Tungsten Alloy military and Ak-103 Avtomat Kalashnikova model 103

The AK-103 is a modern, Russian-designed version of the famous AKM assault rifle, chambered for the 7.62x39mm M43 round. It combines the AKM design with developments from the AK-74 and AK-74M, with the use of plastics to replace metal or wooden components wherever possible to reduce overall weight. The AK-103 can be fitted with a variety of sights, including laser, night vision, and telescopic sights, plus a suppressor and the GP-30 grenade launcher.

Differences from the AKM series include redesigned rear and front trunnions, as well as a 90 degree gas block, AK-74 style front sight block, the use of a black ribbed 30-round magazine constructed of phenolic resin (which is AKM-compatible as well), an AK-74-type muzzle brake, and black synthetic furniture with a heat shield.

The AK-104 is a compact version of the AK-103. It combines features from the older AKS-74U carbine with features from the AK-74M rifle, giving a more accurate carbine. It is also chambered for 7.62x39mm ammunition.

The weapon is essentially a re-calibered AK-74M developed alongside the AK-101 as an updated version of the aging AKM and AKMS assault rifles.

Venezuela – In May 2005 the Ministry of Defense of Venezuela signed a contract with the Russian company Rosoboronexport to purchase 100,000 AK-103 rifles as well as the purchase of machinery and technology to domestically manufacture the corresponding ammunition. Venezuela received its first shipment of 30,000 rifles on June 3, 2006. A second shipment of 32,000

AK-103s arrived on August 30. The third and final shipment was delivered on November 29, 2006. The rifles are planned to replace approximately 60,000 Belgian FAL rifles bought in 1953, as well as a further number of domestically produced FAL rifles. A manufacturing plant of the Russian rifles in Maracay would be fully operational in mid-2010, with a production capacity of 50,000 units per year.

Torpedo Advanced Light/Light Weight Torpedo and Tungsten alloy Military

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed light weight torpedo. The torpedo, developed under the project, Advanced Experimental Torpedo, is now named “Torpedo Advanced Light” (TAL). The torpedo has undergone technical trials during 1994-1998 and user trials during 1998-2000.

User evaluation trials using designed and engineered models of the Torpedo were conducted during 2003-2005. Navy has termed these trials as successful and satisfactory. The expenditure incurred on Research and development of the torpedo during 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 was Rs. 164.93 lakhs, Rs. 36.94 lakhs and Rs. 23.63 lakhs respectively.

Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad has submitted budgetary quotation for 25 numbers of torpedo to Integrated Headquarters (Navy). Production will start immediately after placement of order. This information was given by Defence Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee in a written reply to Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi on april 06.

Light Weight Torpedo (Advanced Experimental Torpedo) is an anti-submarine weapon which can be fired from a flying/hovering helicopter very close to the previously known location of enemy submarine to have a definite kill probability. The torpedoes can also be fired in a quick salvo from surface ships using torpedo Triple Tube Launchers (TTL).

Several front-end technologies are developed for the first time in the country making it self reliant. Several other products using state of art materials such as composites, titanium alloys are incorporated to bring down the total weight of the torpedo without sacrificing the strength requirements. High power sea water activated batteries in compact size to fit into the 324 mm diameter shells, contra rotating DC propulsion motors are the contribution of this project. Sensor instrumentation packages, hybrid control and guidance motors are fabricated within the country which were denied under the Technology control regimes. Development of the light weight torpedo has resulted in several indigenous products which were hitherto imported. The fully integrated torpedo consists of 95% of indigenous components and sub-systems.

The torpedo is capable of operating at depths of few hundred meters and homes on to its prey by passive/active homing and explodes on impact to destroy/damage the target submarine. Torpedo, on entry into water, performs pre-programmed search patterns, detects the targets and homes on to the target. Many user evaluations were conducted. The torpedo met all of its required specifications and user acceptance criteria as stipulated by the user and production orders are placed on M/s. BDL, Hyderabad by the Indian Navy.

tungsten alloy and Nilgiri [Leander] Class Frigate

The Nilgiri class frigates of the Indian Navy are updated versions of the Leander class, designed and built for the Indian Navy by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai. Six ships have been built between 1972-81. The last two vessels (F41, F42) have more powerful engines than the remainder. Vessels of the class form the 14th Frigate Squadron. The Nilgiri class and its lead ship, 

INS Nilgiri are all named for the Nilgiri Hills. Subsequent ships of the class are also named for hill ranges of India. The Nilgiri class will be decommissioned by the Navy. Four ships from the class have been decommissioned, with the remainder being used primarily for training and testing roles. These will be decommissioned by 2009-10, once the Shivalik class vessels enter service. 

The Nilgiri Class frigates served as the mainstay & workhorse of the Indian Navy during the 1980s and early 1990s and they formed the 14th Frigate Squadron. The last two vessels (F41, F42) have more powerful engines than the remainder. INS Taragiri (F41) had a serious fire in July 1994, but was repaired and was back in active service in 1995. Westinghouse supplied the Indian Navy 

with ASW sonar systems, two hull mounted arrays and three visible depth sonar arrays which are installed inside towed bodies built by Fathom Ocean Ltd. Transducer elements in both cases are identical. INS Udaygiri (F35) underwent a refit at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. The remaining vessels in the series were expected to have their armaments brought into line with later ships.
 

INS Himgiri (F34) was used as a trial ship for the indigenous APSOH (Advanced Panoramic Sonar Hull) sonar.

Name	Pennant	Commissoned	Decommissioned	Comments
INS Nilgiri	F33	23rd June 1972	1996	Sunk on 24 April 1997, by a Sea Eagle AShM fired from a Sea Harrier Frs Mk.51 of the Indian Navy from INS Viraat.
INS Himgiri	F34	23 November 1974	06 May 2005	The vessel holds the distinction of having the maximum number of days at sea in single commission and was the first to shoot down a pilotless aircraft in 1976. Captain K N Zadu, VrC, (Retd.) who served as her first commanding officer, was the chief guest at the decommissioning ceremony along with Commander Ravneet Singh who served as her last commanding officer.
INS Udaygiri	F35	18 February 1976	24 August 2007
INS Dunagiri	F36	5 May 1977		Named after one of the Himalayan peaks. Her crest depicts the Osprey, a Himalayan bird and the ship's motto is 'Victory Is My Profession'. On 27 September 2006 INS Dunagiri collided with a merchant vessel, MV Kiti, 30 nautical miles off the Mumbai coast. The vessel was returning to port after a joint navy-air force exercise practicing the defending of coast of Gujarat ended ahead of schedule as a result of a cyclone warning, when it rammed into a merchant vessel MV Kiti. The merchant vessel, which was en route to Colombo,Sri Lanka, apparently misread the navigational line of INS Dunagiri. The incident, which happened on the busy fishing lanes off Mumbai left bow of INS Dunagiri damaged and she was dry-docked for repairs. Commander Atul Nag, the commanding officer of INS Dunagiri, was questioned in the incident and a Board of Inquiry was set up to determine the cause of the accident.Westinghouse supplied the Indian Navy with ASW sonar systems, these include two hull mounted arrays and three visible depth sonar arrays which are installed inside towed bodies built by Fathom Ocean Ltd. Transducer elements in both cases are identical. The Udaygiri has underwent a refit at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. The remaining vessels in the series were expected to have their armaments brought into line with later ships. It has not been reliably confirmed through official channels, whether this has actually occurred.
INS Taragiri	F41	16 May 1980		Named after a hill range in Garhwal Himalayas in Northern India. INS Taragiri had a serious fire in July 1994, but was repaired and was back in active service in 1995.
INS Vindhyagiri	F42	08 July 1981

Haubits Bofors FH77B Towed Artillery Howitzer and tungsten directory

In the 1960s Sweden started to look for a replacement for the French Haubits F (Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50). The American M109 howitzer was offered and tested. Though the price was low the Swedish Arms Administration found the high maintenance costs, the low rate of fire and the not so good mobility of the M109 made it worth the effort to develop a domestic howitzer.
The requirements for a new gun would be:

• High mobility.
• High momentary rate of fire.

The result was a compromise between a more expensive Self propelled howitzer and a less mobile conventional towed howitzer.
The FH77 was the first field howitzer featuring an APU to make it self-propelled for tactical movement.
The rate of fire was, at the time, exceptionally high for a 155 mm howitzer. The FH77 could fire 3 rounds in 8 seconds, or 6 rounds in 25 seconds. In a sustained firing role it could fire 6 rounds every second minute for 20 minutes.

FH77B

Though the haub 77 was a formidable gun it seemed impossible to export. There were two reason for this:
The maximum elevation was limited to 50°.
It did not use NATO ammunition.
Therefore Bofors developed a new version - the FH 77B. The main difference was that the B-model used a servo operated interrupted screw breech, instead of the sliding block action on the FH 77. The maximum elevation had been increased from 50° to 70°. The barrel is slightly longer, 39 calibres, and uses a single baffle muzzle brake as opposed to the pepper-pot style muzzle brake on the 77. The engine was a Mercedes diesel. Since the B-version used bagged charges it was somewhat slower than the original model - 3 rounds in 10 seconds compared to 3 rounds in less than 8 seconds. The maximum range, on the other hand, was increased to 24km and using base-bleed extended to 28km.
Nigeria bought 48 pieces in 1980 and in March 1986 India ordered 410 of the Bofors FH 77B. The Indian also got a contract option for additionally 1,100 howitzers.
Soon after the $1.4 billion contract with India had been signed two Swedish left-wing journalists reviled that Bofors had paid kickbacks to Indian public servants. As a result of this India declined to exercise their option on the second batch. A decision India has had all reasons to regret, as the FH 77B proved it self to be accurate, reliable and durable.
Bofors, who had been self-assured enough to start the production of the second batch, found them self with some 50 howitzers but no buyer. The Swedish government stepped in and forced the Army to purchase 51 of the B-model.

S-300PMU-2 Surface to Air Missile System and tungsten alloy military

The S-300 is a series of Russian long range surface-to-air missile systems produced by NPO Almaz, all based on the initial S-300P version. The S-300 system was developed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles for the Soviet Air Defence Forces. Subsequent variations were developed to intercept ballistic missiles.

The S-300 system was first deployed by the Soviet Union in 1979, designed for the air defense of large industrial and administrative facilities, military bases, and control of airspace against enemy strike aircraft.

The project-managing developer of the S-300 is Russian Almaz corporation (government owned, aka "KB-1") which is currently a part of "Almaz-Antei" Air Defense Concern. S-300 uses missiles developed by MKB "Fakel" design bureau (a separate government corporation, aka "OKB-2").

The S-300 is regarded as one of the most potent anti-aircraft missile systems currently fielded. Its radars have the ability to simultaneously track up to 100 targets while engaging up to 12. S-300 deployment time is five minutes. The S-300 missiles are sealed rounds and require no maintenance over their lifetime. 

The S-300P (transliterated from Russian С-300П, NATO reporting name SA-10 GRUMBLE) is the original version of the S-300 system which became operational in 1978. In 1987 over 80 of these sites were active, mainly in the area around Moscow. The P suffix stand for PVO-Strany (country air defence system). An S-300PT unit consists of a 36D6 (NATO reporting name TIN SHIELD) surveillance radar, a 30N6 (FLAP LID) fire control system and 5P85-1 launch vehicles. The 5P85-1 vehicle is a semi-trailer truck. Usually a 76N6 (CLAM SHELL) low altitude detection radar is also a part of the unit.

This system broke substantial new ground, including the use of a phased array radar and multiple engagements on the same Fire-control system (FCS). Nevertheless, it had some limitations. It took over one hour to set up this semi-mobile system for firing and the hot vertical launch method employed scorched the TEL.

It was originally intended to fit the Track Via Missile (TVM) guidance system onto this model. However, the TVM system had problems tracking targets below 500 m. Rather than accept the limitation, the Soviets decided that the tracking of low altitude targets was a must and decided to use a pure command-guidance system until the TVM head was ready. This allowed the minimum engagement altitude to be set at 25 m.

Improvements to the S-300P have resulted in several major subversions for both the internal and the export market. The S-300PT-1 and S-300PT-1A (SA-10b/c) are incremental upgrades of the original S300PT system. They introduce the 5V55KD missile and the cold launch method thereafter employed. Time to readiness was reduced to 30 minutes (broadly comparable to Patriot) and trajectory optimizations allowed the 5V55KD to reach a range of 75 km.

The S-300PS/S-300PM (Russian C-300ПC/C-300ПМ, NATO reporting name SA-10d/e) was introduced in 1985 and is the only version thought to have been fitted with a nuclear warhead. This model saw the introduction of the modern TEL and mobile radar and command-post vehicles that were all based on the MAZ-7910 8x8 truck. This model also featured the new 5V55R missiles which increased maximum engagement range to 90 km (56 mi) and introduced a terminal semi-active radar homing (SARH) guidance mode. The surveillance radar of these systems was designated 30N6. Also introduced with this version was the distinction between self propelled and towed TELs. The towed TEL is designated 5P85T. Mobile TELs were the 5P85S and 5P85D. The 5P85D was a "slave" TEL, being controlled by a 5P85S "master" TEL. The "master" TEL is identifiable thanks to the large equipment container behind the cabin; in the "slave" TEL this area is not enclosed and is used for cable or spare tyre storage.

Launchers and tungten alloy military

The Army Self-Propelled Launcher (ASPL) is a tracked vehicle carrier, which carries and launches three missiles in succession, if required. It is capable of remote operation from the BCC and needs minimum time for preparation. The launcher is 360 degrees slewable and its arc in elevation is from 6 to 60 degrees.

The Akash Air Force Launcher (AAFL) is configured on a trailer based mobile vehicle, which can deploy in three ways; the vehicle mode, the trailer mode and the stand-alone mode. It carries three ready to fire missiles and is capable of remote operation. 360 degree slewable, in elevation it can fire from 8 to 75 degrees in all directions depending on the mode of deployment.

The launch platforms are microprocessor driven and controlled through an electro-mechanical servo system. They have there own inbuilt gas turbine engine (GTE) driven power sources.

The Akash missile uses an Integral Ram Rocket (IRR) solid propulsion system, which gives it a very high-speed intercept range of 30km. The missile has an all-up weight of 720kg and a length of nearly 6m.The digital on-board command and guidance unit coupled with a highly responsive actuator system, makes the missile highly maneuverable upto 15g loads and a tail chase capability for end game engagement. A digital proximity fuze is coupled with a 55kg pre-fragmented 

warhead, while the safety arming and detonation mechanism enables a controlled detonation sequence. A self-destruct device is also integrated.

Tungsten Alloy Military might on display at 62nd Republic Day

Colourful tableaux depicting the myriad hues of country's diversity, a vibrant performance by students and armed forces in full battle regalia -- the Republic Day parade on Wednesday had 'mini-India' in itself.
Marching down from the Raisina Hills to Red Fort, the parade showcased India's 'unity in diversity' and the military might as thousands of spectators along the 8km long route cheered the marching contingents and the mechanised columns.
The well turned out and synchronised military and police contingents led by General Officer Commanding ( Delhi) Maj Gen Manvendra Singh marched proudly to the lilting tunes of bands through the Rajpath where President and Supreme Commander of Armed Forces Pratibha Patil took the salute. 

The march-past was watched by the Republic Day chief guest Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, defence minister A K Antony and the country's top political and military brass.

The capital had turned into a security fortress for the event as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and helicopters scanned the capital from air, snipers kept a hawk-eye vigil from rooftops and armed personnel at "every corner" provided a ground-to-air security apparatus.
Minutes before the parade began, Singh, Antony and chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force laid wreaths at 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the British-era World War-I memorial at India Gate, where an eternal flame burns in memory of those who laid down their lives while defending the nation's frontiers. 

The parade began shortly after Patil and her Indonesian counterpart arrived at the Rajpath escorted by the President's 46 bodyguards riding well-trained and impeccably- bedecked horses.
After the President unfurled the tricolour and a customary 21-gun salute, an Army doctor Major Laishram Jyotin Singh was awarded posthumously the highest peacetime gallantry award -- the Ashok Chakra -- for his bravery while fighting militants during an attack on Indians in Kabul. He was the first Army doctor receiving Ashok Chakra.
Four Mi-17 helicopters then zoomed in from the western skies and showered flower petals on the spectators, signalling the beginning of the parade followed by the winners of the Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra and mounted columns of 61 Cavalry.

OT-64 SKOT Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier and tungsten alloy military

The OT-64 SKOT (Czech acronym for: Střední Kolový Obrněný Transportér, and/or Polish Średni Kołowy Opancerzony Transporter) is an amphibious armored personnel carrier (8x8), developed jointly by Poland and Czechoslovakia (ČSSR) well into the 1960s.

SKOT was intended to replace the halftrack OT-810, which was nearly identical to the German SdKfz 251 from World War II. The first prototype was built in 1959. In 1961 the first sample series were built and starting from October 1963 the vehicles were produced in Lublin, Poland by Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych. Czechoslovakia supplied the driveline components, ie. the engine, transmission and axles.

The first production vehicles were delivered in 1964 to both Polish and Czechoslovak army and many are still in use today. Both Polish and Czech units are gradually replaced by newer vehicles. Czech units are scheduled to be replaced between 2007 and 2012.

The OT-64's engine, transmission, suspension and axles were produced in Czechoslovakia. The engine was produced by Tatra and the transmission by Praga. The armored hull and weapons were produced in Poland.

The OT-64 was the answer to the Soviet BTR-60. Contrary to this the OT-64 used a diesel set in place of a petrol engine. That diminished the danger of fire and at the same time increased the range. The main advantage in relation to the Russian counterpart was the full-armored interior. The entrance is at the rear of the vehicle via twin doorsa. The OT-64 was air-transportable and amphibious. For the amphibious drive the vehicle used two screws installed at the back. The OT-64 had an NBC protection facility and night-vision equipment.

Several variants were built. Some OT-64 were re-equipped for air defense or built as tank hunters. The latter used the AT-3 Sagger missile as a weapon.

OT-64 SKOT entered service with Polish and Czechoslovak armies in 1963.It was produced until early 1970s. It still is in service with Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia. OT-64 SKOT was also exported to eleven different countries 

(Algeria, Cambodia, India, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria, Uganda and Uruguay). A total number of vehicles produced for the Polish Army, the Czechoslovak Army and for export is 4,500.

The author:Tungsten Directory

BMP-2 Sarath Infantry fighting vehicle

The author:Tungsten Directory

Production of the BMP-2, known as the Sarath (Chariot of Victory) indian mech inf. service, continues at 100 per year, with over 1,000 in active service with the Indian Army.In their search for a suitable armored personnel carrier, the Army HQ carried out extensive trials of a number of vehicles from different countries and selected Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICV) BMP I from the Soviet Union. Later, an improved version of the vehicle -- ICV-BMP II -- was decided to be manufactured indigenously and capacity for indigenous manufacture of improved ICV-BMP II was created in three OFs. The Ministry imported in all 745 ICVs-BMP I over a period of six years during 1976 to 1982 at a total cost of Rs 171.11 crore. As the ICVs have a useful life of 10 to 15 years,

the imported vehicles would outlive their useful life during 1991 to 1997.BMP stands for Bronevaya Maschina Piekhota. On 20 February 2002, the Simulator Development Division (SDD), Secunderabad launched the first indigenously-developed Aiming Training Simulator for the personnel who man the BMP-II ICV.The simulator is designed & developed to impart comprehensive training in the areas of acquisition and engagement of all kinds of targets including aerial ones to improve their responses and aiming skills. The simulator is expected to usher in an era of safe, realistic and cost effective training. SDD is a premier Category 'A' establishment of the Indian Army, for in-house development of training simulators. SDD has a number of other simulators to its credit which are already in service. The small yet significant organisation continues to grow and excel in the field of simulation and modelling towards evolution of world class training simulators for the Indian Army.

The projects for indigenous production of ICV-BMP I, its engines and opto-electrical devices imported at a cost ofRs 16.50 crore, were sanctioned in June 1984. While the planning work was in progress, the Army decided on indigenous production of its improved version, i.e. ICV-BMP II and its technology was obtained at a cost of Rs 57.17 crore under an agreement of February 1985. However, the Ministry revised the earlier sanctions for setting up of composite facility for indigenous production of improved version i.e ICV-BMP II only in February-August 1987. According to the DPR the production was to commence in 1987-88 and the sanctioned capacity was to be achieved by 1992-93.

The target for 1989-90 could not be achieved due to non-receipt of complete knockeddown (CKD) kits in time and large number of deficiencies noticed in CKDs received from the collaborators. The production plan in 1990-91 was reduced in April 1990 to 231 and 1991-92 onwards to 150 by Army due to budgetary constraints. The production targets for 1991-92 was restricted to 120 vehicles and 100 vehicles from 1992-93 onwards. Ministry intimated (August 1992) that the reduction in requirement of vehicle was due to high cost and fund constraints. They added that the cost of indigenous equipment became high. However, Ministry also intimated that (March 1993) the indigenous cost of vehicle II is Rs.1.12 crores in 1991-92 when the import cost of Vehicle II 5 years back was 3.44 lakhs Roubles which on coversion works out to Rs.1.06 crores as in March 1992.

The order initially placed by Army in July 1986 was for 657 Vehicle II and 143 variants of Vehicle II termed as Vehicle II-K. Later on Army amended the order for Vehicle II from 657 to 750 against which all 750 Vehicles II were supplied upto 1991-92.

Life of tracked vehicles including BMPs prevalent at the time of induction of BMP-I in 1977 was 15 years, with one mid-life overhaul. The Ministry changed the overhaul policy in January 1987 while increasing the life of the vehicle to 32 years, providing for two overhauls at 12 and 22 years from the date of the induction, or 10,000 kms run, whichever was earlier. The Army changed the overhaul philosphy yet again in 1993 under which the periodicity of overhauls were to be worked out with reference to kilometerage instead of vintage, as it was considered that the need for repairs arose more through usage than vintage. The engines common to both BMP-I and II were due for overhaul after 4800 kms. The Ministry, accepting in principle this overhaul philosophy, sanctioned in March 1994 creation of facilities for overhaul of 110 BMP-I vehicles and 210 engines per annum, by augmenting the existing facilities at Army Base Workshop and spares support by Central Armoured Fighting Vehicle Depot.

The overhaul facility was expected to be fully established by mid 2000. First overhaul of 686 BMP-I vehicles was expected to be completed by 2006 and BMP-II would be taken up for overhaul only from 2007. This is critical in the context of Army’s existing plan to equip all Mechanised Infantry Battalions with BMP-II vehicles by a target date by which time all imported BMP-II vehicles would have completed more than 16 years. Ministry stated in December 1999 that 56 vehicles have been overhauled and 114 of 1981 vintage have become due for overhaul.

As the Russian supplier discontinued manufacture of BMP-I, the Project Controller mooted a proposal in June 1995 to buy life time spares for the maintenance and overhaul of the vehicles.

The proposed purchase of the spares was assessed for life cycle concept of 32 years with two overhauls and three medium repairs of 742 BMP-I vehicles. The Ministry approved the proposal for life time purchase of 185 items of spares at an estimated cost of Rs 27.09 crore in July 1998 duly restricting it to half life time in respect of 133 items in view of their outdated technology and impending replacement. On a review in February 1999, 30 items pertaining to image converter based systems were deleted since these are not to be overhauled in view of passivisation of active systems after 10th plan. Army HQ placed indents for 155 items of spares, as of December 1999.

Analysis of 133 items under procurement after restricting it to half life time buy, disclosed that it included 114 items for first overhaul and maintenance till replacement of outdated gunner/driver night vision devices. Since the mechanised Infantry Battalions would be constituted with BMP-II by early 10th plan, import of the spares for overhaul of these items was not justified at the fag end of their use by mechanised infantry. Cost of spares for these 114 items was estimated at Rs 15.62 crore and included in the sanctioned amount of Rs 27.09 crore. Further, provisioning of another 36 items of spares was for two overhauls.

The Ministry stated in December 1999 that since BMP-I vehicles was out of production in the country of origin, requirment of life time buy had been projected taking due care not to overstock and at the same time to cater for providing engineer support to maintain BMP-I till 2019. The Ministry’s contention was not tenable as first overhaul of BMP-I would stand completed by 2006 and thereafter overhaul of BMP-II vehicles would commence, there would be no spare capacity in the Army Base Workshop to carry out the second overhaul of any BMP-I vehicle.

AK-630 Gatling Gun Close in Weapon System

The AK-630 is a Soviet fully automatic naval six-barreled 30 mm Gatling gun used to protect naval vessels from incoming AShMs like the Harpoon and Exocet. The gun fires HE-FRAG incendiaries or fragmentation tracer projectiles.

The gun can be laid remotely from the radar control system and target tracker. The maximum rate of fire is 5000 rounds/min while the muzzle velocity is 880 meters per second. The gun is provided with an automatic belt feed and requires a crew of one. The range is up to 4000 meters for low flying anti-ship missiles and 5000 meters for light surface targets. The gun is equipped with radar and television detection & tracking. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar and television detection and tracking. The system's primary purpose is defense against anti-ship missiles and other precision guided weapons.

However it can also be employed against fixed/rotary wing aircraft, ships and other small craft, coastal targets, and floating mines. The AK-630 was one of the first ever CIWS systems; when it was developed, there were no Phalanx, DARDO or Goalkeeper systems, however, the long development time of the AK-630 partially negated this advantage. Once made operational, this weapon system was rapidly adopted; up to 8 units installed in every new Soviet warship (from mine-hunters to aircraft carriers), with hundreds produced in total.

The complete weapon system is called A-213-Vympel-A, which comprises the AK-630M Gun Mount, MR-123-02 Fire Control Radar System, and SP-521 Electrical-Optical Tracker. A single MP-123 radar system can simultaneously control two guns, either two 30 mm gun mounts, or two 57 mm gun mounts, or one 30 mm gun and one 57 mm gun. The radar system can engage aerial and surface targets at 4 km and 5 km respectively. The electro-optical system can detect MiG-21 sized aerial target 7 km away while torpedo boat sized surface targets can be detected at 70 km away. Features include surveillance and tracking modes, high jamming immunity, laser range finder and TV optical sight. It is in operation on almost all Russian Navy ships from fast attack boats to the huge Kirov Battlecruiser.

The gun mount is fully automated, however it can be remotely controlled by an operator from either the control console or via a remotely mounted gunsight. It has a higher firing rate than both the Goalkeeper and Phalanx (Block 1 and older) CIWS systems. Combined with the fact that they are often mounted in pairs, with as many as 4 pairs mounted on the larger ships, providing Russian ships with an effective point defence system. However like all Gatling gun-based CIWS they suffer from short engagement times and the need for multiple volleys to effectively eradicate a threat.

300mm Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher and tungsten alloy military

The BM-30 "Smerch" (Tornado) or 9A52 is a Soviet heavy multiple rocket launcher. The system is designed to defeat manpower, armored and soft-skinned materiel in concentration areas, artillery batteries, command posts and ammunition depots. It was created in the early 1980s and entered service in the Red Army in 1989. When first observed by the West in 1983, it received the code MRL 280mm M1983.

The main components of the RSZO 9K58 "Smerch" system are the following:

• rockets 9M55 or 9M528 (in containers);
• BM 9A52-2 launch vehicle;
• TZM 9T234-2 transloader with a 850kg crane and 12 spare rockets;
• automated fire control equipment in the command post 1K123 "Vivary";
• maintenance vehicle PM-2-70 MTO-V;
• set of arsenal equipment 9F819;
• training facilities 9F827 and 9F840.
• The 300mm rockets with a firing range of 70 and 90 km and various warheads have been developed for the Smerch MLRS.
• The 9A52-2 vehicle with the automated system ensures:
  
• delivery of fire from an unsurveyed fire position;
• laying of the launch tube cluster with the crew staying in the cabin and without using aiming points;
• autonomous determination of an azimuth of the launch tube cluster’s longitudinal axis;
• visual representation of graphical information for the launch tube cluster laying, the route of vehicle movement and location as well as a point of destination and direction of movement on the video terminal;
• increase in MLRS survivability owing to reduced time of staying at a fire position;
• increased comfort for the laying operator, especially in adverse weather conditions and at night;
• increased independent operation owing to the navigation and survey equipment, which allows the vehicle to rapidly change fire positions and move autonomously;
• reduction of the combat crew.

Tungsten Alloy Military and Steyr SSG 69 PI Sniper Rifle

Tungsten Alloy Military and Steyr SSG 69 PI Sniper Rifle. 

The SSG 69 (Scharfschützengewehr 69) is a bolt-action sniper rifle produced by Steyr Mannlicher and serves as the standard 

sniper rifle for the Austrian Army. In India the rifle is used by the BSF(Border Security Force) Paramilitary force. Adopted in 1969 (hence the designation), it was ahead of its time with the

use of synthetics and cold-hammer forged barrels for accuracy. SSG-69 is the Austrian Army's standard issue sniper rifle, the PI is the civilian version of the same weapon. The SSG-69 is also

used by several police agencies. The SSG is extremely accurate and several international competitions have been won using an SSG-69 with accuracy being sub .5 MOA.

There are several variants made with mostly cosmetic differences, the only anomaly being the SSG-PIV using a 409 mm barrel with a 1:250 mm (1:10 inches) twist designed to handle heavy subsonic ammunition.

Gepard Anti Material Rifle and Tungsten Alloy Military

The Gepárd anti-materiel rifles are a family of Hungarian weapons designed to destroy unarmored and lightly armored targets. These long range, large caliber rifles have high accuracy as well as high muzzle velocity. The Gepárds originate from World War I anti-tank rifles created to damage the primitive armored vehicles developed by the British. Since then, anti-materiel rifles fell into disuse. Heavier tanks meant thicker armor, which even the heaviest rifles could not pierce. However, in 1987 the Hungarian army sought to obtain a compact, mobile weapon that could damage lightly armored targets. The project, led by eng. ltc. col. Ferenc Földi (Institute of Military Technology of the Hungarian People's Army), culminated in the creation of the Gepárds.

The M1 was the first Gepárd rifle to enter service. It featured a long barrel for increased accuracy, a skeleton stock to reduce weight, and used the heavy 12.7 x 108 mm Soviet cartridge. However, the rifle was complicated to reload. The M1 fired only one shot and would then have to be manually reloaded. To do this, the user had to rotate, pull back, remove the grip assembly (whose shape resembles a signal-flare handgun), and insert another cartridge. This tedious task took time 

to master and slowed the weapon's rate of fire. Other difficulties such as high recoil also plagued the M1. The recoil problem was solved with the addition of a barrel that recoiled back after each shot. The design was inspired by artillery cannons, which face the same impediment. Still, the Gepárd rifles need specially made, high-strength telescopic gunsights. Improvements, such as the addition of a carrier/lafette backpack and a longer barrel, led to the M1A1 variant, but at 21 kilograms its combat weight was deemed excessive.

The M1 was essentially a sniper weapon, not primarily intended for military field application, but for anti-terrorist police and special forces' use, who operate on the "one shot, one hit" principle. The single shot action was designed to reduce the number of moving parts and allow for extreme precision, five hits out of five shots fit in a 25 centimeter radius circle at 1300 meters. Yet, the Hungarian army decided to purchase 25 rifles of the Gepárd M1 type for use as an

in-the-field materiel destruction rifle, but did not purchase any of the later variants so far. Owing to the great weight of Gepárd M1, sharpshooters were instructed to abandon the entire weapon if forced to retreat quickly and only save the grip assembly for proof, rendering the gun useless.

Tungsten alloy military agni-1 missile launched successfully from Wheelers Island, says the MoD Official press release placed below

India’s 700 km range ballistic missile, ‘AGNI I’ was successfully launched today from the wheeler island off the coast of Odisha. It was a textbook launch meeting all mission objectives and the missile reached the target point in the Bay of Bengal following the prescribed trajectory.  The missile was launched from Road Mobile Launcher System and was tracked by Radar and Telemetry stations located along the coastline. Two Naval Ships located near the target point tracked the missile in the terminal phase of the Flight.

Indigenously developed by DRDO the missile is already in the arsenal of Indian Armed Forces and was launched by the Strategic Forces Command as part of training exercise to ensure preparedness.

After robust sea, air and underwater combat arms, the Navy now wants a dedicated force for the virtual front as well. The force has begun the process to recruit information technology (IT) engineers and graduates as short-service commissioned officers.

The Navy's drive to induct IT officers, as part of its main executive branch, comes in the backdrop of cyber warfare emerging as a potentially crippling form of waging covert wars as well as Chinese and Pakistani online espionage agents continuing with their incessant attempts to hack into Indian computer networks.

"All combat operations are now becoming network-driven. The aim is to create a specialist cadre of creators, custodians and administrators of our various networks on warships as well as ashore installations," said a senior officer.

Towards this end, applications have been invited from B Tech and M Tech (computer sciences), BSc and MSc (IT/computer science), and BCA and MCA graduates for a course beginning in the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala in Kerala from December.

Tungsten Alloy Military Brahmos Supersonic Cruise missile

Tungsten Alloy Military Brahmos Supersonic Cruise missile
BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. It is a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia who have together formed the BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited. 

The acronym BrahMos is perceived as the confluence of the two nations represented by two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia. It travels at speeds of Mach 2.5 to 2.8 and is the world's fastest cruise missile. It is about three-and-a-half times faster than the U.S.A's subsonic Harpoon cruise missile. A hypersonic version of the missile is also presently under development (Lab Tested with 5.26 Mach Speed). Though India had wanted the BrahMos to be based on a mid range cruise missile, namely P-700 Granit, instead Russia opted for the shorter range sister of the missile, P-800 Oniks, in order to comply with MTCR restrictions, to which Russia is a signatory. Its propulsion is based on the Russian missile, and guidance has been developed by BrahMos Corp.

The BrahMos has been developed as a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) of India and the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia under BrahMos Aerospace. The missile is named after two rivers, the Brahmaputra and the Moskva.

Since late 2004, the missile has undergone several tests from variety of platforms including a land based test from Pokhran desert, in which the 'S' maneuver at Mach 2.8 was demonstrated for the Indian Army and a launch in which the land attack capability from sea was demonstrated.

BrahMos claims to have the capability of attacking surface targets as low as 10 meters in altitude. It can gain a speed of Mach 2.8, and has a maximum range of 290 km. The ship-launched and land-based missiles can carry a 200 kg warhead, whereas the aircraft-launched variant (BrahMos A) can carry a 300 kg warhead. It has a two-stage propulsion system, with a solid-propellant rocket for initial acceleration and a liquid-fueled ramjet responsible for sustained supersonic cruise. Air-breathing ramjet propulsion is much more fuel-efficient than rocket propulsion, giving the BrahMos a longer range than a pure rocket-powered missile would achieve.This is because thea ramjet propulsion does away with the need to carry the oxidiser thus greatly reducing the weight of the missile.

The high speed of the BrahMos likely gives it better target-penetration characteristics than lighter subsonic cruise-missiles such as the Tomahawk. Being twice as heavy and almost four times faster than the Tomahawk, the BrahMos has almost 32 times the initial kinetic energy of a Tomahawk missile (although it pays for this by having only 3/5 the payload and a fraction of the range despite weighing twice as much, suggesting a different tactical paradigm to achieve the objective).

Although BrahMos is primarily an anti-ship missile, it can also engage land based targets. It can be launched either in a vertical or inclined position and is capable of covering targets over a 360 degree horizon. The BrahMos missile has an identical configuration for land, sea, and sub-sea platforms. The air-launched version has a smaller booster and additional tail fins for added stability during launch. The BrahMos is currently being configured for aerial deployment with the sukhoi-su-30mki as its carrier.

Tungsten alloy military Towed Artillery Howitzer

Tungsten alloy military Towed Artillery Howitzer

In the 1960s Sweden started to look for a replacement for the French Haubits F (Obusier de 155 mm Modèle 50). The American M109 howitzer was offered and tested. Though the price was low the Swedish Arms Administration found the high maintenance costs, the low rate of fire and the not so good mobility of the M109 made it worth the effort to develop a domestic howitzer.

The requirements for a new gun would be:

• High mobility.
• High momentary rate of fire.

The result was a compromise between a more expensive Self propelled howitzer and a less mobile conventional towed howitzer.

The FH77 was the first field howitzer featuring an APU to make it self-propelled for tactical movement.

The rate of fire was, at the time, exceptionally high for a 155 mm howitzer. The FH77 could fire 3 rounds in 8 seconds, or 6 rounds in 25 seconds. In a sustained firing role it could fire 6 rounds every second minute for 20 minutes.

FH77B

Though the haub 77 was a formidable gun it seemed impossible to export. There were two reason for this:

The maximum elevation was limited to 50°.

It did not use NATO ammunition.

Therefore Bofors developed a new version - the FH 77B. The main difference was that the B-model used a servo operated interrupted screw breech, instead of the sliding block action on the FH 77. The maximum elevation had been increased from 50° to 70°. The barrel is slightly longer, 39 calibres, and uses a single baffle muzzle brake as opposed to the pepper-pot style muzzle brake on the 77. The engine was a Mercedes diesel. Since the B-version used bagged charges it was somewhat slower than the original model - 3 rounds in 10 seconds compared to 3 rounds in less than 8 seconds. The maximum range, on the other hand, was increased to 24km and using base-bleed extended to 28km.

Nigeria bought 48 pieces in 1980 and in March 1986 India ordered 410 of the Bofors FH 77B. The Indian also got a contract option for additionally 1,100 howitzers.

Soon after the $1.4 billion contract with India had been signed two Swedish left-wing journalists reviled that Bofors had paid kickbacks to Indian public servants. As a result of this India declined to exercise their option on the second batch. A decision India has had all reasons to regret, as the FH 77B proved it self to be accurate, reliable and durable.

Bofors, who had been self-assured enough to start the production of the second batch, found them self with some 50 howitzers but no buyer. The Swedish government stepped in and forced the Army to purchase 51 of the B-model.