IKB-DEF-MAR 28, 15 - Indicia Research & Advisory

Indicia Knowledge Brief
A Daily Assessment on Indian Defence and Internal/Homeland Security
March 28, 2015.
Primary aims of Indicia Daily Brief are two-fold. First, it distills infinite information into a
capsule form, thus saving precious time of its clients. Second, it tries to link micro-events
to larger strategic canvas through its analyses, thus providing support knowledge for
better understanding and decision-making.
Indicia Analysis of the Day
The Army will finally get some desperately-needed supersonic firepower
to take on enemy fighters, helicopters, drones and sub-sonic cruise
missiles after years of grappling with obsolete air defence weapons.
Almost three months after the Bengaluru police busted the 'explosives
module' of Indian Mujahideen, agencies have found strong evidence of
involvement of Islamic fundamentalist group Popular Front of India (PFI)
in 2011 Mumbai bombings, 2012 Pune blasts and 2013 Hyderabad
Dilsukhnagar attack.
I. National Defence and Security:
Finally, Army to get Akash missiles from next month:
The Army will finally get some desperately-needed supersonic firepower to take
on enemy fighters, helicopters, drones and sub-sonic cruise missiles after years
of grappling with obsolete air defence weapons. What makes it even more
significant is that the new weapon system is 96% indigenous. The 1.13-million
strong force will begin getting the Akash "area defence" missile systems, which
have an interception range of over 25 km in all weather conditions, from next
month. Though quite late in coming, the Akash systems pack a formidable punch
by being capable of tackling multiple aerial threats attacking from several
directions simultaneously. Defence ministry sources said Manohar Parrikar is
slated to symbolically hand over the first Akash - the surface-to-air missiles
(SAMs) fired from mobile launchers with powerful multi-function radars to
evaluate and track threats -- to the Army in early-April. The Army has initially
ordered two Akash regiments, with six firing batteries and hundreds of missiles
each, for around Rs 14,180 crore. "The first full regiment should be ready by
June-July, with the second one following by end-2016," said a source. As first
reported by TOI, IAF has already begun to deploy six Akash missile squadrons in
the north-east to counter China's build-up of military infrastructure all along the
4,057-km Line of Actual Control (LAC), which includes eight fully-operational
airbases in Tibet.
Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Finally-Army-to-get-Akash-missiles-from-nextmonth/articleshow/46721150.cms
*
Indigenously built dredger ready to be inducted in Indian Navy:
Tebma Shipyards said its indigenously built dredger is ready to be inducted in
the Indian Navy. According to the company, this is the Indian Navy's 'first
Dredger'. "The dredger sailed out on March 25, 2015, after successfully
completing all the trials in ship builders yard to Mumbai for its formal induction
to the Naval fleet under Western naval command," a Tebma Shipyards statement
said. The vessel is designed indigenously and built at Tebma's Malpe facility in
Karnataka and it is a self-propelled grab-hopper dredger with capacity to hold
300 cubic metres of dredged material, it said. It has been designed using 90 per
cent of local materials "as a part of Make in India efforts," it said.....
Source:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/indigenously-built-dredgerready-to-be-inducted-in-indian-navy/articleshow/46727175.cms
*
India and Pakistan Locked in a Nuclear Naval Arms Race:
A while back, I reported on the murky details surrounding Pakistan’s sea-based
nuclear deterrent. Much of it remains a mystery, including its future submarine
force. Conversely, the Indian Navy still does not have a capable ballistic missile
with which to arm the INS Arihant – New Delhi’s only ballistic missile submarine
(which only began sea trials in December). India’s submarine fleet is also
experiencing difficulties in maintaining its readiness rate, which has dropped
below 40 percent. However, both India and Pakistan are set to continue to
develop their naval nuclear forces, as a new report by the Carnegie Endowment
for International Peace points out. Yet, this should not automatically be a cause
for alarm, Iskander Rehman, the author of a newly released Carnegie policy
paper, argues. “By further institutionalizing relations between their navies and
by insisting on stronger transparency with regard to naval nuclear
developments, both countries may succeed in adding a greater degree of stability
to what otherwise promises to be a dangerously volatile maritime environment,”
he notes. Rehman highlights a few other interesting points about the naval
nuclear dynamics in the Indian Ocean: India’s pursuit of a sea-based nuclear
strike force is the next logical step in its quest for an assured retaliatory
capability. To enjoy an effective sea-based deterrent vis-à-vis China, India’s other
prospective nuclear adversary, New Delhi has to develop larger SSBNs with
greater missile carriage capacity and more powerful nuclear reactors. Pakistan’s
naval nuclear ambitions are fueled primarily by the sense of a growing
conventional, rather than strategic, imbalance between New Delhi and
Islamabad. By dispersing low-yield nuclear weapons across a variety of naval
platforms, Islamabad aims to acquire escalation dominance and greater strategic
depth and to reduce the incentives for a preemptive strike on its nuclear
assets.....
Source: http://thediplomat.com/2015/03/india-and-pakistan-locked-in-a-nuclear-naval-arms-race/
*
Chinese naval base in Indian Ocean threat to India:
Pointing out that China's rise will impact the globe and the region including
India, National Security Adviser Ajit Kumar Doval has suggested that the change
in the world order should be internationally approved and indicated that
building military bases by China in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) will be
detrimental to peace in the area. "Global expansion of China is a reality, which is
manifesting itself as a powerful economy, having powerful military and rising
defence budget. Emergence of China in a dramatic fashion is a reality. It is true
that things will be affected globally with whatever China does. The region will be
affected. India will also be impacted. We just feel that the change in the order
should be internationally approved," noted Doval while addressing a threeday
international conference - 'The Growth Net'. This was first and free frank
remarks from Doval, since he took over as NSA last year, on the phenomenal rise
of China and the alarm bells that it has sent ringing in various parts of the world
particularly in the region neighbouring India. Doval just completed 18th round of
Special Representative level boundary talks with China this - the first such talks
under the Modi government. Replying to a question on Chinese maritime
initiatives primarily Maritime Silk Route strategy in the IOR, Doval hoped that
building up military bases do not lead to rivalry in the region. "In 1971 IOR was
declared as a zone of peace at the UN. India has interests in keeping IOR
peaceful. We do hope that there is freedom of navigation in the maritime lanes,"
suggested Doval indicating India's reservations on the China's ambitions in the
region considered as India's extended neighbourhood.
Source: http://www.defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.aspx?id=CngYF0kpmcA=
*
Indigenously built dredger ready to be inducted in Indian
Navy:
Tebma Shipyards said its indigenously built dredger is ready to be inducted in
the Indian Navy. According to the company, this is the Indian Navy's 'first
Dredger'. "The dredger sailed out on March 25, 2015, after successfully
completing all the trials in ship builders yard to Mumbai for its formal induction
to the Naval fleet under Western naval command," a Tebma Shipyards statement
said. The vessel is designed indigenously and built at Tebma's Malpe facility in
Karnataka and it is a self-propelled grab-hopper dredger with capacity to hold
300 cubic metres of dredged material, it said. It has been designed using 90 per
cent of local materials "as a part of Make in India efforts," it said. The company
had earlier delivered various tugs and special purposes barges to Indian Navy
and the dredger was its 22nd vessel delivered to the latter, it added.
Source:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/indigenously-built-dredgerready-to-be-inducted-in-indian-navy/articleshow/46727175.cms
II
Homeland Security
*
3 policemen killed, 5 injured in militant attack in Aizawl:
Three armed policemen were killed and five others injured when suspected
militants belonging to Hmar People's Convention-Democracy attacked members
of an Assembly panel in Zokhawthiang in Aizawl district bordering Manipur,
police said. Deputy inspector general (DIG) Northern Range, L T Hrangchal told
PTI that R L Pianmawia, chairman of the 'Mizoram Assembly Committee on
Government Assurances' and two other members -- Lalthanliana and lone
woman legislator Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu -- accompanied by state assembly
officials were on official tour to the area when the militants ambushed their
vehicle at around 8.30 AM. Three people, including sub-inspector Zoramthara
Khawlhring, driver Chuailova and constable Hmangaihmawia, all belonging to
the First battalion of the Mizoram Armed Police (MAP), died, he said. Five people
including Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Sakawrdai, Zarzoliana suffered bullet
injuries in the ambush.
Besides Zarzoliana, Havildar Vanthuama,
Lalchhuanmawma (driver of the Committee on Government Assurances
chairman R L Pianmawia), Constable Lalkhawngaiha and peon of the assembly
secretariat Zohminga were injured, the DIG said. Those injured were being
brought to Aizawl for medical treatment by helicopter. ...
Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/3-policemen-killed-5-injured-in-militant-attack-inAizawl/articleshow/46726916.cms
*
Popular Front of India’s role in 2011 Mumbai, 2012 Pune, 2013
Hyd blasts found: Intel agencies:
Almost three months after the Bengaluru police busted the 'explosives module'
of Indian Mujahideen, agencies have found strong evidence of involvement of
Islamic fundamentalist group Popular Front of India (PFI) in 2011 Mumbai
bombings, 2012 Pune blasts and 2013 Hyderabad Dilsukhnagar attack. While it
is already known that IM's Riyaz Bhatkal, Yasin Bhatkal, Tehsin Akhtar,
Assadulah Akhtar and Waqas planned these bombings, the responsibility of
procuring explosives was given to PFI. An old member of SIMI, Syed Ismail
Afaque Lanka, arrested in January this year, has disclosed that he had sent PFI
members to buy material- ammonium nitrate, gelatin sticks, non-electrical
detonators, capacitors etc - which was used by IM members to assemble the
deadly bombs that took many lives. Other than these three consignments,
Afaque had also procured a huge consignment of explosives last year which he
claimed was meant to carry out serial attacks on the anniversary of 9/11 or
26/11. Times of India exclusively accessed the details of his interrogation with
NIA and IB. Afaque discloses that these explosives were easily available in
coastal Karnataka and used in mining or fishing purposes.
Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Popular-Front-of-Indias-role-in-2011-Mumbai-2012Pune-2013-Hyd-blasts-found-Intel-agencies/articleshow/46710055.cms
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