Army to Acquire Simulators and Training Systems to Boost Air Defence Defencenow.com, June 06, 2012

The Indian Army’s plan to intensify its air-Defence network was discussed at a recent conference, besides its procurement plans to ward off any aerial threats. Speaking at the conference, DG of Army Air Defence Lt Gen Singh stated that India’s assets are prone to aerial threats and their protection at all times has become a top priority for the army. In order to achieve this, India is planning to acquire air Defence equipment varying from advanced simulators to training systems.

As for the Army Air Defence, various measures are being taken to combat aerial threats. To begin with, the Indian Army is looking at modernization of the current inventory. Another priority is the development or acquisition of advanced target system, pilot-less target aircraft, advance tracking systems to track efficacy of the Air Defence firing systems. Other facets of the Army Air Defence are being generated as well; for instance, development of a fully-automated control and reporting system aimed at generating and dispersing real time air surveillance picture of desired locations is being carried out. TCS Insights: The main role of the Army Air Defence (AAD) is to collaborate with the Indian Air Force to safeguard the Indian skies and protect the air space from enemy infringement. This indicates that army has formalized its requirements for simulators and training systems and Canadian firms should contact AAD to assist in finalizing specifications of the requirements.

Army to buy bullet-proof vehicles from Indian firms The Indian Express, June 22, 2012 The Indian Army will make another effort to procure light bullet-proof vehicles from the domestic market after an earlier round failed as none of the competing companies managed to meet the stringent requirements. The Defence Ministry is set to give a go-ahead to the Army to purchase 1300 light bullet-proof vehicles in the ‘Make Indian’ category that is open only to Indian defence manufacturers. The procurement is expected to cost close to Rs 720 crore but orders are likely to increase exponentially, given the vast requirements of the Army. The Army had initiated a similar process for the light bullet-proof vehicles in which several Indian players participated. However, after a long drawn selection process that included extensive field trials, none of the contenders managed to meet the mark. However, the Army is now believed to have modified its requirements that will enable Indian players to compete for the order.

TCS Insights: Canadian suppliers of bullet resistant glass and other suppliers for bullet proof vehicles have an opportunity to connect with major Indian players like Mahindra Defence Systems, Tata Motors and Force Motors who are expected to respond to the Request for Proposals. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service will be happy to provide introductions. It would be ideal for Canadian firms to collaborate with suggested firms for development of the right vehicles for the Indian army as possible vendors. This could be a long term repeat business opportunity.

August 2012 Contact: india.commerce@international.gc.ca

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Massive military helicopter buys allow for indigenization Business Standard, June 06, 2012 The Indian Air Force (IAF) purchase of 126 Rafale fighters has made global headlines, and the Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) could be another jaw-dropper. But Indian military aviation could see an even more prominent growth area in helicopters, where the Defence services are poised to induct well over 1,000 rotary wing aircraft in the coming decade, the majority of them developed and built in the country. The IAF is inducting 139 Russian Mi-17 V-5 medium lift helicopters, for an estimated $2.4 billion. The workhorse Mi-17, which transports 26 soldiers in combat gear, or four tonnes of supplies to high altitude posts, has been in IAF service for decades, but the new-model V-5 is a vastly superior machine, with new engines, rotor blades and avionics. An IAF order for 80 Mi-17s is already being delivered. 15 American CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopters will also be bought. The Chinook, built by Boeing, has already been evaluated. The IAF is pleased with its avionics and power. TCS Insights: There is an opportunity for suppliers to contact Hindutan Aeronautics Limited. The IAF and army have also placed a Rs. 7,000-crore order for 159 Dhruv Mark III utility helicopters. These have been designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), which builds 36 Dhruvs each year. There is an estimated need for more than 350 Dhruvs for the Army, IAF, coast guard and paramilitary forces.

India All Set To Ink MCMV Deal with South Korea Defencenow.com, June 15, 2012

India is all set to ink a deal with a South Korean shipyard for building eight minesweepers and hunters for its navy in its quest to overhaul its existing fleet of such specialized warships. The deal comes at a time when New Delhi's "strategic" partnership with Seoul is growing and the latter has expressed interest in joining an anti-piracy patrol in Gulf of Aden carried out by India along with China and Japan. The Indian Defence ministry has already completed the cost negotiations with the Pusan-based Kangnam Corporation, which was chosen as the lowest bidder in the tendering process in April last year, according to sources. Kangnam was found to be technically qualified and it beat Italian firm Intermarine to win the bid. TCS Insights: Our inquiries reveal that the deal will include construction of first, 2 Mine Counter-Measure Vessels (MCMV) at Pusan and the rest six to be built at the Goa Shipyard through technology transfer. Each of these MCMVs will be worth Rs.3000 crore ($600 million).

Interested equipment suppliers should contact Goa Shipyard.

Navy to Procure Four Survey Ships Defencenow.com, June 18, 2012 Under water survey capabilities of the Navy are all set to receive a boost with its plans of procuring four state-of-the-art indigenous vessels capable of exploring the depths of the maritime economic zone and the extended continental shelf of the country. The Navy has initiated the process of procuring four survey vessels from indigenous shipyards and has sought detailed information from them. "We have started the process and as per the plans, the first ship will be commissioned into service by 2017-18. We want these ships to be 100 per cent indigenous," a Navy official said. Besides carrying out hydrographic and oceanographic surveys as its primary task, the Navy in its requirements has stated that the vessels should be able to perform the role of a hospital ship and limited Defence role during emergencies. The Navy has stated that the vessels should have the capacity to house a crew of over 200 officials, including the sailors and officers.

TCS Insights: nterested providers of equipment for

survey ships should connect with Indian shipyards (Garden Reach Shipbuilding, Goa Shipyards, Mazagaon Dockyards Limited) for possible business. Sources indicate that with an expected life of 25 years, the Navy wants the machinery, sensors and equipment to be able to withstand a mission time of about eight weeks at a stretch.

India's largest electronic security company acquires Qatar-based fire monitoring firm India Infoline News Service, June 14, 2012

Zicom Electronic Security Systems Limited (Zicom) India together with its Singapore based wholly owned subsidiary viz, Unisafe Fire Protection Specialist Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Unisafe Singapore) (collectively referred as Zicom Group) has acquired 49% stake and complete management control in Phoenix international WLL (Phoneix International), Qatar, a Limited Liability Company, at a valuation of USD 15 million. As a part of the Share Sale Agreement, Zicom has acquired 5% stake while Unisafe Singapore has acquired 44% stake in Phoenix International.

TCS Insights: This is an indication of good business potential in the electronic security market which is estimated at $ 350 million and major demand is in field of CCTV surveillance and access control systems.

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A Unique Battle for the Tactical Communication System Contract Militaryscan.com, June 22, 2012

Seldom has a defence tender been bid by different companies joining hands to present a common offer, as is happening now with the $2 billion contract for developing the Indian Army’s Tactical Communication System (TCS). TCS is meant to replace the army’s obsolete radio communication network used for battlefield and tactical communication. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has given the nod to three private companies -- Larsen & Toubro; Tata Power (Strategic Electronics Division); and HCL -- to compete as a special purpose company (SPC) with the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Under Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2011, the MoD selects two vendors, who will each build a prototype of the TCS. Based on that, the winner will be awarded the contract to build seven TCS for the army. The MoD sent Expressions of Interest (EoI) to eight companies, asking them to bid for the TCS deal. Besides BEL; L&T; Tata Power (SED); and HCL, Rolta; Wipro; the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd (ECIL); and ITI were also invited.

TCS Insights: This is a clear indication of the Indian Army’s intentions to encourage the Indian private sector to effectively compete with crown corporations. Canadian firms will do well to establish business relations with key Indian private sector players in the defence and security sector.

India takes giant leap in autonomous sea vehicle programme for security The Hindu, July 6, 2012

Seaward defence of waters pertaining to India’s interest is poised to acquire a whole new dimension, with the surreptitious entry of versatile Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) and submadrones, underwater drones in civil parlance, as force multipliers. As the Navy contemplates indigenously sourcing 10 such platforms primarily for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), mine mitigation and sensor deployment, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has come a long way in designing and building a batch of multiple AUVs to meet the Navy’s quality requirements.

The Visakhapatnam-based Naval Science and Technology Laboratory (NSTL), a DRDO firm, has fashioned a batch of AUVs from handheld slow-speed ones, to military-class, free-flooded platforms weighing 1.7 tonnes, with the capability to assist in the entire gamut of maritime security, straddling coastal and port defence to deep-sea operations.

“The 1.7-tonne reconfigurable platform, with an operational depth of 500 metres, can carry payloads of up to 500 kg to accomplish a plethora of operations such as surveillance, sensor deployment, and mine countermeasure, besides delivery of ammunition. It is slated to undergo a fresh set of sea trials in September.

TCS Insights: Our inquiries reveal that Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL)- a crown corporation has been contacted by DRDO for developing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Canadian firms that have requisite technology for applications in Autonomous Underwater Vehicles should contact ECIL.