Sunday, August 11, 2013

About the Launch of the Indian Aircraft Carrier.


Let me say this first.

I'm a fan of a number of countries around the globe.  By that I mean I'm interested in what they're doing, and do my best to keep up with defense issues that they're dealing with.

Romania, Israel, Netherlands, Singapore, Japan, Brazil, S. Korea, India, Philippines, and Turkey (and those are just a few of the countries on my alert list) all bear watching. Having said
that I can't quite wrap my head around some of the definitions that are used on some of the projects.

Earlier this year I posted about the Indians getting ready to launch their aircraft carrier on the 12 of this month.  Sounds like a momentous occasion right?  I mean Japan basically launched a big deck amphib and the defense blogs/news sites were all atwitter...what would happen when India joins the carrier club and builds/launches its own?  Well check this out. via NDTV.
Idia will launch its first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, on August 12 from the Kochi shipyard. This will make India only the fifth country after the US, Russia, Britain and France to have the capability to build such vessels.
"About 83 per cent of the fabrication work and 75 per cent of the construction work will be over when the ship goes into water," said Indian Navy's vice chief, Admiral Robin Dhowan.
The rest of the work, including the flight deck, will be completed once the ship is launched, the Navy vice chief said. The aircraft carrier is expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy by 2018.

Admiral Dhowan also said that the 40,000 tonne indigenous aircraft carrier is one of its most prestigious warship projects and unprecedented in terms of size and complexity. It has been designed by Indian Navy's design organisation.
INS Vikrant will have two take-off runways and a landing strip with three arrester wires capable of operating a STOBAR (Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery). The main stay fighters positioned on board would be Russian made MiG -29k fighter jets. The naval variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) produced by India is also scheduled to be positioned on the warship. However, it would depend on how quickly and effectively Navy variant of the LCA is produced and cleared for active duty.
While nearly 90 per cent of the body work of the aircraft carrier has been designed and made in India, about 50 per cent of propulsion system is of Indian origin and about 30 per cent of fighting capability of the warship are from India.
"It will be equipped with a long range surface-to-air missiles system with multi-function radar and close-in weapons system (CIWS)," Admiral Dhowan said.
Apart from joining a select group of nations that build aircraft carriers, the major achievement for India has been the ability to fabricate weapons grade steel. "After our initial difficulty in procuring weapons grade steel, our own laboratories were able to crack the code. Steel Authority of India is now producing the requisite quality of steel" Admiral Dhowan said.
The ability to produce weapons grade steel is a big plus since majority of Indian warships will now be produced in India.n
Sorry guys.

I don't consider this a proper launching.  I don't know what you'd call it but to launch an aircraft carrier and the flight deck isn't even completed is craziness. To have it not even ready for sea trials....

I'm not sure but when I got details I felt robbed.  It sounds good but its like a half built house....good job on what you've done but you're far from finished.


13 comments :

  1. The Indian MOD is incredibly corrupt and incompetent.

    The Tejas MIGHT hit IOC this Fall, and it is only a little 4th gen Mig-21 replacement.

    HAL can't even built a trainer jet on time and under budget.

    That being said, the ship is technically being launched, as in getting into the water for the 1st time.

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    Replies
    1. they're working on the corruption and they're getting more and more competent each day. they're definitely headed in the right direction. whether they're getting there fast enough is up for debate but i'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt.

      as far as the launch of the carrier is concerned i'm sorry. a launch ceremony and it won't hit the fleet for another five years? come on. technical or not thats bullshit.

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  2. Agree...bt there is elections in India next year...nobody knows what will happen...so I think the govt wants to take credit for the project as it was ordered by it...and I think nothing wrong in that...and for Mr David in few years India ll have 3 ACs and don't think any other country can bear this...C'mon Solo, I think you are being too critical...It's first time we are preparing such thing...just try to understand the excitement, man! ;) and Mr. David...just wait 3yrs and you'll see what we can do. Godspeed!

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    Replies
    1. While the MoD, and HAL in particular, is corrupt, there are more and more bright spots in the Indian defense industry.

      You just activated your first nuclear ballistic missile sub, which is a huge accomplishment.

      Delete
  3. They better get it together quick, because the Chinese lead them in many areas, including aviation, mainly due to a more developed indigenous industrial base.

    They're ahead of China in carrier aviation expertise, but how long will that last?

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  4. I am rooting for India, but there isn't a track record of success when it comes to Indian defense industry.

    INSAS rifle
    Arjun tank
    HAL Tejas
    HTT 40 trainer

    And there acquisitions is a mess. The Ordnance Factory board just recently discovered the plans for licensed manufacture of the Bofors FH-70. They'd been sitting on it for 15 years and not building them at a time when the Army desperately needs 155mm.

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    1. It sucks. I've read the soldiers loathe it. It's supposed to be part FAL, part AK, but isn't well executed at all. A 20rd mag for a modern assault rifle? reliability problems galore. It was fielded in the 90's, but the Indian Army already has plans for a replacement.

      http://www.armedforces-int.com/news/india-seeks-insas-assault-rifle-replacement.html

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  5. You do realize that is very common to launch ships with significant work left, right? For example, HMAS Canberra.

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  6. Dear Paralus...FYI INSAS is still the primary weapon of Indian Army...we already have Arjun Mk-1 in bag and now going for Mk-2...14 HAL Tejas Mk-1 is already built and gonna get FOC this year...and we already started working on Mk-2...for Trainers I can believe you...and we are getting 150 Hovitzers from US...defence production is not a business in India...we are behind coz we have faced 10 yrs of sanctions on latest tech from bigger countries...once it has been lifted...we are doing very good and in next few yrs you'll see the change...! :)

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    Replies
    1. I hope India does get things worked out. The LCA should be good and I like the idea of it as a MiG-21 replacement. Small, single engine fighter...the only issue was the engine. It eventually settled on the F414 engine.

      The Arjun wasn't well-designed and had a lot of issues. While the Army is making the Mk2, if it were really their first choice, their wouldn't be a need for T90's.

      I hope India does improve because the challenges it faces are serious.

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  7. Considering how LONG it's taken for ex-Russian carriers to be refurbished and go to sea (China's had problems as well) maybe India wanted just to put something, ANYTHING out there to show progress. That said, your point about this not being a proper launching is well founded.

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