Various Achievements of Ministry of Defence

Ensuring the highest standard of operational preparedness to meet present and emerging challenges through modernization of Armed Forces and making up critical deficiency of weapons and equipment by developing requisite capacities and infrastructure through the Make-in-India initiative were the buzz words in the Defence Ministry for the year 2015.

The year also saw progress in Ex-Servicemen Welfare and rapid digitization in the defence sector to fulfil the Prime Minister’s call of Digital India. During the year as part of Defence diplomacy, India engaged with its neighbours and far eastern countries through bilateral talks, ship visits and bilateral as well as trilateral war exercises. However, the Make-in-India concept clearly dominated acquisition plans so as to make its defence infrastructure strong and robust. To expedite capacity building as well as offensive capabilities of the Armed Forces, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) the apex body of the Ministry of Defence in matters of acquisitions cleared different critical and high end defence procurement proposals to the tune of more than Rs. 2 lakh crore in the year 2015.

ENHANCEMENT OF FDI LIMIT

• For speedy indigenisation the Government has increased the foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit from 26% to 49% through approval route in August 2014. Above 49%, the proposal may be considered on case to case basis.
• Defence products list for the purpose of industrial licensing has been substantively shortened and notified.
• Government has notified a Defence Exports Strategy for faster clearance for export of defence items.
• Interactions with industry intensified through DRDO and Department of Defence Production.

INDIAN ARMY

Modernisation & Equipment

• The Army continues to transform and modernize in order to upgrade into a lethal agile, versatile and networked force capable of operating across the spectrum of conflict. The aim is to make the ‘Force’ capable and prepared to meet the complex and uncertain challenges of the 21st century war fighting. While modernizing the force, the guiding factor remains the Indian Army Vision – “Ensure capability enhancement and operational effectiveness of the Army to meet all contemporary and emerging challenges.”
• In the quest for Capability Development, the Army remains cognizant of the fact that no country can realise its aspirations of becoming a significant power, unless it is able to harness and source its military capability needs indigenously. Accordingly, in line with the vision of ‘Make in India’ due endeavor is being made to ensure that the bulk of the capital procurement is realized through indigenous sources.

INDIAN NAVY

• To enhance its Blue Water capability, the Indian Navy opted to strengthen its submarine arm for which Request for Proposal (RFP) to acquire six more conventional submarines under Project 75(I) was cleared by the DAC. The project will cost around Rs. 80,000 crore. Under this programme six conventional submarines are planned to be built in India with foreign collaboration.
• To augment the Navy’s offensive capabilities, government has decided to procure twelve Mine Counter Measures Vessels (MCMVs) for which Accord of Necessities (AoN) has been issued and has nominated Goa Shipyard Limited to process the case with TOT from abroad.
• Government has taken decision to induct 16 Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) for the Navy, which will go a long way in mitigating gaps in Air Anti-Submarine Warfare capability. Apart from this initiative, it has also given a go ahead for the Major Refit/Mid Life Upgradation (MR/MLU) of Kamov 28 helicopters.
• The first ship of Project-15B Guided Missile Destroyer, christened INS Visakhapatnam was launched on April 20, 2015 at Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai.
• Sardar Patel, the latest Naval establishment of Indian Navy in the maritime state of Gujarat, was commissioned at Porbandar by the Chief Minister of Gujarat on May 09, 2015.
• Under Project-28, INS Kavaratti, the fourth in the series of Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette was launched at GRSE, Kolkata by the Minister of State for Defence on 19 May 2015. These four ships of Project 28 have been designed indigenously by the Directorate of Naval design, New Delhi and bear testimony to the acclaimed legacy of naval designers.
• To provide a boost to the coastal defence capability of the Navy three follow-on Water Jet Fast Attack Craft namely INS Tarmugli, INS Tilanchang and INS Tihayu were launched by the Vice Chief of Naval Staff at a function at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, Kolkata on 30 June 2015.
• There was timely commencement and completion of Phase-I of Karwar ‘Project Sea Bird’ and THE Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. Under this programme the Defence Minister commissioned INS ‘Vajrakosh’ – the latest establishment of the Indian Navy at Karwar, Karnataka on 09 September 2015.
• Three Intermediate Support Vessels (ISVs) were commissioned into the Indian Navy as T-48, T-49 and T-50 on September 29, 2015 in consonance with the ‘Make in India’ initiative. 14 of the ISVs were built indigenously by M/s SHM Shipcare, Thane while four were built by M/s ADSB and five by M/s Rodman Polyships.
• The indigenously designed and constructed Project 15A (Kolkata Class) Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer INS Kochi was commissioned by the Defence Minister on September 30, 2015 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. The ship can be truly classified as a ‘Network of Networks’ as it is equipped with sophisticated digital networks, such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode based Integrated Ship Data Network (AISDN), Combat Management System (CMS), Automatic Power Management System (APMS) and Auxiliary Control System (ACS). The AISDN is the information highway on which data from all the sensors and weapons ride. The CMS is used to integrate information from other platforms using indigenous data-link system, to provide Maritime Domain Awareness. The intricate power supply management is done using APMS, and remote control and monitoring of the machinery is achieved through the ACS.
• The Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) reached another milestone, as the first ship of the Scorpene Class submarine, INS‘Kalvari’ was separated from the pontoon and set afloat at the Naval Dockyard Mumbai on October 28, 2015. Later INS ‘Kalvari’ was brought back to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd on October 29, 2015.

• The state-of-the-art beyond visual range air to air missile Astra, capable of engaging targets decisively was integrated with Su30 combat aircraft. Designed to arm Mig 29, Su30 and India’s own Tejas aircrafts, Astra has undergone series of successful flight trials.
• The supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, designed to be launched from land, air, sea and sub-sea platforms, is a preferred weapon system. 10 Navy ships are equipped with BrahMos, a deadly weapon, and the Army has with two regiments. The underwater launched version underwent successful trial from a submerged pontoon.  Recently, BrahMos was successfully test fired with high precision from Indian Navy’s newest stealth destroyer INS Kochi.
• HELINA, an Anti-tank Guided missile that can be fired in both direct and top attack mode was integrated on advanced light helicopter ALH. The missile with capability to defeat futuristic armours is undergoing field trials.
• India’s first Light Weight Multi-role Supersonic Combat Aircraft Tejas, a 4th Generation-Plus contemporary fighter aircraft having recorded over 2500 flawless take offs and landings, demonstrated its might during the “Iron Fist”, a fire power demonstration exercise of Indian Air Force.
• Having undergone extensive weapon trials, extreme weather trials, high altitude and sea level trials, LCA TEJAS received the Initial Operational Clearance on 29th December 2013 and is heading towards achieving the final Operational Clearance. Boosted by the Initial Operational Clearance of LCA TEJAS, the LCA Navy, capable of operating from aircraft carrier ship, has resumed its flight trials after its maiden flight in April 2012.
• DRDO’s technological strength is exemplified by the development, production and acceptance of Indigenous Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) Swathi. Swathi is a highly mobile Radar system designed for automatic first round location of weapons firing projectile type rounds, it operates with a fence detection mode of operation, ensuring fast detection and tracking of shells, mortars and rockets.
• In the direction of establishing a credible Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS), DRDO achieved a major breakthrough with the development of Himshakti. The Field Evaluation & Trials for any EW System prior to induction have been conducted for the first time in the actual area of deployment.
• In a Significant contribution to boost Fire power, the development of Pinaka MKII with longer range has been completed and is undergoing trials.
• A state-of-the-art hydrodynamic test Facility Sea keeping and Manoeuvring Basin has been established at NSTL, Visakhapatnam and dedicated to the Nation by the Defence Minister. The facility will be used for conducting model testing for prediction of sea keeping and manoeuvring performance of newly designed ships and submerged bodies under different environmental conditions and for optimising the motion characteristics of the hull form and effectiveness of the control devices under various manoeuvres.
• MAAREECH an indigenous Advanced Torpedo Defence System to protect naval platform against torpedo attack has been inducted in the Indian Navy.
• A new Torpedo launch and recovery vessel INS ASTRADHARINI developed by DRDO has been commissioned by Indian Navy (FO-C-in-C East). The vessel has been designed with a unique catamaran hull form that significantly reduces its power requirement and can operate at high sea states and has a large deck area with launchers for deploying and recovering various kinds of torpedos during the trials.
• In order to promote ‘Make in India’ programme, DRDO has brought out comprehensive guidelines for Transfer of Technology (ToT) for private and public industries engaged in Indigenous production and commercialization of Defence technology spin-off for societal usage. DRDO has facilitated 75 Licensing agreements for Transfer of Technology (LATOT) to 57 industries under Make in India program.

INDIAN COAST GUARD

• During the year Indian Coast Guard vessels and crafts seized contraband worth of Rs. 618.370 crore.
• It had apprehended as of 15 December 2015, two smuggling vessels and 16 poaching boats and arrested 159 crew for illegal entry into Indian Territorial Waters.
• During the year, it undertook 179 Search and Rescue (SAR) missions and saved the lives of 3756 distressed persons on the high seas.

New Inductions/Commissioning

• ICGS ‘Samarth’ the first in the series of six indigenously-built Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) was commissioned on November 10, 2015 in Goa by the Defence Minister. Fitted with the most advanced state-of-the-art technology, navigation and communications equipment, sensors and machinery, the OPV is 105 metres long and has been designed and built by Shipyard Ltd. Based in Goa, ICGS Samarth has been deployed primarily for Exclusive Economic Zone surveillance and other duties on the Western Seaboard to safeguard India’s maritime interests.
• The year also saw commissioning of eight Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) namely ICGS Ameya, Amogh, Anagh, Ankit, Anmol, Apoorva, Arinjay & Rani Durgavati.
• Besides these, 12 Interceptor Boats and one Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) ICGS ‘Samudra Pavak’ were also inducted in Coast Guard during the year 2015.

EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE

• The Government announced the much awaited ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme for the Armed Forces personnel on 07 November 2015. The OROP which will cost around Rs. 8000 crore extra every year is expected to remove the Pension anomaly that exists in Defence Service personnel of the same rank having the same number of years in service. On 14 December 2015 the Government appointed Justice L Narasimha Reddy as the head of the judicial committee to look into the implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.
• The announcement of the 7th Central Pay Commission’s recommendations will provide a hefty hike in the pay and allowances of   service personnel. For the first time the commission has substantially hiked the Military Service Pay (MSP) of all personnel and special allowances given to Naval and Air Force personnel deployed in high risk duties.
• The scope of Employees Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has further been widened by opening more polyclinics and referral hospitals in different parts of the country.