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.
