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New Delhi, 22 January 2003
George
Fernandes came back from Moscow with good tidings. We had all along
supported the Gorshkov deal for professional reasons and explained
how it nearly got derailed when the IAF pitched for the SU 30 project
and indicated that the SU 30 would be able to perform tasks at sea.
The
Indian Navy's home built carrier or more correctly Air Defence Ship
(ADS), to be built at Cochin also got delayed and the Bhagwat
imbroglio followed. The media has indicated that the deal is to
be sealed by March end as a package, with two Akula class nuclear
submarines and four TU 22M ASW and maritime reconnaissance aircraft
on lease. The Indian Navy, is therefore poised to be better prepared
for the days ahead. The additions will take time but when they come
the Navy will be in the big league.
This
year at Republic Day, DRDO is displaying the BRAHMOS Missile in a
triple configuration and also the Launchers, which will be Navy's
newest missiles and the RM has stated that the investment for the
INDO-RUSSIAN consortium is to be raised to $ 300 million.
In
this context we post below a professional assessment of the future
scenario in the Indian Ocean prepared by one of our regular
correspondents Sayan Mazumdar. In his piece Sayan has explained the
history of the carrier Gorshkov, named after one of the benefactors
of the Indian navy and has speculated on the Rafale aircraft for the
carrier so the details of that machine which is still to be fully
developed by France, is also appended.
We
feel that the Indian Navy may have to accept the MIG 29K updated
version aircraft as the SU 33 is too big for the Gorshkov and the
Rafale too expensive and still to be proved, but you never know
packages do change. We had already reported that the French PM is
scheduled to attend Aero India 2003 at Bangalore. There is still
little transparency in defence deals and so far no Agents have been
announced.
FUTURE
BATTLE SCENARIO IN THE INDIAN OCEAN
By
Sayan Mazumdar
The
Kiev class aircraft carrier "Admiral Gorshkov" which
hopefully will be inducted into Indian Navy, will provide the vital
integrated air support in terms of both Fleet area air defence and
"on-spot" ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) screening, by
deploying a mixture of air defence fighter and ASW helicopter
squadrons. The air defence fighters will be instrumental in
intercepting and destroying enemy strike and MR (Maritime
Reconnaissance) platforms at great distances before they can close
in and fire deadly accurate anti-ship missiles like Harpoon and
Exocet. This necessity is more acute if the enemy airborne platforms
are to be guided to their targets by an AWACS (Airborne Warning And
Control System) aircraft. Land based air cover in that case may be
too late to react.
Another
vital role of our CVBG (Aircraft-Carrier Battle Group) will be
deployment of an air defence fighter and SAM (Surface to Air
Missile) cover over Arabian Sea to destroy enemy airborne strike
platforms in defence of our vital nuclear and oil installations on
the West coast. "Admiral Gorshkov", like other Kiev class
aircraft-carrying cruisers, was initially meant to serve in a
different role with the Soviet Navy in the cold Arctic waters. But
perhaps fate ensured it to serve under Indian Navy banner in the
warm waters of Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean as an aircraft carrier.
The
Kiev class aircraft-carrying cruiser was developed from Moskva class
helicopter-cruisers, with a more conventional flight deck
arrangement, adopted to enable the carrier to operate fixed-wing
VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) Yakovlev-38 "Forger"
aircraft in addition to Kamov-25 "Hormone" helicopter
squadrons. The forward part resembles a cruiser presenting a unique
cruiser/carrier configuration. In Soviet Navy service Kiev class was
employed in support of Soviet submarines in their respective
"bastions" against NATO (North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation) threats. These included defensive postures to protect
the SSBN (Submarine, Ballistic missile armed, Nuclear powered)
holding areas or "bastions" in Barents Sea and Sea of
Okhotsk, and offensive missions to sweep aside NATO barrier ASW
(Anti-Submarine Warfare) forces in key areas such as the GIUK
(Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom) gap. Kiev class was supported
in these roles by cruise missile firing submarines and Tupolev-22M
"Backfire" bombers armed with AshMs (Anti-Ship Missiles).
The objective was to contest the entire North Sea and Norwegian Sea
area, as far as west as Iceland.
"Minsk"
and "Novorssiysk" followed "Kiev", the name ship
of the class. The heavily modified ship initially called "Baku"
and later renamed "Admiral Gorshkov", after the legendary
Admiral of The Fleet of the Soviet Navy, followed them. Admiral
Sergei Gorshkov author of "Sea Power of the State" in his
tenure of twenty-seven years as the Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet
Navy transformed it into a true "blue-water" Navy, from
what was essentially a coastal force.
"Admiral
Gorshkov" the carrier was used as a test bed for radar and
electronic systems eventually to be fitted on the Russian
"super carrier" "Admiral Kuznetsov" and sported
"Sky Watch" 3-Dimensional Planer radar, and "Cake
Stand" aircraft control (TACAN) radar along with a formidable
SAM armament. The ship suffered a boiler room explosion in early
nineties; necessary repairs were conducted and the ship was offered
for sale to India in 1994. Prior to delivery to Indian Navy, the
ship is to be given a more conventional aircraft-carrier
configuration. However according to recent reports, the deadly punch
offered by anti-ship missiles are to be retained in form of
employment of the Indo-Russian BrahMos ASCMs (Anti-Ship Cruise
Missiles). Future versions of Supersonic BrahMos are projected to
posses a range of well beyond 300 kilometres. Moreover BrahMos is
stated to posses excellent target discrimination and allocation
capability to cause maximum damage to an enemy fleet when fired in
clusters.
The
ship is slated have a decent multi-tier air defence capability
provided by naval fighters (Russian MiG-29K and French Rafale are
top candidates), SAMs and appropriate CIWS (Close In Weapon
Systems). Ship borne AEW (Airborne Early Warning) capability will be
provided by Kamov-31 helicopters.
The
Indian aircraft-carrier battle group will additionally be supported
by Tupolev-22M3 "Backfire" bombers and Akula II (Type 971
Bars) SSNs (Submarine, Nuclear powered, hunter-killer) also armed
with air and submarine launched versions of BrahMos. Enemy surface
units are to be overwhelmed with a saturated missile attack from
surface, sub-surface units and airborne platforms providing very
little reaction time, thanks to the sheer speed and sharp evasive
manoeuvrability offered by BrahMos.
Although
the effectiveness of aircraft-carriers are sometimes criticised,
citing their vulnerability in context to proliferation of
precision-guided munitions and missiles and supported by
increasingly accurate GPS (Global Positioning System) guidance, it
is still relatively invulnerable for its ability to move and
manoeuvre in contrast to fixed military installations. Unless
equipped with extremely sophisticated electronic and space based
sensors, it is very difficult to precisely locate an
aircraft-carrier battle group in open Oceans. Moreover our
aircraft-carrier battle group will derive protection not only from
its own air elements and associated surface and sub-surface
platforms, but also from land based long ranged interceptor-fighters
in the class of Sukhoi-30MKI in conjunction with friendly AWACS an
in-flight refuelling aircraft. Land based Tupolev-142
"Bear-F" will provide extended ASW coverage. It is
reasonable to assume that the projected Indian Navy aircraft-carrier
battle group comprising of "Admiral Gorshkov" in
conjunction with Tupolev-22M3 and Akula II is set to dominate the
Arabian Sea and parts of Indian Ocean in near future. It is second
in capabilities only to the heavy naval presence of United States in
the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean region.
The
Indian Navy's preference for Dassault Rafale M fighter, recently
reported in media, to meet its role of aircraft carrier based
multi-role fighter is understandable. Rafale M after full
development is destined to be one of the finest carrier based
multi-role fighters of present generation and will represent a
premier French design. Since IAF (Indian Air Force) has received the
advanced Russian Sukhoi-30MKI, the Navy perhaps also desires a
competitive machine.
Rafale is a stealthy close-couple canard/delta design with a
"glass cockpit" with APSI (Advanced Pilot/System
Interface) that include a wide angle holographic HUD (Head Up
Display). Three MFDs (Multi-Function Displays) include one
"look-level" MFD as in Mirage-2000-5 for tactical
situational awareness. HMS/D (Helmet Mounted Sight/Designator) is
used to acquire and designate off-bore sight targets. Pilot workload
is further reduced by incorporation of HOTAS (Hand On Throttle And
Stick) and voice control with English vocabulary.
The Radar is multi-mode phased array RBE2. Range is 100 kilometres
even in look-down mode and significantly greater in look-level and
look-up modes. Tracking parameters are comparable and at least four
targets can be engaged simultaneously. The radar has growth
potential and after full development will be capable of terrain
avoiding at the same time as it scans for potential air threats. The
RBE2 is further backed by OSF (Front Sector Optronics) consisting of
IRST (Infra-Red Search and Track), FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red)
and laser range finding. Maximum range in ideal climatic conditions
is 80 kilometres. Spectra self-protection suite is carried. The
aircraft will also be equipped with MIDS tactical data link.
For surface strike missions, apart from carrying standard nuclear
and conventional gravity bombs the aircraft is capable of carrying
MBDA SCALP/Storm Shadow stand-off missiles. Primary AAM (Air to Air
Missile) is MBDA MICA that has a very low minimum engagement range
in spite of having a maximum range of 60 kilometres. Thus it can be
used in both BVR (Beyond Visual Range) and WVR (Within Visual Range)
combat. During BVR combat the missile is aided by inertial guidance
during mid course phase while it homes on active-radar during final
phase of intercept. Option of an IIR (Imaging Infra-Red) seeker head
is also available.
The shorter maximum range of MICA may be apprehended as a
shortcoming, but the French officials insist that because of
stealthy features of Rafale, it will remain undetected at extreme
ranges compelling enemy aircraft to come within MICA's engagement
envelope. Moreover MICA is endowed with a high general level of
sophistication and is designed to successfully prosecute targets at
medium ranges in adverse European meteorological conditions. Still
efforts should be made to integrate the rocket-ramjet propelled MBDA
Meteor BVR AAM under development for Eurofighter Typhoon that can
engage sharply manoeuvring targets even around 80 kilometres and
non-manoeuvring targets well beyond.
Finally,
if the Rafale M deal also materialises, it may be wise to obtain the
full design specifications of the French CVN (Aircraft-Carrier,
Nuclear powered) "Charles de Gaulle", including the
nuclear powerplant if possible, for our ADS (Air Defence Ship)
project. ADS will then be based on a proven design and will be freed
from excessive dependence on fleet replenishments during operations
thus acquiring flexibility to move and manoeuvre, aspects that are
key to survival in a high-threat environment.
On
the political side, these high-tech defence deals with France (that
may also include Mirage-2000-5 deal for IAF) are bound to cement
Indo-French relations in foreseeable future in fields of defence,
strategic affairs and international relations. This may be
instrumental in getting the requisite French support for securing
our permanent seat in United Nations Security Council.
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