01 Oct 15. Russia details ambitious effort to modernise nuclear-powered submarines to bolster order of battle. Key Points:
• Moscow is modernising or repairing 12 nuclear-powered submarines
• The modernised boats are intended to serve 20 more years, maintaining operational force levels as the new Project 885M Yasen-class boats enter service.
• The modernisation programme leaves current force levels as low as nine boats across the fleet
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu has set out details of an ambitious effort to reinvigorate Russia’s shipbuilding and submarine order of battle.
During a visit to the Zvezda shipyard at Bolshoy Kamen on Russia’s Pacific coast in September, the minister is reported to have informed Russian journalists that six nuclear-powered submarines are under repair and modernisation at Zvezda. According to navy and shipyard representatives, the boats are planned to receive new missiles and other weapons, with the modernisation work also intended to extend their service lives by 20 years. The work aims to bring the submarines up to the same technological level as Russia’s next-generation nuclear-powered boats, such as the new Project 885M Yasen-class submarines.
The six boats are reported to include Schuka-B/Project 971 Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) and Antyey/Project 949A Oscar II-class guided-missile submarines (SSGNs) that were built in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Specifically, the boats are the Akula SSNs Kuzbass and Magadan, and the Oscar II SSGNs Irkutsk, Chelyabinsk, and Tver. The Kalmar/Project 667BDR Delta III-class SSBN Ryazan also arrived at Zvezda for repairs in April. Irkutsk, Chelyabinsk, and Tver will become known as Project 949AM submarines after modernisation work is completed. Along with improved acoustic, electronic, navigation and communications systems, Project 949AM submarines are understood to be receiving NPO Mashinostroyeniya 3M55 Oniks (SS-N-26 ‘Strobile’) anti-ship cruise missiles to replace their 3M45 Granit (SS-N-19 ‘Shipwreck’) missiles. The order in which modernisation work on the Oscar IIs will be re-fitted remains unclear. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
29 Sep 15. Despite Flaws, India to Induct Tejas Mark 1-A Fighter Aircraft. The government has decided to induct at least seven squadrons of the made-in-India Tejas Mark 1-A Light Combat Aircraft or LCA into the Indian Air Force, to make up for a shortage of fighters. The Tejas Mark 1-A is slightly more proficient than the first-cut home-made LCA, the Tejas, but the aircraft still has some flaws. For one, there are doubts about its ability to carry the required payload of weapons. Also, its Indian-made radar needs to be replaced with an Israeli radar. The IAF has agreed to induct the Tejas Mark 1-A as it urgently needs more than 120 lightweight fighters to be used for air defence and to intercept enemy aircraft. A squadron has about 16 to 18 aircraft each. It had earlier agreed to induct 40 Tejas’, an aircraft that India’s national auditor CAG said had severe flaws with “shortfalls in meeting the engine thrust and other parameters such as weight of the aircraft, fuel capacity, pilot protection from front against 7.62mm bullets.” The IAF agreed to induct the flawed aircraft to keep the Tejas programme alive. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and defence public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or HAL, who are manufacturing the LCA, have promised a more agile Mark 1-A. Sources, told NDTV that changes will be made in the ballast and the landing gear making the Tejas Mark 1-A about 1000 kg lighter than its 6500-kg predecessor. Delivery can begin next year. Defence Ministry sources told NDTV that “the IAF needs to have a minimum number of aircraft at all times. Till the time the indigenously built Tejas Mark II is ready this is best option available.” The Tejas Mark 2, expected to address the flaws in the Mark 1-A, will not be ready for induction or series production bef