India to deploy warships in the South China Sea

India to deploy warships in the South China Sea

Indian military will deploy warships in the South China Sea as a part of 'Act East' policy. India is sending a naval task force from Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea, this month to expand security ties with friendly countries.

4 ships will be deployed for 2 months to Southeast Asia, South China Sea & Western Pacific. 

1. INS Ranvijay (D55): Rajput-class Guided-missile Destroyer.

2. INS Shivalik (F47): Shivalik-class Guided-missile Frigate.

3. INS Kadmatt (P29): Kamorta-class Anti-Submarine Corvette.

4. INS Kora (P61): Kora-class Guided-missile Corvette.

 

As a part of their deployment, the Indian ships will take part in the annual joint exercise 'Malabar Exercise' involving the USA, Japan & Australia off the coast of Guam.

List of Ballistic Missiles Submarines (SSBNs)

LIST OF BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINES

A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine which is capable of deploying Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. These submarine are commonly called as SSBN. SSBN- the SS denotes submarine ( or submersible ship), the B denotes ballistic missile, and the N denotes that the submarine is nuclear powered.

There are 6 countries in the world which have SSBNs- USA, Russia, France, UK, China & India

ACTIVE SSBNS IN SERVICE:-

France:- France has 4 Triomphant class SSBNs in service.

• Triomphant class:- 4 submarines are in service. The Triomphant class have a displacement of 12,640 tonnes (surfaced) & 14,335 tonnes (submerged). They can carry 16× M45 SLBM (6,000 km) or M51 SLBM (10,000 km).

1. Le Triomphant
2. Le Téméraire
3. Le Vigilante
4. Le Terrible

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India:- India has 1 Arihant class SSBN in active service.

• Arihant class:- 1 in service, 1 under trial, 2 under construction. It has a displacement of 6,000 tonnes (surfaced). The submarine can carry 12× K15 SLBM (750 km) & 4× K4 SLBM (3500 km).

1. INS Arihant

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People’s Republic of China:- China has 7 SSBNs in active service.

• Type 092 (Xia class):- 1 in service. It has a displacement of 8,000 tonnes (submerged). It can carry 12× JL-1 SLBM (1,770 km) or JL-1 SLBM (2,500 km).

1. Type 092

• Type 094 (Jin class):- 6 in service. They have a displacement of 11,000 tonnes (submerged). They can carry 12× JL-2 SLBM (7,400 km)

1. Changzheng 9
2. Changzheng 10
3. Changzheng 11
4. Changzheng 12
5. Changzheng 20
6. Changzheng 21

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Russia:- Russia has 14 SLBMs in active service.

• Borei class:- 4 in service, 1 launched, 3 under construction & 2 more planned. They have a displacement of 14,720 tonnes (surfaced) & 24,000 tonnes (submerged). They can carry 16× RSM-56 Bulava SLBM (8,000 km).

1. Yury Dolgorukiy
2. Alexander Nevsky
3. Vladimir Monomakh
4. Knyaz Vladimir

• Delta class:- 1 Delta III in service & 7 Delta IV in service. They have a displacement of 13,500 tonnes (surfaced) & 18,200 tonnes (submerged). They can carry 16× R-29RMU Sineva SLBM (8,300 km).

Delta III

1. Ryazan

Delta IV

1. K-51
2. K-84
3. BS-64
4. K-114
5. K-117
6. K-18
7. K-407

• Typhoon class:- 1 in service. It has a displacement of 24,500 tonnes (surfaced) & 48,000 tonnes (submerged). It can carry 20× R-39 Rif SLBM (8,300 km)

1. Dmitriy Donskoy

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United Kingdom:- UK have 4 SLBMs in active service.

• Vanguard class:- 4 in service. They have a displacement of 15,900 tonnes (submerged). They can carry 16× Trident II SLBM (12,000 km).

1. Vanguard
2. Victorious
3. Vigilant
4. Vengeance

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United States of America:- USA have 14 SSBN in active service.

• Ohio class:- 14 in service. They have a displacement of 16,764 tonnes (surfaced), 18,750 tonnes (submerged). They can carry 24× Trident II SLBM (12,000 km).

1. Henry M. Jackson
2. Alabama
3. Alaska
4. Nevada
5. Tennessee
6. Pennsylvania
7. West Virginia
8. Kentucky
9. Maryland
10. Nebraska
11. Rhodes Island
12. Maine
13. Wyoming
14. Louisiana

TWIN-ENGINE DECK BASED FIGHTER (TEDBF)

The Twin-Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) is being developed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. It will be a single-seater, twin-engine, compound tailless delta wing with close-coupled canards.

The TEDBF will be a Carrier-based aircraft. It’s first flight is planned in the year 2026.

Features:-

• LEX: Leading-Edge Extension (LEX) a small extension to an aircraft frontal Fuselage Boundary. A leading-edge extension is designed for the same purpose to create a strong vortex that increases the stall angle of a wing. TEDBF features a Leading Edge Extensions (LEX) below the canopy blended back into the wing.
• Canards: A small wing like projection attached to an aircraft forward of the main wing to provide extra stability or control. TEDBF has canards to provide longitudinal stability and control for the aircraft. TEDBF has adapted close-coupled canards configuration from the Tejas Mk-2 aircraft.
• DSI Intakes: A Diverterless Supersonic Inlet (DSI) compared to a conventional intake decreases the inlet weight, since the structure becomes less complex and it has no movable parts, therefore, requiring less maintenance and also increases the performance of a fighter aircraft.
• 3D Bump: Bump near DSI intakes is used to improve the negative effects caused by the bends of the duct.
• Stealth optimized Radome Frontal Section: TEDBF design comes with a Stealth optimized Radome Frontal Section inspired from the AMCA fighter program to have reduced cross-section (RCS). 
• Wing folding Mechanism: TEDBF will feature a Wing folding Mechanism that will be used when for storage in the hangar or when the aircraft requires repairs. The wing folding Mechanism also helps aircraft on the decks to be parked neatly and save space for more aircraft. 
• Tail hook: TEDBF is seen with a tail hook attached to the empennage (rear) of the fuselage for rapid deceleration during routine landings aboard aircraft carrier flight decks.
• Larger fuselage fuel tanks: TEDBF features a fixed upper fuselage fuel tank on either side of its central spine that will play the role of conformal fuel tanks (CFT). But unlike CFT that can be removed after mission by the ground crews, this will be part of the fuselage. It will add range, decreases drag and also decreases the overall signature of the TEDBF jet.

Roles:-

• Combat Air Patrol
• Deck launch interception
• Air-to-air combat
• Anti-ship strike
• Maritime strike
• Land attack strike
• Escort jamming
• Buddy Refueling

Specifications:-

• Length: 16.3 m
• Wingspan: 11.2 m(unfloded); 7.6 m(floded)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26 ton
• Speed: Mach 1.6
• Service Ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,288 m)
• ‘g’ limits: +8/-3

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INDIAN AND FRENCH AIR FORCE BILATERAL EXERCISE DESERT KNIGHT- 21

The Indian and French Air & Space Force (Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace) conducted a five-days bilateral air drill at Air Force Station Jodhpur in India from 20th to 24th June, 2021.

As a part of Indo-French Defence Cooperation, six editions of air drill ‘Garuda’were conducted. The latest being in the year 2010, at Air Force Base Mont-de-Marsan in France.

The Desert Knight- 21 exercise is unique as it will include the Rafale fighter jets by both sides. It also indicates the growing interaction between the air forces of the two nations- India & France.

• Aircrafts from Indian Air Force:- Rafale, Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C aircraft.

• Aircrafts from French Air Force:- Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft and approximately 175 personnel.

Different Exercises between India & France:-

• Varuna: Naval exercise
• Garuda: Air Exercise
• Shakti: Army Exercise

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HAWK-I AIRCRAFT SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRED SMART ANTI-AIRFIELD WEAPONS (SAAW)

On 21st January, 2021, Hindustan Aeronautical Agency (HAL) successfully test fired a Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from the Hawk-i aircraft off the coast of Odisha. The indigenous stand-off weapon developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), DRDO is the first smart weapon fired from an Indian Hawk-Mk 132.

“The Hawk-i is HAL’s internally funded programme offering the armed forces an upgrade and combat capability for the Hawk, transforming it into an Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT), providing training on sensors and weapons in peacetime into a potent combat platform during conflict,” an HAL statement read.

The SAAW is a long-range precision-guided anti-airfield wepeon of 125 kg used to destroy ground targets, such as runways, bunkers, aircraft hangars and other reinforced structures from a range of 100 km.

INDIAN ARMY DEMONSTRATS DRONE SWARM DURING ARMY DAY PARADE

The Indian Army carried out a demonstration of drone swarm by using 75 indigenously designed and developed rotary drones

These drones are developed by Indian Army and NewSpace Research and Technology. Each drone is autonomous and independent to carry out missions by using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Theses drones have a range of 50 km. The Army and NewSpace is planning to fly up to 1,000 rotary drones.

During the demonstration, 75 UAV and small drones were flown together in a large swarm through AI technology. These swarm drones can be used for simultaneous large attacks on enemy tanks, infantry combat vehicles and trucks loaded with soldiers and ammunition, as well can be used for supplying medicines and other equipment.

Swarm-drones can also be used to jam the enemy’s communication-systems and radars on the battlefield.

Indian Army carried out multiple operations including intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, kamikaze drone attacks, mothership, first-aid delivery and parachute payloads. These 75 drones can carry a total payload of 600 kg.

There were different types of drones used:

• Mothership Hexacopter, that can 2 kamikaze quadcopters.
• Kamikaze drones or Loitering munitions.
• Utility drones for payload & first-aid delivery.