China and Russia Demonstrate Unprecedented Interoperability With First Ever Joint Command & Control System in Zapad 2021 Drills
China and Russia demonstrated unprecedented levels of interoperability in the five-day Zapad 2021 military exercises, which concluded on August 13 and for the first time saw forces from both countries used a joint command and control system.
During the exercises Russian troops were integrated into
larger Chinese formations and carried out operations planned by the Chinese
People’s Liberation Army.
Russian units also for the first time used armoured assault
vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles and other significant battle equipment
provided by the PLA. Forces involved came from both the PLA’s Western Theatre
Command and Russia’s Eastern Military District, with 10,000 personal taking
part in the exercises.
The two sides demonstrated unprecedented levels of coherence,
military drills are increasingly aimed at enhancing battlefield
interoperability.
India Russia defence deal gets go ahead: AK-203 assault
rifles to be made in India
After over a year of negotiation, India and Russia have
agreed to the terms for the manufacture of the AK-203 assault rifle in Uttar
Pradesh. The announcement had been made over a year ago, but the negotiations
were prolonged.
The manufacture of the AK-203 in India is another triumph for
indigenous production. Lakhs of the Kalashnikov assault rifle will be made
here, now that the differences between Russia and India have been sorted out.
Now, the weapons will be manufactured by a firm called Indo Russian Private Limited.
There will be a transfer of technology, and importantly, no
royalty for weapons made. Under the just worked out agreement, the cost of the
rifle will come down, and for now, the quantity.
The AK-203, a successor of the famous AK-47. After the 1.2
million strong Army gets it– the AK-203 will be a basic weapon for the troops–it
could go to the central police forces as well.
South Korean KF-21 Fighter Jet Hogs Global Limelight After
Key Partner Rejoins Program
Indonesia has reaffirmed its commitment to the South Korea led
KF-21 fighter jet program, which promises to offer a cheaper alternative to the
US F-35 stealth fighter jet.
South Korea unveiled a prototype of the KF-21 Boramae Hawk,
the country’s first indigenous semi stealth fighter jet, in April this year.
Seoul and Jakarta had in 2015 agreed to invest $7.6 billion on the program,
with Jakarta paying 20% of development costs in return for access to
technologies.
In view of the Chinese belligerence in the South and East
China seas, Indonesia intends to procure 50 KF-21s. Jakarta is also looking to
procure air defense and strike variants that Korea Aerospace Industries is
working on.
Indonesia’s priority is to protect its maritime borders from
Chinese aggression.
Indonesia has also begun defense collaboration with Japan in
March. This move has paved towards military exports for the Indonesian Armed
Forces from Japan.
LCA-AF MK2 / AMCA Order ratio could change
Indian
Air force has put on paper purchase commitment for 170 LCA-AF MK2 and 120 5th
generation AMCA fighter jets some time back with the DRDO and ADA (Aeronautical
Development Agency) but this ratio will change depending on how Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) can deliver and manage its order book for the LCA-AF
MK2 that is facing rollout and first flight delays already due to the pandemic situation
in the country.
Aeronautical
Development Agency is encouraging the formation of the first Public Private
partnership in the development of the AMCA program that will have a new
production line in the Coimbatore area inside the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial
Corridor.
HAL
plans to deliver the last batch of Tejas-Mk1A by 2029 and also start production
of the LCA-AF MK2 by utilizing its Bengaluru and Nasik plant with an annual
production capacity of 24 jets but if the program faces any delays and the AMCA
program stay on course then orders that were meant for the LCA-AF MK2 units
might shift to the AMCA-Mk2 that will go into full-scale production from 2035
onwards.
