH-15 howitzer mounted at the rear of the truck uses a semi-automatic loading system. It has 4 boxes for carrying 60 rounds of ammunition as first line. The 155 mm 52 caliber ordnance is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake and when travelling the ordnance is held in position by a clamp, located to the immediate rear of the cab, which is operated by remote control.
DRDO Bhim T6 155mm / 52 Caliber howitzer
This artillery system is fitted with a complete T6 T-SPH turret, developed by Denel Land Systems based in South Africa. It is armed with a 155-mm / L52 howitzer, similar to that of the G6-52. The turret was mated on Arjun Mk.1's hull.
Vehicle has a fully automatic ammunition loading system. Maximum range of fire is 41 km with rocket assisted projectile and 52 km with Denel V-LAP rocket assisted projectile. This system is capable of firing standard NATO 155-mm ammunition. Maximum rate of fire is 8 rounds per minute. Sustained rate is 2 rounds per minute. The Bhim is capable of firing 3 rounds burst in 15 seconds. It is also capable of multiple-launch simultaneous impact firing. Up to 6 rounds are launched in different trajectories and hit located 25 km away simultaneously.
Total onboard ammunition capacity is about 40 - 50 rounds. 20 of these rounds are stored in the autoloader. Turret has ammunition loading hatches on both sides. A conveyor belt may be extended for ground ammunition loading and direct feeding of the gun.
Secondary armament of the Bhim howitzer consists of a single 7.62-mm machine gun.
Vehicle is fitted with modern fire control system. It has a fire control computer for automatic gun laying and GPS navigation system. The Bhim artillery system has a crew of four, however it's high level of automation allows to reduce the crew to two men in a fully automatic mode. It consists of commander, gunner, loader and driver.
Unfortunately, in 2005, the South African firm Dennel got involved in a bribery scam and was blacklisted from India, thus ended its participation in the project. The only vendor left in the fray was the K-9 South Korean Firm. Because of the single vendor situation whole contract was scrapped.
This artillery system is fitted with a complete T6 T-SPH turret, developed by Denel Land Systems based in South Africa. It is armed with a 155-mm / L52 howitzer, similar to that of the G6-52. The turret was mated on Arjun Mk.1's hull.
Vehicle has a fully automatic ammunition loading system. Maximum range of fire is 41 km with rocket assisted projectile and 52 km with Denel V-LAP rocket assisted projectile. This system is capable of firing standard NATO 155-mm ammunition. Maximum rate of fire is 8 rounds per minute. Sustained rate is 2 rounds per minute. The Bhim is capable of firing 3 rounds burst in 15 seconds. It is also capable of multiple-launch simultaneous impact firing. Up to 6 rounds are launched in different trajectories and hit located 25 km away simultaneously.
Total onboard ammunition capacity is about 40 - 50 rounds. 20 of these rounds are stored in the autoloader. Turret has ammunition loading hatches on both sides. A conveyor belt may be extended for ground ammunition loading and direct feeding of the gun.
Secondary armament of the Bhim howitzer consists of a single 7.62-mm machine gun.
Vehicle is fitted with modern fire control system. It has a fire control computer for automatic gun laying and GPS navigation system. The Bhim artillery system has a crew of four, however it's high level of automation allows to reduce the crew to two men in a fully automatic mode. It consists of commander, gunner, loader and driver.
Unfortunately, in 2005, the South African firm Dennel got involved in a bribery scam and was blacklisted from India, thus ended its participation in the project. The only vendor left in the fray was the K-9 South Korean Firm. Because of the single vendor situation whole contract was scrapped.
Ashok Leyland, the largest supplier of wheeled military vehicles to the Indian army, will provide High Mobility Vehicles (HMV) for wheel-mounted Elbit's artillery guns.
Short-ranged
A surface-to-air missile is a weapon designed to be launched from the ground to destroy incoming aircraft or missiles and is usually deployed in an air defence role as an anti-aircraft system.
MR-SAM or LR-SAM is not to physically destroy the aircraft, but to force the aircraft to either abort the mission, or drop down to a far lower altitude where it will be vulnerable to quick-reaction SAM.
MR-SAM or LR-SAM is not to physically destroy the aircraft, but to force the aircraft to either abort the mission, or drop down to a far lower altitude where it will be vulnerable to quick-reaction SAM.
The S-75 Dvina (NATO: SA-2 Guideline) is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missile (SAM). Since its first deployment in 1957 it has become the most widely deployed air defense missile in history. It has also been locally produced in the People's Republic of China using the names HQ-1 and HQ-2. Other nations have produced so many local variants combining portions of the S-75 system with both indigenously developed components or third-party systems that it has become virtually impossible to find a pure S-75 system today. | In 1962, the French government approached Dassault to develop a 500 km MD-620 Jericho ballistic missile on behalf of Israel but was aborted in 1969 following a full weapon embargo on Israel. However, by then 12 missiles had been delivered from France to Israel. It was France’s first ballistic missile featuring an airborne digital computer. France arms maker Dassault gained specialized teams who were experienced in developing ballistic missiles with inertial guidance and Mach 6 speed. In 1973, (with government budget of $1 billion) Rafael of Israel built 100 nuclear-capable short-ranged ballistic missile & sea-skimming anti-ship versions (developed into Hsiung Feng-I by Taiwan) using the knowledge gained from the French company Dassault developed MD-620 Jericho missile, however Israel army instead favored the use of artillery due to cost-benefit reasons. Initially, there were some problems with inertial guidance which was solved by incorporating some US technology. This lead Rafael to develop smaller precision guided missiles like Tamuz or Spike NLOS anti-tank missile; AGM-142 Have Nap (or Popeye) land-attack cruise missile & an add-on guidance kit for unguided bombs to turn them into "smart bomb" called "Spice". Rafael also developed satellite launch vehicle (SLV) and a space launch experimental version. When sale of Pershing II ballistic missiles was rejected by US, Israel developed the mobile, 2-stage, solid-fuel Jericho-2 (YA-3) medium-ranged ballistic missiles in the 90s. As many as 90 Jericho-2 missiles are currently hidden in underground caves. The missile was the base for the development of the 3-stage Shavit satellite launch vehicle. 5,000 km Jericho-3 (YA-4) silo-based ICBM has extremely high impact speed and the final stage is radar-guided, enabling it to avoid any Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) defenses. Jericho 3A missile, a follow-up missile believed to have a new motor. It will replace Jericho-2 (YA-3) missiles. |
An improved version of the Shahab-3A came the Ghadr (Qadr) H -110 Asura (“Ghadr” the Persian word for “Intensity”) whose range extends to 1,800-2,000 km. Ghadr’s are much easier to field than the liquid-fuel Shahabs.
Its a single stage missile with a 750-800 kilometre range. Iran claims that these variants have a greater range (up to 2,000 km) and throw weight (750 – 1,000 kg), as well as improved accuracy. The missile profile of the Sejil-1 closely matches the two variants of the Ghadr-110 Asura and Samen 110A Asura ballistic missile intended replacement for the older Shahab-3A, 3B and 3C liquid propellant ballistic missiles with a 2,000 kilometre range.
Sejjil-2, an upgraded version of the Sejil-1 "Baked Clay", is a two stage solid propellant missile. It is believed to have a liquid-fuel first stage and a solid-fuel second stage, which allows it to have a range of 1,500 km. Sejjil-2 is a land mobile system which utilizes GPS capability to define its launch position on the earth. It can be prepared for launch in a matter of minutes. It is designed to replace the Shahab-3B, 3C and Shahab-3A series liquid propellant missile which takes hours to prepare for launch. The new missile utilizes composite solid-propellant fuel and unlike the Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), which is launched only vertically, the Sejjil-2 could be launched at a variable angle. Improvements include better navigation system, better targeting system, more payload, longer range, faster lift-off, longer storage time, quicker launch, and lower detection possibility.
BM25 Musudan / Mirim / Hwasong-10 or No-dong-B (or Taepodong X, Rodong-B): It is a medium-range weapon derived from Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) technology. North Koreans have modified or reverse engineered it using heavier but simpler materials. But most importantly, the missile itself has never been flown.
It became apparent in 1994 that North Korea had not only received the technology transfer from the Makeyev OKB, of the former Soviet Union but had also received the blueprint for the volatile R-27 Zyb (NATO: SS-N-6 Serb or SS-NX-13). One possible source for North Korea’s submarine-launched missile program is China, given its habit of assisting North Korea to obtain earlier generation strategic weapons. (China had covertly provided missile assistance in the past to North Korea with the KN-08 long-range missile, specifically the transfer of Chinese-made transporter-erector launchers.)
Russian officials, in talks with U.S. officials, denying any SS-N-6 missiles were sold to North Korea, claiming all were destroyed as part of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty. On October 15, 1992, the Russian, Security Ministry's officers stopped 64 Russian missile specialists from Miass with their family members at Moscow's Sheremetyevo-2 airport where they were preparing to leave on a flight to North Korea. Again on November 5, 1992 the Russian, Security Ministry personnel stopped 60 Russian missile specialists 40 of which were missile specialist from Miass while the remaining 10-20 were nuclear specialists at Moscow's Sheremetyevo-2 airport where they were preparing to leave on a flight to North Korea. Yet again on December 8, 1992, 36 nuclear specialists were stopped by the Russian Security Ministry personnel. Ultimately at least 17-20 missile specialist and 9 nuclear specialists made it to North Korea via China and are believed to have remained there. It turned out that these technical personnel were from the Miass, V.P. Makayev OKB, the submarine-launched ballistic missile design bureau.
North Korea has fielded a new intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range of 1,800 miles, according to South Korea’s Defense Ministry. It reportedly used Russian SS-N-6 submarine-launched ballistic missile technology for the mobile, land-based missile. It is believed to be liquid-fueled with one or two stages. Some reports say North Korea put the new missile on display during a 2007 military parade.
North Korea has cooperated with Iran on submarine training. In November 2007, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that North Korea had sold Iran a missile with a range of 2,500 kilometers. This appeared to confirm earlier press reports that Iran had acquired the BM-25, a modified version of the Soviet SS-N-6, which is a single-stage, liquid-fueled, submarine-launched ballistic missile with a range of 2,400 to 3,000 km and the ability to carry a nuclear warhead.
Its a single stage missile with a 750-800 kilometre range. Iran claims that these variants have a greater range (up to 2,000 km) and throw weight (750 – 1,000 kg), as well as improved accuracy. The missile profile of the Sejil-1 closely matches the two variants of the Ghadr-110 Asura and Samen 110A Asura ballistic missile intended replacement for the older Shahab-3A, 3B and 3C liquid propellant ballistic missiles with a 2,000 kilometre range.
Sejjil-2, an upgraded version of the Sejil-1 "Baked Clay", is a two stage solid propellant missile. It is believed to have a liquid-fuel first stage and a solid-fuel second stage, which allows it to have a range of 1,500 km. Sejjil-2 is a land mobile system which utilizes GPS capability to define its launch position on the earth. It can be prepared for launch in a matter of minutes. It is designed to replace the Shahab-3B, 3C and Shahab-3A series liquid propellant missile which takes hours to prepare for launch. The new missile utilizes composite solid-propellant fuel and unlike the Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), which is launched only vertically, the Sejjil-2 could be launched at a variable angle. Improvements include better navigation system, better targeting system, more payload, longer range, faster lift-off, longer storage time, quicker launch, and lower detection possibility.
BM25 Musudan / Mirim / Hwasong-10 or No-dong-B (or Taepodong X, Rodong-B): It is a medium-range weapon derived from Russian submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) technology. North Koreans have modified or reverse engineered it using heavier but simpler materials. But most importantly, the missile itself has never been flown.
It became apparent in 1994 that North Korea had not only received the technology transfer from the Makeyev OKB, of the former Soviet Union but had also received the blueprint for the volatile R-27 Zyb (NATO: SS-N-6 Serb or SS-NX-13). One possible source for North Korea’s submarine-launched missile program is China, given its habit of assisting North Korea to obtain earlier generation strategic weapons. (China had covertly provided missile assistance in the past to North Korea with the KN-08 long-range missile, specifically the transfer of Chinese-made transporter-erector launchers.)
Russian officials, in talks with U.S. officials, denying any SS-N-6 missiles were sold to North Korea, claiming all were destroyed as part of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty. On October 15, 1992, the Russian, Security Ministry's officers stopped 64 Russian missile specialists from Miass with their family members at Moscow's Sheremetyevo-2 airport where they were preparing to leave on a flight to North Korea. Again on November 5, 1992 the Russian, Security Ministry personnel stopped 60 Russian missile specialists 40 of which were missile specialist from Miass while the remaining 10-20 were nuclear specialists at Moscow's Sheremetyevo-2 airport where they were preparing to leave on a flight to North Korea. Yet again on December 8, 1992, 36 nuclear specialists were stopped by the Russian Security Ministry personnel. Ultimately at least 17-20 missile specialist and 9 nuclear specialists made it to North Korea via China and are believed to have remained there. It turned out that these technical personnel were from the Miass, V.P. Makayev OKB, the submarine-launched ballistic missile design bureau.
North Korea has fielded a new intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range of 1,800 miles, according to South Korea’s Defense Ministry. It reportedly used Russian SS-N-6 submarine-launched ballistic missile technology for the mobile, land-based missile. It is believed to be liquid-fueled with one or two stages. Some reports say North Korea put the new missile on display during a 2007 military parade.
North Korea has cooperated with Iran on submarine training. In November 2007, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that North Korea had sold Iran a missile with a range of 2,500 kilometers. This appeared to confirm earlier press reports that Iran had acquired the BM-25, a modified version of the Soviet SS-N-6, which is a single-stage, liquid-fueled, submarine-launched ballistic missile with a range of 2,400 to 3,000 km and the ability to carry a nuclear warhead.
India’s indigenous “Trishul” programs for SAM have failed to inspire full confidence. Trishul was eventually canceled entirely and the Astra SHORAD version (with Ku-band seeker) is being developed instead. The Indian Army has entered the global market to buy short-range surface-to-air missile (SRSAM) systems for $1.5 billion, a move that could further undercut a four-year effort to develop a system with MBDA of France. The SRSAM system should be able to engage multiple targets, including those flying up to 500 meters per second, and have a maximum range of not less than 15 kilometers.
Indian Air-Force refers to Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) SAM as SR-SAM while the Indian Army refers to it as QR-SAM. The Army uses Russian OSA-AK, Kvadrat, Shilka and Tunguska air-defense systems. India had made attempts to upgrade its badly outdated anti-aircraft and missile defenses, which still rely on antiquated Soviet era OSA-AKM [SA-8 Gecko] and ZRK-BD Strela-10M [SA-13 Gopher] SAM systems.
Indian Air-Force refers to Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) SAM as SR-SAM while the Indian Army refers to it as QR-SAM. The Army uses Russian OSA-AK, Kvadrat, Shilka and Tunguska air-defense systems. India had made attempts to upgrade its badly outdated anti-aircraft and missile defenses, which still rely on antiquated Soviet era OSA-AKM [SA-8 Gecko] and ZRK-BD Strela-10M [SA-13 Gopher] SAM systems.
Saab (formerly Ericsson Microwave Systems AB) multi-mission, modular GIRAFFE AMB 3D Radar System The agile multi-beam functions scans entire search volume to 70° in every single scan with a scan rate of 60 rpm. The deployment time is 5 minutes. It radar is specified for operation in extreme climates. | Soviet Union MR-760 Fregat M2EM (NATO name: Top Plate and Top Steer) 3-D radar system is intended for medium & large displacement ships. It is an E-band two-channel radar with a max instrumented range of 300 kilometers and a maximum vertical detection range of 30 km; excepting the lightest Fregat MAE-4k 3D Shipborne One-Channel Radar which operates in the H-band. Fregat M2EM can detect a fighter aircraft at a maximum range of 230 km and/or a missile at a maximum range of 50 km. It features automatic target tracking and built-in self-diagnosis system. It can operate effectively under intense jamming and countermeasures environments. The radars developed under Fregat family are tailored for a variety of ships depending on their displacement and purpose like aircraft carrier, amphibious assault, frigates, cruisers, destroyers and special purpose class ships. The main differences among them are: air surveillance range, number of channels and frequency bands, and weight. Indian latest warships are fitted with these air search radar. |
Russian Mineral-ME Shipborne Surface Radar provides passive over-the-horizon detection of surface targets, intended for medium and large displacement surface fighting ships. This radar system has been selected to detect surface targets onboard Project 21956 Russian fourth generation destroyer.
China's Type 517 radar for sea transmission signals is believed to be similar to the Russian P-8 Delfin / Knife Rest radar, which China manufactures and deploys for the HQ-2 Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system complex. Some countries which deploy early versions of the V-75 SA-2 use the older ground-mounted P-8 Knife Rest radar series instead of the Spoon Rest series.
The Type 517 radar is an VHF (A-band) air search radar widely deployed on PLA-N surface vessels with 4 antennas in two crossed-brace supported pairs, one above the other, mounted in pairs on each side of a single tubular support carried on the turning gear. These A-band radars have an operating range of about 150-200 km. It has an added Yagi-Uda "beam antenna" antenna, commonly known simply as a Yagi antenna, which is a directional antenna which achieves a very substantial increase in the antenna's directionality. China's Type 517M (successor to Type 517H long-range 2D air search radar) is a VHF search radar designed to detect and track stealth targets such as the US Air Force F/A-22A Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II. The Type 517M radar is based upon Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology and has been installed on the newer warships Type 052C and Type 052D destroyers. Seems like Chinese navy really likes the anti-stealth quality of this radar vs the possible benefits of a more modern volume search radar like S1850M.
The Type 517 radar is an VHF (A-band) air search radar widely deployed on PLA-N surface vessels with 4 antennas in two crossed-brace supported pairs, one above the other, mounted in pairs on each side of a single tubular support carried on the turning gear. These A-band radars have an operating range of about 150-200 km. It has an added Yagi-Uda "beam antenna" antenna, commonly known simply as a Yagi antenna, which is a directional antenna which achieves a very substantial increase in the antenna's directionality. China's Type 517M (successor to Type 517H long-range 2D air search radar) is a VHF search radar designed to detect and track stealth targets such as the US Air Force F/A-22A Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II. The Type 517M radar is based upon Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology and has been installed on the newer warships Type 052C and Type 052D destroyers. Seems like Chinese navy really likes the anti-stealth quality of this radar vs the possible benefits of a more modern volume search radar like S1850M.
China's Type 344 is a license-manufacture of the Russian MR331 Mineral-ME (NATO name: Band Stand) shipborne fire-control radar (for anti-ship missile and for the main gun as its secondary mission) which is capable of over-the-horizon targeting. It has been installed on newly built PLAN ships. China may have produced unauthorized modified versions of the S-band radar, Type 348. The Mineral-ME system comprises:
MR-90 front dome fire control radars
- Mineral-ME1 active search, detection, tracking radar
- Mineral-ME2 passive over-the-horizon targeting radar
- Mineral-МЕЗ targeting data exchange radar
MR-90 front dome fire control radars
VL-SR-SAM with Active RF seeker will replace Barak-1 Point Air-Defence. VL-SR-SAM with Integrated Thrust Vector Control (TVC) inside its fuselage, is a ground-launched version of India's Astra Mk-1 BVR-AAM. The missile has a maximum speed of Mach 4+ and a maximum altitude of 20 km. At sea level, it has a range of up to 22 km to 25+ km. VL-SR-SAM will be getting foldable wings and fins when it is under storage inside VLS.
Astra Mk-1 is an all weather, 3.8 metres long missile with a diameter of 178mm, which has launch weight about 154-160 kg, uses solid-fuel propellant and a 15 kg high-explosive warhead, activated by a radio proximity fuse, spraying the target with shrapnel and shooting it down. A single-stage, non-metallized, high-specific impulse, High-Energy HTPB solid-fuel smokeless propellant was developed for the rocket motor. A smokeless propellant makes it challenging for an enemy aircraft to spot the shooter.
Astra Mk-1 has the capability of cruising at various altitudes while evading radar and following ‘supersonic targets’ by complicated manoeuvring its speed accordingly. It has state-of-the-art on-board Electronic Counter Counter-Measures (ECCM) capability that allows it to jam radar signals from an hostile surface-to-air battery, ensuring that the missile is not tracked or shot down. It has reliabile and “highly accurate complex end-game algorithms for Single Shot Kill Probability” (SSKP) factor in both head-on and tail-chase modes.
Astra Mk-1 is an all weather, 3.8 metres long missile with a diameter of 178mm, which has launch weight about 154-160 kg, uses solid-fuel propellant and a 15 kg high-explosive warhead, activated by a radio proximity fuse, spraying the target with shrapnel and shooting it down. A single-stage, non-metallized, high-specific impulse, High-Energy HTPB solid-fuel smokeless propellant was developed for the rocket motor. A smokeless propellant makes it challenging for an enemy aircraft to spot the shooter.
Astra Mk-1 has the capability of cruising at various altitudes while evading radar and following ‘supersonic targets’ by complicated manoeuvring its speed accordingly. It has state-of-the-art on-board Electronic Counter Counter-Measures (ECCM) capability that allows it to jam radar signals from an hostile surface-to-air battery, ensuring that the missile is not tracked or shot down. It has reliabile and “highly accurate complex end-game algorithms for Single Shot Kill Probability” (SSKP) factor in both head-on and tail-chase modes.
Barak-1 is a supersonic, vertically-launched short-range air defense system, with an operational range of about 10 km/ 6 miles. Shtil-1 cannot intercept big sea-skimming anti-ship missiles.
Each Barak 1 missile weighs 98 kg each and has a 21.8 kg warhead. These missiles were also mounted in a compact 8-cell vertical launching container that weighs just 1,700 kg, coupled with an equally compact 1,300 kg fire control system. This makes it easier to install in small ships, and to retrofit into older vessels. India has bought over $300 million worth of these systems. Barak 1 is installed in 14 Indian warships since it was first ordered in 2000.
India has been looking for a 15 km short-range SAM to complete, low-med-high SAM coverage. India had ordered the first Barak system for INS Viraat in the late-1990s to counter Pakistan's acquisition of sea-skimming Exocet and Harpoon missiles. DRDO's abject failure to develop the indigenous Trishul AMD system paved the way for $300 million worth Barak orders after the 1999 Kargil conflict. With the CBI deciding to close the infamous seven-year-old Barak kickbacks case for lack of evidence, the defence ministry has cleared the long-pending “critical” naval procurement of an additional 262 Israeli Barak-I missiles for Rs.880 crore. MoD had refused to blacklist Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael on the ground that it would be "counter-productive" to national security.
The ELM-2221 STGR radar system provides 360 degree coverage and the missiles can take down an incoming missile as close as 500 meters away from the ship. The missile has a range of ten kilometres, and is also effective against aircraft. That pushes it past the standard ranges of shoulder-launched options with naval counterparts, like the MBDA Mistral/SIMBAD or Saab Boofors’ RBS-70, but short of other small vertical launch options like the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow. Its closest western competitors on the international market are probably Raytheon’s horizontally-fired Amero-German RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, and MBDA’s flexible Crotale VT-1/NG.
Each Barak 1 missile weighs 98 kg each and has a 21.8 kg warhead. These missiles were also mounted in a compact 8-cell vertical launching container that weighs just 1,700 kg, coupled with an equally compact 1,300 kg fire control system. This makes it easier to install in small ships, and to retrofit into older vessels. India has bought over $300 million worth of these systems. Barak 1 is installed in 14 Indian warships since it was first ordered in 2000.
India has been looking for a 15 km short-range SAM to complete, low-med-high SAM coverage. India had ordered the first Barak system for INS Viraat in the late-1990s to counter Pakistan's acquisition of sea-skimming Exocet and Harpoon missiles. DRDO's abject failure to develop the indigenous Trishul AMD system paved the way for $300 million worth Barak orders after the 1999 Kargil conflict. With the CBI deciding to close the infamous seven-year-old Barak kickbacks case for lack of evidence, the defence ministry has cleared the long-pending “critical” naval procurement of an additional 262 Israeli Barak-I missiles for Rs.880 crore. MoD had refused to blacklist Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael on the ground that it would be "counter-productive" to national security.
The ELM-2221 STGR radar system provides 360 degree coverage and the missiles can take down an incoming missile as close as 500 meters away from the ship. The missile has a range of ten kilometres, and is also effective against aircraft. That pushes it past the standard ranges of shoulder-launched options with naval counterparts, like the MBDA Mistral/SIMBAD or Saab Boofors’ RBS-70, but short of other small vertical launch options like the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow. Its closest western competitors on the international market are probably Raytheon’s horizontally-fired Amero-German RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, and MBDA’s flexible Crotale VT-1/NG.
S-125 Neva/Pechora-2M is an upgraded digital version of the Pechora (NATO: SA-3 Goa) low-altitude SAM system was designed to complement the S-25 and S-75.The naval version of this system has the NATO reporting name SA-N-1 Goa (original designation M-1 Volna). It is also possible to fire the Pechora-2M system against cruise missiles. Deployment time 25 minutes, protected from the active interference, and anti-radiation missiles.
Pechora-M which upgraded almost all aspects of the system - the rocket motor, P-15 radar, guidance, warhead, fuse and electronics. There is an added laser/infra-red tracking device to allow launching of missiles without the use of the radar.
It has a shorter effective range and lower engagement altitude than either of its predecessors and also flies slower, but due to its two-stage design it is more effective against more manoeuvrable targets. It is also able to engage lower flying targets than the previous systems, and being more modern it is much more resistant to ECM than the S-75. The 5V24 (V-600) missiles reach around Mach 3 to 3.5 in flight, both stages powered by solid fuel rocket motors.
A Yugoslav Army 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade 3rd battery equipped with S-125 system managed to shoot down an F-117 Nighthawk stealth bomber on March 27, 1999 during the Kosovo War (the only recorded downing of a stealth aircraft).
It was also used to shoot down a NATO F-16 fighter on May 2 (its pilot; Lt. Col David Goldfein, the commander of 555th Fighter Squadron, managed to eject and was later rescued by a combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) mission. However, apart from the two isolated successes achieved on two USAF strike aircraft, the Kosovo war demonstrated the obsolescence of these SAM chained to fixed sites and its unreliability as part of an integrated air defence system: dozens of missiles were fired with only 2 aircraft downed.
A USAF F-16 (serial 87-257) was shot down on January 19, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm. The aircraft was struck by an SA-3 just south of Baghdad. The pilot, Major Jeffrey Scott Tice, ejected safely but became a POW as the ejection took place over Iraq. It was the 8th combat loss and the first daylight raid over Baghdad. Two days before, a B-52G was damaged.
Pechora-M which upgraded almost all aspects of the system - the rocket motor, P-15 radar, guidance, warhead, fuse and electronics. There is an added laser/infra-red tracking device to allow launching of missiles without the use of the radar.
It has a shorter effective range and lower engagement altitude than either of its predecessors and also flies slower, but due to its two-stage design it is more effective against more manoeuvrable targets. It is also able to engage lower flying targets than the previous systems, and being more modern it is much more resistant to ECM than the S-75. The 5V24 (V-600) missiles reach around Mach 3 to 3.5 in flight, both stages powered by solid fuel rocket motors.
A Yugoslav Army 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade 3rd battery equipped with S-125 system managed to shoot down an F-117 Nighthawk stealth bomber on March 27, 1999 during the Kosovo War (the only recorded downing of a stealth aircraft).
It was also used to shoot down a NATO F-16 fighter on May 2 (its pilot; Lt. Col David Goldfein, the commander of 555th Fighter Squadron, managed to eject and was later rescued by a combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) mission. However, apart from the two isolated successes achieved on two USAF strike aircraft, the Kosovo war demonstrated the obsolescence of these SAM chained to fixed sites and its unreliability as part of an integrated air defence system: dozens of missiles were fired with only 2 aircraft downed.
A USAF F-16 (serial 87-257) was shot down on January 19, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm. The aircraft was struck by an SA-3 just south of Baghdad. The pilot, Major Jeffrey Scott Tice, ejected safely but became a POW as the ejection took place over Iraq. It was the 8th combat loss and the first daylight raid over Baghdad. Two days before, a B-52G was damaged.
25-28km Akash-1S (Akash means "Sky") MR-SAM features 'Netra' active RF seeker. The ongoing battle between the 2 public sector companies Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) over the Akash missile system is about to end. BEL said that BDL develop a pressurized missile container which is lighter and easily transportable but BEL’s pressurized missile container has no possibility of any leakage but it is heavy in weight and but the Air Force is not happy with it as its not user friendly. The fully exposed Akash-1 and Akash-1S missiles becomes maintenance-heavy and costly to maintain in serviceable condition. Akash missile is usually kept in air-conditioned storage. But it is carried in a container to be taken to the battlefield. BDL is delivering nitrogen gas to the Army in a pressurized container.
IAF actually wants the Akash-P (P stand for Prime) version, earlier known as Akash-NG, MR-SAM (Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme) which has a range of 40km due to its higher energetic propellants. Like the 1S version, it also features the new 'Netra' active RF seeker. Akash-P are required to provide 24/7 and year-round air-defence coverage.
Indo-Israeli Barak-8 SAM Air Defence system which has a range of 70km is facing slow order rates due to the high production cost of the unit, due to which DRDO was commissioned to work on the successor of the Akash Air Defence with better range and which can act as a cheaper supplement to the MRSAM System. IAF received its first Rohini radar, as part of an initial order for 7 systems worth Rs 275 crore from Bharat Electronics and 30 more after “ironing out the initial issues” at a cost of Rs 2001 crore from Bharat Dynamics. However the 34 or 37 Rohini target acquisition radars have a low rate of serviceability. The 5.6-metre-long Akash-1S squadrons will replace the IAFs 16 S-125 Pechora squadrons & 2K12 Kvadrat SAM air-defence system for providing air defense cover to the mechanized forces. Akash Prime or Akash-1S has a new domestic radio frequency seeker which will change the entire dynamics of the missile. The missile has a range of 25km to 28km radius, uses a high explosive, pre-fragmented warhead, can track and engage 64 targets simultaneously and has a large operational envelope, from a low altitude of 30 metres to a maximum of up to 20 km. However, the Indian Army found the Akash Mk1 air defense system reaction time longer and slower during battle manoeuvres; and its radar coverage is also less than 360 degrees.
The the national auditor Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in a 2017 report, observed that Akash Missiles cannot be trusted in situation during hostilities. BDL was told in high level meeting convened last year to come out with solid plan after conducting an investigation and study of faults in Akash Missile System within a month on long delays of critical faults. Even the investigation to unearth and address the issues was delayed. As per the contract, during the warranty period, the seller shall either replace or rectify the failed goods free of charge within 30 days of notification of such defects. The massive delay in supply of functional spares configured as per system requirements, have virtual grounded Akash systems for 6 months to a year. They also cheated Air Force by providing substandard and fake spares, especially those of sub-vendors (procured by BEL). The untrained and poorly equipped Akash field engineers are not aware of any corrective action plan to deal with hydraulic oil leakage and container pressure leakage in the Integrated Air Compressor and Storage Facility (IACSF). Akash missile system have been left dysfunctional for 17 to 15 months in the last two years. There have also been lacunae in analysis of faults and mismatch in software versions used.
"This happens in almost all development programmes for indigenous systems” says top officers of Indian Air Force. CAG had categorically stated that Akash missile system delivered by BEL were deficient in manufacturing quality and 30% missiles failed the test. Out of 80 missiles received, 20 missiles were test fired in 2014. Six of these missiles i.e., 30%, failed the test. Preliminary failure analysis report revealed that the missiles had lower than the required velocity, and also there was malfunctioning of critical units like Servo Control Unit and Connector. Two missiles had failed to take off because its booster nozzle had failed. The listed hardware-related deficiencies point towards very limited service-life due to them being operated in varying weather conditions & over varying types of terrain that were never evaluated to during the R&D phase and hence lack of product engineering inputs. And since agencies like CEMILAC & DGQA are primarily responsible for the overall quality assurance of the final end-product, they should be held primarily accountable. However, dismissing media reports about the systems which are supporting ground system, sources said that “maintenance is not carried out by DRDO but the Defence PSUs. DRDO is reportedly planning to use new low-temperature Thermal batteries that provide the onboard power supply to operate at –20°C to 60°C.
It is a highly-modified & elongated version of the popular SA-6 Gainful / 2K12 Kub (export Kvadrat) anti-aircraft missile using the soviet-era technology along with the DRDO-developed Rajendra-III PESA counter-battery level radar (BLR) on the hull of a T-72M main battle tank. Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia helped DRDO overcome the problem with Akash Mk1’s supersonic engine. Its altitude range technically qualifies it to be MR-SAM. However, its lateral range is actually similar to the maximum lateral range of SR-SAM i.e. 20-25 kms. The Akash-1S will replace the existing old SA-6 Gainful MR-SAM systems which were inducted between 1977 and 1979. Akash is a comprehensive missile system that has been hailed as a step towards self-realisation of indigenisation. Akash is 1 of the 5 core missile systems of the integrated guided missile development programme, launched by DRDO in 1984. Indian Army has 2 Akash Mk1 regiments, with 6 firing batteries, that make up around 480 launchers and close to 1500 missiles along with dozens of Rajendra-III PESA counter-battery level radars.
A typical Akash Regiment can provide air defence missile coverage of 2,000 square km. The all-weather, fully-automated Akash missile has a kill probability of 88% for the first and 99% for the second missile on a target, within a specified kill zone and has even intercepted a target with a 0.02 square-metre radar cross-section (a fighter has a 2 square-metre RCS. Akash Mk1’s beam-riding SACLOS-guided missile round has a launch weight of 720kg, length of 5.8 metres, and a diameter of 35cm. It is fuelled by solid propellants. It can carry a payload of conventional warhead of 50 to 60 kg. The Akash missile can fly at Mach 2.5 supersonic speed (ramjet propulsion system), engage upto 25km away and reach an effective ceiling altitude of 18 km. The Akash system is over 96% indigenous and sources its components from 330 Indian industries.
Akash uses an indigenous integrated two-stage Ramjet rocket propulsion air-breathing engine, which runs on solid fuel. “The ramjet technology in our country has been established with Akash,” said Sen. In ramjet technology, the missile takes oxygen from the atmosphere and rams it inside the combustion chamber. Since the missile does not carry oxygen in its tanks, it makes the missile lighter. Hence, it can carry more propellants and thus travel longer distances. Akash is a two-stage missile, with the booster motor in the first and the sustainer motor in the second. The launcher for Akash is a tracked vehicle and each launcher can carry 3 missiles. Akash is deployed in 4 batteries at a time and each battery has 4 launchers with a total of 12 missiles. The launch platform can swivel 360 degrees. The missile control centre will decide which launcher should fire at the target.
However, Akash Mk1 missile has a range of only 25 kms and is incapable of targeting airborne targets at far away distances. The Akash Mk1 missile has failed to reach the desired 35 km lateral range. Both, the IAF and the Indian Army, have since insisted on a minimum lateral range of 40 km (and preferably 50 km). Both the Army and IAF are of the view that it order to stay technologically relevant for combating future airborne threat scenarios, AESA-based target engagement radars are mandatory. The Army has also specified that such radars perform all search, identification, tracking, and engagement functions, instead of having three different radars for all functions ranging from target detection to tracking to engagement. Also, a series of launch failures and lack of advanced interception technology meant that the Indian air defence system is lagging behind that if their counterparts.
"Originally slated for completion within a 12-year period, the project’s Rs. 5 billion R&D phase had to extended by another eight years due to previously unforeseen technological and operational challenges, especially with regard to its fire-control and missile guidance systems. When the project took off in the late 1980s, the DRDL had proudly claimed that target engagement will be undertaken by the ground-based, active phased-array Rajendra L-band Battery-Level Radar (BLR) and a track-via-missile guidance system for the missile. However, the sheer technological challenges forced the DRDL to abandon this path by the mid-1990s, and the DRDO’s Bangalore-based Electronics R&D establishment (LRDE) instead took up the development of a passive phased-array variant of the Rajendra target engagement radar, whose laboratory version had 4,000 phase shifters, a spectrally pure travelling wave tube (TWT) transmitter (which at that time was imported from THALES Nederland), two-stage super-heterodyne correlation receiver for three channels, a high-speed digital signal processor, real-time management computer, and a radar data processor. The system has advanced battlefield management software, which carries out relative threat computation and pairing of targets and missiles and missile fire-control. Dr R R Panyam has been the Project Director for Akash since 2002."
To nullify India's Akash Mk1 missile, Pakistan has recently inducted its FM-90 air defence missile system, procured from China, while on eastern front, China has deployed HQ-7. In response the Indian Army has started the process of acquiring nearly 2,000 SRSAM from abroad at 70% cost of the Akash Mk1 missile system. The acquirement of the QRSAMs is much awaited by the India, who claims that the current SAM systems of the army are severely under-equipped.
IAF actually wants the Akash-P (P stand for Prime) version, earlier known as Akash-NG, MR-SAM (Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme) which has a range of 40km due to its higher energetic propellants. Like the 1S version, it also features the new 'Netra' active RF seeker. Akash-P are required to provide 24/7 and year-round air-defence coverage.
Indo-Israeli Barak-8 SAM Air Defence system which has a range of 70km is facing slow order rates due to the high production cost of the unit, due to which DRDO was commissioned to work on the successor of the Akash Air Defence with better range and which can act as a cheaper supplement to the MRSAM System. IAF received its first Rohini radar, as part of an initial order for 7 systems worth Rs 275 crore from Bharat Electronics and 30 more after “ironing out the initial issues” at a cost of Rs 2001 crore from Bharat Dynamics. However the 34 or 37 Rohini target acquisition radars have a low rate of serviceability. The 5.6-metre-long Akash-1S squadrons will replace the IAFs 16 S-125 Pechora squadrons & 2K12 Kvadrat SAM air-defence system for providing air defense cover to the mechanized forces. Akash Prime or Akash-1S has a new domestic radio frequency seeker which will change the entire dynamics of the missile. The missile has a range of 25km to 28km radius, uses a high explosive, pre-fragmented warhead, can track and engage 64 targets simultaneously and has a large operational envelope, from a low altitude of 30 metres to a maximum of up to 20 km. However, the Indian Army found the Akash Mk1 air defense system reaction time longer and slower during battle manoeuvres; and its radar coverage is also less than 360 degrees.
The the national auditor Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in a 2017 report, observed that Akash Missiles cannot be trusted in situation during hostilities. BDL was told in high level meeting convened last year to come out with solid plan after conducting an investigation and study of faults in Akash Missile System within a month on long delays of critical faults. Even the investigation to unearth and address the issues was delayed. As per the contract, during the warranty period, the seller shall either replace or rectify the failed goods free of charge within 30 days of notification of such defects. The massive delay in supply of functional spares configured as per system requirements, have virtual grounded Akash systems for 6 months to a year. They also cheated Air Force by providing substandard and fake spares, especially those of sub-vendors (procured by BEL). The untrained and poorly equipped Akash field engineers are not aware of any corrective action plan to deal with hydraulic oil leakage and container pressure leakage in the Integrated Air Compressor and Storage Facility (IACSF). Akash missile system have been left dysfunctional for 17 to 15 months in the last two years. There have also been lacunae in analysis of faults and mismatch in software versions used.
"This happens in almost all development programmes for indigenous systems” says top officers of Indian Air Force. CAG had categorically stated that Akash missile system delivered by BEL were deficient in manufacturing quality and 30% missiles failed the test. Out of 80 missiles received, 20 missiles were test fired in 2014. Six of these missiles i.e., 30%, failed the test. Preliminary failure analysis report revealed that the missiles had lower than the required velocity, and also there was malfunctioning of critical units like Servo Control Unit and Connector. Two missiles had failed to take off because its booster nozzle had failed. The listed hardware-related deficiencies point towards very limited service-life due to them being operated in varying weather conditions & over varying types of terrain that were never evaluated to during the R&D phase and hence lack of product engineering inputs. And since agencies like CEMILAC & DGQA are primarily responsible for the overall quality assurance of the final end-product, they should be held primarily accountable. However, dismissing media reports about the systems which are supporting ground system, sources said that “maintenance is not carried out by DRDO but the Defence PSUs. DRDO is reportedly planning to use new low-temperature Thermal batteries that provide the onboard power supply to operate at –20°C to 60°C.
It is a highly-modified & elongated version of the popular SA-6 Gainful / 2K12 Kub (export Kvadrat) anti-aircraft missile using the soviet-era technology along with the DRDO-developed Rajendra-III PESA counter-battery level radar (BLR) on the hull of a T-72M main battle tank. Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia helped DRDO overcome the problem with Akash Mk1’s supersonic engine. Its altitude range technically qualifies it to be MR-SAM. However, its lateral range is actually similar to the maximum lateral range of SR-SAM i.e. 20-25 kms. The Akash-1S will replace the existing old SA-6 Gainful MR-SAM systems which were inducted between 1977 and 1979. Akash is a comprehensive missile system that has been hailed as a step towards self-realisation of indigenisation. Akash is 1 of the 5 core missile systems of the integrated guided missile development programme, launched by DRDO in 1984. Indian Army has 2 Akash Mk1 regiments, with 6 firing batteries, that make up around 480 launchers and close to 1500 missiles along with dozens of Rajendra-III PESA counter-battery level radars.
A typical Akash Regiment can provide air defence missile coverage of 2,000 square km. The all-weather, fully-automated Akash missile has a kill probability of 88% for the first and 99% for the second missile on a target, within a specified kill zone and has even intercepted a target with a 0.02 square-metre radar cross-section (a fighter has a 2 square-metre RCS. Akash Mk1’s beam-riding SACLOS-guided missile round has a launch weight of 720kg, length of 5.8 metres, and a diameter of 35cm. It is fuelled by solid propellants. It can carry a payload of conventional warhead of 50 to 60 kg. The Akash missile can fly at Mach 2.5 supersonic speed (ramjet propulsion system), engage upto 25km away and reach an effective ceiling altitude of 18 km. The Akash system is over 96% indigenous and sources its components from 330 Indian industries.
Akash uses an indigenous integrated two-stage Ramjet rocket propulsion air-breathing engine, which runs on solid fuel. “The ramjet technology in our country has been established with Akash,” said Sen. In ramjet technology, the missile takes oxygen from the atmosphere and rams it inside the combustion chamber. Since the missile does not carry oxygen in its tanks, it makes the missile lighter. Hence, it can carry more propellants and thus travel longer distances. Akash is a two-stage missile, with the booster motor in the first and the sustainer motor in the second. The launcher for Akash is a tracked vehicle and each launcher can carry 3 missiles. Akash is deployed in 4 batteries at a time and each battery has 4 launchers with a total of 12 missiles. The launch platform can swivel 360 degrees. The missile control centre will decide which launcher should fire at the target.
However, Akash Mk1 missile has a range of only 25 kms and is incapable of targeting airborne targets at far away distances. The Akash Mk1 missile has failed to reach the desired 35 km lateral range. Both, the IAF and the Indian Army, have since insisted on a minimum lateral range of 40 km (and preferably 50 km). Both the Army and IAF are of the view that it order to stay technologically relevant for combating future airborne threat scenarios, AESA-based target engagement radars are mandatory. The Army has also specified that such radars perform all search, identification, tracking, and engagement functions, instead of having three different radars for all functions ranging from target detection to tracking to engagement. Also, a series of launch failures and lack of advanced interception technology meant that the Indian air defence system is lagging behind that if their counterparts.
"Originally slated for completion within a 12-year period, the project’s Rs. 5 billion R&D phase had to extended by another eight years due to previously unforeseen technological and operational challenges, especially with regard to its fire-control and missile guidance systems. When the project took off in the late 1980s, the DRDL had proudly claimed that target engagement will be undertaken by the ground-based, active phased-array Rajendra L-band Battery-Level Radar (BLR) and a track-via-missile guidance system for the missile. However, the sheer technological challenges forced the DRDL to abandon this path by the mid-1990s, and the DRDO’s Bangalore-based Electronics R&D establishment (LRDE) instead took up the development of a passive phased-array variant of the Rajendra target engagement radar, whose laboratory version had 4,000 phase shifters, a spectrally pure travelling wave tube (TWT) transmitter (which at that time was imported from THALES Nederland), two-stage super-heterodyne correlation receiver for three channels, a high-speed digital signal processor, real-time management computer, and a radar data processor. The system has advanced battlefield management software, which carries out relative threat computation and pairing of targets and missiles and missile fire-control. Dr R R Panyam has been the Project Director for Akash since 2002."
To nullify India's Akash Mk1 missile, Pakistan has recently inducted its FM-90 air defence missile system, procured from China, while on eastern front, China has deployed HQ-7. In response the Indian Army has started the process of acquiring nearly 2,000 SRSAM from abroad at 70% cost of the Akash Mk1 missile system. The acquirement of the QRSAMs is much awaited by the India, who claims that the current SAM systems of the army are severely under-equipped.
The backbone of India's medium-range air-defence is the land-based S-band Rohini 3D Central Acquisition Radar (CAR) for use with Akash MR-SAM. This is the Indian Air Force specific variant whereas the Revathi is for the Indian Navy, installed on naval ships. The Tactical Control Radar (TCR), an avatar of Rohini, has been developed for the Indian Army. A Revathi derivative is believed to be on the Shivalik frigate as well, which would translate to 3 additional radars as three ships of the Shivalik class are being made.
The 3D CAR, a derivative of the Polish S-band TRS-19 radar, was developed as part of a program between DRDO and Poland's PIT to develop and transfer the technology & rights of the mobile, S-Band 3D radars family. The areas of cooperation were in developing the Planar Array and general architecture. The Indian variant is the 3D CAR, a medium range surveillance radar for Akash at Group level, intended to provide high mobility and comprehensive high and low level coverage. The Polish versions, are the TRS series of S-Band mobile radars such as the TRS-17 and TRS-19.
These replace the original joint development items such as the planar array antenna with new locally developed ones which are more capable than the original design. The original Indian (3D-CAR) and Polish (TRS-17) radars shared the basic architecture and antenna but differed in terms of purpose designed transmitter/receivers, and signal processing equipment.
The radar scans the air space 360 in Azimuth and 30 in elevation upto 18 km height. It can detect sea-surface targets 80 km away, fighter-aircraft 150 km away, and cruise missiles at a distance of 40 km. It can detect fixed-wing aircraft flying at a distance of 200 km at a height of 18 km. Its mounted on a high-mobility modified TATRA heavy truck and supported by a mobile auxiliary power unit. It can be deployed and decamped in 30 minutes. We need this type of radars to be protect offshore oil and natural gas rig production platform against aerial attacks.
Operating in a range of upto 170 kilometres and an altitude of 15 kilometres, the Rohini radar can track multiple targets like fighter jets and missiles travelling at supersonic speeds of over 3,000 kms per hour, viz around Mach 3. The radar employs an array of Electronic Counter Counter Measure (ECCM) features including frequency agility and jammer analysis.
Two REVATHI radars were ordered by the Indian Navy for their P-28 Corvette program. Given that the Indian Navy intends to have up to 4-6 P-28 Corvettes, further orders are likely from the Navy as well.
The 3D CAR, a derivative of the Polish S-band TRS-19 radar, was developed as part of a program between DRDO and Poland's PIT to develop and transfer the technology & rights of the mobile, S-Band 3D radars family. The areas of cooperation were in developing the Planar Array and general architecture. The Indian variant is the 3D CAR, a medium range surveillance radar for Akash at Group level, intended to provide high mobility and comprehensive high and low level coverage. The Polish versions, are the TRS series of S-Band mobile radars such as the TRS-17 and TRS-19.
These replace the original joint development items such as the planar array antenna with new locally developed ones which are more capable than the original design. The original Indian (3D-CAR) and Polish (TRS-17) radars shared the basic architecture and antenna but differed in terms of purpose designed transmitter/receivers, and signal processing equipment.
The radar scans the air space 360 in Azimuth and 30 in elevation upto 18 km height. It can detect sea-surface targets 80 km away, fighter-aircraft 150 km away, and cruise missiles at a distance of 40 km. It can detect fixed-wing aircraft flying at a distance of 200 km at a height of 18 km. Its mounted on a high-mobility modified TATRA heavy truck and supported by a mobile auxiliary power unit. It can be deployed and decamped in 30 minutes. We need this type of radars to be protect offshore oil and natural gas rig production platform against aerial attacks.
Operating in a range of upto 170 kilometres and an altitude of 15 kilometres, the Rohini radar can track multiple targets like fighter jets and missiles travelling at supersonic speeds of over 3,000 kms per hour, viz around Mach 3. The radar employs an array of Electronic Counter Counter Measure (ECCM) features including frequency agility and jammer analysis.
Two REVATHI radars were ordered by the Indian Navy for their P-28 Corvette program. Given that the Indian Navy intends to have up to 4-6 P-28 Corvettes, further orders are likely from the Navy as well.
The indigenous Ashwini is a gap-filler, low-level, AESA-based, air-defense radars (which is networked with the IAF's Arudhra radar through the IACCCS system), used in conjunction with the SR-SAM, against specific requirement along the border, e.g. automatic detection and tracking of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, UAVs and RPVs. Drdo is trying to building up its high-tech electronics eco-system to build indigenous radar that can replace Ground Smarter GS100 (SR3D) by Thales.
Based on the Thales SR3D, the GS100 is a mobile, modular, multi-functional radar dedicated to tracking complex target maneuvers at low altitude. Thales will supply six of the 19 Ground Smarter (GS100) low level transportable radars (LLTR) that the IAF has ordered from France, with the other 13 to be assembled in BEL's facility near Delhi in Ghaziabad. It offers operational performance out to 180 km.
India may buy the CONTROLMaster around 60 surveillance radar which is optimized for mobile air defense operation with a search-on-the-move capability and for engagement of conventional and asymmetric threats in harsh environments, clutter and intense jamming conditions and simultaneous multiple engagements.
Thales has supplied 18 or 19 Ground Smarter GS-100 (GM400) AESA long-ranged, 3D, low-level, mobile, tactical missile defense radars (LLTR) to the Indian Air Force. India initiated procurement of low-level radar systems for the IAF in 2003. Under the TOT deal, Thales will build the initial six radars at its Limours facility, southwest of Paris. Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) will assemble the remaining 13 radars in India.
Key features:
Key features:
- Digital beam forming
- Design compliant with ecological constraints (low power consumption, compliance with RoHS standards and related European directives)
- Maximum target range of up to 515km
- TBM (tactical ballistic missile) detection and tracking up to 1000 km
- TBM (tactical ballistic missile) tracking elevation coverage up to 85°
- Chosen and planned maintenance with limited team
Medium-ranged
MRSAMs ideally have a range of 70 km to 90 km to engage its intended target. The MRSAM is activated with the use of radars and sensors that detect the incoming aircraft or missile and fire the missile as a counter measure.
A long-ranged SAM can be guided to an enemy target in the sky, only as long as target illumination is provided by terrestrial sensors like fire-control radar. However, given the Earth’s curvature, there’s no way a ground-based target illuminator will be able to illuminate a target flying 400km away. Only a fire-control radar is sitting atop a high mountain will it be able to illuminate targets like AEW & CS platforms. Due to this reality, LR-SAMs are definitely not cost-effective AEW & CS killers. Instead, the best killer alternative is a stealthy loitering PGM that can generate EMP pulses when in close proximity to the airborne AEW & CS platform, since the location of any AEW & CS platform can be localised by fighter on-board RWR sensor.
A long-ranged SAM can be guided to an enemy target in the sky, only as long as target illumination is provided by terrestrial sensors like fire-control radar. However, given the Earth’s curvature, there’s no way a ground-based target illuminator will be able to illuminate a target flying 400km away. Only a fire-control radar is sitting atop a high mountain will it be able to illuminate targets like AEW & CS platforms. Due to this reality, LR-SAMs are definitely not cost-effective AEW & CS killers. Instead, the best killer alternative is a stealthy loitering PGM that can generate EMP pulses when in close proximity to the airborne AEW & CS platform, since the location of any AEW & CS platform can be localised by fighter on-board RWR sensor.
Raytheon's MIM-104-F Patriot ("Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept On Target") SAM system. It is called PAC-3 by the U.S. Army. The stationary nature of the Patriots makes them susceptible to enemy detection.
The weapon was first used to defend Saudi Arabia and Israel in the 1991 Gulf War. During that war 47 Patriot missiles fired at incoming Scuds, only four missiles were downed. On 25 Feb. 25, 1991, a Scud evaded a Patriot strike and scored a direct hit on a US base in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing 28 American soldiers.
It was deployed again during the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. No Scuds were fired during that war. But the Patriots were also reported to have downed two allied jets — one American and one British — in friendly fire incidents during the conflict.
In addition to the phased array radar, a Patriot Fire Unit is deployed with an engagement control station, an electronic power plant vehicle, an antenna mast group for communications, and up to sixteen remote launching stations.
Each Patriot battery is manned by about a hundred troops, and contains a radar, plus four launchers. A battery can fire two types of Patriot missile. The latest version of PAC-3 has a range of 35 kilometers which is shorter range (about 20 kilometers) versus 160 kilometers for the PAC 2 anti-aircraft version used against low flying UAVs. A PAC 2 missile weighs about a ton, a PAC 3 weighs about a third of that.
The PAC 3 has a shorter range (about 20 kilometers (although the latest version can do 35 kilometers) versus 160 kilometers for the latest anti-aircraft version. The Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) upgrade includes a new fin design and a more powerful rocket engine. The modification is alleged to increase the operational capability of the current PAC-3 missile up to 50%.
Patriot upgrades continue, with the most recent being new software known as PDB-6 (PDB for "Post Deployment Build"). This software will allow Configuration 3 units to discriminate targets of all types, to include anti-radiation missile carriers, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE began erecting a missile shield to protect their population centers, economic targets, and forces operating in and around Yemen. Patriot operators in the Middle East have shot down these more than 100 enemy ballistic missiles.
The weapon was first used to defend Saudi Arabia and Israel in the 1991 Gulf War. During that war 47 Patriot missiles fired at incoming Scuds, only four missiles were downed. On 25 Feb. 25, 1991, a Scud evaded a Patriot strike and scored a direct hit on a US base in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing 28 American soldiers.
It was deployed again during the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. No Scuds were fired during that war. But the Patriots were also reported to have downed two allied jets — one American and one British — in friendly fire incidents during the conflict.
In addition to the phased array radar, a Patriot Fire Unit is deployed with an engagement control station, an electronic power plant vehicle, an antenna mast group for communications, and up to sixteen remote launching stations.
Each Patriot battery is manned by about a hundred troops, and contains a radar, plus four launchers. A battery can fire two types of Patriot missile. The latest version of PAC-3 has a range of 35 kilometers which is shorter range (about 20 kilometers) versus 160 kilometers for the PAC 2 anti-aircraft version used against low flying UAVs. A PAC 2 missile weighs about a ton, a PAC 3 weighs about a third of that.
The PAC 3 has a shorter range (about 20 kilometers (although the latest version can do 35 kilometers) versus 160 kilometers for the latest anti-aircraft version. The Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) upgrade includes a new fin design and a more powerful rocket engine. The modification is alleged to increase the operational capability of the current PAC-3 missile up to 50%.
Patriot upgrades continue, with the most recent being new software known as PDB-6 (PDB for "Post Deployment Build"). This software will allow Configuration 3 units to discriminate targets of all types, to include anti-radiation missile carriers, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE began erecting a missile shield to protect their population centers, economic targets, and forces operating in and around Yemen. Patriot operators in the Middle East have shot down these more than 100 enemy ballistic missiles.
Advances in propulsion will enable the new Long-Range Precision Fires (LRPF) to fly faster over longer distances -- approximately 500 kilometers (about 310.6 miles) -- to defeat fixed land targets. A new design that fits two missiles in a single M142 HIMARS rocket launcher pod to meet the U.S. Army's tactical missile system requirement.
The Aegis anti-missile system has had a success rate of over 80% in knocking down incoming ballistic missile warheads during test firings. There are 4 major types of Standard missiles: the SM-1, SM-2, SM-3 and SM-4.
- SM-1 and SM-2 are air defense missiles,
- SM-3 is intended exclusively to destroy medium/long-range ballistic missiles and low orbit satellites (maneuverable in outer space). However, test of the Aegis Ashore-launched SM-3 Block IIA ballistic missile interceptor in Kauai, Hawaii, ended in failure, for the second time. The RIM-161A Standard Missile 3 (or SM-3), has a range of over 500 kms and max altitude of over 160 kms. The SM-3 is based on the anti-missile version of the SM-2 Block IV. This SM-3 missile has a shorter range than the SM-2, which can destroy a warhead that is more than 200 kms up. The SM-3 is optimized for anti-missile work, while the SM-2 Block IV was designed to be used against both ballistic missiles and aircraft. The SM-2 Block IV also costs less than half of what an SM-3 costs. So going after aircraft with SM-3s is discouraged unless absolutely necessary.
- SM-4 is a land attack missile.
The RIM-66/67 Standard Missile (SM) is an all-weather, supersonic, ship-launched, medium to long-range fleet air defense missile providing defense for an entire fleet area and were developed as the replacement for Terrier, Talos and Tartar surface-to-air missiles. The RIM-66A Standard Missile 1 (or SM-1) entered service in 1967 and underwent a major upgrade RIM-66C Standard Missile 2 (or SM-2) in the late 1970s. These older SM-2 missile has a max range of 190 kilometers and max altitude of 24.4 kilometers. The SM-2 uses a "semi-active" guidance system, which requires that a special targeting radar "light up" the target with a radar beam, which the SM-2 guidance system detects and homes in on. The SM-2 ER entered service in 1980.
RIM-175 SM-6 Block-1A improvements are largely about the guidance system, especially the new anti-ship capability. The Standard Missile 6 (or SM-6) is a self-contained system that can apparently go after moving ships with the max range of 240 kms and a max altitude of 33 kms. The "active" guidance system (seek out any target it comes within range) of the SM-6 is thus harder to jam and can home in on targets beyond the range of targeting radars.
The SM-6 is a 1.5 ton, 6.55 meter (21.5 foot) long, 533mm (21 inch) diameter missile. It has a max altitude of 33 kilometers (110,000 feet). SM-6 has longer range and more effective guidance (and resistance to countermeasures like jamming) than the SM-2 and is meant to deal with aircraft, cruise missile and ballistic missiles. Max range of the SM-6 is given as 240 kms. The SM-6 entered service in 2011 is basically an updated SM-2 anti-aircraft missile with the more capable guidance system of the AMRAAM missile.
The SM-6 is a 1.5 ton, 6.55 meter (21.5 foot) long, 533mm (21 inch) diameter missile. It has a max altitude of 33 kilometers (110,000 feet). SM-6 has longer range and more effective guidance (and resistance to countermeasures like jamming) than the SM-2 and is meant to deal with aircraft, cruise missile and ballistic missiles. Max range of the SM-6 is given as 240 kms. The SM-6 entered service in 2011 is basically an updated SM-2 anti-aircraft missile with the more capable guidance system of the AMRAAM missile.
The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) weapon system is co-developed by US and Germany. Raytheon shares development, production and maintenance costs with the German companies RAMSYS, LFK and DBD. Basically, it uses the rocket motor and warhead from the Sidewinder air-to-air missile, and the guidance system from the Stinger shoulder fired anti-aircraft missile. The missiles are stored and fired from cells in box arrays holding 11 or 21 missiles. Japan, Greece, Turkey, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have also deployed the RAM system.
It was developed in the 1980s, and didn't enter service until 1993. RAM can use either a Phalanx radar and fire control system, or any other Close-In Weapon system that can detect incoming missiles quickly enough. RAM has been continually upgraded and tested, dealing with more effective anti-ship missiles. The SeaRAM is a hybrid system, consisting of an 11-round RAM launcher mounted on a Phalanx chassis and radar unit. Much of Raytheon’s work on the RAM and Phalanx systems is performed at its Louisville, Kentucky.
It was developed in the 1980s, and didn't enter service until 1993. RAM can use either a Phalanx radar and fire control system, or any other Close-In Weapon system that can detect incoming missiles quickly enough. RAM has been continually upgraded and tested, dealing with more effective anti-ship missiles. The SeaRAM is a hybrid system, consisting of an 11-round RAM launcher mounted on a Phalanx chassis and radar unit. Much of Raytheon’s work on the RAM and Phalanx systems is performed at its Louisville, Kentucky.
RIM-162 rolling airframe missile (RAM) Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block II is used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft. Many of the test firings are against high-speed targeted UAVs.
It is designed to counter high G or supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles. ESSM also has the ability to be "quad-packed" in the Mk 41 VLS system, allowing up to four ESSMs to be carried in a single cell. Block 2 can deal with faster anti-ship missiles and the growing use of electronic countermeasures by anti-ship missiles. Block 2 is more maneuverable and because of new software it is also “smarter.”
The NATO Sea Sparrow missile programme began in 1990 and was developed by the German-U.S. Navy and nine of the other 11-member NATO nations which includes Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey; plus Australia. Basically, the missile is an upgrade of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow air-to-air missile with the guidance system from the Stinger shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile.
It is designed to counter high G or supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles. ESSM also has the ability to be "quad-packed" in the Mk 41 VLS system, allowing up to four ESSMs to be carried in a single cell. Block 2 can deal with faster anti-ship missiles and the growing use of electronic countermeasures by anti-ship missiles. Block 2 is more maneuverable and because of new software it is also “smarter.”
The NATO Sea Sparrow missile programme began in 1990 and was developed by the German-U.S. Navy and nine of the other 11-member NATO nations which includes Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey; plus Australia. Basically, the missile is an upgrade of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow air-to-air missile with the guidance system from the Stinger shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile.
China's FL-3000N / HHQ-10 naval air defence missile, deployed on the Liaoning aircraft carrier, new Type 052D destroyer & the Type 056 corvette. This 6 to 9 km range surface-to-air missile comes in 24 and 8 cell launchers similar to the US RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM).
Norwegian largest defence firm Kongsberg uses the combat-proven American Raytheon's 159 kg AMRAAM missiles. One reason for using AMRAAM was that the US was constantly updating the AMRAAM to improve performance and reliability. The system has a highly-effective guidance system. It uses 8 target acquisition radars and has a range of 50-70 kms (and height of 21 kms). The new version had major improvements in the software and the ability to use the American Link 16 encrypted digital communications system that has become common in NATO aircraft and ground systems. A new ER version of AIM-120 AMRAAM, with a more powerful rocket motor, is expected to be available for NASAMS by 2020. The new missile will have a max range of 50 kms and a max altitude of 25 kms.
Barak 8 (baseline medium-range) modular naval & land-based air defense system. It is also Israel’s first air defense system equal to the American Patriot (and similar systems like the U.S. Navy SM-2, Russian S-300, and European Aster 15). India only owns the IP of Barak-8's propulsion system. It was developed from the Barak 1 missile. The Israelis call this cutting-edge missile system the Barak-8 LR-AD. DRDO signed a contract to develop an Army version MR-SAM and a Naval version LR-SAM (the Barak-8ER for AirForce that IAF also refers to as LR-SAM); in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The naval Barak-8 LR-AD is fired from sealed canisters that protect the missile from the corrosive marine environment. Engagement upper ceiling has not been disclosed, but the missile has been proven against very low-flying targets such as sea skimming, anti-ship missiles. The missiles are the same for all versions, except for the software that controls their “self-destruct” function. The cost of speculated to be Rs 6 crore per missile, which is cheap, given that it shoots down sophisticated fighters costing hundreds of crore and protects warships that cost thousands of crore. In March 2017, the Standing Committee stated the project cost was Rs 10,076 crore. There are only minor difference between the LR-AD & MR-AD. The Barak-8 MR-AD version is also one of the major demands of the forces, and the IAF is banking on replacing its ageing Soviet-made Pechora SAM missiles with the Barak-8 MR-SAMs. Barak-8 has a smaller rocket motor and a shorter range of 35km to 50 km for air defence as well anti-PGM capabilities. It provides a high level of protection against a variety of aerial platforms and munitions including aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aircraft and sea-skimming missiles under all weather conditions. |
IAI (Chalet 210, Static A9) has developed dual-pulse Barak 8, renamed Barak LR-AD (medium range), system to fulfill both land- and ship-based functions with the same missile and vertically launcher hardware, and the same command and control functions and data links. It was designed to counter high-speed Russian-made Yakhont and Chinese CX-1 anti-ship missiles. Barak 8 can also handle Chinese C-802 anti-ship missiles but may not be able to counter YJ-18A. Since 2016 India has placed two orders totaling over $1.6 billion for Barak 8 systems and missiles.
The Barak 8 can operate day and night, in all weather conditions, and successfully deals with simultaneous threats engagements, even in severe saturation scenarios. The Barak-8 is fitted with a 44-pound warhead to ensure damage or destruction in near-miss engagements. The warhead has its own seeker that can find the target despite most countermeasures. The Barak-8 missile will be used as a point-defense system on warships, defending against aircraft, anti-ship missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. The system has a very short reaction time and a fast missile.
Its compact (for easy installation on a ship) fire control module weighs under two tons. The missiles are mounted in a three ton, eight cell containers (which requires little maintenance), and has vertical launch capability with 360° coverage while the missiles can take down an incoming target as close as 500 meters from the ship. The land version can be mounted on trucks. According to IAI, Barak 8 and its multi-mission radar provides multi-layered protection against a variety of aerial platforms and munitions including aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aircraft and sea-skimming missiles.
The Barak 8 can operate day and night, in all weather conditions, and successfully deals with simultaneous threats engagements, even in severe saturation scenarios. The Barak-8 is fitted with a 44-pound warhead to ensure damage or destruction in near-miss engagements. The warhead has its own seeker that can find the target despite most countermeasures. The Barak-8 missile will be used as a point-defense system on warships, defending against aircraft, anti-ship missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. The system has a very short reaction time and a fast missile.
Its compact (for easy installation on a ship) fire control module weighs under two tons. The missiles are mounted in a three ton, eight cell containers (which requires little maintenance), and has vertical launch capability with 360° coverage while the missiles can take down an incoming target as close as 500 meters from the ship. The land version can be mounted on trucks. According to IAI, Barak 8 and its multi-mission radar provides multi-layered protection against a variety of aerial platforms and munitions including aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aircraft and sea-skimming missiles.
Barak 8 LR-AD is a state of the art system. It is a high-performance, long-range missile that can be launched from ships and land. The Barak-8 LR-SAM is being developed and produced for both the Indian and the Israeli militaries and is capable of multiple engagements and providing defence against a host of airborne platforms and munitions from short as well as medium ranges. The Indian Armed forces had actually tried before to buy such a system from abroad, but nothing was really available that would come with satisfactory terms. And that is how we got into a joint venture with Israel, the system had to be developed ab initio. The work share was divided, with 30% going to the DRDO, which was charged with developing the LR-SAM’s solid-fuel, two-pulse propulsion motors. While the DRDO will make the propulsion system, the actuation system and the seeker, Israel will built all the ‘critical’ electronic sub-systems like the guidance and navigation.
Israeli company, Rafael, has developed the missile and IAI has built the rest of the systems, including the sophisticated MF-STAR phased array multi mission radar, two-way data link, and flexible command and control system enabling the system to be used as an area defense system, by integrating several fire units (Barak MX), sensors and command centers into an air defense ‘networked mesh’. Israel will transfer the LR-SAM technology to India, and Bharat Dynamics (BDL) will manufacture the missile. The entire system’s performance – sensors, command and control, communications and intercept has been evaluated in Negev desert in 2014. There were issues with respect to radar development, issues with respect to the actuation system as well which was initially supposed to be pneumatic but then had to be changed to electromechanical. Then there was the two pulse motor which was being done for the first time and that got into certain combustion stability problems. A number of flight trials of the LR-SAM have been conducted in Israel.
The delay in the LR-SAM of three-to-four years has been caused mainly by the DRDO’s difficulties in building the sophisticated two-pulse motor. Indian defense officials realized they had a major embarrassing problem as they did not have enough engineers in the government to quickly and accurately transfer the Israeli technical data to the India. Eventually, it succeeded in developing a stable propellant for this purpose. In February 2006, Israel and India signed a joint development agreement to create Barak-NG, a new varient of the shipborne air defense missile system, as an evolution of the Barak-1 system in service with both navies. In 2016 another self-inflicted problem arose two state-owned defense manufacturing firms got into a dispute with each other and the government over which of them would be in charge of managing the Indian work. The manufacturing supply chain that is now emerging includes several private sector companies, such as Godrej & Boyce, and SEC. The LR-SAM system will be integrated at state-owned Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
Israeli company, Rafael, has developed the missile and IAI has built the rest of the systems, including the sophisticated MF-STAR phased array multi mission radar, two-way data link, and flexible command and control system enabling the system to be used as an area defense system, by integrating several fire units (Barak MX), sensors and command centers into an air defense ‘networked mesh’. Israel will transfer the LR-SAM technology to India, and Bharat Dynamics (BDL) will manufacture the missile. The entire system’s performance – sensors, command and control, communications and intercept has been evaluated in Negev desert in 2014. There were issues with respect to radar development, issues with respect to the actuation system as well which was initially supposed to be pneumatic but then had to be changed to electromechanical. Then there was the two pulse motor which was being done for the first time and that got into certain combustion stability problems. A number of flight trials of the LR-SAM have been conducted in Israel.
The delay in the LR-SAM of three-to-four years has been caused mainly by the DRDO’s difficulties in building the sophisticated two-pulse motor. Indian defense officials realized they had a major embarrassing problem as they did not have enough engineers in the government to quickly and accurately transfer the Israeli technical data to the India. Eventually, it succeeded in developing a stable propellant for this purpose. In February 2006, Israel and India signed a joint development agreement to create Barak-NG, a new varient of the shipborne air defense missile system, as an evolution of the Barak-1 system in service with both navies. In 2016 another self-inflicted problem arose two state-owned defense manufacturing firms got into a dispute with each other and the government over which of them would be in charge of managing the Indian work. The manufacturing supply chain that is now emerging includes several private sector companies, such as Godrej & Boyce, and SEC. The LR-SAM system will be integrated at state-owned Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
IAI has also developed an extended-range version, the Naval/Airforce Barak 8 ER SAM, that employs the same hardware, but with an additional large diameter solid-propellant jettisonable booster rocket to effectively increase the max range from 85 km to 120 km (Barak-NG is 150 km variant) and enhanced TBM capabilities of the interceptor. The booster weight is currently unknown. The LR-SAM primarily targets sea-skimming, anti-ship missiles. IAF refers to Barak-8ER as LR-SAM and needs a limited quantity. IAF does not use the 90 km version of Barak-8.
The LR-SAM will also be installed on INS Vikrant, the indigenous aircraft carrier being built in Kochi. It is almost certain that several more warships would be equipped with the LR-SAM. Israel is already manufacturing Barak 8 and installed in on its three 1,075 ton Saar-5 class corvettes. This meant that Barak 8 was ready for action over a year before its scheduled 2015 service date. Israel is believed to have rushing this installation because Russia had sent high speed Yakhont anti-ship missiles to Syria, and Barak 8 was designed to deal with this kind of threat.
The LR-SAM will also be installed on INS Vikrant, the indigenous aircraft carrier being built in Kochi. It is almost certain that several more warships would be equipped with the LR-SAM. Israel is already manufacturing Barak 8 and installed in on its three 1,075 ton Saar-5 class corvettes. This meant that Barak 8 was ready for action over a year before its scheduled 2015 service date. Israel is believed to have rushing this installation because Russia had sent high speed Yakhont anti-ship missiles to Syria, and Barak 8 was designed to deal with this kind of threat.
During the Kargil conflict of 1999, when the navy was preparing for war, the admirals realised to their dismay that they had no counter to the Pakistan Navy’s Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The bigger and more sophisticated Indian warships, some costing half a billion dollars, were vulnerable to being sunk by the Harpoon, which costs less than $2 million. New Delhi approached Tel Aviv for an emergency procurement of the Barak anti-missile missile, which tided over that crisis. Pleased with the Barak, New Delhi and Tel Aviv agreed in January 2006 to develop a 70-kilometre version of the Barak to counter anti-ship missiles of the future.
A Barak 8 with a smaller rocket motor (and a range of 35 kilometers) was called Barak MRAD. So far, the Indian Navy has been relying on Russian-origin “Shtil missiles” and Israeli Barak missiles for its air-defence. These missiles have a range of around 60 km. In July 2007 the counterpart MR-SAM project began moving forward, aiming to develop an MR-SAM for use with India’s land forces. The Barak-8 missiles are to equip the three guided missile destroyers of the Project 15A class, which will join the Indian Navy in one-year intervals beginning in 2012. In the first phase, the missile will arm the three Kolkata-class destroyers and each ship will have four vertical launch units (VLUs), each housing eight missiles. Both missiles would now be called Barak-8. The LR-SAM will be an important upgrade, especially when the Indian Navy has been tasked to dominate an increasingly volatile Indian Ocean region.
Barak XR-SAM interceptor (250 to 300 km) for the IAF will be used to bridge the gap between MR-SAM (70 km) and S-400 (400 km) Air-Defence.
HQ-6 / PL-10 SAM is a ground-to-air version of the PL-11 air-to-air missile which is largely based on Ukraine's Gran (Verge) missile by Luch State Design Bureau and the Italian Selenia Aspide missile (similar to AIM-7 Sparrow missile). It is also called as LY-60 / FD-60 SAM. HQ-6D / HQ-64 SAM is further improvement of HQ-6, utilizing the experience gained from LY-60, with the firepower doubled when the number of missiles for each truck mounted launcher is increased from two to four, and MLR is replaced by TELs. Both the missile and TELs are smaller and directly developed from LY-60. While one SAM battery searches and tracks, another shoots and guides. Others move to new locations, denying an enemy an effective attack. These systems are networked, and may use diverse frequencies to penetrate ‘stealth’ designs. They feature redundant elements, so if the enemy is lucky and destroys one element, others seamlessly take its place. The missiles are fast, high-flying and deadly, with advanced guidance systems and high resistance to electronic jamming. The radar makes use of all of the anti-jam design features the Russians cleverly built into the SA-10 and SA-20. To further confuse and deny an enemy a shot, realistic dummies and electronic decoys draw fire away from the real equipment. Against a helicopter or non-stealth attack aircraft the radar provides surveillance out to 18km, tracking at 12km, and engagement at 10km. Against an inbound cruise missile, the surveillance range drops to 8km, with the missile firing at 6km from an oncoming target. Starting with the Shafrir series, the Shafrir-1 missile was developed in 1959, followed by the Shafrir-2 in early 1970s. Subsequently, the missiles were given the western name of "Python" by the parent company for export purposes, starting with the Python-3 in 1978. The missile was adapted from the US ALM-9L Sidewinder heat-seeking missile and has a high degree of US technology. Israeli sold its Python to China. China all aspect PL-8 missile (Project Number 8) is legal licensed production of Israel's Rafael Python missile. China in-turn sold some to Iraq. Experience gained it helped China greatly in developing its PL-9 missile, that appears to be designed on the French Matra “Magic” airframe. | China's HQ-6D / LY-60N / PL-12 SAM (same seeker also in Pakistan's Babur / Hatf VI) is a short-range, turbojet powered, single warhead, land attack cruise missile (LACM). It has the same 'AMR-1' seeker from the PL-12 and (its derivatives) SD-10A BVR air-to-air missiles & DK-10 Sky Dragon 50 air defence system. It's a four-cell LY-80E MR-SAM (missiles cannot go as far as that of the S-400). These active radar missile, and the earlier semi-active radar homing (was supposed to be licence-built) PL-11, all seemed to have a common design heritage with Ukraine's Gran (Verge) missile by Luch State Design Bureau and the Italian Aspide missile, 100 missiles were supplied to China during the late 1980s. There is also speculation that the engine of the Hatf VI has been provided by China (KH-55) in violation of the MTCR. By 2001 the Kh-55SM production engineering data was bought by China from Ukraine for $40 million (redesigned RD95-300 turbofan that bore a strong resemblance to the Russian 36MT engine). The Kh-55 missile was developed by the Raduga Design Bureau (NPO) at Dubna from the early 1970s. Babur has two main variants: Babur-1A is 500KM & Babur-1B is 700KM. It is derived from the Raduga Kh-55 missile (purchased from Ukraine) called Korshun low-altitude cruise missile family. Pakistan has two such Babur-1A Battalions. The known launch vehicles have all been mobile, land-based, vertical launch platforms. It would be used to attack non-mobile land targets and ships. It's said that the missile is also fitted with cruise missile technology of Terrain Contour Matching and Digital Scene Matching and Area Co-relation. However, maybe Babur does not have terrain-hugging flight profiles but has low flying capability (to cruise at 500 to 10,000 metres above the surface) to avoid detection by the enemy radars, since its GPS and GLONASS eliminates the need for a country to rely on TERCOM navigation. GPS made it easier to replace the earlier (and only high-tech aspect of the missile) terrain following guidance system. And now checked for synchronisation with National Command Authority’s fully automated Strategic Command and Control Support System which means it “has added capability of real-time remote monitoring of the missile flight path. The terrain hugging ability helps the missile avoid enemy radar detection by utilizing "terrain masking", giving Babur the capability to penetrate enemy air defence systems undetected and survive until reaching the target. It has been speculated that Babur-2 in development based on Tomahawk-like C-802, based on the BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile, after six Tomahawks crash-landed on Pakistani territory in 1998 during US air-strikes on targets in Afghanistan, and its design seems to show this influence. The efforts to reverse engineer BGM-109 Tomahawk proved unsuccessful. Six Tomahawks crash-landed on Pakistani territory in 2001 during US airstrikes on targets in Afghanistan, and its design seems to show this influence. Tomahawk was not terribly high-tech, and easy for the Pakistanis to copy. |
Its 280km-range anti-ship variant, incorporating an active radar seeker with 40km range for anti-ship strike, was designated as the C-602 / YJ-62 long-range subsonic anti-ship cruise missile (China's export version: Pakistan calls it "Zarb" missile). Anti-ship missiles are made of various sensitive materials, so local temperature, humidity, salinity may cause problems. Chinese YJ-18 replaces obsolete C602 anti-ship missiles in Iran and Pakistan as Barak 8 is able to counter it.
The Italian Leonardo & Finmeccanica (originally Galileo Avionica & formerly FIAR) Grifo-7 mono-pulse multi-functional fire control radar (is compatible with IR guided missiles), is license assembled by Pakistan. The C-602 missile is equipped a “mono-pulse frequency agile (active) radar seeker” developed from Grifo-7 mono-pulse multi-functional radar by China's CETC. The missile has incorporated the capability to switch to more threatening ones should such threat arise but it is not clear whether this capability in built-in. The development program itself appears to date back as far back as 1989, under the designation XY-41. In various US sources of the 1990s and early 2000s the missile was also referred to as The Land Attack Silkworm.
Ultimately, Pakistan’s nuclear-capable cruise missiles have the potential to complicate India’s decision-making calculus and even constrain Indian strategic behaviour. First, Pakistan’s cruise missiles will pose a serious challenge to India’s fledgling missile defence system. Cruise missiles are virtually undetectable and highly survivable, even in the face of modern missile defences. The first few weeks of the 2003 Iraq War demonstrated that sophisticated missile defences could shoot down ballistic missiles with relative ease, but faced a significantly more difficult task in preventing a cruise missile strike. This is not to say that cruise missiles can never be shot down or that they are perfectly invulnerable. Several U.S. cruise missiles veered wildly off-course – in a guidance-system failure called “clobbering” – during its missile campaign against Afghanistan in 1998 and during the Iraq War. Additionally, cruise missile defence, unlike ballistic missile defence, is relatively new and technologies developed to deal with this threat are likely to emerge in the coming years. Nevertheless, these shortcomings are superseded by the tremendous advantages cruise missiles have over ballistic missiles in defeating existing missile defences.
If the goal of India’s missile defence system has been to bait Pakistan into an economically ruinous arms race – as some suggest the U.S. did with the Soviet Union in the 1980s – then it appears to be succeeding.
The Italian Leonardo & Finmeccanica (originally Galileo Avionica & formerly FIAR) Grifo-7 mono-pulse multi-functional fire control radar (is compatible with IR guided missiles), is license assembled by Pakistan. The C-602 missile is equipped a “mono-pulse frequency agile (active) radar seeker” developed from Grifo-7 mono-pulse multi-functional radar by China's CETC. The missile has incorporated the capability to switch to more threatening ones should such threat arise but it is not clear whether this capability in built-in. The development program itself appears to date back as far back as 1989, under the designation XY-41. In various US sources of the 1990s and early 2000s the missile was also referred to as The Land Attack Silkworm.
Ultimately, Pakistan’s nuclear-capable cruise missiles have the potential to complicate India’s decision-making calculus and even constrain Indian strategic behaviour. First, Pakistan’s cruise missiles will pose a serious challenge to India’s fledgling missile defence system. Cruise missiles are virtually undetectable and highly survivable, even in the face of modern missile defences. The first few weeks of the 2003 Iraq War demonstrated that sophisticated missile defences could shoot down ballistic missiles with relative ease, but faced a significantly more difficult task in preventing a cruise missile strike. This is not to say that cruise missiles can never be shot down or that they are perfectly invulnerable. Several U.S. cruise missiles veered wildly off-course – in a guidance-system failure called “clobbering” – during its missile campaign against Afghanistan in 1998 and during the Iraq War. Additionally, cruise missile defence, unlike ballistic missile defence, is relatively new and technologies developed to deal with this threat are likely to emerge in the coming years. Nevertheless, these shortcomings are superseded by the tremendous advantages cruise missiles have over ballistic missiles in defeating existing missile defences.
If the goal of India’s missile defence system has been to bait Pakistan into an economically ruinous arms race – as some suggest the U.S. did with the Soviet Union in the 1980s – then it appears to be succeeding.
All Pakistani missiles are named Hatf (meaning “doom” in Arabic, but often mistranslated as “vengeance”). The missiles are numbered from I to IX, with each missile type also having a specific name.
Buk-M2/Shtil-2 SS-N-12 (NATO: SA-17 Grizzly/Yezh) SAM system is a ship-based improved "Smerch" which are fitted on India's Talwar & Delhi class destroyers. This has the improved missile, with the designator 9M317. The range of the system is estimated at up to 50 km and is capable following and hitting targets flying at speeds up to Mach 4. The Buk-2M missile also bears a resemblance to the Vympel NPO R-37 air-to-air missile.
Buk-M1/Shtil-1 SA-N-7B (NATO: SA-11 Gadfly) "Smerch" missile systems & Snow Drift surveillance radar fitted on Russian destroyers has the 3S90M. The modified version is the HQ-16 which is a joint development project between China and Russia that apparently represents a further evolution of the Russian Grizzly. The missile system uses the Russian Top Dome J-band radar.
The HQ-12 can only engage targets that fly 300 meters above ground, according to the promotion brochure of its export version, called the KS-1A system. The HQ-16 can intercept very low-flying targets at a distance of up to about 40 kilometers, filling the gap between the HQ-7 short-range SAM and the HQ-9 long-range SAM systems. HQ-10 is the Chinese version of Shtil missile system
Buk-M1/Shtil-1 SA-N-7B (NATO: SA-11 Gadfly) "Smerch" missile systems & Snow Drift surveillance radar fitted on Russian destroyers has the 3S90M. The modified version is the HQ-16 which is a joint development project between China and Russia that apparently represents a further evolution of the Russian Grizzly. The missile system uses the Russian Top Dome J-band radar.
The HQ-12 can only engage targets that fly 300 meters above ground, according to the promotion brochure of its export version, called the KS-1A system. The HQ-16 can intercept very low-flying targets at a distance of up to about 40 kilometers, filling the gap between the HQ-7 short-range SAM and the HQ-9 long-range SAM systems. HQ-10 is the Chinese version of Shtil missile system
There are similarities between the Buk-M1/Shtil-1 SA-N-7B (SA-11 Gadfly) & Buk-M2/Shtil-2 SS-N-12 (SA-17 Grizzly) missiles; and the US RIM-66 Standard.
Buk-M3 carries twelve 9A317M rockets and is designed to destroy cruise missiles, precision bombs, rotary wing aircraft , fixed wing, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle.
Buk-M3 carries twelve 9A317M rockets and is designed to destroy cruise missiles, precision bombs, rotary wing aircraft , fixed wing, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle.
The mighty Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) was the weapon which stimulated the development of the SPY-1 Aegis system. The Kh-22 is a formidable weapon by any measure, powered by an Isayev R-201-300 (S5.33) liquid rocket delivering 83 kN full thrust and 5.9 kN cruise thrust, it is claimed to exceed 4.6 Mach in cruise at 80,000 ft AGL. Around 3 tonnes of propellant and oxidiser are carried - the highly toxic fuel presents serious handling problems in fuelling up the missile.
Designed during the 1960s for dual role use as a nuclear armed stand-off weapon equivalent to the RAF's Blue Steel, and as an anti-shipping missile with either radar or anti-radiation seekers, the Kh-22 remains in service as the primary armament of the RuAF's residual fleet of Tu-22M3 Backfires. While the Tu-95K-22 Bear G was equipped to carry up to three Kh-22s, its progressive retirement has limited use to the Backfire.
Designed during the 1960s for dual role use as a nuclear armed stand-off weapon equivalent to the RAF's Blue Steel, and as an anti-shipping missile with either radar or anti-radiation seekers, the Kh-22 remains in service as the primary armament of the RuAF's residual fleet of Tu-22M3 Backfires. While the Tu-95K-22 Bear G was equipped to carry up to three Kh-22s, its progressive retirement has limited use to the Backfire.
Pakistan's has Chinese-made HQ-16N HongQi LR-SAM which is based on licensed Russian Buk-M2 SS-N-12 (NATO: SA-17 Grizzly/Yezh) anti-aircraft technology (to be used in used on ships). The missiles carry a semi-active radar seeker for guidance. Each 6 x 6 Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) carries 6 sealed rounds, which are cold-launched vertically at a range of up to 40 km and an altitude of up to 18 km depending on target.
The naval version of the HQ-16 is designated HHQ-16 and used on the Type 054A frigate. In 2011, its land version, the HQ-16A anti-aircraft system, replaced the old HQ-7. Ironically, the Pakistan bought the HQ-16 to replace the French Crotale system, a 1970s vintage system that both China and Pakistan used.
The HQ-16 is a joint development project between China and Russia. There are significant differences between the Russian and Chinese systems. The most visual distinction between SA-17 and HQ-16 is that the latter is truck based instead of track based SA-17, and the firepower is increased by 50% with the total number of missiles increased to 6 from the original 4 in SA-17 system. The Chinese system incorporates technology from the U.S. Patriot missile defense system. However, the towed H-200 PESA fire control radar (which is an export variant of HT-233) for HQ-16N LR-SAM is inferior to Russian long range air defense systems. H-200 is able to follow 3 targets and guide 6 missiles simultaneously.
The naval version of the HQ-16 is designated HHQ-16 and used on the Type 054A frigate. In 2011, its land version, the HQ-16A anti-aircraft system, replaced the old HQ-7. Ironically, the Pakistan bought the HQ-16 to replace the French Crotale system, a 1970s vintage system that both China and Pakistan used.
The HQ-16 is a joint development project between China and Russia. There are significant differences between the Russian and Chinese systems. The most visual distinction between SA-17 and HQ-16 is that the latter is truck based instead of track based SA-17, and the firepower is increased by 50% with the total number of missiles increased to 6 from the original 4 in SA-17 system. The Chinese system incorporates technology from the U.S. Patriot missile defense system. However, the towed H-200 PESA fire control radar (which is an export variant of HT-233) for HQ-16N LR-SAM is inferior to Russian long range air defense systems. H-200 is able to follow 3 targets and guide 6 missiles simultaneously.
The CASIC SJ-231 Phased Array guidance radar, is an alternate command and control radar for the HQ-12 / (export) KS-1A SAM weapon system, based on the HT-233 (term 'HT-233' is no longer in use) PESA engagement radar design (which is based on best features from Russian 30N6E Tomb Stone radar) for HQ-9 LR-SAM (export version: FD-2000) also known as LY-80E and/or HQF-91 air defense system (LOMADS). It is used to detect and track the aerial target and the missile (downlink), post launch missile capture, and missile command uplink transmission functions. The SJ-231 is self propelled, but unlike the HT-233 (term 'HT-233' is no longer in use) it is split across a pair of 6x6 Taian TA5270A or 8x 8 Hanyang special vehicles. | Chinese Air Force PLAAF is now using the HQ-12 / (export: KS-1A) MR-SAM which is a much shorter ranging system, intended to provide an inner layer defence, inside the footprint of the HQ-9. It is also mobile, and the radar looks to be based on much the same technology as the HQ-9, making it hard to detect, hard to track and hard to jam. Even the latest HQ-12 / (export) KS-1A are inferior to the HQ-9 LR-SAM and the Russian S-300. KS-1A MR-SAM is in service with the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army). Compared to its earlier KS-1A, the oblique range of the HQ-22 (export: FK-3 or KS-1C) MR-SAM has increased from 40 to 70 km. |
China's Type H/LJG 346 Shipborne 3D Plate Array Radar (originally believed to be Type 382) similar in design to the USN’s AEGIS system. Some of the technology may be derived from the Ukrainian IL-220U that employs the 1L259M 3D monopulse emitter used in the land mobile ZOO PARK-2 weapon location system. Its radar target data update rate to be very slow.
It is installed on two Type 052C FFG Luyang II hulls, Lanzhou (170) and Haikou (171). The radar is used in conjunction with the HQ-9 SAM to provide long-range air defense capability, a first for the Chinese Navy.
Chinese claims have indicated that this C-band radar is designated as Type 346, while domestic Chinese radar with longer range is designated as Type 348. However, such claims are disputed by other domestic Chinese sources (which are also yet to confirmed), which have claimed that the C-band Ukrainian radar is designated by China as Type 348 instead, while the domestic Chinese S-band radar is designated as Type 346, following the earlier H/LJG-346 and H/LJK-346 version.
It is installed on two Type 052C FFG Luyang II hulls, Lanzhou (170) and Haikou (171). The radar is used in conjunction with the HQ-9 SAM to provide long-range air defense capability, a first for the Chinese Navy.
Chinese claims have indicated that this C-band radar is designated as Type 346, while domestic Chinese radar with longer range is designated as Type 348. However, such claims are disputed by other domestic Chinese sources (which are also yet to confirmed), which have claimed that the C-band Ukrainian radar is designated by China as Type 348 instead, while the domestic Chinese S-band radar is designated as Type 346, following the earlier H/LJG-346 and H/LJK-346 version.
Initially evolved from decades of Russian Buk-M1/Shtil-1 research but with vertical-launch, they have re-engineered the highly effective Russian S-300PMU or SA-20 system into the (longer-ranged variant of HQ-16) two-staged HQ-9B Red Banner LR-SAM (export version: FD-2000) also known as LY-80E and/or HQF-91 air defense system (LOMADS). However, its missiles cannot go as far as that of the S-400. Furthermore, HQ-9, unlike its American and Russian contemporaries, uses AESA radar. China has also made the naval version of HQ-9 missile system i.e. HHQ-9. The missile (similar to upgraded Russia's 9M317 missile of Buk-M2/Shtil-2) is ‘cold-launched’ vertically-launched. HHQ-9 SAM on Type 52D destroyer can take down a PJ-10 BrahMos SSM but FL-3000N / HHQ-10 cannot. HT-233 is a very large PESA fire control radar for HQ-9 LR-SAM (export version: FD-2000) also known as LY-80E and/or HQF-91 air defense system (LOMADS). Its based on best features from Russian 30N6E Tomb Stone radar. Each HQ-9 battery has 4 HT-233 radars JL-3 D-90A 3D long-range surveillance radar HQ-9 SAM on Type 52D destroyer can take down a PJ-10 BrahMos SSM but FL-3000N / HHQ-10 cannot. Two models of the HQ-10 have been seen on so far, one with 21 missile launch tubes and one with 18. The HQ-10 missile have a guidance system with a microwave radar and a heat seeker. This makes these missiles more difficult to jam. | The three new target acquisition radars for HQ-9B are the low altitude Type 120, the Thales/Raytheon-influenced S-band Type 305A / vehicle-mounted SR2410C (also known as LLQ-305A) AESA radar, and (heavy but mobile) 3rd-gen Type 305B (also known as LLQ-305B 3D acquisition radar) based on YLC-2V radar, all self-propelled high mobility designs carried on licence built Mercedes-Benz NG 80 ‘North Benz’ heavy trucks – a wise decision that provides reliable transport with a low implementation and operating cost. Like the latest generation Russian designs, these radars are built to automatically stabilise on hydraulically deployed legs, and automatically unfold and elevate their antennas using hydraulic rams. The Chinese have yet to comment on deployment and stow times, but five minutes would be a reasonable estimate. In short, these are true ‘hide, shoot and scoot’ designs built for modern war-fighting. Latin America has been buying Chinese surveillance radars in significant numbers. In Asia, PRC clients like Pakistan and Myanmar have been sold these technologies, and Pakistan is claimed to be procuring the HQ-9 system. The Chinese FD-2000 system had won the tender including 3.4 billion dollars in Turkey against the S-300PMU-2 Russian, SAMP / T Europe and the PAC-3 US before the Turks reverse their decision under NATO pressure. However, the fact that the Chinese have bought 6 S-400 systems for $3 billion suggests not all is not well with the HQ-9, which incidentally hasn't won a single export order. Russia's treatment of Iran over the S-300PMU1 / SA-20A Gargoyle order is likely to drive Iran directly into buying HQ-9 systems, arguably just as effective, and motivate other developing nations in turn to do the same. |
HQ-9 SAM on Type 52D destroyer can take down a PJ-10 BrahMos SSM but FL-3000N / HHQ-10 cannot.
Sayyad (hunter) 2 anti-aircraft SAM is an Iranian SAM system (unveiled 2013) which is a modified version of the Sayyad-1 aka Chinese HQ-2J (upgraded Russia's S-75/SA-2 system). Sayyad-2 appears to have incorporated technology from the U.S. HAWK and Standard surface to air missiles.
Its a 2 ton, 2-staged anti-aircraft air defence missile capable of destroying targets with a low Radar Cross Section (RCS) flying at low, medium and very high altitude. It includes ECCM (Electronic Counter-Counter Measures) equipment and carries a 200-kg warhead but it is still dependent on the ground radar for guidance to a target and is vulnerable to electronic interference.
Sayyad-2 missile has a maximum range of 80 kilometers and max altitude of 20,000 meters (65,000 feet). It uses solid fuel rocket motors and some of the electronics from the China's LY-80E / HQ-6 which is largely based on the Italian Selenia Aspide missile and upgraded Russian S-75/SA-2 system. The the Italian Selenia Aspide missile is itself is inspired by the American AIM-7 Sparrow missile. It's to be used with the S-200 'Talash' system rather than with a modern three-dimensional radar. It can engage multiple targets. It has incorporated technology from the U.S. 1960's MIM-23 Hawk and Standard surface to air missiles.
It uses the airframe of the RIM-66 (SM-1) naval SAM that Iran acquired from the United States in the 1970s. Iran's manufactured version is called Mehrab and it has a passive radar homing capability that allows it to engage aircraft that attempt to use electronic countermeasures to jam its active radar homing system.
Iran has also unveiled what it claims is an indigenously produced version of the MIM-23 HAWK system known as the Mersad, which is claimed to have a range of 40 km. A vehicle-mounted version of the system known as the Ghader was unveiled in 2012.
The Russian S-75 Dvina system was also deployed in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where on October 27, 1962, it shot down a U-2 overflying Cuba, almost precipitating nuclear war. It was also extensively used by North Vietnam during the Vietnam War to defend Hanoi and Haiphong. The USSR upgraded the radar several times to improve electronic counter measure (ECM) resistance. They also introduced a passive guidance mode, whereby the tracking radar could lock on the jamming signal itself and guide missiles directly towards the jamming source. This also meant the SAM site's tracking radar could be turned off, which prevented AGM-45 Shrikes anti-radiation missiles from homing in on it. Despite these advances, the US was able to come up with effective ECM. The missile system was used widely throughout the Middle East, where Egypt and Syria used them to defend against the Israeli Air Force, with the air defence net accounting for the majority of the downed Israeli aircraft.
Its a 2 ton, 2-staged anti-aircraft air defence missile capable of destroying targets with a low Radar Cross Section (RCS) flying at low, medium and very high altitude. It includes ECCM (Electronic Counter-Counter Measures) equipment and carries a 200-kg warhead but it is still dependent on the ground radar for guidance to a target and is vulnerable to electronic interference.
Sayyad-2 missile has a maximum range of 80 kilometers and max altitude of 20,000 meters (65,000 feet). It uses solid fuel rocket motors and some of the electronics from the China's LY-80E / HQ-6 which is largely based on the Italian Selenia Aspide missile and upgraded Russian S-75/SA-2 system. The the Italian Selenia Aspide missile is itself is inspired by the American AIM-7 Sparrow missile. It's to be used with the S-200 'Talash' system rather than with a modern three-dimensional radar. It can engage multiple targets. It has incorporated technology from the U.S. 1960's MIM-23 Hawk and Standard surface to air missiles.
It uses the airframe of the RIM-66 (SM-1) naval SAM that Iran acquired from the United States in the 1970s. Iran's manufactured version is called Mehrab and it has a passive radar homing capability that allows it to engage aircraft that attempt to use electronic countermeasures to jam its active radar homing system.
Iran has also unveiled what it claims is an indigenously produced version of the MIM-23 HAWK system known as the Mersad, which is claimed to have a range of 40 km. A vehicle-mounted version of the system known as the Ghader was unveiled in 2012.
The Russian S-75 Dvina system was also deployed in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where on October 27, 1962, it shot down a U-2 overflying Cuba, almost precipitating nuclear war. It was also extensively used by North Vietnam during the Vietnam War to defend Hanoi and Haiphong. The USSR upgraded the radar several times to improve electronic counter measure (ECM) resistance. They also introduced a passive guidance mode, whereby the tracking radar could lock on the jamming signal itself and guide missiles directly towards the jamming source. This also meant the SAM site's tracking radar could be turned off, which prevented AGM-45 Shrikes anti-radiation missiles from homing in on it. Despite these advances, the US was able to come up with effective ECM. The missile system was used widely throughout the Middle East, where Egypt and Syria used them to defend against the Israeli Air Force, with the air defence net accounting for the majority of the downed Israeli aircraft.
Russian S-350E Vityaz (50R6) medium-ranged air defense system that replaces S-300P (P suffix stand for PVO-Strany) and Buk-M or Shtil (SA-11 & SA-17). S-350 uses three versions of 9M96. The third missile, the 9M100 weighs under 200 kg and has a range of 15kms.
S-350 benefited from a joint Russian-South Korean effort to develop the KM-SAM (or M-SAM) air defense system for South Korea. That effort eventually fell apart but each nation learned valuable tech from the other. South Korea learned from Russian 9M96 missile and developed their missile for KM-SAM while Russians got some ideas on the improved Iron Hawk fire control system (American) from the South Koreans, who are one of the most advanced electronics developers in the world.
The complex on a single chassis BAZ-6909 consists of 360 degrees radar and 12 launchers for medium-and short-range type 9M96, 9M100 missiles production of MKB "Fakel". The complex can simultaneously track up to 48 targets and fire 8 of them at a distance of 120 km and at altitude of 30km.
The new system will have a more advanced radar and a launcher with 16 missiles compared to only four on the S-300. In February 2013, the Russian Ministry of Defense and Almaz-Antey announced the first flight test for the Vityaz 50R6 for autumn 2013. According to Almaz, Vityaz could replace older SAMs like the S-125 while adding multiple-target and anti-missile capabilities. According to information released in 2003, the system can be delivered in two configurations: a version optimised for protecting against high-precision weapons (cruise missiles, ARMs, smart bombs and tactical UAVs) able to simultaneous engage up to 8 target.
S-350 benefited from a joint Russian-South Korean effort to develop the KM-SAM (or M-SAM) air defense system for South Korea. That effort eventually fell apart but each nation learned valuable tech from the other. South Korea learned from Russian 9M96 missile and developed their missile for KM-SAM while Russians got some ideas on the improved Iron Hawk fire control system (American) from the South Koreans, who are one of the most advanced electronics developers in the world.
The complex on a single chassis BAZ-6909 consists of 360 degrees radar and 12 launchers for medium-and short-range type 9M96, 9M100 missiles production of MKB "Fakel". The complex can simultaneously track up to 48 targets and fire 8 of them at a distance of 120 km and at altitude of 30km.
The new system will have a more advanced radar and a launcher with 16 missiles compared to only four on the S-300. In February 2013, the Russian Ministry of Defense and Almaz-Antey announced the first flight test for the Vityaz 50R6 for autumn 2013. According to Almaz, Vityaz could replace older SAMs like the S-125 while adding multiple-target and anti-missile capabilities. According to information released in 2003, the system can be delivered in two configurations: a version optimised for protecting against high-precision weapons (cruise missiles, ARMs, smart bombs and tactical UAVs) able to simultaneous engage up to 8 target.
The legacy of the venerable SA-2 and SA-6 missiles continues through their modern successors, including the S-300, S-400 and the astounding S-500. Because it can directly as well as indirectly influence the outcome of a war, the new generation Russian SAM is considered a strategic weapon. This is remarkable for a non-nuclear missile.
The original S-300 Triumfator (was known to NATO, during the Cold War, as the SA-10 Grumble). It is a series of initially Soviet and later Russian long range surface-to-air missile systems produced by NPO Almaz, all based on the initial S-300P version, intended to defend fixed bases and buildings. The P suffix stand for PVO-Strany (country air defence system). This system entered service in the late 1970s and was upgraded several times since then. S-300PT systems are likely now all out of service, replaced or upgraded.
Initially, it was developed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles. Subsequent variations were developed to intercept ballistic missiles. Its original radars have the ability to simultaneously track up to 100 targets while engaging up to 12 targets. S-300 deployment time is 5 minutes. They are sealed rounds and require no maintenance over their lifetime. However, the old system had problems tracking targets below 500 m.
Initially, it was developed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles. Subsequent variations were developed to intercept ballistic missiles. Its original radars have the ability to simultaneously track up to 100 targets while engaging up to 12 targets. S-300 deployment time is 5 minutes. They are sealed rounds and require no maintenance over their lifetime. However, the old system had problems tracking targets below 500 m.
Sayyad (hunter) 3 appears to be the same size and shape as the S-300PT missile and carried in similar canisters. It uses the Bavar (belief) 373 radar and fire control system which is supposed to be ready for final testing in 2017. It also will be able to undertake a cold launch from systems similar to existing missiles, such as the Tor-M1 and it uses a phased array radar. Development of the system began in 2010 as a response to the Russian refused the exportation of its advanced S-300 surface-to-air missile systems which Iran had ordered. International sanctions, plus pressure from the United States and Israel led Russia to cancel the Iranian order.
Later, it employed the 5V55KD missile and the cold launch method. The S-300 PMU (NATO name: SA-20c Gargoyle) with its 5V55R missile has a smaller warhead but increased engagement envelope which gave this missile roughly the same range and altitude capabilities as the newer 48N6 missile. The upgraded 5V55R missile has its range extended to 7–90 km and maximum target speed up to Mach 4 while engagement altitude was reduced to 25–25,000. The missile is designed to engage both modern and prospective air targets, including strategic, tactical and naval aircraft, strategic cruise missiles, air-launched missiles, tactical and battlefield ballistic missiles and other air attack weapons over a wide range of combat environments. Russia has delivered the S-300 PMU system in 2016, providing Iran with its most advanced air-defense system against F-35.
S-300 PMU-2 Favorit / SA 20-B Gargoyle B by NPO Almaz (missile design by MKB "Fakel") is an upgraded air-defence system variant has a new missile with larger warhead and better guidance with a range of 200 km, versus the 150 km of the previous versions. The missiles use "cold" vertical launch - before starting sue-tainer they launched from a container to height over 30 metres. It had been designed to air-defend in heavy ECM environments. It is a highly mobile and automated control system. It is claimed that it has a kill ratio ranging from 0.8 to 0.93 against aircraft and from 0.8 to 0.98 against Tomahawk-class cruise missiles.
Each S-300/400 battery consists of 4-8 launcher vehicles (each with two missiles, plus two reloads) plus radar vehicles and a command vehicle. It can track 36 targets. The warhead also features an active radar homing head, which can target an aircraft autonomously without the need for ground radar. If an aircraft tries to jam the incoming missile's radar, the missile can switch to anti-radiation mode, and target the jamming source.
An ingenious “trick” from the creators of the C-300 – Vertical start: anti-aircraft missile itself takes place in the air and falls on the combat course. Such a scheme allows you to place the launcher on any suitable “patch” in the folds of the landscape between the buildings in the narrow gorges and ravines, protected from the effects of shock waves of enemy weapons. In contrast, the C-300, an American anti-aircraft missile system “Patriot” have to waste precious time, turning the heavy launcher in the direction of the target. Because of the oblique launch, “Patriot” needs space and open space – launcher prevent closely spaced houses, hills and trees.
S-300 PMU-2 Favorit / SA 20-B Gargoyle B by NPO Almaz (missile design by MKB "Fakel") is an upgraded air-defence system variant has a new missile with larger warhead and better guidance with a range of 200 km, versus the 150 km of the previous versions. The missiles use "cold" vertical launch - before starting sue-tainer they launched from a container to height over 30 metres. It had been designed to air-defend in heavy ECM environments. It is a highly mobile and automated control system. It is claimed that it has a kill ratio ranging from 0.8 to 0.93 against aircraft and from 0.8 to 0.98 against Tomahawk-class cruise missiles.
Each S-300/400 battery consists of 4-8 launcher vehicles (each with two missiles, plus two reloads) plus radar vehicles and a command vehicle. It can track 36 targets. The warhead also features an active radar homing head, which can target an aircraft autonomously without the need for ground radar. If an aircraft tries to jam the incoming missile's radar, the missile can switch to anti-radiation mode, and target the jamming source.
An ingenious “trick” from the creators of the C-300 – Vertical start: anti-aircraft missile itself takes place in the air and falls on the combat course. Such a scheme allows you to place the launcher on any suitable “patch” in the folds of the landscape between the buildings in the narrow gorges and ravines, protected from the effects of shock waves of enemy weapons. In contrast, the C-300, an American anti-aircraft missile system “Patriot” have to waste precious time, turning the heavy launcher in the direction of the target. Because of the oblique launch, “Patriot” needs space and open space – launcher prevent closely spaced houses, hills and trees.
The Russians have said that the S-300 radar was not intended for detecting low-flying aircraft (and neither is the China's JY-27. In 2019 Israel allegedly sent some of its F-35 into Syria to destroy the JY-27 radars but were only partially successful). The Israelis use Electronic Warfare to deceive the Pantsir and S-300 radars sufficiently to allow the Israeli fighters to get in, launch their missiles and get out before the air defense system operators are aware of what happened. The Syrians also did not want to admit that the slower moving Israeli missiles were operating like cruise missiles at low altitudes whereas the aircraft launched missiles, instead of flying down, they go high up and then come down at high speed. The air-defense experts suspected this after so many instances of firing S-300, and older S-200 missiles at Israeli targets that were not there anymore.
The S-300 has impressive DNA – it is a development of the S-75 missile that famously shot down the U-2 spy plane over Russia in 1960. One major upgrade came to be called the S-300V (SA-12) by Antey (missile design by Novator) and has never exported. It entered service in the late 1980s which was so different from the original S-300 that it was given a new name by the Russians: the S-400. Like the S-400 the range of S-300V4 new anti-ballistic missile also reaches 400 kilometres. The S-300V4 systems has been supplied to Russia’s Ground Forces in 2014.
The upgraded versions of the S-300 - like the S-300VM (also known as the Antey 2500) intended to defend tactical troops concentrations, can hit 24 targets flying as low as 20 ft, however, the upgraded S-300 and the S-400 radars were not original designed to operate at the high frequencies, so they would have had very limited capabilities against intercepting multiple low-flying cruise missiles. The SAM system can work independently of other sources of information or command posts and can defend different army formations including those on-the-move. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states probably paid for Egypt. Most radar systems (even Pantsir batteries) are pretty much useless at very low altitudes over land, unless the target is less around 3 kms in range.
"We consider S-500 as first generation of full-featured (mobile, maneuverable, operation-ready) Space Defence systems, (looks like designation SD will go along with AD) because it will receive capability to engage low space targets routinely and on-demand."
The Russia-specific S-500 Prometey (also known as 55R6M 'Triumfator-M') is not an upgrade of the S-400, but a whole new design specifically created to destroy enemy ICBMs during mid-early flight. It is intended to replace the A-135 missile system currently in use, and supplement the S-400. It might also be capable of shooting down low-orbiting satellites. The S-500 will use a Russian X-band APAR.
The first category is a smaller, highly agile shorter-range 48-N6ME missile (10-20kms to 40-60kms) to target terrain-hugging stealth fighters and strategic cruise missiles. 48-N6M or 48-H6DM (250 km) missile is reported to have a speed of up to Mach 15 (around 5,000 m/s or 17,000 kmph) that means even an F-16 in clean configuration will find it impossible to get away from a 40-N6M or 48-H6DM coming at it from 300-350 km away. 40-N6M (max. range of 380 km to 400 km) for use against aircraft and cruise missiles is equipped with the S-500, is already used in the S-400. The 40-N6M employs a combined active and semi-active guidance system, rather than a radio-command guidance system.
Two new missiles have been designed for the S-500 (and the S-400): the 77-N6-N and the 77-N6-NI LR-SAMs will be new-generation replacements for the 1980s-era 9M82 and 9M83 LR-SAMs. Two of these missiles would likely be fired in a salvo to ensure a "kill." The system will be highly mobile and have a response time of about 3 to 4 seconds, which is considerably shorter than the S-400, which is rated at 9 to 10 seconds. The 77N6-N and 77N6-NI hypersonic LR-SAM are 'kinetic kill' weapons equipped with on-board nose-mounted Ka-band millimeter-wave seekers (and real-time discrimination algorithms required) for fire-control & guidance of hit-to-kill interceptors to intercept tactical and intermediate-range solid-fuelled ballistic missiles flying at hypersonic speeds (7 km/s). S-500’s ability to intercept hypersonic glide vehicles has also been repeated highlighted. The S-500’s interceptors will operate at an altitude higher than 185km. The second stage of the 77-N6-N anti-aircraft missile is identical to the second stage of the 9M82MV missile. However, If it were to maneuver in low orbit areas, the 77-N6-N would require, like the PRS-1M/53T6 missile in THAAD, a compact and light third combat stage.
A naval version is the likely armament for the new Leader-class air defense destroyers, due to enter service in 2023-25. The S-500 Prometheus system is prized for its ability to engage targets at high speed up to 600km away, its ability to intercept ballistic missiles and satellites at very high altitudes and its powerful sensors allowing it to track hypersonic aircraft in space and lock onto stealth bombers such as the B-2 at long ranges. It is possible that Russia will roll out a modified version of the S-400 as an interim system, and they may call it the S-500. The thing to look for will be whether Moscow can deploy the 77N6 hypersonic missiles, as these are the key to developing a real ballistic missile defense system.
The first category is a smaller, highly agile shorter-range 48-N6ME missile (10-20kms to 40-60kms) to target terrain-hugging stealth fighters and strategic cruise missiles. 48-N6M or 48-H6DM (250 km) missile is reported to have a speed of up to Mach 15 (around 5,000 m/s or 17,000 kmph) that means even an F-16 in clean configuration will find it impossible to get away from a 40-N6M or 48-H6DM coming at it from 300-350 km away. 40-N6M (max. range of 380 km to 400 km) for use against aircraft and cruise missiles is equipped with the S-500, is already used in the S-400. The 40-N6M employs a combined active and semi-active guidance system, rather than a radio-command guidance system.
Two new missiles have been designed for the S-500 (and the S-400): the 77-N6-N and the 77-N6-NI LR-SAMs will be new-generation replacements for the 1980s-era 9M82 and 9M83 LR-SAMs. Two of these missiles would likely be fired in a salvo to ensure a "kill." The system will be highly mobile and have a response time of about 3 to 4 seconds, which is considerably shorter than the S-400, which is rated at 9 to 10 seconds. The 77N6-N and 77N6-NI hypersonic LR-SAM are 'kinetic kill' weapons equipped with on-board nose-mounted Ka-band millimeter-wave seekers (and real-time discrimination algorithms required) for fire-control & guidance of hit-to-kill interceptors to intercept tactical and intermediate-range solid-fuelled ballistic missiles flying at hypersonic speeds (7 km/s). S-500’s ability to intercept hypersonic glide vehicles has also been repeated highlighted. The S-500’s interceptors will operate at an altitude higher than 185km. The second stage of the 77-N6-N anti-aircraft missile is identical to the second stage of the 9M82MV missile. However, If it were to maneuver in low orbit areas, the 77-N6-N would require, like the PRS-1M/53T6 missile in THAAD, a compact and light third combat stage.
A naval version is the likely armament for the new Leader-class air defense destroyers, due to enter service in 2023-25. The S-500 Prometheus system is prized for its ability to engage targets at high speed up to 600km away, its ability to intercept ballistic missiles and satellites at very high altitudes and its powerful sensors allowing it to track hypersonic aircraft in space and lock onto stealth bombers such as the B-2 at long ranges. It is possible that Russia will roll out a modified version of the S-400 as an interim system, and they may call it the S-500. The thing to look for will be whether Moscow can deploy the 77N6 hypersonic missiles, as these are the key to developing a real ballistic missile defense system.
BAe-Matra's Armat (enhanced AS-37 MArTel) is a heavy anti-radiation missile which carries a large warhead is used by the Indian Air Force. It was built in the 1980s and was to be carried by the F/RF-111C, the F/A-18 and the P-3C but the UK deployed it on the Buccaneer S.2B, primarily as maritime anti-ship weapons. The French deployed only the AS-37 MArTel missiles on the Mirage and on the Jaguar.
With its high launch weight, heavyweight warhead and long range, the Armat is primarily an offensive strategic ARM designed to destroy Early Warning and Ground Control Intercept radars. This is where it differs fundamentally from the HARM and the ALARM, which are built to also perform as defensive ARMs carried as part of a mixed weapon load.
The Indian Air Force wants the AGM-88E which weighs 361 kg (794 pounds) and can detect and attack targets more than 150 kilometers away while travelling at a speed of 2,450 kilometers per hour.
With its high launch weight, heavyweight warhead and long range, the Armat is primarily an offensive strategic ARM designed to destroy Early Warning and Ground Control Intercept radars. This is where it differs fundamentally from the HARM and the ALARM, which are built to also perform as defensive ARMs carried as part of a mixed weapon load.
The Indian Air Force wants the AGM-88E which weighs 361 kg (794 pounds) and can detect and attack targets more than 150 kilometers away while travelling at a speed of 2,450 kilometers per hour.
Radar-guided + heat-seeking missile today can cost up to Rs 50-100 lakh each, while an advanced long-range air-to-air missile could cost five times that. Then we have a wide array of laser-guided and TV-guided precision munitions that can be more expensive. |
Joint Strike Missile is a version of the Naval Strike Missile long-range, over-the-horizon (OTH) stealthy missile developed by Raytheon & Norway's Kongsberg.
LRASM is a lighter, less expensive alternative to Tomahawk. The highly-advanced stealthy LRASM (Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile) is basically a new version of the existing AGM 158b JASSM ER that is able to seek out targets without remote control while knocking out enemy air defence electronics and sensors countermeasures. These highly-advanced stealthy LRASM (a version of JASSM-ER) missile is able to actively evading or attacking even the world’s most capable anti-missile electronic defenses & jamming systems, by knocking out its electronics and sensors. One popular feature LRASM lacks is a high-speed final approach. Adding the supersonic final approach makes missiles heavier by 50 percent and even more expensive.
If a swarm of LRASM missiles were networked together, they could work as a team to suppress the enemy’s ability to communicate and defend itself in real time without any direction from human operators. Australia has ordered 200 LRASM for nearly a billion dollars.
The Coast Guard and Navy could also potentially use similar devices to disable unresponsive ships or those that are swarming around surface combatants in a combined attack. In one sense, it is a psychological weapon, capable of blinding an enemy before they even know that a larger-scale attack is coming. Although, very expensive, this precise ‘soft kill’ capability solves so many modern day security and defense problems that it could very well revolutionize the way we look at ‘striking’ a target.
However, given the Earth’s curvature, there’s no way a ground-based target illuminator will be able to illuminate a target flying 400km away. A long-ranged SAM can be guided to an enemy target in the sky, only as long as target illumination is provided by terrestrial sensors like fire-control radar. Only a fire-control radar is sitting atop a high mountain will it be able to illuminate targets like AEW & CS platforms. Due to this reality, LR-SAMs are definitely not cost-effective AEW & CS killers. Instead, the best killer alternative is a stealthy loitering PGM that can generate EMP pulses when in close proximity to the airborne AEW & CS platform, since the location of any AEW & CS platform can be localised by fighter on-board RWR sensor.
AGM 158b JASSM ER is a longest range version of the stealthy, hunter-killer, air-launched, air-to-ground, GPS guided, standoff cruise missile JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) which are originally 455 kg AGM 158A GPS guided bombs (JDAMS) with a small turbojet added. It was designed to go, deep inside heavily defended enemy territory; and target enemy air defense systems. The terminal guidance enables the missile to land within 3 meters (10 feet) of the aiming point.
The missiles are ten times more expensive than a JADM bomb of the same weight. But the aviators make the argument that many aircraft and pilots would be lost if the modern air defenses of nations like, perhaps Russia or China, were attacked without using JASSM. If there were a war with North Korea, for example, JASSM would be essential to taking out enemy air defenses. This capability is apparently what attracted the Australians, South Koreans and also Poland.
LRASM is a lighter, less expensive alternative to Tomahawk. The highly-advanced stealthy LRASM (Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile) is basically a new version of the existing AGM 158b JASSM ER that is able to seek out targets without remote control while knocking out enemy air defence electronics and sensors countermeasures. These highly-advanced stealthy LRASM (a version of JASSM-ER) missile is able to actively evading or attacking even the world’s most capable anti-missile electronic defenses & jamming systems, by knocking out its electronics and sensors. One popular feature LRASM lacks is a high-speed final approach. Adding the supersonic final approach makes missiles heavier by 50 percent and even more expensive.
If a swarm of LRASM missiles were networked together, they could work as a team to suppress the enemy’s ability to communicate and defend itself in real time without any direction from human operators. Australia has ordered 200 LRASM for nearly a billion dollars.
The Coast Guard and Navy could also potentially use similar devices to disable unresponsive ships or those that are swarming around surface combatants in a combined attack. In one sense, it is a psychological weapon, capable of blinding an enemy before they even know that a larger-scale attack is coming. Although, very expensive, this precise ‘soft kill’ capability solves so many modern day security and defense problems that it could very well revolutionize the way we look at ‘striking’ a target.
However, given the Earth’s curvature, there’s no way a ground-based target illuminator will be able to illuminate a target flying 400km away. A long-ranged SAM can be guided to an enemy target in the sky, only as long as target illumination is provided by terrestrial sensors like fire-control radar. Only a fire-control radar is sitting atop a high mountain will it be able to illuminate targets like AEW & CS platforms. Due to this reality, LR-SAMs are definitely not cost-effective AEW & CS killers. Instead, the best killer alternative is a stealthy loitering PGM that can generate EMP pulses when in close proximity to the airborne AEW & CS platform, since the location of any AEW & CS platform can be localised by fighter on-board RWR sensor.
AGM 158b JASSM ER is a longest range version of the stealthy, hunter-killer, air-launched, air-to-ground, GPS guided, standoff cruise missile JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) which are originally 455 kg AGM 158A GPS guided bombs (JDAMS) with a small turbojet added. It was designed to go, deep inside heavily defended enemy territory; and target enemy air defense systems. The terminal guidance enables the missile to land within 3 meters (10 feet) of the aiming point.
The missiles are ten times more expensive than a JADM bomb of the same weight. But the aviators make the argument that many aircraft and pilots would be lost if the modern air defenses of nations like, perhaps Russia or China, were attacked without using JASSM. If there were a war with North Korea, for example, JASSM would be essential to taking out enemy air defenses. This capability is apparently what attracted the Australians, South Koreans and also Poland.
China had obtained some examples of Kh-31P anti-radiation missile, and has developed a Chinese version known as YJ-91. The YJ-91 is an upgraded seeker version of the licence production of Russian Kh-31 (liquid fuel) and China's CM-102 and LD-10 HARM uses solid fuel like Western HARM. The experience gained from YJ-91 also helped the engine development of another supersonic missile indigenously developed in China, YJ-12. CM-302 is an export version of the YJ-12.
6 of China's ground launched CH-10 / CJ-10 Long Sword (CJ stands for Changjian, literally means "long-sword") land attack cruise missiles is a strategic cruise missile modelled on the United States BGM-109G GLCM and Soviet RK-55 Relief, the latter both scrapped under treaty obligations. The CJ-10 was initially identified as the DH-10.
KH-55SM Granat also known as RKV-500A and RKV-500B (NATO name: AS-15A & AS-15B Kent) air-launched strategic cruise missile. The Kh-55 family of cruise missiles owes its origins to a series of internal studies at the Raduga OKB during the early 1970s. Raduga’s early work on these weapons was opposed by many Russian experts who were deeply sceptical of the viability of such a complex new weapon, but this changed as public knowledge of the US Air Launched Cruise Missile program became better known in the Soviet Union. The cancellation of the ambitious Kh-90 ramjet missile due to INF treaty in 1987 led to a renewed emphasis on improving the accuracy of the Kh-55. The X-55SM modification provided for increased range with the installation of expendable conformal external fuel tanks, giving it an estimated range of 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles).
The Kh-55 family of weapons most closely resemble the early US BGM-109 Tomahawk in concept. The most visible difference between the Tomahawk and Kh-55 families of missiles is the engine installation.
Unlike contemporary US weapons which use complex anti-tamper techniques in the software and integrated hardware, the Kh-55 predates this model by a generation. As such the electronics in the guidance system can be readily reversed engineered using commercial components, and the structure and engine use commodity materials technologies. The only components in the design which could present difficulties for a new player are the engine turbine and combustors. It is powered by a single 400 kgf Ukrainian-made, Motor Sich JSC R95-300 turbofan engine, with pop-out wings for cruising efficiency. It can be launched from both high and low altitudes, and flies at subsonic speeds at low levels. Current-production versions are equipped with the increased power of 450 kgf Russian-made NPO Saturn TRDD-50A engine.
A 1995 Russian document suggested a complete production facility had been transferred to Shanghai, for the development of a nuclear-armed cruise missile. At the end of 1999 there were 575 cruise missiles of air basing X-55 and X-55SM delivered from Ukraine to Russia by rail transport on account of liquidation of debt for the deliveries of gas. China illegally acquired six Kh-55SM missiles in April 2000, samples from the Ukraine, who then permit the development of a cloned variant. To date indigenous Chinese cruise missiles have not matched the range performance of the Kh-55 series.
CH-10 / CJ-10 was developed from the X-600 subsonic cruise missile, the new design incorporates elements of the Soviet Kh-55 cruise missiles. China may also have acquired several American Tomahawk missiles from Pakistan and Afghanistan, after the missiles were fired in a failed attack on the Al Qaeda in 1998. The knowledge from these missiles may have been used in the CJ-10/YJ-62 project.
Besides the land attack variant, a possible shore to ship variant has also been rumored to be in Chinese service. Many Taiwan and Hong Kong media sources believe that the weapon has been developed to counter the US Navy's Carrier battle groups, with the aim of a land-based carrier destruction capability.
Iran's Howeizeh / Soumar air-launched strategic cruise missile. DPRK acquiring cruise missile technology from Iran who got 6 Kh-55SM in June 2001 from Ukraine. Given the well documented earlier collaboration between Iran and the DPRK on IRBM development and production, an analogous play using reverse engineered Kh-55s is entirely credible. Also the entire Kh-55SM/Korshun smuggling operation (from late 1997 to August 2001) was bankrolled by Iran, Tehran in early 1998 staked its claim for leading the R&D effort aimed at producing the Korshun into a ground/sea-launched LACM with industrial help from China and Pakistan.
The Kh-65 missile is a tactical modification of the strategic Kh-55. The reduced range is a product of compliance with the SALT-2 treaty. The Kh-65SE is a derivative of Kh-65 cruise missile intended as a long range, aircraft-launched, sea-skimming anti-ship missile. It features an active radar seeker added to the Kh-55 navigation system for the terminal phase of the flight engagement.
The Kh-SD may be an improved version of the Kh-65 precision-attack cruise missile, which was promoted by the Russians in the early 1990s, along with a "Kh-65E" antiship variant. The Kh-SD is reportedly a smaller version of the Kh-101 but may have an active radar seeker. It is described as the short range tactical version of the Kh-101.
36MT small-sized turbofan engine is designed for small, low-flying means, especially for anti-ship cruise missile. The engine was developed by NPO Saturn, using the experience of the previous project "Izdělije 36". The engine is similar to US F107-WR-400, and has about 20 to 30% higher thrust. Engine development began after the collapse of the USSR, where the manufacturer has hitherto used R95 engine remained outside Russia, with Ukraine.
Structurally, the motor consists of a single-stage blower with wide blades, compressor, annular combustor, single-stage, single-stage low-pressure and high-pressure turbine, part of the engine there is a power generator 4 kW. The motor is controlled by an electro-hydraulic system. 36MT engine with low fuel consumption, resistance sucked dirt and adverse weather conditions, and the ability to self-destruction surge.
KH-55SM Granat also known as RKV-500A and RKV-500B (NATO name: AS-15A & AS-15B Kent) air-launched strategic cruise missile. The Kh-55 family of cruise missiles owes its origins to a series of internal studies at the Raduga OKB during the early 1970s. Raduga’s early work on these weapons was opposed by many Russian experts who were deeply sceptical of the viability of such a complex new weapon, but this changed as public knowledge of the US Air Launched Cruise Missile program became better known in the Soviet Union. The cancellation of the ambitious Kh-90 ramjet missile due to INF treaty in 1987 led to a renewed emphasis on improving the accuracy of the Kh-55. The X-55SM modification provided for increased range with the installation of expendable conformal external fuel tanks, giving it an estimated range of 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles).
The Kh-55 family of weapons most closely resemble the early US BGM-109 Tomahawk in concept. The most visible difference between the Tomahawk and Kh-55 families of missiles is the engine installation.
Unlike contemporary US weapons which use complex anti-tamper techniques in the software and integrated hardware, the Kh-55 predates this model by a generation. As such the electronics in the guidance system can be readily reversed engineered using commercial components, and the structure and engine use commodity materials technologies. The only components in the design which could present difficulties for a new player are the engine turbine and combustors. It is powered by a single 400 kgf Ukrainian-made, Motor Sich JSC R95-300 turbofan engine, with pop-out wings for cruising efficiency. It can be launched from both high and low altitudes, and flies at subsonic speeds at low levels. Current-production versions are equipped with the increased power of 450 kgf Russian-made NPO Saturn TRDD-50A engine.
A 1995 Russian document suggested a complete production facility had been transferred to Shanghai, for the development of a nuclear-armed cruise missile. At the end of 1999 there were 575 cruise missiles of air basing X-55 and X-55SM delivered from Ukraine to Russia by rail transport on account of liquidation of debt for the deliveries of gas. China illegally acquired six Kh-55SM missiles in April 2000, samples from the Ukraine, who then permit the development of a cloned variant. To date indigenous Chinese cruise missiles have not matched the range performance of the Kh-55 series.
CH-10 / CJ-10 was developed from the X-600 subsonic cruise missile, the new design incorporates elements of the Soviet Kh-55 cruise missiles. China may also have acquired several American Tomahawk missiles from Pakistan and Afghanistan, after the missiles were fired in a failed attack on the Al Qaeda in 1998. The knowledge from these missiles may have been used in the CJ-10/YJ-62 project.
Besides the land attack variant, a possible shore to ship variant has also been rumored to be in Chinese service. Many Taiwan and Hong Kong media sources believe that the weapon has been developed to counter the US Navy's Carrier battle groups, with the aim of a land-based carrier destruction capability.
Iran's Howeizeh / Soumar air-launched strategic cruise missile. DPRK acquiring cruise missile technology from Iran who got 6 Kh-55SM in June 2001 from Ukraine. Given the well documented earlier collaboration between Iran and the DPRK on IRBM development and production, an analogous play using reverse engineered Kh-55s is entirely credible. Also the entire Kh-55SM/Korshun smuggling operation (from late 1997 to August 2001) was bankrolled by Iran, Tehran in early 1998 staked its claim for leading the R&D effort aimed at producing the Korshun into a ground/sea-launched LACM with industrial help from China and Pakistan.
The Kh-65 missile is a tactical modification of the strategic Kh-55. The reduced range is a product of compliance with the SALT-2 treaty. The Kh-65SE is a derivative of Kh-65 cruise missile intended as a long range, aircraft-launched, sea-skimming anti-ship missile. It features an active radar seeker added to the Kh-55 navigation system for the terminal phase of the flight engagement.
The Kh-SD may be an improved version of the Kh-65 precision-attack cruise missile, which was promoted by the Russians in the early 1990s, along with a "Kh-65E" antiship variant. The Kh-SD is reportedly a smaller version of the Kh-101 but may have an active radar seeker. It is described as the short range tactical version of the Kh-101.
36MT small-sized turbofan engine is designed for small, low-flying means, especially for anti-ship cruise missile. The engine was developed by NPO Saturn, using the experience of the previous project "Izdělije 36". The engine is similar to US F107-WR-400, and has about 20 to 30% higher thrust. Engine development began after the collapse of the USSR, where the manufacturer has hitherto used R95 engine remained outside Russia, with Ukraine.
Structurally, the motor consists of a single-stage blower with wide blades, compressor, annular combustor, single-stage, single-stage low-pressure and high-pressure turbine, part of the engine there is a power generator 4 kW. The motor is controlled by an electro-hydraulic system. 36MT engine with low fuel consumption, resistance sucked dirt and adverse weather conditions, and the ability to self-destruction surge.
MR-123 Vympel fire-control radars system for CIWS on Indian Navy ships are imported
China uses the copy of Thomson-CSF ATLIS-2 targeting pod
China uses the copy of Thomson-CSF ATLIS-2 targeting pod
The new generation missiles and bombs, most of which at all times will be imported, also do not have very long shelf lives and require months to produce. This means that supply lines must always be open.
Russian aerostat (an unmanned airship filled with helium gas) aerial surveillance system is more robust against strong wind-currents, especially in areas close to the sea or at higher altitudes like in Kashmir. Hence, India selected Russian aerostats rather than opt for indigenous Nakshatra aerostat aerial surveillance system.
India has established 5 integrated air command and control system in Barnala (Punjab), Wadsar (Gujarat), Aya Nagar (Delhi), Jodhpur (Rajasthan) and Ambala (Haryana).
737-derivative P-8A(I) Poseidon (formerly the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft or MMA), a variant of the P-8A that’s readying for service with the US Navy as the P-3’s successor. It is a long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The P-8 costs about $275 million each.
In February 2006, IPT reported that warning bells have been sounded at an international summit over the mounting terrorist threats to sea lanes around Indonesia and the Straits of Malacca, which serves as a choke-point for a significant percentage of global shipping. At a subsequent high-level meeting in the United States that included Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and others, Stratfor reported that India was asked to play a major policing role against sea-piracy in the region. To the west, India is also undertaking anti-piracy efforts on the East African coast, with a base in Madagascar and a recent military co-operation agreement with Mozambique that includes coastal patrol responsibilities. The Indian Navy relies on its fleet of around 15 Dornier 228-101 aircraft and 12 Israeli Searcher Mark II and Heron unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor India’s 7,516 km long coastline, 1,197 islands and a 2.01 square km exclusive economic zone.
In 2005, India’s $133 million deal for 2 P-3C Orion maritime-optimized patrol and surveillance planes fell through on grounds of expense, support costs, and timing. Apparently, it would have taken 18-24 months for the US Navy to retrofit the aircraft to the Indian Navy’s specifications. The P-3 was based on the Electra civilian airliner that first flew in 1954.
Based on INS Rajali, a naval base at Arakonam, near Chennai, the P-8I will fly 8-hour missions to seek out pirates, suspicious cargo vessels, or hostile warships and submarines. Its enhanced internal fuel tanks allow it to fly 1,100 kilometers to a patrol area, remain “on station” for six hours, and then fly back 1,100 kilometres to Arakonam. Using aerial refuelling, this range could be doubled.
The P-8 Poseidon is based on the widely used Boeing 737 airliner. The B-737 is a more modern design and has been used successfully since the 1960s by commercial aviation. The initial operational capability of P-8A was achieved in November 2013. Although the Boeing 737 based P-8A is a two engine jet, compared to the four engine turboprop P-3, it is a more capable plane. Each engine is equipped with a 180KVA engine driven generator. Combined with the 90KVA commercial APU, this provides 450KVA of power. P-8 possesses significant growth capacity for equipment with excess onboard power and cooling capacity.
The P-8A has 23% more floor space than the P-3 and is larger (38 meter/118 foot wingspan, versus 32.25 meter/100 foot) and heavier (83 tons versus 61). Most other characteristics are the same. Both can stay in the air about 10 hours per sortie. Speed is different. Cruise speed for the 737 is 910 kilometers an hour, versus 590 for the P-3. This makes it possible for the P-8A to get to a patrol area faster, which is a major advantage when chasing down subs first spotted by distant sonar arrays or satellites. The P-8 can fly up to 41,000 feet and travel up to 490 knots.
The P-8’s key strength lies in its sophisticated sensors. The multi-mode radar picks up aircraft, surface ships and submarines and the belly-mounted radar looks backwards, like an electronic rear-view-mirror. A submarine would be picked up also by a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) on the P-8I’s tail. However, the US was not providing a 360-degree radar as per the terms of the P-8I tender. Instead, it offered a 240-degree radar, which India declared sufficient. Technologies that have been denied for transfer to India includes the multi-mode radar and the original electronic safety measures that are needed to detect incoming missiles. Moreover, critical ammunition for anti-submarine warfare has not been procured by India and source code also has been denied.
Industrial partners in India, or specific to India’s version, reportedly include:
The P-8A will be the first 737 designed with a bomb bay and four wing racks for weapons. Boeing also reportedly has a license to export the longer-range AGM-84K SLAM-ER, which adds more range and land attack features. P-8 has the ability to control unmanned air vehicles (level 2 control-receive) to extend sensor reach.
In February 2006, IPT reported that warning bells have been sounded at an international summit over the mounting terrorist threats to sea lanes around Indonesia and the Straits of Malacca, which serves as a choke-point for a significant percentage of global shipping. At a subsequent high-level meeting in the United States that included Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and others, Stratfor reported that India was asked to play a major policing role against sea-piracy in the region. To the west, India is also undertaking anti-piracy efforts on the East African coast, with a base in Madagascar and a recent military co-operation agreement with Mozambique that includes coastal patrol responsibilities. The Indian Navy relies on its fleet of around 15 Dornier 228-101 aircraft and 12 Israeli Searcher Mark II and Heron unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor India’s 7,516 km long coastline, 1,197 islands and a 2.01 square km exclusive economic zone.
In 2005, India’s $133 million deal for 2 P-3C Orion maritime-optimized patrol and surveillance planes fell through on grounds of expense, support costs, and timing. Apparently, it would have taken 18-24 months for the US Navy to retrofit the aircraft to the Indian Navy’s specifications. The P-3 was based on the Electra civilian airliner that first flew in 1954.
Based on INS Rajali, a naval base at Arakonam, near Chennai, the P-8I will fly 8-hour missions to seek out pirates, suspicious cargo vessels, or hostile warships and submarines. Its enhanced internal fuel tanks allow it to fly 1,100 kilometers to a patrol area, remain “on station” for six hours, and then fly back 1,100 kilometres to Arakonam. Using aerial refuelling, this range could be doubled.
The P-8 Poseidon is based on the widely used Boeing 737 airliner. The B-737 is a more modern design and has been used successfully since the 1960s by commercial aviation. The initial operational capability of P-8A was achieved in November 2013. Although the Boeing 737 based P-8A is a two engine jet, compared to the four engine turboprop P-3, it is a more capable plane. Each engine is equipped with a 180KVA engine driven generator. Combined with the 90KVA commercial APU, this provides 450KVA of power. P-8 possesses significant growth capacity for equipment with excess onboard power and cooling capacity.
The P-8A has 23% more floor space than the P-3 and is larger (38 meter/118 foot wingspan, versus 32.25 meter/100 foot) and heavier (83 tons versus 61). Most other characteristics are the same. Both can stay in the air about 10 hours per sortie. Speed is different. Cruise speed for the 737 is 910 kilometers an hour, versus 590 for the P-3. This makes it possible for the P-8A to get to a patrol area faster, which is a major advantage when chasing down subs first spotted by distant sonar arrays or satellites. The P-8 can fly up to 41,000 feet and travel up to 490 knots.
The P-8’s key strength lies in its sophisticated sensors. The multi-mode radar picks up aircraft, surface ships and submarines and the belly-mounted radar looks backwards, like an electronic rear-view-mirror. A submarine would be picked up also by a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) on the P-8I’s tail. However, the US was not providing a 360-degree radar as per the terms of the P-8I tender. Instead, it offered a 240-degree radar, which India declared sufficient. Technologies that have been denied for transfer to India includes the multi-mode radar and the original electronic safety measures that are needed to detect incoming missiles. Moreover, critical ammunition for anti-submarine warfare has not been procured by India and source code also has been denied.
Industrial partners in India, or specific to India’s version, reportedly include:
- Avantel – mobile satellite system
- Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) – IFF interrogator, Data Link II system
- CAE, Inc. – AN/ASQ-508A Magnetic Anomaly Detector
- Dynamatic Technologies Ltd.
- Electronic Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL) – “speech secrecy system”
- HCL Technologies Ltd.
- Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL)
- Maini Global Aerospace (MGA) – fuel cell structural components, P-8A & P-8i
- Northrop Grumman – Early warning self-protection (EWSP) and electronic support measures (ESM) systems, Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System (EGI)
- Macmet Technologies Ltd., a subsidiary of simulator-maker CAE – simulators.
- Larsen and Toubro Ltd. (L&T)
- Telephonics Corp. – The AN/APS-143C(V)3 OceanEye which is an X-Band maritime surveillance and tracking radar designed for small-target detection capability. The system uses a travelling wave tube (TWT) transmitter, frequency agility and pulse compression techniques. It also enables P-8(A)I to act as an AEW&C platform as well.
- Wipro Ltd.
The P-8A will be the first 737 designed with a bomb bay and four wing racks for weapons. Boeing also reportedly has a license to export the longer-range AGM-84K SLAM-ER, which adds more range and land attack features. P-8 has the ability to control unmanned air vehicles (level 2 control-receive) to extend sensor reach.
The P-3 can carry more weapons (9 tons versus 5.6). This includes anti-ship AGM-84 Harpoon Block II missiles which can hit ships or land targets thanks to GPS guidance; the Mark 82 depth charge that is standard equipment with the US Navy and improved radar resolution that can cut through near-shore clutter. To destroy short-ranged enemy submarine targets, five Mark 54 lightweight torpedoes lie warm in a special compartment in the aircraft’s belly and can be enhanced with the HAAWC kit for high-altitude, GPS-guided drops.
P-8A(I) Poseidon incorporation of Telephonics APS-143 radar that enables it to act as an AEW&C platform as well.
AWACS data is real-time while the satellite photos are hours or days old. Pakistan has 7 saab erieye mini-AWACS aircrafts, and 4 zdk-03 karakoram eagle mini-AWACS aircrafts. China has over 20 AWACS. China's AWACS and PAF's zdk-03 & Saab mini-AWACS are turboprops, so it's limited to Mach 0.6 and can fly at ceiling altitude of 25,000-27,000 feet. In contrast, IAF's AWACS are turbofan that cruise at Mach 0.85 and have an operational altitude of 40,000 feet.
Indian AirForce has 2 Netra mini-awacs and 3 A-50 AWACS, but needs 18 to 20 mixed assets of AWACS in total. India has placed order for 6 Airbus A330 AWACS, 2 more A-50 AWACS and 6 more mini-AWACS. These AWACs need to carry a private-made high-altitude unmanned ISR platform with radar mounted under it. Indian AirForce also needs anti-AWACS missiles on Su30-MKI.
Indian AirForce has 2 Netra mini-awacs and 3 A-50 AWACS, but needs 18 to 20 mixed assets of AWACS in total. India has placed order for 6 Airbus A330 AWACS, 2 more A-50 AWACS and 6 more mini-AWACS. These AWACs need to carry a private-made high-altitude unmanned ISR platform with radar mounted under it. Indian AirForce also needs anti-AWACS missiles on Su30-MKI.
Netra mini-AeW&Cs program now officially closed. The estimated cost of India's Netra "Eye" mini-AeW&Cs project is Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000 crore and the eventual plan is to induct 8 such aircraft. The LSTAR is a S-Band AESA radar being developed by DRDO for use on the under development AeW&Cs aircraft. The LSTAR (Lightweight Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar) system, also known as AN/TPQ-51 is a lightweight surveillance and target acquisition radar. The LSTAR family of air surveillance radars provides 3-D and 360 degree electronic scanning capabilities for detecting and tracking the most difficult targets. The radars provide reliable detection and tracking of traditional aircraft (commercial, small/private, and rotary wing) and non-traditional aircraft, such as low altitude, slow flying, small radar cross-section targets like ultra lights, para-gliders/hang-gliders and unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS. | Despite DRDO had claimed it to be 81%, it is only 48% indigenous. Brazilian media reported that Indian officials were bribed to swing the deal in Embraer’s EMB-145 MP P99 turbo jet favour. Air Force officials working with the DRDO reiterated that Embraer was not the suitable aircraft as it cannot operate from high-altitude locations like Leh. EMB 145 MP P99 cannot stay airborne to operate missions beyond 6 hours without aerial refuelling. Of the 18 requirements specified by the Air Force, AEW&CS could not fully achieve 10 important ones. However, in the middle of the programme, IAF demanded air-to-air refuelling and a de-icing system at a late stage, which led to a delay of 2 years. China has over 20 AWACS, including the new KJ-500 ones that can track over 60 aircraft at ranges up to 470km; on the other hand Pakistan has 4 Saab-2000 AeW&Cs and 4 ZDK-03 / KJ-200 (NATO: Moth) AeW&Cs. |
Lt Gen (retired) H.S Panag said, India has been surprised again, like in 1962, 1965, 1999 and 2020 on a strategic and tactical level. This keeps happening again and again. The diversion you are ignoring is the main attack. The wishful thinking and pre-conceptions of policy-makers are most often at fault for our failures. In the Indian thinking, while China is a formidable security threat and therefore strategic foe, the chance of a conventional conflict breaking out was low. Decision-makers fear that worst-case thinking could cause avoidable crisis or even accidental war. Routinisation of false alarm can also lead to cry wolf effect. SIGINT failure on the ground is why we were surprised.
A basic operational idea of Air-Land Battle requires an interconnected battle network with a sensor grid to "look deep and shoot deep." US realized that EW and organic ISR are "essential on the modern battlefield." Indian AirForce's weaknesses lie in having less airborne assets for maintaining persistent ground battlefield surveillance and poor targeting data-link network on Mirage-2000 and Su-30MKI fighter jets. Two of the most important elements in combat ops are to get: real-time Intel and SatCom, sent to the correct HQ Command. AWACS data is real-time while the satellite photos are hours or days old. Indian security officials are seeking (to keep an eye on China) IAF to get 5 additional Global 5000 surveillance aircraft (SIGINT) to conduct signal intelligence and communications jamming intelligence, airborne ground battlefield surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (COMJAM & Raytheon supplied ISTAR equipments) duties inside 180 km inside the neighbours’ territories. For battlefield surveillance, a side-looking radar antenna is preferred, as it would help make the battlespace on the ground more transparent with strategic alert capability. UAV do not engage in terrain-masking, as that will lead to loss of data-link control. These jets are being uploaded with Signals electronic Intelligence collection packages (also Air & Ground Jamming) in Israel. It can fly close to 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) non-stop at Mach 0.85 (907 kmph) and can climb to 43,000 feet in 23 minutes. With both China and Pakistan deploying missiles and building logistics aimed at India, the spy jets will help make the battlefield more transparent with strategic alert capability.
The Strategic guidelines direct the PLA to win in “Informatized Local Wars,” when the dominant mode of warfare is confrontation between “information-based systems-of-systems”. China's bases near Indian northern border, possess sustain robust battlespace information awareness capabilities that are often dismissed by Indian Army and AirForce who believe the bases will be easily neutralized in a conflict. Indian Army's firepower and maneuver are certainly important, but equally important is the ability to preserve information for one's own weapon systems while simultaneously starving battlespace information to one's adversary critical operational systems. China's integrated communications network capabilities include redundant ISR & EW drones, fiber-optic cable, multi-band satellite communications, high-frequency broadband arrays, tropospheric-scatter communications, frequency-diverse radar systems, electronic intelligence systems, and half a dozen microwave over-the-horizon radars, relocatable ESM and cell-phone communications towers. The suggestion that the Chinese outposts are vulnerable because of a lack of survivable, redundant systems misses the point. The Chinese bases collectively present a big "quality is quantity" threat. Chinese bases primarily act as "information hard-points," harbouring and enabling significant communications and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as counters to adversary information control. Remember, China saw the Sino-Vietnamese border conflict of 1979 to 1990 as a way to evolve the PLA by testing new doctrines and equipment on its border.
The Strategic guidelines direct the PLA to win in “Informatized Local Wars,” when the dominant mode of warfare is confrontation between “information-based systems-of-systems”. China's bases near Indian northern border, possess sustain robust battlespace information awareness capabilities that are often dismissed by Indian Army and AirForce who believe the bases will be easily neutralized in a conflict. Indian Army's firepower and maneuver are certainly important, but equally important is the ability to preserve information for one's own weapon systems while simultaneously starving battlespace information to one's adversary critical operational systems. China's integrated communications network capabilities include redundant ISR & EW drones, fiber-optic cable, multi-band satellite communications, high-frequency broadband arrays, tropospheric-scatter communications, frequency-diverse radar systems, electronic intelligence systems, and half a dozen microwave over-the-horizon radars, relocatable ESM and cell-phone communications towers. The suggestion that the Chinese outposts are vulnerable because of a lack of survivable, redundant systems misses the point. The Chinese bases collectively present a big "quality is quantity" threat. Chinese bases primarily act as "information hard-points," harbouring and enabling significant communications and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as counters to adversary information control. Remember, China saw the Sino-Vietnamese border conflict of 1979 to 1990 as a way to evolve the PLA by testing new doctrines and equipment on its border.
High altitude UAVs equipped with side-looking SAR sensors provides more actionable intelligence rather than overhead satellites. The precision afforded by high-altitude UAV comes with top-end technology that can be expensive. However, once the conflict starts, these drones can become susceptible. UAV do not engage in terrain-masking, as that will lead to loss of data-link control. You can’t win a war by sending arms drones into well-defended enemy air-space. Presently, there is a blurring of lines between war and peace as hybrid conflicts take centre-stage. Therefore, China makes the most of ISR drones when there is no war, no peace at its border. The higher you go, the more you see. Aerostats are not be able to sustain deployments in high-altitude areas due to strong winds. Chinese drones are great for scanning huge swathes of area to look for potential targets of interest during 10 hours of flight time. They are part of ISR and gathering of reconnaissance. Chinese airforce's key strength is in SIGINT that backs its Army. General-purpose & attack helicopter units and UAVs, provide combined armed units and engineers regiment with a highly maneuverable and versatile platform for reconnaissance, command and control, and fire support. Starting in 2011, the PLAAF began deploying KJ-500 AEW and BZK-05 UAVs (also fighters for protection) to various airfields, including Lhasa Gonggar and Shigatse Peace Airport, which is about 250 miles west of Lhasa, for a short-term rotational basis, usually from July to September, but some might be there all year. Both airfields are dual-use, so civil aircraft fly in all year long and the runway is built for civil aircraft. The PLAAF also has airfields in Hotan (Hetian) and Kashgar in western Xinjiang, where the PLAAF deployed two J-20s in August 2020. J-20 stealth fighters are tasked to be the network backbone for ground strike force, since Chinese fighters cannot carry full weapons load around the Himalayas due to poor aero jet engines and their side having thinner air. Since 2013 China's airforce main roles have been ISR for "maintaining battlefield transparency" and AWACS, but they have not been able to use H-6K nuke bomber, strategic air transport and air-lift to fly over the Himalayas, again due to their poor aero jet engines.
Y-9 export: ZDK-06 (ZDK means China Electronics Technology Group Corporation)
China’s new transport aircraft, Y-9 is manufactured by Shaanxi Aircraft Company. The Y-9 is an improved version of the Y-8 which was developed from the Soviet era AN-12 transport aircraft. It is a four engine turboprop powered by improved Chinese WJ-6C turboprop engines. KJ-500 supplements the KJ-2000
Y-9 AWACS can track over 60 aircrafts at ranges up to 470 km. There is no rotating antenna in the Y-9. The scanning in azimuth and elevation is done electronically. The limitation of 120°coverage for each flat antenna is because the highest value, which can be achieved for the Field of View (FOV) of a planar phased array antenna, is 120°. Thus, by placing three antennas side by side full 360 degrees coverage is obtained. Elevation scanning is also done, electronically, by the array source. KJ-2000’s radar antenna too does not rotate. Instead, three ESA antenna modules are placed in a triangular configuration inside the round radome to provide a 360 degree coverage. China’s KJ-2000 radar currently has the longest range in the world. At present, 11 are in service with China.
In the India-China context both PLAAF and IAF will face AWACS performance limitations in the mountains, since undulations in the terrain will create detection problems for aircraft masked behind hills. The laws of physics are universally applicable and requirement of line of sight condition has to be met for radar pick up.
China’s new transport aircraft, Y-9 is manufactured by Shaanxi Aircraft Company. The Y-9 is an improved version of the Y-8 which was developed from the Soviet era AN-12 transport aircraft. It is a four engine turboprop powered by improved Chinese WJ-6C turboprop engines. KJ-500 supplements the KJ-2000
Y-9 AWACS can track over 60 aircrafts at ranges up to 470 km. There is no rotating antenna in the Y-9. The scanning in azimuth and elevation is done electronically. The limitation of 120°coverage for each flat antenna is because the highest value, which can be achieved for the Field of View (FOV) of a planar phased array antenna, is 120°. Thus, by placing three antennas side by side full 360 degrees coverage is obtained. Elevation scanning is also done, electronically, by the array source. KJ-2000’s radar antenna too does not rotate. Instead, three ESA antenna modules are placed in a triangular configuration inside the round radome to provide a 360 degree coverage. China’s KJ-2000 radar currently has the longest range in the world. At present, 11 are in service with China.
In the India-China context both PLAAF and IAF will face AWACS performance limitations in the mountains, since undulations in the terrain will create detection problems for aircraft masked behind hills. The laws of physics are universally applicable and requirement of line of sight condition has to be met for radar pick up.
| E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Could Support India’s Future Naval Force and replace the IAF Beriev A-50EI Mainstay AWACS aircraft. The active mode of operation of certain parts of operating software (made by US-based OEM) in Western military aircrafts requires crypto-keys regulated by the strict US export-control laws. The AN/APY-9 radar, with a two-generation leap in capability, is the backbone of this aircraft and provides greater flexibility and significantly improved detection and tracking over all terrains. The Russian Air Force operates 26 A-50 planes. |
Roto-domes provide superior 360 degree coverage, while LSTAR flat antenna provide only 120 degree coverage. A330-220 & A-50I on the other hand have greater space to accommodate replacement aircrews & mission management crews. AWACS are the deciding factor as its compact radar can identify even low altitude enemy aircrafts from far away except in mountainous terrains which can be used by fighters to hide behind. AWACS data is real-time, while the satellite photos are hours or days old.
The US's DoD is moving away from airborne ISR assets (vulnerable to longer ranged air-to-air missiles), and moving into using unclassified data-links to control ISR satellite constellation which tracks moving targets in real-time, for better resiliency and sustainability. It hardly matters how precise new weapons are if you lack the ISR reach to find targets.
IAF Beriev A-50EI Mainstay AWACS aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport with Aviadvigatel PS-90A-76 engines, with Israeli-made EL/W-2090 radar made for the Indian Air Force. The A-50i Phalcon system is built around Elta EL/M-2075 AESA/APAR L-band radar.
Beriev A-50 was developed to replace the Tupolev Tu-126 "Moss" and India's 8 Russian Tupolev Tu-142 (NATO code name: Bear).
India ordered three A-50EI variants, developed on the basis of the Russian Il-76MD military transport plane and fitted with the Israeli-made Phalcon radar system, in 2004. Currently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) operates 3 (with 2 more in the pipeline) A-50 aircrafts.
Beriev A-50 was developed to replace the Tupolev Tu-126 "Moss" and India's 8 Russian Tupolev Tu-142 (NATO code name: Bear).
India ordered three A-50EI variants, developed on the basis of the Russian Il-76MD military transport plane and fitted with the Israeli-made Phalcon radar system, in 2004. Currently, the Indian Air Force (IAF) operates 3 (with 2 more in the pipeline) A-50 aircrafts.
Only three AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) in the shape of Israeli Phalcon radars mounted on Russian IL-76 aircraft, which were inducted as potent force-multipliers in 2009-2011 under a $1.1 billion deal inked in 2004. Israel has also hiked their price much more for any future delivery than what is permitted due to inflation. The main reason behind the steep jump in the price is the almost 3-fold increase in the price of the IL-76 planes, on which the radars have to be mounted.
The CAG report, tabled in Parliament on Friday, said the AWACS were “high value national assets” that could be “a deciding factor” during conflicts. But there was “sub-optimal utilization” of their operational capabilities in terms of “flying tasks” due to poor planning and serviceability. “On an average, there was a 43% shortfall against the established task of 1,500 flying hours per annum”.
Russia's A-50U 'Shmel' (bumblebee) uses modern (digital, rather than analog) systems and has a max range of 400 to 520 kms. The new computers allow 150 low-flying aircraft to be tracked and this is done more quickly and with fewer equipment breakdowns. It is also a multi-purpose command and control, electronic warfare, and intelligence gathering platform. The A-50U can control 10 aircrafts at a time, while these aircraft perform air-to-air or ground attack missions. The upgrade also included welcome crew amenities (a rest area with a gallery and improved toilet) for the 10 equipment operators and 5 flight personnel. The Russian Air Force operates 26 A-50 planes. | The modernized A-50U received new electronics with higher performance and speed, which made it possible to increase the capabilities of the functional software. The system for displaying the situation at the operator's workplaces has been improved - new LCD monitors of large dimensions and resolution have been installed. The improved ergonomics of the aircraft are designed to increase the efficiency of the tactical crew. |
The A-100, nicknamed “flying mushroom” due to the distinctive rotating radar dome above the fuselage, is an upgrade of its A-50 predecessor that first flew in 1978 and entered service in 1984. The plane is built around a multi-lateration radar unit featuring a pair of phased-array antennas capable of detecting enemy fighter planes at a distance of up to 600 kilometers and surface ships up to 400 kilometers away. “The A-100 is a classified project, but I believe they may be using compact UHF elements working both as receivers and transmitters. This will notably increase the radar’s range and accuracy. All our interceptors and air defenders will need is fire their missiles and forget”. |
Elta EL/M 2022ES radar system combines mechanical scanning in the horizontal plane with fine-beam-shifting, and full electronic scanning in the vertical plane, providing improved detection, particularly at high sea states, and enabling efficient use of the radar in air-to-air and air-to-surface modes. A significant improvement in target detection performance is in imaging modes such as inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) and in ground moving target indication (GMTI) modes. It can easily be retrofitted on to existing Heron-1 and Searcher Mk2 UAVs.
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