China Rattled By Agni 5, Pak's Damaged UAVs, India Wants Nuclear Submarines, Samudra Shakti Navy Exercises

Why India’s Agni 5 is keeping Beijing on the edge

In a day or two, India will be testing its longest range most potent nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni 5 but what has rattled Beijing recently seems to be the first demonstration of the multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles MIRV capabilities of the missile system, that allows Agni 5 to deliver multiple warheads programmed to destroy different targets hundreds of kilometers away from each other and alternatively launch more than one warhead assigned to one target.

Agni 5 is an 8000km range missile that is capable of taking down targets in whole of Asia and half of Europe and had accused India of downplaying its actual range to 5000km.

Unlike Agni 4 and Agni 3 that had to be deployed closer to the border area to hit various Chinese cities which allowed easier tracking and also provided the Chinese ability to neutralize them before India could use them, Agni 5 can be deployed at India’s deep depth that will make it impossible for Chinese to pre attempt strikes on the missile site.

Australian debacle might clear India’s quest for pump jet propulsion for Nuclear Submarines

After Australia cancelled the purchase of 12 Shortfin Barracuda Block1A conventional diesel submarines with France, Sulking France already has dropped hints of extending their cooperation with India on its nuclear attack submarine program, and India should take this as an opportunity and engage with France in cooperation in the development of next generation pumpjet propulsion technology.

Pumpjet propulsions are a better option for high speeds and are not so efficient at low speeds than a sophisticated propeller seen in all submarines, but for nuclear attack submarines that often rely on speed and stealth in going behind the enemy lines for their missions, Pumpjet propulsions have come has boon in significantly reducing the level of radiated noise and avoid cavitation.

Well-designed Pumpjet propulsion will be considerably quieter than an equivalent propeller.

Faults in Chinese made Unmanned Aerial Systems damaging Pakistan’s military capability

The faults in Chinese made Unmanned Aerial Systems has been damaging Pakistan’s military capability.

There are many failures in Chinese made Unmanned Aerial Vehicle which include GPS, a key component of an armed drone. Equally serious problem was the leakage of nitrogen from EO/IR cameras mounted on the UAVs, which rendered Electro Optical - Infrared systems useless. Serious faults were also detected in High Performance Synthetic Aperture Radar within hours of its putting the drones into operation.

Another critical failure has been that of SATCOM in some of these drones during launch and take off stage. On the ground, the SATCOM antenna failed during the Site Acceptance Test. Other defects included the failure of the rear fuel pump on the UAV.

Indian & Indonesian navies take part in maritime exercise

Indian Naval ships Shivalik and Kadmatt arrived at Jakarta, Indonesia on September 18 to participate in the third edition of bilateral exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ with the Indonesian Navy. The maritime exercise is scheduled from 20-22 September.

Indian Navy’s Anti-Submarine Warfare capable Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft P8I is also participating in the exercise. KRI Bung Tomo, KRI Malahayati, and Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft CN-235 are representing Indonesian Navy.

The exercise aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship, enhance mutual understanding and interoperability in maritime operations between the two navies.

Why the US won’t give India nuclear submarines?

Indian Navy chiefs and naval veterans have raised the prospect of Indo US collaboration on nuclear reactor propulsion technology. During a Track 2 dialogue held in Australia two years ago, the US side was emphatic in its refusal. The US Congress would never contemplate discussing anything to do with the transfer of nuclear propulsion.

With its growing proximity to the US over the past two decades and dismayed by what was on offer—second-hand US warships, helicopters and aircraft carriers.

US Nuclear submarines use the most sophisticated nuclear reactors. They are capable of tremendous underwater speed and, unlike conventional diesel electric submarines, don’t need to surface to recharge their batteries. They can carry twice the weapon load of conventional submarines and move twice as fast.

India is asking US for the kind of technology they don’t give to even their closest allies British. One US admiral told his Indian counterpart that the issue of naval reactor propulsion would have to be discussed at the political level.