How OFB messed up Dhanush howitzer Program?
The Dhanush 155mm x 45 calibre long range howitzer Program was not only was meant to be an upgraded Bofors based on the original Transfer of Technology but also break Indian Army’s long pending logjam on failure to induct new modern howitzer system in last 30 years but the program that started of with bang is now turning out one of the reasons why the Ordnance Factory Board had to be broken off into smaller companies to stop constant fall of quality of the products that organization manufactured.
While carrying out Army trials, Dhanush suffered four muzzle
hits due to which internal investigation and retrials of the same meant the
program was delayed by few years then came the infamous incident when CBI had
to file a case against Delhi based Sidh Sales Syndicate for supplying Chinese
parts for Dhanush guns camouflaged as ‘Made in Germany’ while Dhanush was
entering production. OFB was criticized for outsourcing components to dubious
private sector companies without checking their installed manufacturing
capabilities.
OFB due to the pandemic situation faced delays in delivery of
the first batch of 18 guns to the Army and later Army refused to take
deliveries of further guns after finding quality and build issues with the 15
guns that were supplied.
Army flagged multiple concerns regarding hydraulics, sight,
and even mounting in some cases. The army had noticed a remarkable degradation
of the build qualities of the guns that were supplied for the firing trials. A
joint team of Ministry of Defence and Army have identified issues and have
requested OFB to fix these issues before the supply of the guns is resume
again.
Its unlikely OFB will resumes supply of the Dhanush guns
anytime soon since most of the manufacturing team that produced the first lot
have been asked to undergo retraining before supplying fresh batches of the
Dhanush guns.
Right choice for Indian Airforce: Pratt & Whitney touts
engines for F-15EX fighter
Last week, during an annual press conference ahead of Air
Force Day, the chief of the Indian Air Force emphasised the importance of a
project to procure 114 multirole fighter aircraft.
Companies from the US, France, Sweden and Russia and a
European consortium have offered their aircraft for the project.
In February 2020, news emerged that the US government, under
then president Donald Trump, wanted to disrupt the Indian Air Force competition
by offering a heavyweight fighter, the F-15EX.
Earlier this year, Boeing confirmed the F-15EX had been
offered to the Indian Air Force. The F-15EX is significantly heavier than all
the other aircraft can carry a payload of nearly 13 tons significantly more
than Rafale.
On October 8, to mark Air Force Day, US Engine manufacturer
Pratt & Whitney offered its F-100 engines for IAF Fighter jets
US Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier Carl Vinson In Malabar
Exercise
Nuclear powered US aircraft carrier Carl Vinion will be part
of the second phase of the high voltage Malabar exercise from October 12-15,
featuring the navies of all four Quad countries — India, US, Australia and
Japan. The exercise will take place in the Bay of Bengal and it will feature a
number of complex drills involving several frontline warships and other assets
of the four navies.
The Indian Navy will deploy its frontline warships INS
Ranvijay and INS Satpura, a submarine and a fleet of P8I long range maritime
patrol aircraft. Besides the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, US
will also deploy Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain
and Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Stockdale.
The second phase of the exercise would build upon the
synergy, coordination and inter-operability developed during the first phase of
the exercise and would focus on advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare
exercises, seamanship evolutions and weapon firings.
Russias Stealth Wealth: Up & Close With Sukhoi-57 Fighter
Jets Loyal Wingman Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik B Drone
Russia has revealed more details about its latest Okhotnik
drone. The Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik B, also known as the Hunter B,
is touted as a highly advanced sixth generation unmanned combat aerial vehicle.
This unmanned combat aerial vehicle, a brainchild of the
Sukhoi Design Bureau and Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG, has a potent stealth
profile. The Hunter B is being developed for the Russian Air Force and will be
delivered to the service by 2024.
The Hunter combat drone, with its maximum take-off weight of
20 tons is substantially bigger than its Western counterparts such as Northrop
Grumman X-47B.
It would rely
more on its stealthy characteristics to successfully accomplish its missions.
The
production model of the Hunter will likely serve semi autonomously, as a loyal
wingman networked to fly in some type of formation along with the manned Sukhoi-57
aircraft.
India’s
$18 Billion Aircraft Deal: Did US Offer Its F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets To Indian
Air Force For Dumping Russian S-400?
Escalating
border frictions with China have become perpetual and India has for a while now
been augmenting its military and arsenal. One of India’s key military projects,
the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) has been in the pipeline for
almost a decade.
The IAF had
in April 2019 issued a Request for Information to acquire 114 jets at an
estimated cost of $18 billion. The contract was promoted as one of the world’s
biggest military procurement programs.
The
speculation about Washington’s desire to sell its fifth generation F-35 fighter
jets to India for both the Airforce and Navy took rounds on the internet and
became an instant topic of discussion among military analysts in 2018.
This was
seen as Washingtons move to encourage India to end the $5.43 billion deal with
Russia for the S-400 air defense system.
