All set for a quiet launch of India's first indigenous Nuclear submarine

More than two decades after it was conceived, India’s first indigenously built nuclear submarine, for long called the Advanced Technology Vehicle project, is set for a quiet launch towards the end of this month. Christened INS Chakra after the Charlie class nuclear submarine taken on lease from the Soviet Union in 1988 for three years, it will be put out in the waters of the Bay of Bengal in Visakhapatnam harbour for sea trials.

Top government sources told The Indian Express that the Navy has been cleared for two more 7,000 tonne-Chakra class submarines with an in-principle clearance for another two of the same class. Completing the nuclear triad as envisaged in the Indian nuclear doctrine, INS Chakra will carry intermediate range submarine-launched missiles that have already been tested twice on the eastern coast.

The submarine was scheduled to be launched on July 26 but the date has now been changed because it also happens to be Kargil Victory Day and the government has no intention of sending any message to the neighbourhood.

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Balloon-mounted radars from Israel to help Navy monitor the coastline

The Indian Navy is set to acquire two aerostat radars from Israel to fill vital gaps in the coastal security setup in the aftermath of the Mumbai attack. This is the first time the Navy will operate the balloon-mounted air defence radars that have a detection range of over 500 km and can track low-flying aircraft.

The Navy has also started price negotiations to purchase close to 300 missiles for its Barak ship air defence systems after it was given the go-ahead to deal with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd that has been under the CBI scanner for alleged kick backs during the NDA regime.

Sources said the Navy will shortly sign a deal to acquire two EL/M-2083 Aerostat radars, which are already in service with the air force, from Israel. While the acquisition was on the Navy’s shopping list for a long time, it was accelerated by the government after the Mumbai attack.

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Army brass defied Government on pay hike by citing ‘larger interest of the services’

The armed forces have agreed to implement revised pay scales and arrears from October 1 but in a highly controversial move last Friday, the Army top brass, taking a cue from the Navy, cited “the larger interests of the services” to justify their defiance and “delay” in implementing revised salaries.

The Army signal was sent the day Defence Minister A K Antony talked tough with the three Services chiefs and told them in very clear terms to implement the Cabinet decision on the Sixth Pay Commission report.

Top sources confirmed to The Indian Express that via a signal on September 26 — two days after Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta signalled his men — Lt Gen V K Chaturvedi, Director General, Manpower Planning, under the Adjutant General of Army, informed “all ranks up to unit level” that the revised pay scales were delayed. The signal, being kept under wraps, was sent to Headquarters/Commands and Corps of the 1.1 million-strong Army.

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Saved from rot, 150-year-old Dabhol dhow will sail to America 1

A 150 year old Indian dhow, rescued by an American from the shores of Dabhol in Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) where it had been left to rot, will soon set out on an astounding voyage.

Malgawan the sail boat will journey from India to the US, covering a distance of 7,318 nautical miles or 13,553 km. A similar voyage from the opposite direction by the Indian Navy, which brought the USS 77enton (now lNS Jalashwa) from the US to India in 2007, took 35 days, 18 knots being the average speed.

Manpawan, a cargo sail boat dating back to 1861, has been restored and conserved by 76 year old Neil Bruder of Michigan. He chanced upon Manpawan in the mid-1990s when he came to Dabhol to work as a bulldozer operator, employed by Bechtel Corporation for the Enron power project.

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