Indian Defence Exports

[Gautam]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1818678610070532276

These were re-exported by Czech Republic.

Old news but relevant:

Czech-led coalition delivers first batch of Indian artillery to Ukraine

By PJU
2:59 PM EDT, June 26, 2024

Images source: © X (formerly Twitter) | Chronology.

The first deliveries of artillery ammunition resulting from the Czech initiative have begun to arrive in Ukraine. The Czech Republic built a coalition of countries willing to purchase over one million artillery shells from outside the EU. Now, the first promised deliveries of these shells have reached the front lines.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the first batch of artillery ammunition had arrived in Ukraine some time ago. This coincides with more photos of artillery shells from India, which may indicate that India is one of the secret suppliers of the Czech munitions initiative.

The initiative involves building a coalition of willing countries to secure the necessary funding to procure 122 mm and 155 mm artillery shells outside of Europe in a concise timeframe.

One likely option, which has provoked strong opposition from Greece, is Turkey and Azerbaijan; another possibility is India. Both countries aim to maintain neutrality regarding the conflict in Ukraine and have not officially supplied weapons so far. For example, one of India’s producers, Yantra India Ltd, is set to receive a significant foreign contract as early as May 2024.

India, currently reaping huge benefits from refining Russian crude oil, is also moving away from Russia as an arms supplier in favor of its production and purchases from Western countries. The first batch was set to include 180,000 shells, and according to Defense Express, subsequent deliveries will consist of batches of 50,000-100,000 pieces per month.

Artillery shells from India in Ukraine

Regarding ammunition from India, M107 and ERFB-BT shells dominate. Both are simple unguided solutions, essentially consisting of a TNT charge placed in a cast body with a simple impact fuse screwed into the tip, causing an explosion upon contact with the ground or an obstacle.
In the case of the M107 shell, we're talking about the licensed production of the American M107 shell. It contains 14.6 lbs of TNT and can strike targets at a range of up to 19 miles in 155 mm artillery systems with a barrel length of 52 calibers, such as the PzH 2000, CAESAR, or AHS Krab.

For the ERFB-BT shells, a slightly larger TNT charge of 18-20 lbs is used, and their range is increased to 25 miles under identical conditions thanks to the use of a base bleed unit. This unit is placed at the base of the shell and generates gases that reduce base drag

Czech-led coalition delivers first batch of Indian artillery to Ukraine

 

[Gautam]

More photos of Indian ammo used by Ukraine:

155mm HE-ERFB-BB rounds:

125mm HE Fragmentation round being loaded onto a T-64BV tank:

 

[Gautam]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1819277350980436384

 

[Gautam]

More images of Indian 125mm HE fragmentation rounds in Ukraine:

125 mm HE mortar round:

Ukrainian artilleryman with Indian-made 155mm HE-ERFB-BB shell being fired by Danish-supplied 155mm Zuzana 2 self-propelled artillery:

 

[Parthu]

10,000 FPV drones to be supplied to Israel over a decade:

https://businessworld.in/article/insidefpv-signs-mou-with-uav-dynamix-to-deliver-10000-drones-527866

 

[Ashwin]

BEL

 

[Ashwin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1821594000232738881

 

[Gautam]

India is set to commence the delivery of its indigenously developed Akash 1S air defence missile system to Armenia, its first foreign buyer

 

[Gautam]

Marine Electricals bags orders from UK Navy

August 07, 2024, 02:49 PM
Mumbai

Along with Adani and Priston, Marine Electricals handles power distribution in the data centres of companies such as Dr Reddy, Lupin and Vedanta

Representative photo.

Marine Electricals, engaged in ship, power distribution and paneling, has recently received orders from the UK Navy for power distribution and panels and radar for three ships.

India and China have 20 per cent lower manufacturing costs than Europe. The company expects to bag more orders from European companies as they explore to diversify sourcing from China.

On the domestic front, Marine Electricals expects to benefit from the proposed government investment in shipbuilding.

The company manufactures power distribution panels and radars of all the Indian Navy ships. The company is the approved vendor of the Indian Navy. Recently, the company opened offices in Europe and UAE to strengthen its position abroad.

Along with Adani and Priston, Marine Electricals handles power distribution in the data centres of companies such as Dr Reddy, Lupin and Vedanta.

Marine Electricals has a market cap of ₹3,500 crore and competes with global companies such as ABB, Siemens and Schneider.

After the recent order from the UK Navy, the company plans to showcase its prowess in the world’s largest maritime exhibition to be held in Germany next month to garner more business abroad.

Marine Electricals bags orders from UK Navy

 

[Gautam]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1822479437947941117

2000 guns over the next 3 years. A sizable order. All of these will probably end up in Ukraine one way or another.

The gun if probably the ARDE modified version of the license produced FN MAG. Specs aren't that different from the original FN MAG but it is lighter by 2.5 kgs:

Some pics of the gun taken during its prototype testing phase:

 

[Gautam]

Spoiler: I am going to be very cynical here. Might be off-putting.

Well, to be fair we are selling weapons/dual use tech to Russia too. I have posted about a few such items in this thread. There are many others that I have not posted about. There are also negotiations ongoing to buy nuclear fuel bundles for the IPHWR-700s reactors from Russia.

As for Khalistanis, the Americans have a leverage & they are using it. Much like we have a leverage with Russia & recently we used it. The counter to their leverage is your leverage. Complaining about it changes nothing. They will ignore our complaints regarding Khalistan much like we ignore their complaints about Russia.

Whether it is importing Russian crude oil or selling weapons to Ukraine through 3rd parties or selling weapons & dual use tech to Russia, we aren't doing any of that out of a sense of camaraderie towards either Russia or the West. We do those things because our industries are making money hand over fist on these deals. These deals also help create & sustain thousands of jobs in India.

It is not just for military items either. Apple iPhones that are being made in India for the Indian market are finding their way to Russia. Indian distributors are exporting phones, tabs etc. to Russia at a personal capacity. Since it is not happening through official networks this doesn't count as exports from India to Russia.

So long as the money/jobs/benefits keeps flowing, I don't care how many times Jaishankar has to argue with the Americans or the Europeans. That's his job anyway.

I wouldn't say the current policy is flawless or it is a great success. But it is better than what we were doing previously.

In 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, we were caught navel-gazing. MEA gave some supportive statements towards Russia, then US sanctioned Russia & we went along with their sanctions. We managed to agree with both parties but got no benefits from either party. Then when US sanctioned Iran we reduced our oil imports to near-zero. But again, we couldn't get much in return from them.

Compare that to now. Instead of complying with US sanction we started trading crude, fertilizers, weapons & dual-use tech in non-USD currencies. This saves us tens of billions in foreign exchange each year. We also make additional tens of billions in refined fuel export every year. We are also making money by exporting weapons to Ukraine via 3rd parties with minimal Russian opposition.

This is a "heads I win, tails you lose" scenario for us. It doesn't matter how the Russia-Ukraine conflict ends or when it ends. We will probably keep making money from both sides.

It is not perfect. Trade with Russia is very lopsided. All issues with payment haven't been worked out yet. INR usage hasn't gone to the levels we had hoped. Nonetheless, these activities have made us a more relevant actor in European geopolitics. We must be active in trade & diplomacy to build our leverages. Inactivity & policy paralysis doesn't help.

Looks like someone agrees with me:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1826548150120698013

 

[Gautam]

We already knew US was the largest defence importer from India:

Yes, India's defence exports are booming, but guess who's the biggest importer

The items exported to the US largely involved assemblies/sub-assemblies/components for US defence majors like Boeing. LM etc. & offset clause items. In the recent past the Americans are buying big quantities of small arms ammo, specifically the 5.56x45 NATO rounds. Some of this will end up in US domestic markets like shown here:

I imagine a good chunk of this ammo will end up in Ukraine.

 

[Gautam]

Article was written in Spanish Google translated to English. There may be some errors.

Chile e India buscan profundizar su cooperación en Defensa

Quoting the parts on interest:

The purchase of the Chilean Navy's ATF-65 Janequeo fleet tug, an ocean-going support vessel built by the Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding shipyard, and which arrived in the country in February 2021, is considered in the Asian country as the kick-off for new business opportunities in the South American country.

India's Financial Express revealed in February 2021 that MKU Limited, a Kanpur-based company, was awarded a contract to produce 11,700 ballistic helmets with accessories for Chile's Carabineros valued at $7.2 million.

The helmets were acquired directly. The ship's acquisition is a more interesting story.

L&T built 2 of these ships for a Qatari oil & gas transport company named Halul Offshore Services Co. WLL (HOSC) in 2016. HOSC cancelled the contract in 2018. So, L&T put these 2 ships up for sale at the base price of US $20 million. US$10 million per ship.

On the other side, the Chilean navy started looking in mid-2010s, to buy 2-4 ships of under the "Anchor Handling Towing Supply Vessel (AHTSV)" program. The AHTSV ships were meant to undertake supply missions, underwater rescue, diver support roles etc.

In 2020 the Chilean navy signed a contract worth US$11.5 million with L&T through the US DoD's FMS route for the supply of 1 ship. Weird way of doing business. So, the ship will be sold to the US Naval Sea Command (NAVSEA) on paper & then transferred by the NAVSEA to the Chilean navy. Wonder why this was done. Maybe availability of US currency reserve in Chile is a constraint. Idk.

Anyway, L&T retrofitted the ship according to the customer's needs, improved habitability & sanitary facilities, applied a new paint coat on the superstructure, deck and hull of the ship. In December of 2020 the ship was sent off from India on its way to Chile.

The final quantity of ships for the AHTSV program remains unclear. While they initially planned to buy 2-4 units, they seem to have bought just the one. Maybe they want to test the ships' performance first. So, L&T still has a semi-finished ship that they haven't sold yet.

 

[Gautam]

Photos of Indian 125mm HE 1A ammo from Ukraine continues to keep coming:

 

[Gautam]

Some more photos from Ukraine:

Indian M107 projectiles seen in a Ukrainian trench along with some US made shells.

M777 howitzer with Indian made M107 shells:

Indian 125mm HE 1A ammo for T-80 tanks:

 

[jetray]

Some more photos from Ukraine:

Indian M107 projectiles seen in a Ukrainian trench along with some US made shells.
View attachment 35999
M777 howitzer with Indian made M107 shells:
View attachment 36000
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Indian 125mm HE 1A ammo for T-80 tanks:
View attachment 35998

Frankly how much profit do we even make on these low value items ? I wish we exported more higher value items. It would have been great if we could have exported drones like turkey did.

 

[Gautam]

Frankly how much profit do we even make on these low value items ?

Better than usual actually. There is a global shortage of heavy artillery & tank ammo. That has allowed us to export at a higher price than usual.

Besides profits don't matter as much here. Doing this helps your industry in getting global exposure. More importantly it gives New Delhi an additional leverage.

I wish we exported more higher value items.

I wish the same. But we cannot move to high value exports before proving our mettle in lower value exports.

It would have been great if we could have exported drones like turkey did.

We are selling kamikaze/loitering drones to Israel & Russia. We don't have indigenous MALE drones in service. Can't sell what you don't have.

 

[Gautam]

Indian shells bolster Ukrainian frontline amid supply shortages

By Przemysław Juraszek
8 September 2024 09:28

A soldier standing in front of a T-64BW tank holding a missile from India.

In Ukraine, photos of tankers with high-explosive fragmentation ammunition originating from distant India are becoming more frequent. We present the performance of these shells and explain how they may have reached Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine consumes a vast number of artillery, tank, or mortar shells, which are acquired from around the world by Western countries. One of the most intriguing sources of supplies is India, which was likely one of the non-EU suppliers for the Czech ammunition initiative.
A correlation is noted between the increased appearance of Indian ammunition photos in Ukraine and the Czech Prime Minister's statements about delivering the first batch of ammunition to Ukraine. It turns out that besides 155 mm calibre artillery ammunition, Ukraine also received 125 mm calibre tank ammunition from India.

125 mm high-explosive fragmentation shells from India — here’s why they are very important

The shells visible in the photo appear to come from the state factory Munitions India Limited (MIL). These are simple high-explosive fragmentation shells, which are a licensed version of the Soviet OF26.

The complete shell along with the propellant charge weighs 33 kg, and its own weight is 23 kg. It consists of an impact fuse and a cast steel shell filled with about 3 kg of TNT.

During an explosion, it generates around 2,000 fragments, with a deadly impact range of about 40 metres. However, this only applies to open terrain because earth fortifications provide good protection against them. For this reason, many countries have now created or are conducting research on programmable ammunition that detonates in the air above trenches. Russians and foreign users of this ammunition are still lagging behind Western countries.

Nevertheless, even such simple unguided shells like OF26 could pose a great threat if enough of them hit the target. The Ukrainians mainly use their tanks as artillery with a range of 10-11 km or for raids on Russian strongpoints, during which dozens of high-explosive fragmentation shells are used.

Ukrainian reserves of Soviet-era ammunition have long been exhausted, and NATO countries, with the exception of Bulgaria, Poland, or the Czech Republic, have limited production capabilities of, among other things, 125 mm shells. For this reason, these are sourced from the farthest corners of the world, and one of the best sources of Soviet-era ammunition is India, which for decades was one of Russia’s largest customers.

Indian shells bolster Ukrainian frontline amid supply shortages

Grey shells are Iranian made. Yellow shells are Indian made. Green shells are Polish or Czeck maybe. Truly a global war:

 

[Gautam]

Indian HE 1A being loaded onto a Polish PT-91 tank:

 

[Parthu]

The gun if probably the ARDE modified version of the license produced FN MAG. Specs aren't that different from the original FN MAG but it is lighter by 2.5 kgs:
View attachment 35271

Some pics of the gun taken during its prototype testing phase:
View attachment 35265
View attachment 35266
View attachment 35267
View attachment 35268

They're saying MMG, not LMG so I doubt it's the new re-engineered version. Probably just the old tripod-mounted one, with or without a stock.

That one was just a complete reproduction of the FN MAG.