Indian Defense
DRDO Is Opening Its Doors To Private Players
GOCO-model allows DRDO to delegate routine tasks, allowing it to focus on research
India’s premier defence research agency, DRDO, is opening its doors to private players by adopting the GOCO (Government-Owned Company Operated) model—where private industries will operate government-assets, sparing them of the need to invest in land, machinery or other support systems.
Upon the direction of the Prime minister’s Office, DRDO is opening the doors to its network of about 50 laboratories across the country. It is estimated that DRDO has over Rs 1 lakh crore worth of assets across the country.
“Through, this model, the DRDO is exploring [the] possibility to identify potential industry partners for its special facilities, infrastructures and related activities that can be operated by industry partner,” stated an internal note of DRDO, addressed to all of its laboratories. The note included detailed guidelines for choosing industry partners for the GOCO model.
The move could spare DRDO from routine, mundane and specialised activities, which will be delegated to the industry partners.
“It will lead to mutual benefit by increasing the efficiency of DRDO in research and development and provide more conducive environment for defence industries with enriched experience,” read the note. The move will boost competitiveness among the private entities and pave the way towards new technologies, it added.
This move can help keep DRDO’s prime focus on research and development, whilst also giving it an important role in bringing up the capabilities of industries by partnering them in its programmes and projects.
Selected industry partners (under GOCO) will perform operation and maintenance of DRDO’s facilities, plants, equipment and machinery. Any necessary knowledge transfer will be based on the project requirements.
“GOCO partner need not make investment in land, machinery and other support system,” it clarified. The selected private industry partner will get enough independence in implementing the mission using their best practices.
The Modi government has taken several measures to boost the indigenous defence manufacturing sector, with initiatives like Aatmanirbhar Bharat, which are aimed at improving self-reliance as well as accelerating India’s defence exports. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has set an ambitious defence exports target of Rs 35,000 crore by 2025.
The Army has already adopted the Government Owned Contractor Operated (GOCO) model for its base workshops and ordnance depots, in a bid to improve operational efficiency. This was following the recommendations of the Lt. Gen. DB Shekatkar (Retd.) committee to enhance combat capability and re-balance defence expenditure.
Indian Defense
INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
Indian Defense
After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
Indian Defense
Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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